Austin's sunny disposition and affordable holiday happenings make it a hotspot for a winter getaway, and Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown has just been declared the No. 4 best winter destination for warm-weather lovers in 2026.

The ranking comes in WalletHub's new study, "Best Winter Holiday Destinations," which analyzed 69 U.S. metros based on the cost and convenience of traveling and the affordability of local attractions and activities. The rankings were categorized into six key dimensions: travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, warm-weather activities, and safety. The results were then broken down by cold weather and warm weather.

Las Vegas, Nevada, leads the nation as the No. 1 best warm-weather winter destination, while Atlanta, Georgia, ranks No. 1 among cold winter wonderlands.

The report found Austin ranks No. 4 nationwide for its travel costs and hassles, and the metro's favorable weather conditions during the winter rank as the 6th best in the U.S. Austin also boasts the seventh-lowest "local costs," which included the cost of a three-star hotel room, the average price for a two-person meal, taxi fares costs, and the cost of living.

With Halloween decorations at their peak, local businesses and resorts are already sharing their more jolly events and specials happening around Austin this holiday season. In the final three categories, Austin ranked 9th nationally for its attractions, and ranked 15th for its warm-weather activities and overall safety.

"Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates."

Texas dominates the 10 best warm-weather winter destinations for 2026 with Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 3), Houston (No. 6), and San Antonio (No. 9) joining Austin. Four other Texas cities earned spots lower on the list: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission (No. 26), Brownsville-Harlingen (No. 31), Corpus Christi (No. 33), and Beaumont-Port Arthur (No. 35).

The top 10 best warm-weather winter destinations for 2026 are:

• No. 1 – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
• No. 2 – San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
• No. 3 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
• No. 4 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
• No. 5 – Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
• No. 6 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
• No. 7 – Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
• No. 8 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
• No. 9 – San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
• No. 10 – San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California