travel woes

San Antonio Airport flights among most expensive in U.S.

Flights at the San Antonio International Airport will run travelers about $385 on average. San Antonio International Airport/Facebook

Before booking those spring break flights, you may want to double check ticket prices: A new report has revealed San Antonio International Airport is one of the most expensive airports in America in 2025.

The San Antonio airport climbed into the 15th spot in travel magazine Locals Insider's new rankings of "The Most and Least Affordable U.S. Airports." The report ranked 50 of the busiest U.S. airports based on average ticket prices for domestic flights using the latest available data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

The average price of a domestic flight at SAT came out to $384.52, which is the 15th priciest fare nationwide — higher than the national average airfare.

"In 2025, airline ticket prices have increased by 7.1 percent year-over-year, and the average airfare is $365.64, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics," the report said.

The No. 1 most expensive airport in the U.S. in 2025 is Washington Dulles International Airport. Average airfares at IAD come out to $472.61, which is 1.4 percent more expensive than last year.

All major Texas airports
SAT wasn't the only expensive Texas airport that appeared in Locals Insider's top 15 least affordable American airports.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the 10th most expensive airport in the nation, with airfares soaring to $392.31 on average.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston ranked one spot behind Dallas, appearing as the 11th most expensive airport nationally. The average flight out of IAH will run travelers $391.86 on average.

One spot above San Antonio was the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, landing in the No. 14 spot. Average ticket prices in Austin are just 12 cents higher than San Antonio's, at $384.64.

Popular travel hack
With flights becoming more expensive, many travelers are turning toward an unusual method of getting to their destination.

The method is called "skip-lagging": travelers book a flight with a layover but exit during the layover rather than continuing to the final destination, since flights with layovers are often more affordable than nonstop flights to the same city.

Austin, Dallas, and Houston all appeared among the report's list of top 25 U.S. cities where "skip-lagging" is gaining popularity.

While travelers can save money using this "hack," the report warns that they may get in trouble for it.

"Although skip-lagging provides travelers with the opportunity to bypass higher fares, it’s important to keep in mind that airlines discourage this travel hack, and they may even impose penalties on repeat offenders," the report said.

Instead, LocalsInsider suggests travelers book midweek flights one to three months in advance that depart on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (which tend to be cheaper than weekend flights), and search for regional airports that may offer more affordable airfare than major travel hubs. Google Flights also offers a helpful feature to help budget-savvy travelers track their flight pricing.

The top 10 most expensive American airports are:

No. 1 – Washington Dulles International Airport
No. 2 – John Wayne Airport–Orange County Airport
No. 3 – San Francisco International Airport
No. 4 – Salt Lake City International Airport
No. 5 – Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport
No. 6 – Newark Liberty International Airport
No. 7 – Charlotte Douglas International Airport
No. 8 – John F. Kennedy International Airport
No. 9 – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
No. 10 – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

flights travel spring break san antonio

on the road

West Texas site shows off on new list of most scenic U.S. campgrounds

North Prong Primitive Campground in Caprock Canyons State Park

undefined Photo courtesy of The Dyrt camper Alexandra

A primitive camping spot in the Texas Panhandle has just been named one of the most scenic campgrounds in America, boasting some of the prettiest views nationwide.

North Prong Primitive Campground is the sole Texas destination to make the cut in North American travel publication Matador Network's list of "60 Campsites With the Best Views Across the United States."

The San Francisco-based publication collaborated with various parks organizations, tourism boards, and campground review platform The Dyrt to develop its list of the most scenic American camping spots.

The list contains a variety of locations – from primitive sites with no amenities to full-service campgrounds with electrical hookups and WiFi – that each "represent the variety of experiences and landscapes available in each region" of the United States. The 60 sites were sorted into regional categories along the East Coast, West Coast, "Mountain West," Midwest, South, and in Alaska, Hawai’i, and other U.S. territories.

"Camping in the United States is as much about the landscapes as it is about the experience of being outdoors," the report said. "The country’s diverse geography and sheer size give it some of the most striking natural views in the world, from towering mountain ranges to vast desert expanses, dense forests, remote coastlines, shimmering glaciers, and even tropical rainforests."

North Prong Primitive Campground stood out among Matador's top-10 list of "Prettiest Places to Camp in the South." The campground is located within Caprock Canyons State Park in Quitaque, Texas, which is over 400 northwest from San Antonio.

There are eight different secluded campsites for visitors to pitch their tents at North Prong, offering breathtaking views of the park's red rock canyons and the wide-open Texas sky.

North Prong Primitive Campground Views for miles.Photo courtesy of The Dyrt camper Zach B.

"Most tent sites have expansive views of canyons with flat clearings on vivid red dirt and are dotted with cottonwood trees and scrub oaks," the report says. "The colors are vivid as can be at sunrise and sunset when light magnifies off steep red canyon walls in the distance."

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, it's a one-mile hike to reach the camping area, and visitors must bring their own drinking water and keep pets on a leash at all times. There are no trash cans on-site, so all trash must be carried out by campers, but the area does have composting toilets nearby. Ground fires are not allowed.

Matador recommends travelers book a reservation to gain access to the area, but clarifies that reservations do not provide access to one of the eight camping sites.

The report suggests traveling to the Panhandle campground during the spring when the weather isn't too hot yet, or in the fall months when there may be fewer dramatic temperature fluctuations.

"The South’s relatively mild winters make it a year-round camping destination, but summer heat and humidity can be intense, especially in the Deep South," the report said.

The top 10 best places to camp in the South are: