10 Best Weekend Trips From Dallas, Texas

weekend getaways from dallas
Sharon A.
Sharon A.  
Updated
| 5 min read

Dallas has plenty of attractions to keep you busy for the duration of your stay. But what happens when you feel that you have seen enough of Dallas, or you need a breather from the usual sites and scenes you have been accustomed to? Or where do you go when you have spent the entire week in Dallas and would like a change of environment? Well, this is where weekend trips come in. Dallas is in proximity to various cities full of interesting events and activities that will grant you immeasurable fun for a weekend. Read below to learn about some of the best weekend trips from Dallas, Texas.

1. Oklahoma City

Skyline oklahoma city
Source: Photo by user Urbanative used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Oklahoma City is just three hours up Interstate 35, and it is one of the highly recommended weekend getaways from Dallas. It presents loads of interesting things to see and do, appealing to persons of all ages. You can start your weekend at Museum of Art, where you will come face-to-face with a gigantic 55-foot (16.7 m) blown-glass installation—a masterpiece by the legendary artist Dale Chihuly. Once you are done with the interactive learning experiences at the museum, have a trip to Bricktown for a sample of the city’s plentiful watering holes, where you will find more than 100 varieties of bottled beers to choose from.

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2. Houston

Houston from Westheimer
Source: Photo by user iodine127 used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

If you can spare about five hours to cover the 240 miles (386 km) standing between Houston and Dallas, then behold, you will be standing on another great destination for a weekend getaway from Dallas. Houston has its share of attractions, and it is not possible to exhaust all of them within just a single weekend. However, if that’s all the time you have, then you should prioritize visits to Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural Science, Space Center Houston, and Downtown Aquarium. If you are an adrenaline junky, then a visit to Speedy’s Fast Track shouldn’t be missed as well.

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3. Fredericksburg

Downtown Fredericksburg, Iowa
Source: Photo by user TheCatalyst31 used under CC0

If your idea of a weekend trip encompasses things such as lots of German food, learning more about military history, and sprawling hundreds of acres of vineyards, with endless possibilities of wine tasting, then Fredericksburg will be a perfect destination for you. If you won’t mind driving for about four and a half hours to cover the approximately 250 miles (402 km), you can expect to spend a splendid weekend scouring all the goodies and attractions that Fredericksburg has in store for you. These include a visit to National Museum of Pacific War, touring the plethora of shops and galleries on Main Street, enjoying thrilling performances and shows at Rock Box Theatre, and exploring the nearby wineries while you sample some of the region’s best wines.

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4. San Antonio

Best Weekend Trips from Dallas, Texas
Source: Pixabay

San Antonio is a mere 300 miles (482km) from Dallas—another destination within striking distance for those who want to spend the weekend away. San Antoni has incredible attractions that will appeal to people of all age groups, and it is an ideal destination for the entire family. Some of the notable attractions here include the famed River Walk, The Alamo, River Mill Store, King William Historic District, Witte Museum, and the numerous dining joints where you will have a chance to enjoy tasty French, Spanish, Mexican, and German cuisines.

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5. Pittsburg

Pittsburg August 2015 02 (Abernathy House)
Source: Photo by user Michael Barera used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Pittsburg and Dallas are separated by a distance of about 12,205 miles (19,642 km). If you were to go by road, then you will need about 18 hours of non-stop driving, but by air, you will be in Pittsburg in less than 3 hours. As an ideal weekend getaway from Dallas, Pittsburg offers a lot of cool things worth spending time on, including defying gravity on an optical illusion hill at North Park, dining in the oldest restaurant in Pittsburg downtown, strolling along the market square, exploring the Asian forests, having fun at Pittsburg Zoo and Aquarium, seeing mummies at Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and enjoying a panoramic view of the city from Mount Washington.

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6. McKinney

The Flour Mill in McKinney, Texas
Source: Photo by user Susan Bartley used under CC BY-SA 3.0

McKinney is only 35 miles (56 km) north of Dallas and is a great destination for those looking for a nice weekend getaway but don’t want to spend more than one hour on the road. This nearby city has lots of attractions that will appeal to both indoor and outdoor lovers, with some of the notable mentions being Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, Main Street for an exciting shopping experience, Landon Winery to sample some of the region’s best wines, Lockhart Smokehouse for some tasty barbeques, and McKinney Performing Arts Center for some thrilling entertainment.

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7. Austin

Austin

Dallas and Austin are 195 miles (313 km) apart, and you can easily reach the state capital under four hours by road. A weekend trip to Austin will expose you to a myriad of fun and interesting activities, including but not limited to visiting Texas State Capitol, enjoying yummy bites at Franklin Barbecue, walking down memory lane at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art, appreciating nature at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and enjoying relaxing swimming sessions at the famous Barton Springs Pool.

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8. Granbury

Granbury June 2018 33 (Red On the Square - Texas State Bank)
Source: Photo by user Michael Barera used under CC BY-SA 4.0

If you are an outdoor enthusiast or looking for a romantic getaway near Dallas, you will never go wrong with considering Granbury as a destination. It is a small town but with lots of incredible attractions, the top ones being Granbury Texas Square, Revolver Brewery, Granbury Opera House, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, and Lake Granbury Marina, among others. It will take you less than an hour to cover the 67 miles (107 km) between Granbury and Dallas, and then you will be in for exciting weekend treats.

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9. Ennis

Lake Clark Ennis Texas 2018
Source: Photo by user Larry D. Moore used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Ennis is less than an hour’s drive from Dallas. It has an exciting array of historical and cultural attractions that will delight the hearts and souls of every history and culture buff. This is where you find the famous Burren, Ennis Friary that has been gracing the landscape since the mid-13th century, Dysert O’Dea Castle that was constructed toward the end of the 15th century, and Clare Abbey that is a very rare find amid ruins believed to be more than 500 years old.

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10. Waco

Waco Suspension Bridge in Waco, Texas
Source: Photo by user 10chumphreys used under CC BY-SA 3.0

To close this list of the best weekend trips from Dallas is Waco—a town located less than 100 miles (160 km) from Dallas. This popular college town is well-known for its world-class zoos and a myriad of museums that will appease the curiosity of both children and adults. Some of the activities that should dominate your itinerary when coming for a weekend to Waco are a visit to Cameron Park Zoo, a tour of Waco Mammoth Museum, a visit to Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, a tour of Homestead Craft Village, and strolling around Carleen Bright Arboretum to unwind and reconnect with nature.

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There is no such thing as boring weekends in Texas

If you feel you’ve had enough of Dallas and would like something new to see and do for the weekend, make plans in good time and head over to any of the above destinations. If you like being on the road, you’ll be glad to know that there are numerous sights and wonders waiting for you to explore just nearby.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sharon, also known as Shaz, resides in the vibrant City in the Sun. Her passion is to travel, immerse herself in diverse cultures, savor their cuisines, dance with the locals, and share her...Read more

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