Houston, Dallas Tie In National Study Of Tourist-Friendly Cities

TEXAS (TXAN 24) — Houston and Dallas are tied in a new national study measuring how efficiently visitors can fit sightseeing into a trip, with both Texas cities earning 54.9 out of 100.

The TouristMaxxing Index, compiled by JRPass.com, compared 20 major U.S. cities across seven measures, including attraction access by car and on foot, transportation costs, travel time and admission prices.

Houston’s modeled driving route reaches six attractions with just 15.2 minutes of driving between stops, the lowest estimated taxi cost in the study at $11.80. Dallas reaches eight attractions by car, with 46.1 minutes of driving between stops and an estimated taxi cost of $67.14.

The results highlight different advantages for travelers. Houston’s modeled route emphasizes shorter driving distances and lower estimated transportation costs, while Dallas’s route includes more attractions.

Neither Texas city cracked the top three overall. Chicago led the study with 78.9 points, followed by Tampa at 68.4 and Washington, D.C., at 67.7. Fort Lauderdale also tied Houston and Dallas at 54.9.

The index uses percentile-based scores to compare cities rather than measure the percentage of attractions a visitor can complete.

Its itineraries are modeled routes, not guaranteed real-world sightseeing schedules.

JRPass.com said taxi estimates are based on route distance and a per-kilometer rate. They exclude starting charges, waiting time and surcharges. The company also cautioned that modeled routes do not account for every factor affecting an actual trip.

For Texas travelers planning a city getaway, the study suggests that the better choice may depend on whether convenience, transportation costs or the number of stops matters most.

Source: JRPass.com TouristMaxxing Index.