Best Cities for Outdoor Enthusiasts in Texas
What Outdoor Enthusiasts Should Know About Texas
Texas ranks #45 out of 50 for outdoor enthusiasts, which may surprise given its reputation. The outdoor access score of 5/100 indicates limited public outdoor infrastructure compared to western and northeastern states. At just 1.8% public land, access to wilderness requires more effort — but state and local parks fill some of the gap.
Environmental quality matters when you spend significant time outdoors. Texas's environment score of 41/100 is middling — air quality (AQI: 43) is moderate, though environmental policy could be stronger. Natural disaster risk is low, meaning fewer disruptions to outdoor plans.
The practical side: average living costs (index: 97) keep outdoor lifestyles manageable. Safety (53/100) is worth researching at the local level, and the overall health infrastructure (18/100) is adequate, though access to specialized sports medicine may be limited outside metros.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Outdoor Enthusiasts
| # | City | Grade | Outdoor Enthusiasts Score | Overall | Outdoor Access | Environment | Safety | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frisco | A+ | 48.2 | 65.1 | 5 | 41 | 91 | 225,009 |
| 2 | McKinney | A | 47.6 | 62.7 | 5 | 41 | 93 | 213,504 |
| 3 | Plano | B | 44.0 | 56.0 | 5 | 41 | 84 | 288,228 |
| 4 | Denton | B | 42.7 | 53.1 | 5 | 41 | 74 | 158,361 |
| 5 | Grand Prairie | C+ | 41.3 | 50.0 | 5 | 41 | 83 | 202,092 |
| 6 | Irving | C+ | 40.9 | 50.5 | 5 | 41 | 70 | 254,392 |
| 7 | Garland | C+ | 40.5 | 49.7 | 5 | 41 | 75 | 243,536 |
| 8 | El Paso | C | 39.3 | 45.4 | 5 | 41 | 75 | 678,945 |
| 9 | Austin | C+ | 39.1 | 50.7 | 5 | 41 | 50 | 979,700 |
| 10 | Fort Worth | C | 38.3 | 48.7 | 5 | 41 | 56 | 976,932 |
| 11 | Laredo | D | 37.8 | 44.3 | 5 | 41 | 69 | 252,974 |
| 12 | Arlington | C | 37.2 | 45.9 | 5 | 41 | 57 | 398,423 |
| 13 | Brownsville | D | 36.7 | 40.9 | 5 | 41 | 66 | 190,166 |
| 14 | Killeen | D | 35.2 | 41.4 | 5 | 41 | 64 | 159,635 |
| 15 | Lubbock | D | 34.2 | 42.7 | 5 | 41 | 30 | 266,878 |
| 16 | Amarillo | D | 34.1 | 42.8 | 5 | 41 | 38 | 203,042 |
| 17 | Dallas | D | 33.7 | 42.7 | 5 | 41 | 34 | 1,302,859 |
| 18 | San Antonio | D | 32.9 | 42.4 | 5 | 41 | 23 | 1,495,312 |
| 19 | Corpus Christi | D | 31.5 | 39.7 | 5 | 41 | 28 | 316,603 |
| 20 | Houston | D | 30.4 | 39.4 | 5 | 41 | 11 | 2,311,461 |