Published on October 30, 2025
San Antonio has risen from regional favorite to national tourism contender, officially earning its place alongside Las Vegas, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, San Francisco and Los Angeles as one of America’s most sought-after warm weather winter vacation destinations for 2025. This milestone reflects a powerful rise in year-round travel demand driven by the city’s mild winter climate, strong value for money, diverse attractions and expanding hospitality offerings. As travelers increasingly favor destinations that deliver sunshine, cultural depth and affordability, San Antonio has emerged as a standout choice for winter escapes without the high price tags found in larger resort cities.
What sets San Antonio apart is its rare ability to blend authenticity with entertainment. Visitors are drawn to its scenic River Walk, historic Spanish missions, thriving culinary scene, outdoor activities and family-friendly appeal. At the same time, the city continues to invest in tourism infrastructure—fresh hotels, upgraded attractions and major event programming—strengthening its ability to compete with America’s biggest leisure hubs. In a year when travelers are prioritizing atmosphere and experience, San Antonio has secured a firm foothold among the elite winter destinations of 2025, earning recognition as one of the nation’s top warm-weather cities for a seasonal retreat.

Advertisement
The latest ranking comes from an annual nationwide assessment of the 69 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, identifying the most desirable locations for both warm-weather and cold-weather winter travel. Each metro area was evaluated across 37 key metrics spread across six essential categories: travel costs and hassles, affordability, local attractions, weather conditions, outdoor activities, and overall safety. Pulling from these indicators, San Antonio-New Braunfels earned the No. 9 position on the warm-weather destination list for 2025, improving its ranking by two places compared to 2024.

San Antonio’s Performance Across Travel Metrics

The report provided insight into how San Antonio performed across each of the six evaluation categories:

Advertisement

The Alamo City continues to appeal to travelers seeking value-driven vacations—ranking particularly high in affordability and manageable travel logistics. With an airport that connects major hubs, a wide selection of budget-friendly hotels, and a comparatively lower cost of dining and entertainment than other major U.S. cities, San Antonio holds strong appeal for winter tourism.
Its weather ranking of 12th showcases its consistent seasonal warmth—a major draw for winter travelers fleeing snow or freezing northern climates. Average winter daytime temperatures hover comfortably in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit, making outdoor activities enjoyable year-round.

Texas Metros Dominate Winter Travel Appeal

Advertisement
Texas demonstrated exceptional performance overall, standing out as a leading warm-weather travel state. Four Texas metropolitan regions placed in the top 10 of the 2025 ranking:

• No. 3 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown
• No. 4 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
• No. 6 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
• No. 9 – San Antonio-New Braunfels

Texas also had several other metro areas ranked in the top half of the list, reinforcing the state’s dominance as a winter refuge for domestic travelers:

• McAllen-Edinburg-Mission – No. 24
• Killeen-Temple – No. 29
• Beaumont-Port Arthur – No. 31
• Brownsville-Harlingen – No. 35
• Corpus Christi – No. 36

With a combination of sunshine, accessibility, outdoor recreation, culinary diversity, and cultural attractions, Texas has firmly positioned itself as a leading year-round tourism hub.

Other Top Warm-Weather Destinations for 2025

The top 10 warm-weather winter destinations in America for 2025 include a mix of desert getaways, coastal cities, and cultural hotspots:

1. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
2. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
3. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
4. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
5. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
6. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
7. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
8. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
9. San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
10. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California

Las Vegas retained its No. 1 position for the fourth year in a row, holding strong thanks to its tourism infrastructure, robust entertainment offerings, and relatively affordable winter hotel rates.

Winter Travel Preferences: Warmth vs Frost

Interestingly, the study also noted a shift in winter travel behavior across the United States. While some travelers seek snow-covered adventures and ski trips, a growing segment appears to be prioritizing sunlight, seasonal comfort, and outdoor relaxation. This aligns with broader post-pandemic travel trends emphasizing wellness, outdoor lifestyle, and nature-based leisure.
The study categorized destinations into “warm” and “cold” based on 50-year average December temperatures. Areas averaging 57 degrees Fahrenheit and above were labeled warm-weather cities, while those at 46 degrees and below were classified as cold-weather destinations. In contrast to San Antonio’s warm-weather rise, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin in the Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin region ranked as the No. 1 cold-weather winter destination for 2025, appealing to travelers who embrace snow-filled urban holidays.

Why San Antonio Continues to Attract Winter Tourism

San Antonio offers a compelling winter experience without sacrificing cultural depth or entertainment value. Key attractions like the River Walk, historic Spanish missions, Tex-Mex cuisine, museums, scenic parks, and nearby Hill Country excursions give travelers plenty to discover. Visitors can enjoy river cruises, hiking, shopping, historical tours, theme parks, and seasonal festivals—all without the heavy winter attire required in other parts of the country.
Affordable lodging, walkable neighborhoods, free outdoor attractions, and family-friendly entertainment make San Antonio especially attractive to couples, retirees, and families seeking a budget-conscious winter break.

Looking Ahead

San Antonio now stands alongside Las Vegas, San Diego, Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, San Francisco and Los Angeles as one of Americas most popular warm weather winter vacation cities for 2025 thanks to its mild climate, affordable travel value and expanding tourism appeal.
With a strong tourism outlook for 2025, San Antonio’s rising position in national winter rankings signals its growing visibility as a seasonal travel favorite. As travel trends continue to prioritize value, culture, and climate comfort, San Antonio appears well positioned to maintain—and possibly improve—its national standing in the years ahead.

Advertisement
Tags: San Antonio tourism, Travel News, US vacation trends, warm weather destinations, winter travel 2025

I want to receive travel news and trade event updates from Travel And Tour World. I have read Travel And Tour World's Privacy Notice .
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Wednesday, October 29, 2025

source