
Highest-rated free things to do in Texas by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Texas.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Texas using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#30. Wildseed Farms
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,603 reviews)
- City: Fredericksburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Kimbell Art Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,699 reviews)
- City: Fort Worth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,060 reviews)
- City: Dallas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Main Street
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,073 reviews)
- City: Fredericksburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Historic Market Square
- Rating: 4.0/5 (2,249 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. San Antonio River
- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,679 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Sundance Square
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,749 reviews)
- City: Fort Worth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. South Congress Avenue
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,513 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Cadillac Ranch
- Rating: 3.9/5 (4,351 reviews)
- City: Amarillo
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Klyde Warren Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,011 reviews)
- City: Dallas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Gruene Historic District
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,009 reviews)
- City: New Braunfels
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,955 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching
- Rating: 4.2/5 (4,205 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District
- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,553 reviews)
- City: Dallas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Sea Turtle, Inc.
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,160 reviews)
- City: South Padre Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Dallas Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,107 reviews)
- City: Dallas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Fort Worth Water Gardens
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,733 reviews)
- City: Fort Worth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Mission San Jose
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,504 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. San Fernando De Bexar Cathedral
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,115 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Mount Bonnell
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,666 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,756 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Galveston - Port Bolivar Ferry
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,277 reviews)
- City: Galveston Galveston Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. The Strand
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3,143 reviews)
- City: Galveston Galveston Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Port Aransas Beach
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2,139 reviews)
- City: Port Aransas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Japanese Tea Gardens
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,941 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. The Galleria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (5,272 reviews)
- City: Houston
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Texas State Capitol
- Rating: 4.6/5 (8,088 reviews)
- City: Austin
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,569 reviews)
- City: Fort Worth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. The Alamo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (19,824 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. San Antonio River Walk
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27,157 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.