In this post, I list the 10 Best Road Trips from Dallas, TX. Dallas, located in Northern Texas, is rich in history and culture. It is the 3rd most populated city in Texas, with a population of over 1.3 million residents.
This city is a hot spot for young professionals and was voted 84th in the best cities to live in America.
No matter where you live, it is always nice to get away and take a road trip from time to time. Here are the 10 best road trips destinations you can take from Dallas, TX.
1. Austin, Texas
Austin, the capital city of Texas, is only one-hundred ninety-five miles away from Dallas. That is three hours of interstate driving.
Austin is a great RV road trip destination because it is very influential in fashion, music, art, and technology. Companies like Yeti, Outdoor Voices, Dell Computers, and Kendra Scott Jewelry have Austin headquarters and/or flagship stores.
This historic Texas town has great Tex-Mex food from Matt’s El Rancho and outdoor activities like water parks like the Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark & Resort. You could also enjoy paddleboarding, hiking, and kayaking in the Texas capital city.
If you enjoy the nightlife, you want to visit the Roosevelt Room Bar for drinks and stay the night downtown at one of Austin’s finest hotels, the Omni Hotel, to get a good night’s rest.
2. San Antonio, TX
San Antonio is approximately two-hundred seventy-four miles or a four-hour drive from Dallas. With a population of over 1.5 million, it is the second-largest city in Texas.
San Antonio is not only rich in history, but it’s also full of modern attractions that will keep you discovering and exploring. For example, you could visit Sea World San Antonio, the Alamo, sightsee on a double-decker bus, or go on a GO RIO San Antonio Cruise.
Other places include the Downtown Riverwalk, San Antonio Art League and Museum, Six Flags, and the San Antonio Spurs basketball games at the AT&T Center. These are just a few of many things that could keep you intrigued for hours in this great Texas town.
3. Houston, Texas
Houston, approximately two-hundred forty miles or a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dallas, is well worth the trip.
It is the largest city in Texas with over 2.3 million people and the fourth largest city in America.
Houston is a place full of southern charm and has many upscale amenities that are fun and exciting. This city is also a place that will keep you entertained and where you can make memories of a lifetime.
For example, you could visit the Houston Space Center, the Midtown Arts & Theater Center, the 4th Wall Theatre Company, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, the Houston Rockets basketball team at the Toyota Center, and Houston Astros Baseball at Minute Maid Park.
If you are into Museums, you could visit the Holocaust Museum. If you are looking for great food, Houston has many award-winning restaurants like Hugo’s and Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab, to name a couple.
Tasting Table magazine named Houston the “newest capital of great food.” Houston is a place where you will never get bored.
4. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is a shade over two hundred miles from Dallas, making this three-hour road trip one of the shorter ones listed here.
It has a population of just under 650,000 and is the capital city of Oklahoma. This resilient city suffered substantial losses after a 1995 tragedy. However, OKC has since been rebuilt.
A trip to the Oklahoma City National Museum, the Scissortail Park, or Chesapeake Energy Arena to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball team play would undoubtedly be worth the drive.
5. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is just over a three-hundred-mile drive, taking about four and a half hours of highway time if you didn’t make any stops.
This city has over 400,000 people and is full of Southern hospitality, charm, and nightlife. On a road trip to Tulsa, one place you must visit is the Gathering Place — Tulsa River Parks. USA Today’s “10 Best Readers’ Choice” named this place America’s Best New Attraction back in 2019.
You could also visit the Blue Dome Entertainment District of Tulsa, where you can enjoy many great restaurants, shops, and nightlife. You’ll be glad you made the drive.
6. Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, one-hundred eighty-seven miles away from Dallas, would be another excellent road trip destination. This small town with a population of just under 200,000 is less than a three-hour drive away.
In a short time, you could be there enjoying the arts at Agora Borealis and the Creole and Cajun-style meals that you can find at Orlandeaux’s Café. Another place to visit is the downtown riverfront; you will find the Shreveport Aquarium there, home to more than 3,000 animals.
7. Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi, is a shade over four hundred miles away. Yet, in under six hours of drive time, you can be there enjoying the various museums this small town – under 170,000 in population – has to offer.
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Children’s Museum, and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum are some of Jackson’s many fascinating sites. The Cathead Distillery is a great place to visit if you love beer. If you enjoy unique cuisines, you can dine in the Stuffed Baked Potato Factory.
8. Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, located in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, is under three hundred miles from Dallas – which is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive. Though the population of Hot Springs is only around 40,000, there are many museums and attractions to make this little Arkansas town worth the drive.
This town allows you to enjoy the beautiful mountain view, the Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo, and a healing massage from the Buckstaff Bathhouse Company. You may also want to enjoy some great Bar-B-Q at the World’s Famous McClard’s Bar-B-Q – one of the best Bar-B-Q restaurants there are.
9. Lafayette, Louisiana
Located in southern Louisiana, Lafayette is only a five-and-a-half-hour drive away.
This growing town with over 125,000 in population is less than 400 miles from Dallas. Making the trip to Lafayette, you could possibly enjoy some of the best Creole foods such as boudin, gumbo, po’boys, French bread, and craft beers.
In addition, Lafayette is the birthplace of jazz music and can be enjoyed at many venues. While there, you could dine at Abacus Restaurant and enjoy live music. In the spring, you can enjoy the Festival International de Louisiane, and the Festivals Acadians et Créoles in the fall.
Lastly, this road trip allows you to enjoy many aspects of French culture, from its architecture and festivals like Mardi Gras.
Making this trip will reveal why Lafayette has been named the Happiest City in the US by the Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.
10. Branson, Missouri
The smallest town on the list, Branson, has a population of just over 11,000 and is a family vacation destination.
In under seven hours of driving – four-hundred twenty-seven miles – you can make the trip to this beautiful Ozark town.
Many places the family can enjoy while in Branson is Silver Dollar City – an incredible theme park and the Track Family Fun Park. This park has bumper cars, mini-golf, and lazed tag.
On this road trip, other amenities you can enjoy are the Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction, Big Foot Fun Park, and the Titanic Museum Attraction, amongst many others. If you want shopping, the Branson Landing Mall is a great place to shop, eat, sightsee by day, and enjoy a great light show at night.
Best Road Trips From Dallas Final Thoughts
If you live in the Dallas, TX area the 10 best road trips from Dallas I list above are all great destinations.
Whether your road trip is just a day, a few days, or a week, any of these destinations will provide you a great experience and lots of good memories. Don’t have an RV? You might want to consider renting an RV to determine if it will suit your lifestyle.
