Travelers Agree: This City In Texas Is A 'Rising Star' Destination For 2026

More than three-quarters of U.S. travelers are planning to go on vacation in 2026, and many are looking beyond the usual tourist hotspots in favor of newer and less crowded experiences. With vast desert landscapes and rugged mountain canyons, El Paso, Texas, is ideal if affordability and small-town character are high on your list of priorities.

Named by HomeToGo as one of the top six "Rising Star" destinations in the Southwest and Mountain West regions, El Paso was the only city in Texas to be listed. The city is leading the way in the new neo-western revival travel trend, which has gained in popularity thanks to a renewed interest in country music recently brought into the limelight by the likes of Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter.

Located directly on the Mexican border, El Paso is conveniently situated on I-10, about a four-and-a-half-hour drive west from Tucson, Arizona, or roughly a seven-and-a-half-hour drive east from San Antonio, Texas. If that sounds like too long a road trip, El Paso also has its own international airport. If you're looking for a quieter destination away from the major cities and large resorts, El Paso is the place to go for a colorful blend of cultures, frontier town hospitality, and some of the best national and state parks in Texas. Just don't forget the sunscreen, as temperatures in El Paso are rising faster than in almost any other U.S. city.

Interest in travel to El Paso has increased by nearly 200% compared with last year, and much of its appeal lies in its multicultural identity. Sitting directly on the U.S.-Mexico border, the city is paired with Ciudad Juárez on the other side of the Rio Grande River. The shared cultures have shaped these identities over centuries, with influences coming from the Spanish conquistadors, who arrived in the 16th century, the American military, and the Tigua Indian Tribe, all of whom left their mark in the region where the Old West lives on. Travelers are quick to highlight the friendliness of the residents of El Paso, with Reddit users praising their kindness and helpfulness, adding to the city's reputation as a welcoming place to explore.

Nowhere is El Paso's individuality more evident than in the Segundo Barrio murals, a collection of dozens of murals painted on homes, schools, underpasses, and community buildings by residents and local artists in one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. The murals tell much of the history and culture of Mexican and Chicano heritage, depicting everything from everyday life to themes of social justice.

You can download the official Visit El Paso app for a self-guided walking tour around these colorful works of art. The food in El Paso is just as colorful and full of flavor, and foodies looking for traditional local cuisine to tuck into should head to the L&J Café. Feast on classic dishes like enchiladas, burritos, and tacos, which are often praised by visitors and locals alike.

With more travelers prioritizing outdoor exploration when visiting new places, El Paso has a range of hiking opportunities in surrounding national and state parks. For the more adventurous, there are some challenging trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Located roughly 100 miles from El Paso, it's known for having one of the most treacherous trails in Texas.

The difficult 8.2-mile out-and-back Guadalupe Peak Trail takes you up over rocky terrain to the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet. Enjoy passing through the park's changing ecosystems from deserts to pine forests, but with loose rocky ground, hiking poles will be a huge help getting to the top.

If you prefer staying a little closer to El Paso, visit Franklin Mountains State Park, one of the largest urban state parks in the U.S. Just minutes from downtown El Paso in the Chihuahuan desert, this park offers stunning scenery without the crowds, where you can take your pick from over 100 miles of hiking trails over rugged mountain terrain. The challenging 7.9-mile out-and-back North Franklin Mountain Summit Trail takes you up to the highest point in the park, rewarding you with sweeping views over El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. And if seeing some of the park's wildlife is a priority, take the El Paso Uplands Loop, where you stand a better chance of spotting animals like the Texas horned lizard, mule deer, or iconic roadrunner.