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2 cleaner spots within a 3-hour drive

Austin is breathing 2.9 cigarettes a week

9
PM2.5 µg/m³
50
AQI
3.1
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
See the 2 cleaner spots

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

New Braunfels looks like the better move.49% cleaner air with a verified 55 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Austin Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Wimberley
Cel-shaded illustration of Wimberley
#1WimberleyPM2.5 4.6~50 min drivesaves 1.4 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³

Hill Country village between Austin and San Antonio, tucked among cypress-lined creeks, with cottages and inns.

49% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

49% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
New Braunfels
Cel-shaded illustration of New Braunfels
#2New BraunfelsPM2.5 4.6~55 min drivesaves 1.4 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 4.6 µg/m³

Hill Country town at the spring-fed Comal and Guadalupe river confluence, a breezy river-town escape, with hotels and rentals.

49% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.6 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.6/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

49% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Marble Falls
Cel-shaded illustration of Marble Falls
#3Marble FallsPM2.5 6.3Checking road routesaves 0.9 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³

Highland Lakes town on Lake Marble Falls, an open-water Hill Country escape with resorts and rentals.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.3/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

30% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Horseshoe Bay
Cel-shaded illustration of Horseshoe Bay
#4Horseshoe BayPM2.5 6.3Checking road routesaves 0.9 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³

Hill Country resort town on Lake LBJ, an open-water escape with golf resorts and lakeside lodging.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.3/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

30% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Llano
Cel-shaded illustration of Llano
#5LlanoPM2.5 6.3Checking road routesaves 0.9 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³

Granite-country Hill Country seat on the Llano River, a quieter base than the busier lake towns nearby.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.3/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

30% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Fredericksburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Fredericksburg
#6FredericksburgPM2.5 6.5~1 h 40 min drivesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³

Hill Country town in the German-settled heart of central Texas, set higher and drier than the coast, with inns and B&Bs.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.5 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.5/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

28% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Canyon Lake
Cel-shaded illustration of Canyon Lake
#7Canyon LakePM2.5 7.3Checking road routesaves 0.5 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³

Hill Country reservoir community on the Guadalupe headwaters, an open-water escape with lakeside rentals.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.3/22 × 7 = 2.3 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
San Antonio
Cel-shaded illustration of San Antonio
#8San AntonioPM2.5 7.3~1 h 30 min drivesaves 0.5 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³

A major Texas city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.3/22 × 7 = 2.3 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Boerne
Cel-shaded illustration of Boerne
#9BoernePM2.5 7.3Checking road routesaves 0.5 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³

German-settled Hill Country town northwest of San Antonio, with a walkable creekside Main Street of inns.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 7.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.3/22 × 7 = 2.3 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
19% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Lakeway
Cel-shaded illustration of Lakeway
#10LakewayPM2.5 9.8Checking road route

Texas· PM2.5 9.8 µg/m³

Lake Travis resort community west of Austin, an open-water escape with waterfront resorts and rentals.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 9.8 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.8/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
9% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Blanco
Cel-shaded illustration of Blanco
#11BlancoPM2.5 9.8Checking road route

Texas· PM2.5 9.8 µg/m³

Small Hill Country town on the Blanco River, a quiet countryside base between Austin and San Antonio.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 9.8 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.8/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
9% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Onion Creek
Cel-shaded illustration of Onion Creek
#12Onion CreekParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.9 cigs/wk

Texas

Texas community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bandera
Cel-shaded illustration of Bandera
#13BanderaPM2.5 4.2Checking road routesaves 1.5 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 4.2 µg/m³

"Cowboy Capital of the World" on the Medina River in the Hill Country, higher and drier than the Gulf coast.

53% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.2 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.2/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

53% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Kerrville
Cel-shaded illustration of Kerrville
#14KerrvillePM2.5 5.3Checking road routesaves 1.2 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³

Hill Country hub on the Guadalupe River, set on the Edwards Plateau with a broad hotel base.

41% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.3 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.3/22 × 7 = 1.7 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

41% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Houston
Cel-shaded illustration of Houston
#15HoustonPM2.5 6.5~3 h drivesaves 0.8 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³

A major Texas city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.5 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.5/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

28% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Waco
Cel-shaded illustration of Waco
#16WacoPM2.5 9.9Checking road route

Texas· PM2.5 9.9 µg/m³

A major Texas city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 9.9 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.9/22 × 7 = 3.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
10% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Columbus
Cel-shaded illustration of Columbus
#17ColumbusParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.9 cigs/wk

Texas

Texas community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Dilley
Cel-shaded illustration of Dilley
#18DilleyPM2.5 3.1Checking road routesaves 1.9 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 3.1 µg/m³

Texas community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

66% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.1 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.1/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

66% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Laredo
Cel-shaded illustration of Laredo
#19LaredoPM2.5 3.5Checking road routesaves 1.8 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 3.5 µg/m³

A major Texas city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

61% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.5 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.5/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

61% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Glen Rose
Cel-shaded illustration of Glen Rose
#20Glen RosePM2.5 3.6Checking road routesaves 1.7 cigs/wk

Texas· PM2.5 3.6 µg/m³

Dinosaur-country town on the Paluxy River southwest of Fort Worth, with cabins and river-valley air.

60% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.6 µg/m³ here vs 9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.6/22 × 7 = 1.1 here; 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Austin right now

60% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

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What this means · Austin

Phew.

2.9cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

9 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 9 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 9/22 × 7 = 2.9 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →