As a Dallas resident with a love for outdoor adventure and travel, I’ve done my fair share of research for road trips from Dallas. It can be tricky to find more outdoorsy adventures in the area. However, there are a ton of hidden gems in the area – especially if you’re able to drive. My goal for this post is to provide you with a variety of road trip opportunities. There will be a few chill day trips as well as more ambitious endeavors on the list.
Use this list of adventure road trips the next time you want to spend your Saturday adventuring and exploring near Dallas! These destinations are bound to satisfy your weekend wanderlust at a low cost and a convenient timeline. From outdoor rock climbing to wildlife tours, here is my list of 15 great road trips from Dallas, Texas.
Waterfalls and Hot Spring Adventures
Why do we find natural hot springs and waterfalls so appealing? Qualities such as soothing sound, natural beauty, constant motion, and a deep connection with nature are mentioned when I research this question. It’s true, both waterfalls and hot springs are often associated with relaxing and being in the moment. Plus, they’re both less common and harder to find than lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water, which adds an air of mystery and value to the experience. Both of these locations contain either waterfalls or hot springs, and they are close enough to Dallas for a day trip or weekend adventure.
(For an additional 70-foot waterfall location, read about Colorado Bend State Park below.)
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
The national park and nearby town of the same name (Hot Springs, Arkansas) make up a wonderful option for road trips coming from Dallas, Texas. You can just focus on visiting the national park or you can take advantage of the Downtown District’s restaurants, entertainment venues, museums, and more. The town is charming and full of history, and the park’s thermal waters are amazing. Make sure to stop by one of the bathhouses for a “hot spring therapy experience”.
Drive Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
Turner Falls Park, Oklahoma
There are over 1,500 acres of hiking, castles, and caves throughout Turner Park. However, the most famous attraction in the park is generally known to be Turner Falls (the largest waterfall in Oklahoma). After realizing how easy it is to visit Oklahoma from Dallas, I have discovered some amazing spots for outdoor adventure. Many Dallas residents take a day to visit Turner Falls and explore the park, returning home just in time for dinner. You can also camp overnight to make it a weekend adventure. Popular stops in the park include the 77ft waterfall, Blue Hole Pool, Dr. Collings’ Rock Castle, and the natural caves.
Drive Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Wildlife Conservation and Education Tours (Feeding Protected Animals)
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Located in Glen Rose, Texas, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center houses and cares for over 50 species of animals in the park. From Zebras to American Bison, you can encounter tons of amazing animals in person. You can drive through the park in your own car or you can join a bus tour – both safari-style. This is an amazing day trip for animal lovers because you get to feed dozens of animals from the palm of your hand. You can visit the Children’s Animal Center, Nature Store, and the Overlook Cafe halfway through the 7-mile drive. There is even overnight lodging available in a peaceful corner of the park. You can learn more about their conservation practices and how to get involved on their website. Read The Complete Weekend Guide to Fossil Rim next.
Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Rock Climbing Road Trips From Dallas
Although there are many more rock climbing opportunities in DFW and the surrounding area, I’m only listing the locations I can personally recommend. A great way to find new outdoor climbing locations is to ask the climbers at your local gym. The climbing community at the indoor climbing gyms in Dallas is just as passionate and well-informed as any place you could find in Colorado, Utah, etc. To learn about the best locations, ask the route setters at Oso, Movement, or Summit.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
One of the closest climbing areas to the DFW area, Lake Mineral Wells State Park is full of sandstone and conglomerate rock. It’s a lovely location for beginners in the rock climbing scene, and a great place to practice climbing outdoors. Most of the crag is highly shaded, but I’d still recommend you visit in the fall or spring to avoid the Texas summertime heat. You’ll mostly find top-roping and rappelling (or abseiling) routes in the park – although there are a few sport routes that have been recently established. Entrance costs $7 and an additional $3 per climber; you must also sign a waiver in the front office before climbing at the park.
Drive Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
This refuge was one of my favorite finds of 2022. It’s the perfect place to camp, hike, rock climb, and see some protected wildlife – my favorite being the American bison and longhorn cattle. I even wrote a whole other blog post all about my favorite things in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. My favorite hike is located in Charon’s Garden and includes an extremely fun rock scramble. You can find dozens of bouldering, trad, and sport climbing routes in the area. I would also recommend stopping by Mount Scott to watch the sunrise or sunset. It’s the perfect stargazing spot as well.
Drive Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Milton Reimers Ranch Park
A farther drive from Dallas than the previous two, Reimers Ranch is a paradise for weekend warriors on the search for excellent climbing in Texas. Located just 30 minutes southwest of Austin, you can find routes up to 92 feet high in the park. You can find 3 trad routes, 7 boulders, 27 top rope routes, and 297 sport climbing routes – all consisting of limestone. This location is perfect for a weekend trip, and it’s almost impossible to find yourself bored with the climbing opportunities. The entry fee is $10 per car and the park is open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Drive Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Highpoint Opportunities
Highpointing is an activity where you ascend to the highest elevation within a given area – a.k.a. the “highpoint”. Summiting the highest points in all 50 states is the achievement of a lifetime for many hikers and mountaineers. It can be a fun travel hobby, as well! Some state highpoints are only a few hundred feet above sea level, and others include the most challenging and dangerous hikes in the United States. There are four state highpoints that I consider just close enough to Dallas for this list: Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and of course, Texas.
Driskill Mountain (Louisiana)
While it is the highest point in Louisiana, Driskill Mountain only rests 535 feet above sea level. That makes it the 3rd lowest state highpoint out of the 50. I think it’s extremely fun that you can hike the highest point in Louisiana with relative ease. It sounds cooler than it may be, but that’s part of the fun! Rated an easy hike on AllTrails, the hike is 1.8 miles out-and-back with an elevation gain of 170 feet. It will take you about 45 minutes to complete if you avoid long rests. You’ll see a number of historical markers and navigation aids on the trail as well, making it an entertaining and very chill adventure overall.
Drive Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Mount Magazine: Signal Hill (Arkansas)
20 minutes from Paris, Arkansas, Mount Magazine State Park has a huge list of options for you when it comes to outdoor adventure. From hiking to hang gliding, even hiking to the tallest point in Arkansas, you can do it at Mount Magazine. At an elevation of 2,753 feet, the Signal Hill trail rests at the top of Mount Magazine and is less than a mile in distance. At the top lies a stone map of Arkansas and a sign marking the highpoint. If you do make the drive from Dallas, I advise that you explore the many other hiking trails in the area and even consider camping at Cove Lake Recreation Area for an overnight stay.
Drive Time: 6 hours
Black Mesa (Oklahoma)
At 4,973 feet above sea level, Black Mesa is the highest point in the state of Oklahoma. The trail is 8.8 miles out-and-back with an elevation gain of 748 feet. It’s considered a moderately challenging route and takes an average of 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete. The area is widely known for the volcanic rock that covers the ground and reflects the historic presence of Capulin Volcano in New Mexico. The highpoint is by no means a peak and the trail is mostly flat. You’ll be passing through the ancestral lands of many Native American tribes, so make sure to educate yourself and visit the local cultural centers. This trip is the longest of all road trips from Dallas on this list, but it’s definitely worth the mention.
Drive Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Guadalupe Peak (Texas)
Guadalupe Peak, also known as Signal Peak, is the highest point in the state of Texas. Located in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, it is located just east of El Paso. The highpoint sits at 8,751 feet above sea level while the Guadalupe Peak Trail consists of 2,952 feet of elevation gain. Overall, this 8.5-mile out-and-back should take you around 5 and a half hours to complete. I recommend that you camp out overnight at the trailhead and set out before sunrise. It’s a beautiful and challenging trail (Hard, according to AllTrails). Overall, it’s an adventure and achievement worthy of pride.
Drive Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Additional State Park Road Trips
There are literally dozens of state parks in the DFW area. Many only have paved trails or are concentrated on a specific body of water. While these parks are definitely valuable camping and exploring locations (especially if you want the most minimal drive time possible, I’m only going to mention my favorites. Out of the state park road trips from Dallas, these parks are more likely to have high-quality hiking trails and campsites (in my opinion). Lake Mineral Wells State Park deserves to be on this list as well, but it has already been mentioned in the rock climbing road trips section above.
Cleburne State Park
Cleburne State Park is a popular and convenient escape from life in the city. You can kayak, canoe, swim, and fish on the lake. On land, there are 13 miles of hiking and biking trails. All of the campsites in the park have water and electricity and you can even reserve a shelter or cabin for your overnight stay. It’s popular to host group gatherings and social events at this park. Cleburne is probably the most “suburban” of the parks on this list, but it regularly provides respite for friends and families all over the DFW area.
Drive Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Eisenhower State Park
Expect to hike or bike along the bluffs on the shores of Lake Texoma and explore the shoreline when you come to Eisenhower State Park. Entrance fees are $5 per day, and it’s open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. You can stay overnight at a campsite or in a shelter/cabin on the property. There’s even the Eisenhower Yacht Club marina, where you can purchase snacks as well as rent kayaks, canoes, and boat slips. The area around the park is nice as well; you can stop by the Red River Railroad Museum or the Grayson County Frontier Village during your visit. If you’re a birder, then visiting the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is a must.
Drive Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park is a widely-dispersed park covering 30,000 acres and trails that range from less than a mile to 20 miles in distance. The park is broken up into 9 units, but only 3 are developed: the Isle du Bois unit, Johnson Branch, and Greenbelt Corridor. Ray Roberts Lake is a huge resource to the surrounding cities, and most of the land consists of wetlands and waterfowl sanctuaries. On my visit there I spotted an armadillo, deer, and multiple waterfowl while hiking. You’ll see fishermen out consistently hoping to snag some crappie, catfish, or bass. There are many opportunities to either adventure around or relax by the lake here, which makes it perfect for everyone.
Drive Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Caddo Lake State Park
This state park is the perfect addition to any of the road trips to East Texas from Dallas. There are so many fun things to do and amazing landscapes to enjoy in the area. On the border between Texas and Louisiana, Caddo Lake is a natural lake and bayou. It’s one of the only naturally made lakes you can find for hours, and it’s gigantic. The park is noticeably full of Spanish moss and cypress trees that turn bright orange and red in the fall. A sunrise boat tour is one of my favorite things you can do in the park. You can stay in a historic cabin overnight or camp out in your own shelter. There are hiking, canoeing, and fishing opportunities in the park, so plan the trip of your dreams!
Drive Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Colorado Bend State Park
Located along the amazing Colorado River, this state park is home to waterfalls, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, and underground caving opportunities. I highly recommend that you camp out in the park and turn it into a weekend of exploration and fun. You can visit Gorman Falls, a 70-foot waterfall in the west of the park. Hike the Spicewood Springs Trail to find some amazing swimming holes and smaller waterfalls. You can fish for bass in the river, or instead opt to rent a kayak and paddle down the river. Colorado Bend State Park also contains over 400 caves and you can even arrange to have a guide take you down on a tour. Don’t forget to look into the mountain biking trails and multi-day backpacking options.
Drive Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
(Bonus: Cedar Hill State Park)
Here’s the deal: Going to Cedar Hill State Park doesn’t really qualify as a road trip, but it contains my favorite hiking trails within 30 minutes of central Dallas. Because of that, I feel that I must at least mention it on this list. This is one of the most popular parks for hiking in the DFW area. Expect rugged trails with some steep hills, wooden stairs, loose rocks, and roots. You can also expect to get some beautiful views of the hill country on the highest points of the trails.
