Austin is one of the easiest and most fun road trips to take from Dallas! We recently spent 24 hours in Austin and managed to squeeze in lake views, live music, a state park, and the biggest donut we’ve ever seen. If you’re planning a Dallas to Austin road trip, here’s a simple itinerary to make the most of a quick trip.

Caddo Lake doesn’t feel like Texas; it feels more like Louisiana. Bald cypress trees rise out of dark water, and Spanish moss hangs overhead. In mid-November, we finally made it to Caddo Lake State Park, chasing fall color and an escape from the city, and it ended up one of our favorite road trips from Dallas yet!

If there’s one thing we’ve learned since moving to Texas, it’s that you don’t need a plane ticket to take an incredible vacation. Some of the best vacations from Dallas are just a tank of gas away, from desert canyons and beach escapes to mountain cabins and music-filled cities. Here are eight of our favorite getaways, all within a day’s drive of Dallas!

Dallas is perfectly positioned for fun weekend escapes. Wine country, hill country, historic cities, and outdoor adventures are all just a short drive away. Here are some of the best weekend road trips from Dallas for a Friday-to-Sunday getaway!

This guide will help you figure out the best time to drive from Dallas to Big Bend National Park, how to get there, where to stay, and what to do along the way. Whether you’re driving the whole way or considering flying part of the trip, we’ve got you covered.

The 21-mile stretch between Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village gradually descends nearly 2,000 feet from the Chihuahuan Desert basin down to the Rio Grande, past ancient limestone, wide-open desert, and big mountain views. You’ll pass through birding and wildlife hotspots, quiet desert oases, and end up near one of the park’s most iconic experiences: the Hot Springs.

This short, winding road offers some of the most jaw-dropping views in Big Bend National Park. It curves through mountain passes on the way to the park’s only lodge and some of its best hikes, leading you straight into the heart of the Chisos Mountains.

Big Bend’s Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is a rugged, remote route that gives you a front-row seat to Texas’s desert drama. If you're headed to Big Bend and want to see the best of it with limited time, this is the most popular drive to do!

We’re calling this one Desert Parks, a desert-meets-mountains road trip through West Texas and southern New Mexico that connects four underrated but unforgettable national parks: Guadalupe Mountains National Park (TX), White Sands National Park (NM), Carlsbad Caverns National Park (NM), and (bonus) Big Bend National Park (TX).

We (finally!) celebrated our anniversary at Nick & Sam’s Steakhouse in Dallas, Texas. Here’s what to expect, what makes it special, and whether or not this restaurant is worth the splurge.