Up at the north end of Texas, Dallas is not quite the gulf, not quite the plains, and not quite the southwest, but it’s within easy driving distance of all three. In three hours or less, you can visit dynamic Texas university towns, go antiquing in quirky stores, sip your way from vineyard to vineyard, meet mammoths, and walk beside dinosaur footprints while breathing in the fresh air of the Texas hill country.
If you’re looking to escape the Metroplex, fire up your best road trip playlist, because these are the best day trips from Dallas.
Find Cattle and Culture in Fort Worth
Sportswriter Dan Jenkins once said, “If you want to see Texas, come to Fort Worth.” The city’s cowboy flavor, friendliness, and laid-back vibe haven’t diminished over the years, even as the physical boundaries between the fringes of Fort Worth and Dallas have blurred. Start your sampling platter of all things western over at the Stockyards, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the National Cowgirl Museum, and watch the daily bovine parade of the Fort Worth Herd.
For a more international outlook, you can see works of art from around the rest of the world at Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. For even more art with a more regional vibe, head to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Sid Richardson Museum.
How to get to Fort Worth: Fort Worth is just 30 minutes drive from Dallas on I-30 W, but you can also take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter train (one hour).
Splash in the Clear Waters at Possum Kingdom State Park
Immortalized in the 1994 single of the same name by the Dallas band, Toadies, Possum Kingdom State Park is a perennial favorite escape for Dallas citizens looking to spend a day at the lake, go for a hike, or spend the weekend camping in calm, green surroundings. There’s even a golf course and water warm enough to attract snorkelers and divers in summer, plus fishers and kayakers year-round.
How to get to Possum Kingdom State Park: It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Possum Kingdom from Dallas; there’s no public transport.
Museums, Mammoths, and More in Waco
Put memories of the town’s notorious 1993 siege to the back of your mind – locals celebrate Waco as the final resting place of woolly mammoths and the birthplace of Dr Pepper soda pop. Halfway between Dallas and Austin, Waco blends a little of Austin’s quirk and Dallas’ swagger, providing plenty to fill up a day trip.
From Waco Mammoth National Monument to the Dr Pepper Museum, there’s a lot of history to soak up here. Sports fans will enjoy the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum.
How to get to Waco: Waco is an hour and a half from Dallas on I-35E and I-35 S, or you can take the Greyhound bus (2½ hours).
Tune into Texas’ Musical Heritage in Denton
If you love the bands Bowling For Soup and Parquet Courts, musicians Sly Stone, Meat Loaf, Don Henley, and Roy Orbison, you will appreciate Denton, Texas. This small college town north of Dallas is deeply knit into pop culture thanks to the University of North Texas College of Music.
Come up for toe-tapping events such as the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, or just enjoy the regular live shows that fill venues such as Dan’s Silver Leaf and Abbey Underground.
How to get to Denton: Denton is 45 minutes to an hour from Dallas, depending on traffic, straight up I-35E. You can also get here on the A-Train from Dallas, though you’ll need to take the DART light rail Green Line train to Trinity Mills Station; allow 90 minutes for the journey.
Walk with Dinos at Dinosaur Valley State Park
Millions of years ago, an Acrocanthosaurus stomped across this part of the prairie, which was then the soft soil of a shallow beach. You can still see its footprints in the bed of the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley State Park. There are also twenty miles of trails to explore on foot or by horseback, plus geocaching opportunities and campsites.
Kids especially will love the statues of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Brontosaurus that were once mascots for the Sinclair Oil company. Today, these dinosaurs are classic roadside kitsch greeting park visitors on arrival.
How to get to Dinosaur Valley State Park: Dinosaur Valley State Park is an hour and a half southwest of Dallas via US-67 S; there are no public transport options.
Sip Your Way Along the Piney Woods Wine Trail
Although it’s not Napa, Sonoma, or the Willamette Valley quite yet, the wineries of East Texas are growing in number and popularity. Historically, the climate in this part of the state has been a bit warm and wet for grape growing, but agricultural scientists are learning new ways to practice viticulture, and new wineries continue to open along the Piney Woods Wine Trail.
This means Dallasites can enjoy visits to wine country in their own backyard. The trail consists of twenty East Texas wineries running from Nacogdoches to Naples, and coming with a car and a designated driver is the best way to explore.
How to get to the Piney Woods Wine Trail: Many of the wineries on this trail are centered around Tyler, Texas, which is an hour-and-a-half from Dallas on I-20 E.
Seek Antique Treasure in Canton
Thousands of antique enthusiasts gravitate to this small Texas town on the first Monday of each month for Canton First Monday Trade Days—a sprawling 100-acre flea market that draws vendors from all over. Even if you don’t come for First Monday, there are many crafts and homeware shops open beyond the flea market, including the Canton Dish Barn, Paul Michael Company, and Canton Marketplace.
How to get to Canton: Canton sits just under an hour to the east of Dallas via US-80 E and I-20 E.
Catch Austin’s Energetic College Vibe
A three-hour drive south from Dallas, the cultured, fun-filled Austin makes for an easy city break, even if you’re just staying for the day. Despite increasing gentrification and the tech industry’s influx, Austin has retained much of its college town indie cred.
This city still offers opportunities to spend a mellow afternoon admiring street art and enjoying alt cinema. Grab brunch at a local cafe, check out local outsider art, experience local culture, see a concert at a venue, and soak in the fresh waters of Barton Springs Pool if you visit on a hot summer day.
How to get to Austin: I-35 E will get you to Austin in three hours, though Greyhound bus routes and an Amtrak route also service this route, allowing four hours by bus or more than six by train. With the distance, and Austin’s abundant nightlife, stopping over for the night is a sensible decision.
Browse Museums on Every Subject in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma is three hours away from Dallas, which makes it a bit of a stretch for a day trip. However, it’s Texas, where long drives are the norm, and the Texas Longhorns’ college football rivals, the Sooners, are based here at the University of Oklahoma.
The university is responsible for Norman’s youthful, colorful energy, along with its array of museums, restaurants, bars, and public events. For excellent displays on art and nature, visit the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art. Weather enthusiasts will enjoy the National Weather Center, while politics fans will love the Julian P Kanter Political Commercial Archive.
How to get to Norman: Norman is about three hours north of Dallas on I-35. It’s a long drive for a day trip, so consider stopping over for the night.
Bask in the Green Gardens of Shreveport, Louisiana
While casinos beckon in Shreveport, Louisiana, so do beautiful gardens built during the city’s dramatic 20th-century cycle of boom and bust. Some of the most lovely green spaces include the American Rose Center and RW Norton Art Gallery, the latter of which features rare books and works by Frederic Remington and Charles M Russell set in a sprawling 40-acre oasis.
Other fun, less botanical museums include the Shreveport Water Works Museum, Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, and the family-friendly Sci-Port Discovery Center.
How to get to Shreveport: It’s just under three hours to Shreveport from Dallas via I-20 E, and the journey takes around the same time by bus.
Enjoy Antique-Hunting and Pie-Eating in Round Top, Texas
Round Top has long been a favorite destination for antique hunters, recently attracting the attention of travel influencers with its abundance of airy, monochrome vacation rentals primed for social media. This tiny town is overflowing with boutiques, artist studios, and vintage emporiums selling eclectic antiques and bric-a-brac. Head to Henkel Square for a blend of vintage architecture and shopping.
If you get hungry, pie is Round Top’s signature dish and can be found at many spots, including the aptly named Royers Pie Haven and Royer’s Round Top Cafe. Be sure to check if the day you plan to drive down coincides with the two annual Antique Weeks when Round Top will be congested with 15,000 pickers.
How to get to Round Top, Texas: Although it’s not far east of Austin, it will take three and a half hours to get to Round Top from Dallas, requiring you to transfer from I-25 E to the slower US-77 S partway.
