Cheap flights from Houston to escape the Texas summer heat

Cheap flights from Houston to escape the Texas summer heat

Texas has been experiencing record-breaking temperatures during the month of June, and surely some Houstonians are seeking shade and a short respite from the sweltering heat.

The Houston Chronicle evaluated the national forecast to identify nine currently cooler cities (after all, how many places are hotter than here?) and then used Expedia to search for relatively affordable flights to those locations this summer. Here are some itineraries available during the summer to U.S. cities with cooler weather and flights listed for less than $300.

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Visit the ‘Windy City’ to cool off

Chicago is seeing some mildly warm weather this week with daily high temperatures ranging between the 70s and 80s, according to the Weather Channel.

Whether you plan to take a dip in Lake Michigan, fill up on deep-dish pizza or laugh until you cry at a Second City comedy show, Chicago is cool in all the right ways.   

Nonstop round-trip flights are available in July and August for less than $200 via Spirit, United and Delta.

Flights in July can be as low as $158 and August tickets start around $130.

Chicago also features two major airports, just like Houston. For the lowest possible fares year-round, skip O’Hare International Airport and try snagging a seat on a smaller plane bound for Midway Airport from Houston Hobby on an airline with set weekly routes, such as Allegiant.  

Take a trip to Motor City

There are a few flights to Detroit, the home of Motown and Big Auto, available for less than $200, with many offered by Spirit.

With a range between $124 to $175 on nonstop round-trip flights, you could definitely get your money’s worth for a visit whether you stop by the Motown Museum or the Detroit Zoo.

Temperatures in Detroit are also far more comfortable, ranging from the high-70s to mid-80s.

Nation’s capital isn’t all Cherry Blossoms

Washington D.C. has warmer weather than the previously listed cities, but it’s still far more bearable than Houston’s heat, with high temperatures topping out in the 80s, with occasional storms.

Renowned for its springtime Cherry Blossom blooms which won’t be in season, visitors can still have “monument-al” amounts of fun taking in its monuments, museums and endless attractions sure to thrill any history buff. 

Flights during July are fairly reasonable on Spirit with nonstop flights starting at $173.

But the real deals are in August when you can catch a round-trip flight for just $126.

Drivers travel toward George Bush Intercontinental Airport along Will Clayton Parkway on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 in Houston.
Drivers travel toward George Bush Intercontinental Airport along Will Clayton Parkway on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 in Houston.Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Check out these cheap Charlotte flights

Charlotte is going to bring a mixture of some sun and some storms with temperatures in the 80s.

One might not immediately think of Charlotte for a quick vacation getaway, but at these prices, it’s worth exploring all it has to offer, including the NASCAR museum.

You should note the best prices are in August, with United and American offering nonstop flights for $174 round-trip.

For flights with one connection, prices land between $161 to $168, depending on how much you want to spend.

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Atlanta is the hot spot that’s all kinds of cool

Atlanta is always a hot spot to hit up during the summer between its epic concerts, attractions and food.

The former Olympic host city is also home to Coca-Cola and its Hartsfield Jackson Airport regularly rates among the world’s busiest since it serves as a hub for several airlines, which means prices tend to stay low.

Now, you can take advantage of some steals for flights coming up.

You can book a nonstop ticket via Spirit for a mere $78 dollars, and in August you can snag one for as little as $66.

If you want to spend a little more, in July, Delta has nonstop flights for just $126.

Frontier has tickets in July for one-stop flights for $122, or you can book a nonstop ticket in August for just $71.

Either way, you cannot make a bad call with these prices.

Enjoy the culture and food in nearby NOLA

New Orleans is bringing some heat, along with some rain to help you cool off.

No one can deny New Orleans is a must-visit destination in the South, and at these prices, you won’t have to wait long to take a trip.

Visitors can expect high temps into the 90s, which is still slightly more comfortable than the triple-digit weather the Bayou City currently is contending with.

Tickets are super cheap for New Orleans from Houston, starting at just $54 via Spirit and $126 via United in July.

August prices are also cheap, if not cheaper, with tickets going for $66 via Spirit and $97 on United.

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Passengers check in for their flights at the Southwest Airlines ticket counters at Hobby Airport for their flights on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 in Houston. Southwest Airlines plans to return to its regular schedule starting Friday, officials announced Thursday, even through airline had canceled another 133 flights into and out of Houston’s Hobby Airport, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. The airline was running about a third of its usual flights as of Thursday, the latest in several days full of cancelations and chaos for the company.
Passengers check in for their flights at the Southwest Airlines ticket counters at Hobby Airport for their flights on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 in Houston. Southwest Airlines plans to return to its regular schedule starting Friday, officials announced Thursday, even through airline had canceled another 133 flights into and out of Houston’s Hobby Airport, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. The airline was running about a third of its usual flights as of Thursday, the latest in several days full of cancelations and chaos for the company.Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Hooray for Hollywood and its low humidity

Los Angeles is surprisingly pretty cool right now weather-wise, so we were hoping flight prices would bring an equally pleasant surprise.

Visitors can expect high temps in the 70s and 80s currently, which should feel very comfortable for Houston travelers, particularly with much less humidity than at home.

Tickets are on the cusp of just under $200, with United and Delta charging $198 for a nonstop ticket.

Spirit is charging between $197 to $227 before fares increase.

Welcome to Miami and its ocean breezes

Miami is never expected to be a cheap trip, but we did manage to snag some tickets for less than $200 for those interested in trading stifling humidity for ocean breezes.

Miami’s weather is currently in the high 80s and sunny, which is not unexpected, and tickets are fairly reasonable to start out the summer. Just be warned the home of Art Basel and Little Havana will give Houston a run for the most humid locale later this summer, so the sooner you can visit, the better.  

Nonstop tickets via Spirit can go for around $139 at a minimum and up to $190 in July.

American, Frontier and Delta are also offering decent prices for tickets below $200.

Although tickets are actually cheaper in August if you’re booking ahead of time, with nonstop tickets at just $100 on Spirit and $198 for United, it may not be cooler than Houston by then.

Pack in adventure in the ‘city that never sleeps’

Let’s hear it for New York, the city that never sleeps. Anyone interested in visiting should always be able to find a ticket, including nightly redeye flights from several cities.

The only trick is ensuring you can find a ticket within your price range, and we did.

The best month to go for reasonable tickets is August when a nonstop ticket can be booked for $180 via American.

If you’re willing to take a one-stop flight, Spirit has tickets between $152 to $177.

No matter where you choose, be sure it doesn’t break the bank and that you can enjoy some cooler weather to cope with the current Houston heat wave.