5 Road Trip Travel Destinations from Dallas, Texas
A vacation is just a car ride away. Here are some of my favorite road trip destinations that are easy to travel to from the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area.
I have lived in the DFW for more than half of a decade now, and while I enjoy all that this area has to offer, I really love how it puts me closer to different cities than the ones I used to visit closer to my hometown. Arkansas is home, so it’s nice being close enough to return to places I am familiar with, as well as continue to explore new cities and landscapes in the Natural State. Don’t sleep on Texas, though. There are several small towns with so much charm and that move slow and to he beat of their own drum. Heck, Texas even has an island! If you haven’t guessed, I love small towns. Here are a few cities that have stolen my heart while on vacation, including my hometown!
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Texas Road Trip Travel Destinations
1. Granbury, TX
Granbury is a quaint little town with a historic downtown square that is being revived. This road trip was a short 1.5 drive from Dallas. We dined at a German restaurant (I was pregnant, so I missed out on the beer and made hubby try it instead) and tried authentic dishes. We also dined at a Eighteen Ninety Grille, Lounge, and Marketplace, which served up delicious dishes for us. Staying at the Inn on Lake Granbury provided even more amazing food (I was pregnant and I’m a foodie, what can I say?!) as well as a beautiful room and grounds with a view. If you want a quiet getaway with modern amenities, this is definitely the town to visit.
2. Galveston, TX
I was born in Texas, but I moved when I was nine, so I missed out on the intense Texas history lessons and learned about Arkansas history, instead. When I was planning to attend a conference in Galveston, I was elated to find out that Texas has an island! I had absolutely no clue about it before a few years ago. This is what I call a “limit” road trip, because 4 hours on the road is the max I can do before I start to get tired. From Dallas to Galveston is a 4.5 hour drive.
Island time is a real thing there, too, because shops will close up before their online hours haha! It’s also a perfect town to ride a bike around. I didn’t have time to go for a beach day, but I could sense the island vibe, nonetheless. As a historic architecture lover, I also enjoyed exploring the library’s historic collection and staying in a historic home – the Coppersmith Inn Bed & Breakfast.
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3. Waco, TX
Like my hometown, Waco is a college city. It’s also a city that is going through a revitalization (and there’s a lot that comes along with that, which I discuss in the blog post I wrote about traveling to Waco). I can’t forget to mention Chip & Joanna Gaines have also put Waco on the map with their popular home makeover show and the beautifully repurposed Silos that are now shops.
Waco is an easy 1.75 hour drive from the Dallas area. I recommend you travel out from Waco a little further to experience the Homestead Heritage. This is a self-sufficient homestead about 20 minutes out of Waco, and their cafe is AMAZING! Their shop also offers a lot of fun souvenirs, as well as homeschooling materials. If you want a luxurious stay at a Chip & Joanna style home, book The Morrow House AirBnB for you and your crew! It is so gorgeous and absolutely Instagram worthy.
Arkansas Road Trip Travel Destinations
4. Mount Nebo, AR
Wanna run away to the mountains and bask in nature? Pack your car with all that you need and take a road trip up the highway to Mount Nebo. Road trips to Arkansas from Dallas can get lengthy, like this drive that took 6 hours. Tack on more time if you want to explore surrounding cities or natural sites, which can be 30 minutes to an hour away. My main mission on this road trip was to go hiking, and we did just that. I can’t wait to return and walk the trails, watch the sunrise, and sit under the trees in a different season. The views from atop Mount Nebo are well worth the ridiculously tiny winding road that took very careful maneuvering to reach the top.
5. Bentonville, AR
Bentonville is in the Northwest Arkansas region very close to my hometown. It is well-known for being the birthplace of Walmart, and their headquarters are still there. This has built the town up tremendously. The Crystal Bridges museum is an architecture masterpiece that sits hidden and blending in and out of the natural setting surrounding it. It is an incredible museum to visit. The town square is vibrant and rivals that of my hometown in Fayetteville, AR. Bentonville is a bit of a stretch, clocking in at a 5.5 hour drive from Dallas, TX.
BONUS: Fayetteville, AR
Fayetteville, Arkansas is home. It has always felt like a magical place to me. Visiting since I’ve left always reminds me of that, no matter how many new building and signs I see. It’s a bit of a tiring road trip to take from Dallas – about a 5.25 hour drive – but I’m always happy to do so because the long drive leads me to many of my favorite places. From the farmers market on the Fayetteville town square, to Mount Seqouyah overlooking the city, Fayetteville has my heart. I may be very biased, but I think it is a great city for anyone to visit. While you’re there you can stay at a bed and breakfast, tour Bill & Hillary Clinton’s first home that they lived in as a couple, go hiking, frequent local shops on the square, and more!
These places make perfect road trip destinations from the Dallas, Texas area, but they would also be a great getaway from anywhere!
Where is your favorite place to visit on a road trip?