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    Beep Beep

    Texas cruises to the middle of America's best states for drivers 2026

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 12, 2026 | 9:15 am
    Texas road sign painting
    Texas lands right in the middle as the 26th best state for drivers.
    Getty Images

    Texas residents love to debate which cities have the best — and worst — drivers in our own state, but which states boast the best conditions for drivers overall? As it turns out, Texas is only average.

    SmartAsset's new study "Best and Worst States for Drivers" ranked states based on auto insurance premiums as a share of annual household income, the price of a 15-gallon tank of gas as a share of weekly household income, traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and the share of interstate highway pavement rated "good."

    Texas ties with Colorado as the 26th best state for drivers. Massachusetts tops the list.

    According to the report's findings, 65 percent of Texas' interstate highways are in "good condition," and there are about 1.2 auto fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in the state.

    Additionally, the cost of a 15-gallon tank of gas in Texas represents 3.47 percent of a resident's median weekly income, and insurance premiums eat up 2.05 percent of earnings, the study calculated.

    Considering how much gas prices have soared over the last several months, commuting to work or driving around town is taking a bigger chunk out of Texas residents' wallets than it was before. At least Houstonians have the metro rail to get around downtown, and shuttle services like Shutto or Vonlane for easy traveling to other Texas cities.

    "Between loan payments, maintenance, fuel and auto insurance, the cost of owning and operating a vehicle now averages more than $11,000 per year," the report said. "Even as U.S. cities and counties increase investment in public transportation, more than 90% of American households own or lease at least one vehicle."

    For comparison, South Dakota has better quality interstate highways than the rest of the nation – at 84 percent – while only 15 percent of Hawaii's highways are in good condition. Rhode Island has the lowest auto fatality rate in the U.S. at 0.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and West Virginia has the highest auto fatality rate at 1.6 deaths.

    After Massachusetts, the remaining top 10 best states for drivers are Minnesota (No. 2); New Jersey and North Dakota (tied for No. 3); Utah (No. 5); Connecticut (No. 6); New Hampshire (No. 7); Wisconsin (No. 8); and Indiana and South Dakota (tied for No. 9).

    You might want to pump the brakes in the 10 worst states for drivers: Louisiana (No. 50); Mississippi (No. 49); Hawaii and West Virginia (tied for No. 47); Montana (No. 46); Arizona and Oregon (tied for No. 44); Maine (No. 43); New Mexico (No. 42); and Arkansas (No. 41).

    smartassettexasdriving
    news/city-life

    it's summertime

    6 family-friendly activities that are new to Houston for summer 2026

    Jef Rouner
    Jun 11, 2026 | 9:15 am
    A young boy plays simulated racing at Velocity in Houston
    Photo courtesy of Velocity
    From video game racing to museums, there are plenty for families to do in Houston this summer.

    With school out for summer, parents are looking for things for kids to do that will keep them entertained and engaged. Here's a quick rundown of some of the fun activities opening up for the summer around the Houston area.

    Hill at Sims
    Located in the Sunnyside neighborhood, Houston's newest part is a $30 million, 100-acre project that's been five years in the making. It offers nearly five miles of paved and dirt trails, a fishable pier, and massive street art murals. The hill itself offers a breathtaking view of the downtown skyline.

    Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land
    The FIFA 2026 World Cup is almost upon us, leading to rampant outbreaks of futbol fever. The only cure is a cold compress of science, thanks to the Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land location. Through July 3, experts on site will teach about the physics, history, and psychology of the world's most popular game. Weekdays will feature craft stations, interactive exhibits, and group activities, while the weekends explore the countries that are participating in this year's World Cup, leading up to a final global celebration.

    Lone Star Flight Museum
    On Saturday, June 19, the museum will open its new exhibit Made in Texas: 116 Years of Texas Aviation History. Visitors will see items such as vintage flight attendant uniforms and fine China that was used in first class cabins. In addition, the exhibit showcases aircraft manufactured in Texas and celebrates pilots such as the Tuskegee Airmen and Texas ACES. Through January 3, 2027.

    Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
    Just because it's summer is no reason there can't be a little learning as well. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is hosting a rare showing of masterworks by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti and more. The collection comes from renowned gallerist and dealer Heinz Berggruen, who scoured Europe after World War II through 1990 to acquire many works, some directly from the artists themselves. Though you may recognize the names of the artists, you likely won't be familiar with some of the works on display, as they tend to be more obscure pieces. Open through September 13.

    Time Mission
    Journey from the beginning of the universe through the molten emergence of the Earth to the far future for a cyberpunk heist. Time Mission is a single room immersive experience that pits 2 - 5 player aged 6 and up through 25 possible mental and physical games to progress through the fourth dimension. Developed by the same minds behind the Museum of Illusions, Time mIssion is just the latest in high-end immersive game services in the Houston, albeit it one with a temporal travel twist.

    Velocity Sim Racing Lounge
    Go-kart and sim racing often leave the younger children out of the mix thanks to height requirements on the equipment. Velocity Sim Racing Lounge in the Sawyer Yards district is changing that with their new Racer 2.0 rigs. Rated for ages 5 and up, the rigs come with adjustable pedals, steering wheels, and seats, making them far more accessible to both young racers and those with disabilities. Velocity is also debuting a new virtual track, Dino Rush, that lets you race through a prehistoric park.

    news/city-life

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