101 Family Day Trips from Dallas
Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Dallas. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Explore Gardens and Sculpture Gardens
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Nasher Sculpture Center |
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Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens |
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Lavender Ridge Farms |
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Dallas Museum of Art Sculpture Garden |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Trinity River Audubon Center |
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Cedar Ridge Preserve |
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Twelve Hills Nature Center |
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Spring Creek Forest Preserve |
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Texas Buckeye Trail |
Time Travel Today
Make Life a Beach
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Joe Pool Lake |
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Pebble Beach Park |
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Burger's Lake |
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Little Elm Park |
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Meadowmere Park |
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Ray Roberts Lake State Park |
Splash into Some Water Fun
Spend the Day at a Museum
Explore These Cities
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Garland |
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McKinney |
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Allen |
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Waco |
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Fort Worth |
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Broken Bow |
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Tyler |
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Terrell |
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Longview |
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Palestine |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
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Commemorative Air Force |
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Frontiers of Flight Museum |
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The Grapevine Vintage Railroad |
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Museum of the American Railroad |
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McKinney Avenue Trolley |
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Forest Park Miniature Railroad |
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Cavanaugh Flight Museum |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Kadee Farm |
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Yesterland Farm |
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Elves Farm |
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Blueberry Hills Farm |
Play Ball!
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Allen Americans |
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Dallas Cowboys |
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Dallas Mavericks |
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Texas Rangers |
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Dallas Stars |
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FC Dallas |
Treat Yo' Self
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Rocket Fizz |
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Fuzziwig's Candy Factory |
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Blooms Candy & Soda Pop Shop |
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Pokey O's Cookies and Ice Cream |
Connect with Nature
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Klyde Warren Park |
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The Katy Trail |
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Lake Texoma |
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Davy Crockett National Forest |
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Caddo Lake State Park |
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Fossil Rim Wildlife Center |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Splash Kingdom |
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Six Flags Over Texas |
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Zero Gravity Thrill Amusement Park |
Talk to the Animals
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The Gentle Zoo |
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In-Sync Exotics |
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Dallas Zoo |
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Children's Aquarium at Fair Park |
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Arbuckle Wilderness Park |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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African American Museum, Dallas |
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Crow Collection of Asian Art |
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The Samurai Collection |
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Meadows Museum |
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Turner Falls State Park |
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Wichita Falls at Lucy Park |
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Hamilton Pool Preserve |
Get Active Indoors
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YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas |
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Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center |
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ASI Gymnastics |
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Premier Martial Arts |
Challenge Yourself
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Zip Nac |
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Summit Rock Climbing Gym |
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Escape the Room |
Shop Your Heart Out
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Grapevine Mills |
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Half Price Books |
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Toys Unique |
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Galleria Dallas |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Dallas. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away