Get Real

Real ID deadline arrives with Texas at 98 percent compliance

Most Texans already have a Real ID-compliant license. Here's how to tell.

Graphic courtesy of KVUE

The Real ID deadline has arrived. Starting on Wednesday, May 7, Americans will need to have federally compliant identification to pass through airport security and access federal facilities.

Texans most likely already have driver licenses that comply with the Real ID program. Texas appears to be the most prepared state in the country, reporting a compliance rate of 98 percent in April, the highest recorded at the time.

To check if a driver license is Real ID compliant, look for a logo. "If you replaced or renewed your card after October 10, 2016, and have a gold star in the right-hand corner, your card is REAL ID compliant and no further action is required on your part," says the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Immigrants Rising, based in California, has a guide designed for nationwide use that discusses Real ID details for immigrants with questions about documentation.

Don’t have a Real ID yet? You can still fly, for now, but expect extra screening at TSA.

The Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday that travelers without a Real ID this week should be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny. Those without a Real ID "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step", the head of the DHS said Tuesday.

“But people will be allowed to fly,” Noem said. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

What is a REAL ID?

The federally-mandated switch requires that state-issued IDs or driver's licenses meet security standards designated by a 2005 law passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

If you’ve renewed your license in the past few years, you may already be covered. Look for a gold or black star on your ID — that's the Real ID mark in most states.

As of late April, 81 percent of travelers at TSA checkpoints were showing compliant identification, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Real ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in 2008, “but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director for Travel + Leisure, told the Associated Press.

Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap Austin has added information on Texas ID compliance and immigration questions.

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tourism news

Austin's popularity soars on new list of top summer travel destinations

Photo by Tom Forrest on Unsplash

Austin may be flooded by tourists this summer.

Not even triple-digit heat will deter tourists from visiting Austin this summer, a new survey from WalletHub has confirmed. The City of Weird has climbed into the No. 5 spot on the personal finance website's list of the "Best Summer Travel Destinations" in 2025.

The report annually ranks 100 U.S metros based on attractions, safety, activities, weather, local costs, and travel costs and hassles. Factors that determine each city's ranking include flight costs, the number of affordable restaurants with high ratings, crime rates, and more.

The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area in Florida is the No. 1 most sought after summer travel destination in 2025.

Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown rose one spot from its 2024 ranking, and it's still a far leap ahead from its former No. 14 rank in 2023.

Here's how WalletHub broke down Austin's ranking in each of the six main categories:

No. 10 – Attractions rank
No. 21 – Local costs rank and weather rank
No. 25 – Activities rank
No. 44 – Safety rank
No. 65 – Travel costs and hassles rank

Austin predictably ranked the highest in the attractions category, and there's surely no shortage ofthings to do in the city, from dining at ahighly acclaimed steakhouse or checking out live music at aunique new venue.

But there's so much more that goes into choosing the right place for a memorable summer trip, says WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. Creating and sticking to a vacation budget that considers all costs of a trip, such as meals and local transportation costs, is a good place to start.

"[C]hoosing a destination that’s not only entertaining but also affordable is important when travel, dining and activity costs have surged so much in recent years," Lupo says. "It can also allow you to have a longer, more relaxing trip."

The study's scope isn't just limited to just Austin proper, which also means tourists may flock to popular suburbs likeGeorgetown to explore its downtown boutiques, or head toDripping Springs to enjoy the Hill Country views.

Other top Texas summer travel destinations
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 10) was the only other Texas metro to earn a spot in the top 10 summer travel destinations, while San Antonio-New Braunfels ranked 18th.

Surprisingly, El Paso (No. 31) ranked four spots ahead of Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (No. 35). The final two Texas metros that earned spots in the study are Corpus Christi (No. 80) and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission (No. 97).

The top 10 best summer travel destinations in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
No. 2 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
No. 3 – Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia
No. 4 – Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 5 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 6 – Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana
No. 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 8 – Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland
No. 9 – Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Florida
No. 10 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

austin wallethub rankings summer vacation travel