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Highest-rated free things to do in Texas by visitors

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Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock
Zoran Zeremski // Shutterstock
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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!

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#28. Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures

Tripadvisor

3 / 30

#28. Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,060 reviews)
- City: Dallas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Gruene Historic District

Tripadvisor

11 / 30

#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

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#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

Tripadvisor

13 / 30

#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

Tripadvisor

14 / 30

#17. Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark District

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,553 reviews)
- City: Dallas
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Fort Worth Water Gardens

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Fort Worth Water Gardens

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,733 reviews)
- City: Fort Worth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. San Fernando De Bexar Cathedral

Tripadvisor

19 / 30

#12. San Fernando De Bexar Cathedral

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,115 reviews)
- City: San Antonio
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#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

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Galveston - Port Bolivar Ferry

- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,277 reviews)
- City: Galveston Galveston Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. The Strand

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. The Strand

- Rating: 4.3/5 (3,143 reviews)
- City: Galveston Galveston Island
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,569 reviews)
- City: Fort Worth
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. San Antonio River Walk

Tripadvisor

30 / 30

#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.

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