20 Day Trips From Dallas

The Lone Star State of Texas is not only massive in size but also in personality and options. From city nightlife to peaceful lakeside cabins, Texas really does have something for everyone. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is rich in culture and history, with many interactive museums and historical districts. So, if you need fun and adventure, check out our list below of day trips from Dallas.

Dallas Day Trips

20 Day Trips From Dallas

1- Six Flags Over Texas

Located in the metroplex around Dallas-Fort Worth, Six Flags Over Texas is the original amusement park in the Six Flags chain (which currently includes a whopping 27 parks).

Here you’ll find fun for all of the family, from the Texas Giant with its 79-degree drop to the spinning teacups (La Fiesta de la Tazas).

The park is split into themed zones for each of the six countries whose flags have been flown over Texas at some point in history: Spain, Mexico, France, Texas, the Old South and the United States of America.

Grab a tasty funnel cake and a bowl of Dippin’ Dots (the tasty ice cream snack found in Texas’ favourite activity locations).

Six Flags Over Texas is in Arlington, 17 miles (27 km) and about a 20-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

2- Arlington

Speaking of Arlington, this city isn’t just home to Texas’ coolest amusement park; it also houses the Arlington Museum of Art (AMA), the Arlington Music Hall, the AT&T stadium, and the Globe Life Park.

So whether you’re an art connoisseur or Baseball’s biggest fan, this city has something for you.

The AT&T stadium hosts many events such as concerts, the NFL Preseason, Dallas Cowboys football games, and the Big 12 Football Championship.

Some of this year’s concerts include Garth Brooks, The Weeknd, and Bad Bunny.

Arlington is 21 miles (34 km) and about a 25-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

3- Grapevine

One of Grapevine’s most significant attractions (and the hint is in the name) is its range of different wineries.

The city got its namesake due to the wild mustang grapes that grew in the region, and to this day, there is still a multitude of wineries in the city, such as Bingham Family Vineyard and the Messina Hof Winery.

Stop in for a wine tasting, cheese and chocolate at the Bingham Tasting Room. You can taste five wines for only $15. A deal not to be missed.

Grapevine is 26 miles (42 km) and about a 30-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

4- Fort Worth

Fort Worth is known for its historic stockyards district. Here you can see a rodeo and watch the cattle drive through the city twice daily at 11.30 am and 4 pm.

Fort Worth is also home to the Fort Worth Zoo, Sundance Square, the Fort Worth Water Gardens, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Fort Worth Japanese Garden.

Sundance Square is a lively hub within the city and offers a massive choice of restaurants, theatres, and entertainment.

If you feel like catching a show, the Bass Performance Hall is just a short walk down the street.

Fort Worth is 32 miles (51 km) and about a 30-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

5- Grapevine Lake

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is known for its plethora of beautiful natural lakes, one of the most stunning of these being Grapevine Lake.

Grapevine Lake is 8,000 acres large and allows boating, water-skiing, windsurfing, fishing, and camping.

The lake also offers a fireworks show every year on the 4th of July and has its own restaurant located on the lake.

Did someone say fried catfish?

Grapevine Lake is 33 miles (52 km) and about a 40-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

6- Lewisville Lake

Lewisville Lake is another of the metroplex’s beautiful lakes and one of North Texas’s largest lakes spanning 29,000 acres.

This lake also offers boating, swimming, and skiing.

There are campgrounds and hiking trails around the lake.

Visit the lake for a day, a weekend, or a week and you’ll find so much to do you’ll never get bored.

Lewisville Lake is 36 miles (58 km) and about a 40-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

7- Denton Square

Denton is known as the Little D to Dallas’ Big D.

The jewel of this historic town is its centre square which includes its courthouse from 1896.

The old-town charm continues with restaurants such as Beth Marie’s (a classic ice cream parlour) and the Atomic Candy retro candy store.

The Oak Street and Eastside bar districts are located just outside of the square and often host food trucks and live music.

Denton also has one of the best tattoo parlours in North Texas, Dark Age Tattoo Studio.

The studio received the Dallas Best Tattoo Studio Award in 2016 and has been named Best of Denton county from 2016 to 2021 (minus 2018).

Denton Square is 39 miles (63 km) and about a 40-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

8- Greenville

Another old-town style city just outside of Dallas is Greenville.

This city hosts the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum, the Splash Kingdom Air Patrol waterpark, the Texan Theater, and Graham Park.

If you visit in April, attend the Hunt County Fair for rides, live music and a celebration of local agriculture.

Check out the Christmas Parade on the first Friday in December for a winter festival, including floats, marching bands, and antique cars.

If you’re on a winery tour of Texas and have already checked out Grapevine, don’t miss the Landon Winery in Greenville.

The Splash Kingdom Air Patrol waterpark is the perfect place to go to escape from Texas’ brutally hot summers.

Greenville is 52 miles (83 km) and about a 50-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

9- Canton Flea Market

The monthly flea market in Canton, Texas, is known as First Monday Trade Days.

This market occurs on Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of each month and is known as the oldest continually run flea market in the United States.

The Canton Flea Market first started in 1965 and continues to this day, having grown dramatically in size over time.

No matter your taste, this flea market is sure to have treasures for everyone.

The Canton Flea Market is 60 miles (96 km) and about an hour’s drive from Downtown Dallas.

10- Athens

Athens, Texas, is home to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, the East Texas Arboretum, Lake Athens, and Athens Brewing Co.

Athens also hosts the 3 P’s in a Vine Winery and Vineyard and therefore counts as a must-see on the Texas winery list!

Athens is 73 miles (118 km) and about an hour and a 10-minute drive from Downtown Dallas.

11- Dinosaur Valley State Park

Dinosaur Valley State Park is a fun day for every family member: who doesn’t love dinosaurs?

Here, imagination and reality collide.

In this state park, you can find real dinosaur tracks, camp, swim, and fish, among many other things.

If you’re looking for a guided tour, Eagle Eye Ranch Carriage Company offers tours on horseback and in wagons.

They also offer trail rides for children aged 3 to 14 years old. Just keep an eye out for the T-Rex on your ride.

The Dinosaur Valley State Park is 80 miles (129 km) and about an hour and twenty minutes drive from Downtown Dallas.

12- Lake Texoma

Another of North Texas’ beautiful lakes is Lake Texoma, where you can go fishing, camping, cabin rentals, horse-riding and boating.

To the locals, Lake Texoma goes by the name Texoma or Texomaland.

This lake lives up to the saying that “everything is bigger in Texas”, as it spans an incredible 89,000 acres.

Lake Texoma is 89 miles (142 km) and about an hour-and-a-half drive from Downtown Dallas.

13- Dr Pepper Museum

If there’s one thing that Texans are known for, it is their love and reverence for the soda Dr Pepper.

Visit the Dr Pepper museum in Waco to learn about the history of this soft drink.

You can’t make a reservation to visit the museum; tickets are not sold online, so turn up and buy them in person at the location.

All visitors with paid admission will receive a free drink.

You can also make your own bottle of soda with the Make-A-Soda Experience.

The Dr Pepper Museum in Waco is 101 miles (163 km) and about an hour-and-a-half drive from Downtown Dallas.

14- Turner Falls

Turner Falls is a little further away from Dallas than the other stunning lakes in North Texas, as this park is actually in Oklahoma.

However, the two-hour drive is definitely worth the trip to see the stunning waterfall and beautiful blue water.

Turner Falls also has castles, caves, cabins and RV sites.

Whether you’re looking to relax in the cool waters, hike up to Collings Castle, or have a picnic by the waterfall, there’s plenty to do here to keep the entire family occupied and happy!

Turner Falls is 128 miles (206 km) and about a two-hour drive from Downtown Dallas.

15- Possum Kingdom State Park

Heading back to Texas, Possum Kingdom State Park has air-conditioned cabins, hiking trails and some of the bluest waters in Texas.

The park is 20,000 acres large and has its own privately operated marina.

The Possum Kingdom State Park is 134 miles (216 km) and about a two hours and twenty minutes drive from Downtown Dallas.

16- Chickasaw Nation

The Chickasaw Visitor Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma, includes a gallery with exhibits from Native American artists.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center exhibits the culture of the Chickasaw Nation and hosts daily activities such as the Stomp Dance Demonstration.

This destination is an absolute must-see for any visitors to North Texas.

The Chickasaw Nation is 150 miles (241 km) and about a 2.5-hour drive from Downtown Dallas.

17- Oklahoma City

Some of the highlights of Oklahoma City include the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Hefner Lake & Park.

Oklahoma City is also known for its old warehouse district, Bricktown, which has been given a new breath of life as a refurbished neighbourhood offering upscale shops and restaurants.

Oklahoma City is 206 miles (332 km) and about a three-hour drive from Downtown Dallas.

18- Austin

The capital of Texas, Austin, has been exponentially growing in recent years and has become a major cultural and music hub within the state.

One of the more exciting events in this city is the nightly flight of over one million bats from Congress Bridge. But no worries, these aren’t the vampire kind!

If you visit Austin, you have to pay a visit to the Capitol Building. Entry is free, but Texas Capitol City Tours offers a one-hour tour for $20 a person for those passionate about government and Texas legislature.

Austin is 216 miles (348 km) and about a 3.5-hour drive from Downtown Dallas.

19- Houston

When in Houston, check out the Houston Museum of National Science and the Children’s Museum of Houston for educational fun for all ages.

Also located in Houston is the Houston Zoo and the Space Center Houston.

Houston is 239 miles (385 km) and about a 3.5-hour drive from Downtown Dallas.

20- Fredericksburg

Following our wine tour through the state, Fredericksburg is also known for its incredible wineries and vineyards, such as the Grape Creek Vineyards.

Main Street Fredericksburg brings a little slice of Germany into Texas as the city was founded by German immigrants in 1846.

German culture still plays a massive role in everyday life here, and the Oktoberfest celebrations absolutely can’t be missed.

Fredericksburg is 250 miles (402 km) and about a four-hour drive from Downtown Dallas.