Minute Suites DFW Airport

New sleep-by-the-minute suites usher in nap time at Dallas-Fort Worth AIrport

It's nap time at Minute Suites.

Photo courtesy of Minute Suites

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport travelers looking to grab a little shut-eye have another place to roost. Today (March 21), Minute Suites opens a location in Terminal A, next to gate A38.

This is the second location at DFW. The new Terminal A location will have seven suites, consisting of four regular and three "premium" window suites, which have more room than standard suites, including a connecting suite for groups and families.

The original location opened in Terminal D in 2013. It has 10 suites, plus two showers. With the new location, that makes a total of 17 suites.

Suites require a one-hour minimum reservation. You can also book an eight-hour day rate and a flat overnight rate, too.

A one-hour rental is $42, with $10.50 for every 15 minutes after. The day rate is $160, and the overnight rate (11 pm-7 am) is $140. A 30-minute shower is $30, or $20 with room rental.

Minute Suites was founded in 2008 as a healthier way for people to travel. They're the first company in North America to provide private suites inside security at airports, where travelers can nap, relax, or work. Similar accommodations exist at airports in other countries such as Japan, but they're usually just a simple bed.

Each suite comes with a daybed sofa with a sliding trundle bed, plus pillows, blankets, desk, and office chair. A sound-masking system helps neutralize noise, and a unique Nap26 audio program is available to help deliver a refreshing power nap.

Each room has a computer with a 32-inch screen equipped with high-speed internet, flight-tracking information, and DirecTV. Laptop users can connect with the internet using airport Wi-Fi or a direct connection port. Guests can use the alarm clock in the suite or request a wake-up call.

According to Minute Suites co-founder Daniel Solomon, about 50 percent of users take a nap, 30 percent relax, and 20 percent work.

This opening marks the fourth airport location. The first Minute Suites opened in Atlanta in 2009, and there's also a facility in Philadelphia, with plans to open more in 2017, says Solomon in a release.

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it's park season

Texas' 2 national parks boast best scenery in the U.S., per report

Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash

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Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park out in far west Texas offer the best views of the American wilderness in 2026, according to a new national list.

The recognition comes in HomeToGo's "2026 National Parks Report," a new "data-driven ranking" of 51 national parks located in the contiguous U.S. Parks are evaluated across various factors including their proximity to major transport hubs, annual visitor figures adjusted for seasonal accessibility, and the median nightly cost per person for vacation accommodations in the area surrounding each park in 2026.

Guadalupe Mountains ranked as the 16th best national park to visit this year, and it has the fifth-most affordable vacation accommodations out of all the parks on the list. Nearby lodging costs about $62 per person per night, but campers can stay at one of the three developed campgrounds at the park for as little as $20 per night.

Visitors can go hiking and backpacking across 80 miles of rugged trails, but don't expect to take any vehicles far into the parkland. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is almost entirely road-free, allowing for the protection of local wildlife and the preservation of the park's beautiful scenery.

Travelers on the hunt for the perfect scenic drive can instead head over to Big Bend National Park, which ranked as the 26th best must-see national park in 2026. There are over 100 miles of paved roads around the park for exploration, as well as improved and primitive dirt roads.

Big Bend National Park is a popular choice for Texas travelers. Photo by Backroad Packers on Unsplash

The National Park Service (NPS) offers route recommendations specifically for day trippers.

"Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin," the NPS website says. "The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive will give you fantastic views of the Chihuahuan Desert landscape and will lead you to the banks of the Rio Grande. There are scenic overlooks and exhibits along the way, and the short walks to Sam Nail Ranch and Homer Wilson Ranch and a visit to the Castolon Historic District will give you a glimpse into Big Bend’s past."

Visitors that want to turn their day trips into overnight stays near the park can do so for about $96 per person per night, or they can camp on-site with nightly fees starting at $16. Travelers can additionally book a room at the Chisos Mountains Lodge or Big Bend Station, but Chisos Mountains Lodge will temporarily close on May 1 while the NPS completes two Chisos Basin improvement projects over the next two years.

A HomeToGo survey said about 40 percent of Americans are planning national park trips in 2026, with millennials and Gen Zers showing a higher interest in exploring the American wilderness.

"At HomeToGo, we believe vacation planning should be fun, but we know it’s not always a walk in the park," said spokesperson Eleanor Moody. "That’s why this year’s index ranks destinations based on affordability, crowd levels, and convenience in terms of nearby accommodation availability and ease of access, making it easier than ever for travelers to pinpoint an ideal destination based on what’s most important to them."

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