AUSTIN, Texas — If you plan to paddle the Comal River or pose for a selfie at Cadillac Ranch next year, brace for company. A fresh analysis built on millions of TripAdvisor reviews pinpoints the 24 Texas attractions most likely to feel shoulder-to-shoulder in 2025, and every single one sits within a day’s drive of Austin, Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, or the Gulf Coast.
The study: Where crowds gather—and why
CanadaSportsBetting.ca mined user comments on TripAdvisor, flagging mentions such as “busy,” “overcrowded,” and “packed.” Researchers then calculated what share of total reviews contained those congestion clues. The higher the percentage, the more often travelers complained about crowds. New Braunfels, a Hill Country suburb between Austin and San Antonio, earned the dubious honor of housing the top two hotspots. Schlitterbahn Waterpark ranked No. 1 with 17.14 percent of reviews citing crowding, while the nearby Comal River landed at No. 2 with 15.12 percent.
Complete ranking of Texas’s 24 most overcrowded attractions
- Schlitterbahn Waterpark, New Braunfels — 17.14%
- Comal River, New Braunfels — 15.12%
- Port Aransas Beach, Port Aransas — 14.65%
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas — 13.43%
- Barton Springs Pool, Austin — 13.07%
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas — 11.65%
- Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo — 9.95%
- Enchanted Rock, Fredericksburg — 7.87%
- Lost Maples Trail, Vanderpool — 7.67%
- San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio — 7.43%
- Houston Zoo, Houston — 6.59%
- Moody Gardens, Galveston — 6.47%
- The Alamo, San Antonio — 6.26%
- Space Center Houston, Houston — 5.64%
- Japanese Tea Gardens, San Antonio — 5.62%
- Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas — 5.16%
- The Strand, Galveston — 4.08%
- Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth — 3.89%
- Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth — 3.47%
- Palo Duro Canyon, Amarillo — 3.36%
- Grape Creek Vineyards, Fredericksburg — 3.34%
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — 2.88%
- Texas State Capitol, Austin — 2.56%
- Reunion Tower, Dallas — 2.42%
You can see Canadasportsbetting.ca full data set here.
Why the findings matter for travelers
TripAdvisor’s massive user base makes it a barometer of real-time visitor sentiment. When a double-digit share of reviewers uses crowd-related keywords, odds are good you’ll need to queue longer for tickets, tables, and parking spots. Knowing the worst pinch points helps travelers decide when to go, how early to arrive, and whether a weekday visit might be wiser than a Saturday crush.
Big-picture tourism numbers keep rising
The state’s popularity shows no sign of slowing. “Texas is a top travel destination,” Gov. Greg Abbott said during a May proclamation of Travel and Tourism Week. He called the industry “a critical economic driver.” The governor’s office cited a Travel Texas study that logged 62 million visitors, $97.5 billion in travel spending, and $9.2 billion in tax revenue last year. The sector now supports 1.3 million jobs and injects nearly $200 billion in economic activity.
Spotlight on the crowd magnets
New Braunfels: Water thrills and float culture
Schlitterbahn’s river-powered slides and the Comal’s spring-fed waters are summertime staples. Both attractions cap daily admissions, yet peak mornings see lines before the gates open. Travelers staying in New Braunfels should buy tickets online, arrive at least 30 minutes before opening, and consider mid-week rides when local school camps thin out.
Port Aransas: Sand, surf, and seasonal swarms
Port Aransas Beach, ranking third, sees congestion spike during spring break, Memorial Day and the July 4 holiday. Lodging rates escalate fast, so budget travelers can score quieter sands by visiting September through early November, when water temperatures remain swim-worthy but college crowds have dispersed.
Dallas and Fort Worth: Museums meet big-city parking woes
Four of the top 10 slots sit in North Texas. The Perot Museum and the Sixth Floor Museum both reported more than 1 million visitors last year, which strains limited downtown parking. Pre-book timed tickets, ride DART light rail to avoid garages that fill before noon, and reserve lunch tables well in advance at surrounding West End eateries.
Hill Country hikes: Enchanted Rock and Lost Maples
Both parks operate reservation systems that sell out quickly during wildflower season and autumn foliage. Day hikers should target weekday sunrise entries or pick alternate Hill Country gems—Pedernales Falls or Colorado Bend—when slots disappear.
San Antonio classics: River Walk, the Alamo, and Tea Gardens
The River Walk’s linear path funnels foot traffic, so choose hotels north of Houston Street to begin strolls against the flow. The Alamo now offers free timed-entry passes online; snag an 8 a.m. slot for a crowd-free courtyard photo opportunity.
Houston’s space and zoo assets
Space Center Houston and the Houston Zoo both draw robust school field-trip traffic. Families can exploit the overlap by touring one site early and picnicking before noon, then hopping to the other after buses depart.
Tips for Travelers: Beating the Texas crowds
- Arrive right when the gates open. At Schlitterbahn, the first hour often means walk-on slides before locker areas fill.
- Book timed tickets. Museums from Dallas to Houston sell web-only slots that let you bypass the standby line.
- Travel off-peak seasons. Late summer heat deters some visitors at outdoor venues like Palo Duro Canyon; sunrise hikes still feel pleasant.
- Use public transit. DART, VIA, and METRO rail lines drop riders steps from crowded urban attractions.
- Stay nearby. Overnighters who walk or bike can dodge parking stress around Barton Springs Pool and the State Capitol.
- Leverage weekdays. Tuesday through Thursday consistently post the lowest crowd percentages in TripAdvisor data.
FAQ
How was “overcrowded” defined?
The study flagged reviews containing words such as “busy,” “overcrowded,” “packed,” or “crowded.” Its metric is the percentage of total reviews using those terms.
Are crowd levels seasonal?
Yes. Beaches, rivers, and lakes surge from March to August, while museums and historic sites stay busier year-round. Winter weekdays generally offer the lightest foot traffic.
Does a high crowd score mean I should skip the attraction?
Not necessarily. These spots are popular for good reason. Advance planning—especially arrival time and ticket pre-purchase—lets you enjoy marquee sights without the headache.
Bottom line
Texas remains a magnet for travelers, and its marquee attractions can feel jam-packed. Use the crowd data as a navigation tool, not a deterrent. With strategic timing and early reservations, you can still snorkel in the crystal-clear Comal, wander the River Walk at dusk, or gaze at Palo Duro’s red-rock amphitheater without feeling trapped in a theme-park swarm.
