9 Fun Weekend Road Trips from 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, Texas, for a Friday-to-Sunday getaway!
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1. Grapevine (about 30 minutes)
Why go: Known as the Christmas Capital of Texas and home to a thriving urban wine scene, Grapevine is a quick and festive escape that’s full of charm, especially during the holidays.
Highlights:
Wine tasting on Grapevine’s Urban Wine Trail, with standout spots like Messina Hof and Sloan & Williams, located within walking distance of Historic Main Street. We love sitting at the bar at Sloan & Williams Winery!
Riding the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, a restored 1920s train offering themed rides throughout the year, including the beloved North Pole Express during the holidays.
Strolling Historic Main Street, lined with boutiques, tasting rooms, and beautiful galleries.
🎄 Seasonal Tip: Consider planning your Dallas to Grapevine getaway during Christmas Capital of Texas celebrations, when the town transforms with millions of lights, parades, ice skating, holiday markets, and more than 1,400 seasonal events throughout November and December.
2. Fort Worth (about 45 minutes)
Why go: Whether you're catching a live rodeo, museum-hopping, or sipping cocktails downtown, Fort Worth makes for a well-rounded weekend escape just outside Dallas. Every time we have friends or family in town, we make a point to spend a day or two in Fort Worth. It always ends up being a highlight of their visit.
Highlights:
Exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards, where you can watch the daily cattle drive, shop Western boutiques, and catch a live rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum.
Strolling through the Cultural District, home to renowned museums like the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
Enjoying dinner and drinks in Sundance Square, a vibrant downtown district full of patios, shops, live music, and twinkling lights.
Visiting the Fort Worth Botanic Garden or Fort Worth Water Gardens for a peaceful outdoor escape.
Catching a show at Bass Performance Hall or two-stepping at Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky tonk.
3. Waco (about 1.5 hours)
Why go: An easy, low-stress drive from Dallas, Waco is the perfect weekend spot for fans of home design, riverside strolls, and laid-back small-city charm.
Highlights:
Visiting the Magnolia Silos, where you can shop Joanna Gaines’ signature home decor, browse local vendors, enjoy the garden and lawn games, and grab lunch from one of the many food trucks.
Exploring the Dr Pepper Museum, housed in the soft drink’s original bottling plant and full of quirky soda history.
Walking or biking the Waco Suspension Bridge and Riverwalk, a scenic stretch along the Brazos River.
Touring Baylor University’s campus, including the Armstrong Browning Library and Bear Habitat.
Spending time at Cameron Park Zoo or hiking the scenic trails in Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Texas.
4. Broken Bow, Oklahoma (about 3 hours)
Why go: Broken Bow is one of our favorite quick escapes from Dallas when you want to feel like you've actually gone on vacation. Between Broken Bow Lake, luxury cabins tucked into the woods, outdoor recreation, and Hochatown's restaurants, breweries, shops, and laid-back vacation atmosphere, it's surprisingly easy to slow down here, even if you only have a weekend.
Highlights:
Staying in one of the area's luxury cabins, many of which come with amenities like private hot tubs, fire pits, outdoor living spaces, game rooms, and even pools. We spent as much time enjoying our cabin as we did exploring!
Spending the day at Broken Bow Lake, whether you rent a pontoon or jet ski, kayak or paddleboard, or simply bring some floats, chairs, snacks, and sunscreen and hang out along the shore.
Hiking in Beavers Bend State Park. We hiked the 1.5-mile Friends Trail Loop, where we took off our shoes and cooled our feet in the water mid-hike while Lincoln hopped in for a swim.
Exploring Hochatown, where you'll find local breweries and beer gardens, restaurants, coffee shops, and little shopping areas all within a short drive of many of the area's cabins. The entire area has a casual vacation-town feel that makes it surprisingly easy to forget you're only about three hours from Dallas.
☀️ Seasonal Tip: Summer is perfect if you want the full lake-weekend experience, while fall brings beautiful foliage throughout the surrounding forests, typically peaking from late October into early November. Here’s a recap of our summer getaway to Broken Bow.
5. Austin (about 3 hours)
Why go: Live music, legendary BBQ, lakes, and that classic “Keep Austin Weird” energy, all in one weekend.
Highlights:
Live music on South Congress or at Mohawk.
Barton Springs Pool, Lady Bird Lake paddling, or hiking to Hamilton Pool (reservations required).
Explore Austin’s Food Truck Parks. Check out Arbor Food Park, The Picnic, Ira & Bevs Food Court, South First Food Court, and Thicket Food Truck Park.
Visiting the Texas State Capitol.
6. Caddo Lake (about 3.5 hours)
Why go: Unlike anywhere else in Texas, Caddo Lake is home to the largest cypress forest in the world. With moss-draped trees rising from still, bayou-like waters, this East Texas gem feels more like Louisiana than the Lone Star State.
Highlights:
Taking a guided boat tour or renting a canoe/kayak to explore the maze of bayous, sloughs, and channels. Sunrise and sunset are especially magical on the water.
Exploring Caddo Lake State Park, where you can hike, fish, birdwatch, and picnic among towering bald cypress trees.
Visiting the nearby historic town of Jefferson, known for antique shops, riverboat history, and charming B&Bs.
Booking a waterfront cabin or stilted cottage for a peaceful weekend stay with a view of the cypress-studded lake.
🍁 Seasonal Tip: Fall is an ideal time to visit, when the cypress trees turn golden and rust-colored, and early morning fog adds an otherworldly feel to the lake. Here’s a recap of our fall weekend getaway to Caddo Lake State Park.
7. Fredericksburg (about 4 hours)
Why go: Fredericksburg is a special vacation destination in the Texas Hill Country, with dozens of wineries, a walkable Main Street, unique wildlife experiences, and plenty to do outdoors. It’s one of my personal favorite weekend getaways from Dallas, especially if you have three days to spend.
Highlights:
Wine tasting throughout Fredericksburg wine country. Signor Vineyards is one of our favorites for its beautiful grounds, charcuterie boards, and wine, or plan your own self-guided wine tour along Highway 290.
Meeting giraffes and rhinos at Longneck Manor, where the Animal Encounter includes plenty of time to feed the giraffes, meet a rhino up close, and learn about the conservation work happening on-site.
Combining wine and wildlife at the Rhinory, where the Pinnacle Experience lets you sip wine while meeting Blake, the resident rhino. It’s easily one of the most unique winery experiences we’ve found in Fredericksburg.
Hiking at Enchanted Rock State Park. Summit the massive pink granite dome for the classic Enchanted Rock experience, or hike the five-mile, dog-friendly Loop Trail around its base for views of the rock from throughout the park.
Walking Main Street in the evening for restaurants, patios, shops, live music, and downtown tasting rooms. If you can, stay within walking distance so you can leave the car behind after a day of wine tasting.
Visiting during spring wildflower season to see bluebonnets throughout the Texas Hill Country. Stop at Wildseed Farms for its gardens and walking trails, but keep your eyes open on the drive too. Some of the best bluebonnets we saw were along the roads around Fredericksburg and Enchanted Rock.
8. San Antonio (about 4.5 hours)
Why go: A vibrant mix of culture, colorful markets, and historic landmarks like the Alamo and River Walk. San Antonio is a great choice for a weekend getaway that feels like a total change of scenery.
Highlights:
The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Boat ride along the River Walk, then prickly pear margaritas from Boudro’s on the Riverwalk.
Historic Market Square shopping.
Pearl District for dining and nightlife.
9. Hot Springs, Arkansas (about 5 hours)
Why go: A national park, historic bathhouses, and nature escapes. A classic weekend trip for Dallasites willing to go a little further.
Highlights:
Soaking at Buckstaff or Quapaw Bathhouse.
Hiking and exploring Hot Springs National Park.
Touring Bathhouse Row.
Whether you’re craving a peaceful nature escape (think Broken Bow or Hot Springs), an urban adventure (Austin or San Antonio), or wine and small-town charm (Fredericksburg and Grapevine), there’s a Dallas weekend road trip to match your mood!
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