10 Great Vacation Spots Within Driving Distance of Dallas

We’ve been conditioned to believe that life is more about the journey than the destination, and that sentiment certainly applies when viewed through a long-term lens. But what about this weekend, when you just want to get away to a sandy beach or a nightlife-packed strip in a new city. The destination is starting to feel a lot more important now, isn’t it?

So it’s a good thing that Dallas is a great jumping off point for road trips leading to a diverse array of vacation spots inside Texas and just across the border. To inspire your next trip, we’ve rounded up 10 destinations within driving distance of Dallas, complete with details on what you’ll find once you arrive, from restaurants and wineries to museums and hiking trails. Pack some snacks, create the perfect playlist, and slide behind the wheel: It’s road trip time. (Note that we’re skipping a few obvious spots like Austin, Houston, and San Antonio because you don’t need us to send you their way.)

Distance from Dallas: 513 miles, 8 hours
This small West Texas town draws travelers from all corners of the country who descend on Marfa to visit its art museums, galleries, impressive restaurants, and the mysterious Marfa Lights. You, too, can spend a long weekend basking in the desert landscape. Book a room at the historic Hotel Paisano or the modern Hotel Saint George, or stay at the exceedingly charming El Cosmico, a casual property with safari tents, vintage trailers, and yurts. The McDonald Observatory hosts occasional star parties, where you can take advantage of dark skies to explore the cosmos via telescope. And fans of the iconic James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor western, Giant, can visit an artist’s highway-90 roadside tribute to the 1956 movie, which was filmed in the area.

Distance from Dallas: 290 miles, 5 hours
The Texas coast sports a handful of beach destinations, but for an all-around good time on the shoreline, it’s hard to beat Galveston Island. It spans more than 30 miles and includes some of the area’s best beaches, including Jamaica Beach, East Beach, and Crystal Beach. When you’re done playing in the waves, the island offers countless activities. Walk through the Strand, a National Historic Landmark neighborhood filled with Victorian architecture and 19th century buildings. Eat fresh seafood at Gaido’s, Black Pearl Oyster Bar, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Or spend a day at Moody Gardens, the massive entertainment complex housing a golf course, lazy river, and two pyramids—one filled with rainforest plants and animals, and another containing an aquarium full of penguins, sharks, and tropical fish.

Distance from Dallas: 260 miles, 4.25 hours
This German settlement is the epicenter of the Texas Hill Country, with wineries, shops, and restaurants everywhere you look. Stroll along Main Street to visit tasting rooms and boutiques, then score a good dinner at popular eateries like Otto’s, Sage, Hill & Vine, or Cabernet Grill before following your ears to live music on a nearby patio or spilling out of a bar. If you want to explore the nearby wineries, William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw Cellars are a couple great places to start, then when it’s time to retire for the evening, Fredericksburg abides with countless B&Bs and quaint hotels.

Distance from Dallas:380 miles, 6 hours
The Grand Canyon never gets old, but it’s also not getting any closer, so go visit the next best thing instead. Palo Duro Canyon is the second biggest canyon in the country. This Panhandle treasure is rugged and scenic, with more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. It’s an easy day trip from Amarillo, but for the full effect, stay inside the park and camp for a couple nights. You can pitch your own, or book one of the luxury tents and cabins available via Palo Duro Glamping.

Distance from Dallas: 230 miles, 4 hours
The Texas Hill Country is packed with towns worth your time, and while Fredericksburg isn’t exactly the big city, slower-paced Wimberley gives you a quiet place to settle down each night while still putting you close to the action. Located between Austin and San Antonio, it provides easy access to the area’s many wineries, breweries, and distilleries, plus a few good restaurants, like The Leaning Pear and Longleaf. Adventurous travelers should check out Jacob’s Well, an artesian spring and submerged cavern that’s more than 4,000 feet long and reaches 140 feet at its deepest point. And if you want to further immerse yourself in nature, there’s Getaway House, with cabins that encourage digital detoxing by providing a lockbox for your phone.

Distance from Dallas: 206 miles, 3.25 hours
Most Dallas road trips involving the much-maligned I-35 head south to Austin and San Antonio, but point your car north, and you’ll hit Oklahoma City in just over three hours. It’s worth exploring this often-overlooked destination, as Oklahoma City’s growing population keeps giving visitors more to do. Check out happening hotels like the artsy 21C and the National, which rehabbed a 1931 landmark building into a luxe property. Then explore thriving neighborhoods, such as Automobile Alley which evokes Deep Ellum vibes and a fun collection of restaurants, galleries, and shops. Downtown’s Scissortail Park is a 70-acre oasis, with lush landscaping, a farmers’ market, food trucks, a free concert series, and a lagoon where you can rent paddle boats. And don’t miss the museums. From the somber Oklahoma City National Memorial to the National Cowboy and Western History Museum and First Americans Museum, there’s culture around every corner.

Distance from Dallas: 535 miles, 8 hours
Set right against the Texas-Mexico border, Big Bend National Park stretches for 800,000 acres and encompasses cacti-strewn desert, imposing mountains, and the Rio Grande river. Choose your own adventure and explore the park’s 150 miles of hiking trails, or take a scenic drive along River Road. Whatever you choose to do, look up once the sun goes down—Big Bend has some of the country’s darkest skies, which makes it a prime spot for stargazing. And if you’re up for a one-two punch, Big Bend is relatively close to Marfa, so you can swing through for a couple nights on your way back to DFW.

Distance from Dallas: 550 miles, 8.5 hours
South Padre Island sports one of Texas’s best beaches, but don’t let its reputation as a spring break party spot keep you away (though you might want to avoid March, if that’s not your scene). Situated off the tip of Texas’s Gulf coast, South Padre Island is home to sandy beaches and gentle waves, and it’s equally appealing to adrenaline-seeking kitesurfers as it is to laid-back sunbathers. If you want to spend time on the water, book a fishing charter and drop a line into the ocean to catch your dinner. Or stay firmly on dry land, and visit the Sea Turtle Rescue Center before posting up at Wanna Wanna Beach Bar with one of its famous Piña Coladas.

Distance from Dallas: 390 miles, 6 hours
With more than 100 miles of sandy shoreline, Corpus Christi is a popular spot to soak up the sun, whether you’re lying on the beach, fishing, or windsurfing. But beyond its beaches, you’ll find a thriving arts and culture scene, with art galleries, museums, and live music venues, plus notable attractions like the USS Lexington Museum and the Texas State Aquarium. The city also sports a surprisingly diverse crop of restaurants, from fresh seafood and Texas barbecue to sushi and Szechuan fare. Don’t miss Elizabeth’s, a good-looking Mediterranean restaurant with harbor views that’s situated inside the Art Museum of South Texas.

Distance from Dallas: 215 miles, 3.5 hours
If you like nice hotels, resort-style pools, eating, drinking, golf, and/or spa treatments, you’ll do well here. Horseshoe Bay is a sprawling Hill Country destination that sits on 7,000 acres along Lake LBJ. The property’s 400 guest rooms are joined by four golf courses, six restaurants, multiple pools, and pickleball courts, so you won’t get bored—though you may get tricked into some exercise. Book a couple nights, or more, to get the full experience, and you can start your day with a round of golf, or get some vitamin D by the pool, before turning your attention to more pressing matters, like what to eat for lunch.

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