These weekend getaways from Dallas will take you through ancient mountains, expansive beaches, and lively historic districts to give you a flavor of Texas outside of the urban sprawl of the state’s third-largest city.
Dallas has a lot going for it on its own. Beyond the city’s attractions, the Big D enjoys a strategic location in Texas’ northeast region, making Oklahoma, Louisiana, and a slew of other states easily accessible by automobile.
In this guide, you’ll find all you need to know about all of the best Dallas getaways, including what to do once you arrive.
We’ve got you covered whether you want to mix it up with some trekking and camping or visit another big metropolis with a whole different vibe.
So, if you have a free weekend in Dallas and are looking for something to do, stay reading!
Do you want to spend a night or two in the city first? For a breakdown of the finest hotels, hostels, and VRBO in Dallas, see our recommendations on where to stay.
The Best Weekend Getaways from Dallas
If you want to see everything Texas or one of its neighboring states has to offer, Dallas is one of the greatest locations to start.
If you don’t own a car, we recommend renting one for a few days. In the wide, spread-out South, there’s no better way to get around!
If you have more than a weekend to spare, check out our comprehensive list of Texas road trips for some lengthier itineraries that will assure you get up and personal with little Southern communities and breathtaking natural surroundings.
After all, Texas is home to some of the top tourist attractions in the country!
Best Small Towns for Weekend Getaways from Dallas
You may see the greatest weekend getaways in Texas below, but if you just have a few days, here’s an in-depth guide to the best day trips from Dallas.
Fredericksburg, Texas
Tourists flock to this city, which has a population of fewer than 12,000 people. Fredericksburg, after all, is the hub of Texas Wine Country and provides an interesting glimpse into the legacy of German immigrants in the South.
So take your time and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) at one of Fredericksburg’s exquisite wineries–it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
If you love boutique hotels and quirky B&Bs, don’t miss our post on the best Fredericksburg TX Airbnbs, which will give you insider tips on how to lock down gorgeous digs for your entire trip! This German town (filled with great German restaurants) is also home to some of the artsiest accommodation in Texas, so if you love boutique hotels and quirky B&Bs, don’t miss our post on the best Fredericksburg TX Airbnbs, which will give you insider tips on how to lock.
If you’re traveling with your loved ones, these romantic cabins near Fredericksburg might be worth a look! After all, this charming village is one of America’s most romantic vacations!
Glen Rose, Texas
Glen Rose isn’t exactly at the top of most people’s Texas bucket lists. Don’t overlook this tiny hamlet, despite its population of fewer than 3000 people.
Dinosaur Valley, a magnificent state park near Dallas where hikers can wade into the Paluxy River and come upon huge footprints left from the time when ancient giants roamed the country, is the area’s main attraction.
Glen Rose, on the other hand, has a charming old city worth spending an evening exploring following your archaeological activities.
Jefferson, Texas
This weekend escape from Dallas is a charming look back in time.
With wonderful walking lanes and plenty of Southern hospitality, Jefferson has been around since before the Civil War and preserves its historical charm.
You may get handcrafted pecan pralines, locally produced salsas, and even old-fashioned candies from all over the world at the Jefferson General Store, which has been serving the town since the 1860s.
But beware: Jefferson’s charming exterior hides a darker underbelly. Jefferson, Texas’ most haunted town, offers several ghost excursions that will take you on a tour of the most ghostly locations.
Galveston, Texas
For many years, city or suburb-dwelling families have escaped to the shore as one of the most iconic weekends escapes from Dallas.
Yes, it’s a popular summer vacation destination in the United States, but the town has a lot to offer!
You’ll be able to partake in all of the traditional beach activities, such as walking down Galveston’s famous boardwalk.
There are souvenir shops, seafood restaurants, and the Historic Pleasure Pier, where you may ride amusement park attractions and fly over the Gulf of Mexico.
Head to Galveston Island State Park, which is noted for its bird watching and bayside hiking paths, to get away from the throng and closer to nature.
Padre Island, Texas
Padre Island, the world’s largest barrier island and a charming beach resort in Texas hugs the southern coast, giving miles of sandy beaches and a protected National Seashore rich in natural flora and animals.
The island is divided into two sections, one in the north and one in the south. The higher section is renowned for boating and fishing, while the bottom section, South Padre Island, is known as one of Texas’ most popular party spots.
You can go birdwatching, surfing, or diving here, giving this weekend’s escape from Dallas the ideal opportunity to unwind and enjoy the sun!
Grapevine, Texas
Not every weekend journey from Dallas necessitates several hours in the automobile. Although it is only 25 minutes from downtown, this city has its distinct history and a variety of sites to see.
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is one of the most popular, where you may meet “Puffy,” the South’s oldest continually running steam engine.
Take a ride in one of the vintage Victorian coaches from the 1920s and go along a historic route.
Grapevine, regarded as the “Christmas Capital of Texas,” is a must-see if you’re visiting during the winter. Every year, they host over 1,400-holiday events!
Best Cities for Weekend Trips from Dallas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is one of Texas’ most culturally diverse cities, with 18th-century Spanish missions, Mexican markets, and a variety of natural wonders.
Explore the Natural Bridge Caverns, the state’s largest commercial caverns. Crawl around below in limestone caves or challenge yourself to a ropes course and zip line track in the open air.
The city is a wonderful place to visit in the fall in the United States, but you can visit it any time of year and have a great time.
Of course, no trip to San Antonio would be complete without a visit to the Alamo or a stroll down the River Walk, the city’s pedestrian strip lined with stores, restaurants, and other attractions.
Houston, Texas
Houston is another large city in Texas and one of the most popular tourist destinations near Dallas.
The NASA Space Center and a couple of the city’s many museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Science, are the most popular attractions.
Check to see Little Saigon, one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the United States, if you want to see a less-known side of Texas’ largest metropolis.
Spend a weekend in Houston and dine at some of the city’s best restaurants, such as Crawfish and Noodles, which combines Cajun flavors with traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
Austin, Texas
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If you ask Texans about their favorite city, you’ll almost always hear Austin mentioned.
Some of the best live music venues, culinary hotspots, and nightlife can be found in this buzzing college town.
The State Capitol building in downtown Austin is a great place to learn about Texas history and politics, or you may spend the day at Barton Springs Pool, a big spring-fed swimming hole in Austin’s answer to Central Park–Zilker Park.
Put on your dance shoes and head to East Sixth Street, the city’s busiest bar district, at night.
Local bands, flashy food trucks, and art galleries abound in this region, which draws a crowd virtually every night–not just on weekends.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Traveling across Texas isn’t the only way to get away near Dallas, believe it or not. You may simply cross state lines for the weekend because the city is only a 3 12-hour trip from Oklahoma City.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Texas’ northern neighbor, is also famed for its cowboy culture, which you can learn more about at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Take a trip through the OKC Underground, a network of tunnels that spans for more than 20 blocks beneath the city’s pavements and frequently hosts art exhibits, if you want to stray off the beaten path in this major city.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, a great spring break location, is known for its dramatic art deco architecture, which can be seen in many of the city’s buildings.
Check out the Gathering Place, a beautiful and beautifully planned park along the Aransas River where visitors may peruse art exhibits, participate in a self-guided scavenger hunt, or relive their childhood by splashing through one of the area’s water features.
Then, make your way to downtown Tulsa to see the enchantingly called Center of the Universe and try out a surreal acoustic experience.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The rowdy party scene and unique blend of French, African, and American cultures have made the “Big Easy” famous around the world.
The food is spicy, the music is loud, and there is enough to do at all hours of the day and night.
Indeed, New Orleans has so much to offer that you may want to spend as little time as possible in Dallas on this vacation.
Even so, because of the Big D’s small downtown design, you can cross most of the city’s bucket list things off your list before you leave by following our one-day in Dallas schedule.
Café De Monde, which serves melt-in-your-mouth powdered sugar-coated beignets, and the French Quarter, which houses everything from voodoo stores to Bourbon Street’s nightlife core, are two places in New Orleans that you must see.
Waco, Texas
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Waco, a fast-growing city approximately two hours south of Dallas, has quickly established itself as a Texas hotspot for shopping, art, and antiques.
Chip and Joanna Gaines, the duo behind HGTV’s famous show Fixer Upper, may be familiar to you. Together, they’ve changed Waco from a sleepy college town into a hotspot for hipsters.
Many visitors come for the Gaines family’s Magnolia Market, a downtown shopping center, and remain for the distinctive historical sites, like the Dr. Pepper Museum.
Waco is the birthplace of America’s oldest and most well-known soda company!
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM
Carlsbad Cavern, located in southeastern New Mexico, is one of the country’s most stunning caves–and one of the most unique weekend escapes from Dallas!
While you may tour the main cavern in a single day, including the appropriately titled Big Room, you can extend your vacation by hiking through the Chihuahuan Desert if you have more time… Alternatively, you may combine your Dallas road trip to New Mexico with our following stop on this list.
Nature-Focused Dallas Getaways
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas
The Guadalupe Mountains, a magnificent national park in Texas, are the best option for weekend trips in Texas that feel like a true escape. A visit here will make you feel as if you’ve left the state, if not the country, entirely.
Guadalupe features unearthly vistas that look like something out of a Jurassic Park movie. The world’s largest fossil reef and Texas’ four tallest mountains can be found there.
Hiking and camping are permitted throughout the park, and visitors are treated to stunning vistas of over 11,000 stars as well as views of the Milky Way on clear evenings.
Palo Duro State Park, Texas
This is one of those Dallas weekend escapes that is ideal for nature enthusiasts and anyone looking to rough it for a few days.
Rather than traveling to the Grand Canyon, why not check out Texas’ answer to the more well-known natural wonder?
Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon system in the United States, and it’s only a 6-hour drive from Dallas. There are dozens of hiking routes of varying complexity in the park, and those who aren’t up to toiling in the Texas sun can even drive down into the canyon’s center, so there’s no reason not to go!
Colorado Bend State Park, Texas
Oh, the sinkholes, caves, and springs! All of these natural treasures and more may be found at Colorado Bend State Park. One of the attractions is Gorman Falls, a “living” cascade that has grown dramatically in size over millions of years due to perpetually compounding limestone deposits.
You may also chill down at Spicewood Springs, which is stunningly fresh and clear, or get your adrenaline racing by riding one of the area’s many mountain biking trails.
Caddo Lake, Texas
There aren’t many natural lakes in Texas, but one is only a three-hour drive from Dallas, near the Louisiana border. Sinkholes, caves, and springs, oh my! Colorado Bend State Park is home to all of these natural wonders and more.
Gorman Falls, a “living” waterfall that has increased considerably in size over millions of years due to continually compounding limestone deposits, is one of the attractions.
You may also relax in Spicewood Springs, which is beautiful and clear or ride one of the area’s many mountain biking courses to get your adrenaline pumping.
Dripping Springs, Texas
Dripping Springs is a slice of heaven on Earth, combining the best of Texas nature with small-town charm. Hamilton Pool is the main attraction, with a 50-foot waterfall cascading into a natural limestone swimming hole. The blue lake and rich flora on all sides will entice you to stay for hours and take it all in.
Dripping Springs has rolling hills with vineyards and olive trees thanks to its location in the Texas Hill Country. If wine and olive oil aren’t your things (and why wouldn’t they be? ), Dripping Springs is also home to the award-winning Deep Eddy Vodka distillery. Cheers!
