on the road again

Vonlane expands luxury bus service from Houston to charming Texas city

You can now wheel away before sunrise.

Courtesy of Vonlane

In welcome news for Houston travelers seeking alternatives to flying or filling their tanks, Vonlane has ramped up service to a favorite North Texas destination.

The luxury bus operator has introduced two new departures, on peak travel days, from Houston to Fort Worth and Austin (for a total of four daily excursions between each city).

"Good news, early birds! Cowtown just got more accessible with added departure times out of Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth that allow you to have a productive day trip aboard Vonlane," the company said in an August 23 email to customers. "Avoid the overnight hotel stay, travel in first-class comfort, and arrive home rested and caught up on phone calls and emails."

The schedule now looks like this:

Fort Worth to/from Houston: 6 am, 10:45 am, 3:30 pm, 8:15 pm Monday-Friday; modified service Saturday-Sunday.

Fort Worth to/from Austin: 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm, 7 pm Monday-Friday; modified service Saturday-Sunday.

With the newly expanded services, the Dallas-based company says, it has returned to 95 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity. Beginning in October, in fact, travelers can expect up to eight departures each way on Vonlane’s most popular routes, they say — a total of 72 departures on peak days between major Texas destinations.

“Texans are eager to get out and travel across the state for vacation, for work, and to see loved ones, and they are looking to Vonlane for the best travel experience in America,” said Alex Danza, founder and CEO of Vonlane, in a statement. “By increasing our departures to pre-pandemic levels, we’re making it easier than ever for travelers to get away on their own schedule in comfort and style.”

Around Texas, Vonlane’s upcoming schedule will offer the following departures on peak days:

Houston-Dallas: 8 departures each way
Houston-Austin: 8 departures each way
Houston-San Antonio: 4 departures each way
Houston-Fort Worth: 4 departures each way
Fort Worth-Austin: 4 departures each way
Dallas-Austin: 8 departures each way

The company says it hopes to re-launch out-of-state service in November. Pre-pandemic, it operated routes to and from Oklahoma City.

Vonlane launched its high-end bus service in 2014 to cater to business travelers. Each bus, which holds fewer than two dozen passengers, features amenities like Wi-Fi, satellite TV and radio, snack and drink service, sleep masks, and leather seats. Fares start at $99.

In Houston, buses depart in front of both the Hyatt Regency — Downtown (1200 Louisiana St.) and Hyatt Regency — Galleria (2626 Sage Rd.)

Reservations can be booked online, and may be canceled and fully refunded up to 24 hours before departure.

transportation

are we there yet?

Texas coasts as 6th best summer road trip destination in America

Courtesy photo

Set up a good playlist, find your destination, and let's get cruising.

Those planning a good old-fashioned road trip this summer will be happy to know that the Lone Star State is cruising as one of the 10 best road trip destinations in the U.S. this year.

Texas ranks 6th in WalletHub's latest study, "Best & Worst States for Summer Road Trips," which compared all 50 states based on their affordability, scenery, safety, and fun. The survey analyzed factors that road trippers prioritize for their vacation plans, such as the average price for gas, traffic congestion, the type of attractions in each state, among others.

Minnesota reigned as the No. 1 best road trip destination for 2026, followed by Utah (No. 2) and Louisiana (No. 3).

Nearly three quarters of Americans are planning a road trip this year, and traveling affordably is a big priority no matter where the destination, the report found.

"While deciding to travel is easy, choosing the right destination — and staying within budget — can be more challenging," the report said. "Gas prices remain a concern, with the national average still above $4.50 per gallon."

Gas prices will vary depending on the city, but AAA reports the statewide average price for gas is $3.42 for regular, $4.26 for premium, and $4.42 for diesel in June.

This is how Texas performed across the three main categories in the study:

No. 5 – Activities
No. 15 – Costs
No. 39 – Safety

There's no shortage of things to do around the state this summer, from going camping, indulging in as many food festivals as you can handle, taking the kids to a new theme park, or taking a trip down to the coast for a sun-filled getaway.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the best destinations for road trips are the places that similarly value affordability while "providing the best driving experience and most fun activities."

"Taking a summer road trip can be a very exciting way to experience a new place, but with the prices of gas, food and accommodations still impacted by inflation, you’ll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable," Lupo said. "Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road."

The top 10 best states for road trips in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Minnesota
No. 2 – Utah
No. 3 – Louisiana
No. 4 – New York
No. 5 – Florida
No. 6 – Texas
No. 7 – Maine
No. 8 – Georgia
No. 9 – North Carolina
No. 10 – Ohio

travel vacation wallethub reports texas summer road trip