Texas Cities Dominate New Ranking of Thanksgiving Destinations

Texas claimed six of the top 20 spots in a new ranking of the best U.S. cities for Thanksgiving travel. Dallas led the way, edging out Atlanta and San Antonio for the top spot, thanks in part to its abundance of restaurants and holiday shopping options.

The personal-finance company WalletHub compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities ahead of the Nov. 26 holiday. The ranking arrives just as holiday spending ramps up. Consumers spent an average of $338 during the five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday last year.

"The best cities for celebrating Thanksgiving all have an abundance of high-quality restaurants and places to buy festive decorations, and their residents get very excited for the holiday based on their Google search history. Other features make individual cities stand out; for example, Dallas has great weather, Atlanta has a fantastic track record for on-time flights and San Antonio has some of the cheapest Thanksgiving dinners," said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.

WalletHub's 2026 Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving study scored each city on 18 metrics, using data collected as of Oct. 13. Celebrations and traditions accounted for 30 of the 100 possible points, followed by affordability at 25. Safety, accessibility, charitable giving and the holiday weather forecast made up the remaining categories. The holiday spending figure comes from National Retail Federation data cited in the report.

Dallas Wins on Dining and Decorations

Dallas earned 68.83 points, ranking second for celebrations and traditions and ninth for Thanksgiving weather. It has an especially high number of restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars, a plus for visitors who would rather leave the Thanksgiving cooking to someone else. The city also has plenty of shops selling holiday decorations and ranked 25th for charities per capita.

Football fans have another reason to consider Dallas for the holiday. The Dallas Cowboys have hosted a Thanksgiving Day game nearly every year since 1966. Arlington, home to the team's AT&T Stadium, also made the list at No. 17.

Atlanta Keeps Holiday Flights on Schedule

Atlanta finished second with 67.07 points and ranked first for celebrations and traditions. Only 16% of flights into or out of the city ran late last November, the 11th-lowest share among the cities in the study. That's welcome news for anyone flying during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

Atlanta also ranked 18th for charitable giving, with residents donating about 5.1% of their income. Weather was a different story. The city ranked 89th for its Thanksgiving forecast, so visitors may want to pack a rain jacket along with those stretchy pants.

San Antonio Serves the Best Value

San Antonio placed third with 66.62 points and ranked first for affordability. It also has the third-cheapest Thanksgiving dinner in the country, behind two other Texas cities. At the opposite end of the price scale, Honolulu, Anchorage, San Francisco and New York had the most expensive holiday dinners.

The forecast looks promising, too, with just a 1% chance of precipitation. That ties San Antonio with Lubbock for the second-best Thanksgiving weather in the study. Families staying a few extra days can also visit the River Walk and the Alamo, two popular stops in a city that has seen a family tourism boom.

More from this section

World Cup trophy used by Messi in viral Instagram photo sells for $525,000

Kids who go to parks grow up with better mental health?

After midterm rout, Republicans can still confirm a Supreme Court justice, but at what cost?

Louisville, Las Vegas and Scottsdale Round Out the Top Six

Louisville took fourth with 64.23 points, followed closely by Las Vegas at 64.08 and Scottsdale at 63.44. All three joined Orlando and Tampa in a tie for the most holiday decoration shops per capita. The five cities had 22 times as many shops per resident as Columbus, Ohio, which ranked last in that category.

Las Vegas also topped WalletHub's 2025 ranking of the most fun cities in America, thanks to its restaurants and entertainment options. Scottsdale's ranking is particularly notable given the weather scores of its neighboring cities. Phoenix ranked 99th for Thanksgiving weather, while Tucson finished last. Visitors to Scottsdale can also find plenty to do beyond the holiday meal, including family-friendly attractions such as OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland.

How the Rest of the List Shook Out

Houston, Virginia Beach, Boston and Chesapeake, Virginia, completed the top 10. Virginia Beach tied for the most volunteer hours of any city in the study, giving it a boost in the charitable category.

The remaining spots in the top 20 included cities on both coasts. San Diego, Plano, San Jose, Washington and Los Angeles ranked 11th through 15th. Miami, Arlington, Cincinnati, Austin and Pittsburgh rounded out the list.

At the other end, San Bernardino, California, finished last among all 100 cities with 29.79 points. Stockton, California; Hialeah, Florida; Newark, New Jersey; and Toledo, Ohio, rounded out the bottom five.

Experts Share Ways to Save on Thanksgiving Travel

Andrew Burnstine, an associate professor at Lynn University, recommended checking budget airlines and alternate airports near a destination. Travelers should account for baggage fees and the cost of getting to the airport, he said. Packing only a carry-on can help avoid extra charges, and those staying with family may be able to leave toiletries at home. He also suggested using airline miles or credit card points and comparing bundled rental car and hotel deals.

Private rentals can cost less than hotels, Burnstine said, but prices tend to climb as Thanksgiving approaches. Marybeth Gasman, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, recommends starting even earlier.

"I would definitely plan ahead. I begin planning in August to get the best deals. I would also compare prices across airlines and hotels and be as flexible as possible with travel. For example, if you fly a few days early or even on the morning of Thanksgiving, the rates tend to be lower.

It’s also helpful to check whether trains are available, as they might be considerably cheaper. If you are visiting family, staying with them instead of at a hotel can reduce your costs. And I would suggest making a family budget so you know what you can spend, and you don’t go overboard on extras," Gasman said.

Burnstine also cautioned hosts about grocery costs. Convenience items such as premade pies and precut vegetables can double or triple a grocery bill. And travelers looking for the cheapest Thanksgiving dinner and the best chance of good weather may want to look beyond the top 20. Laredo, Texas, ranked first in both categories.