Quick Family Trips (2 Hours or Less) in Texas
We pulled these 73 quick outings out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in Texas. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.
73 adventures found
Dallas World Aquarium
Dallas, TX
AquariumDescend through an indoor rainforest of sloths, toucans and monkeys to a shark tunnel and manatees …
White Rock Lake
Dallas, TX
Biking9.4-mile paved biking loop around a scenic Dallas lake. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
Hamilton Pool Preserve
Dripping Springs, TX
SwimmingJaw-dropping grotto with 50-foot waterfall and natural swimming pool. Paid entry. Best from about …
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Plano, TX
HikingFamily-friendly trails and an observation tower in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Angleton, TX
Nature44,000-acre birding refuge with auto tour loop and alligator sightings. Free. Best from about age 3. …
Southwest Nature Preserve
Arlington, TX
HikingQuiet urban preserve with scenic lake overlook in Arlington. Free. Best from about age 3. About an …
Austin Aquarium
Austin, TX
AquariumHands-on north Austin aquarium where kids feed stingrays, touch sea stars in shallow pools and walk …
Austin Bouldering Project
Austin, TX
Rock-ClimbingIndoor bouldering gym in south Austin with colour-graded routes, padded floors and day passes with …
Blanton Museum of Art
Austin, TX
MuseumUT Austin art museum whose Ellsworth Kelly stone chapel floods the floor with shifting colored light …
Bull Creek Greenbelt
Austin, TX
SwimmingShallow limestone creek pools perfect for toddler wading. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …
Lady Bird Lake
Austin, TX
KayakingKayaking and paddleboarding on calm water through downtown Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age …
Mount Bonnell
Austin, TX
Hiking102-step climb to panoramic views over Lake Austin. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour. Dogs …
Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Austin, TX
HikingPeaceful woodland trails with a waterfall and nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. …
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Bertram, TX
HikingFree federal refuge with birding trails and Junior Rangers. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …
Enchanted Springs Ranch
Boerne, TX
NatureOld West ranch with pony rides and rescued exotic animals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About …
Longhorn Cavern State Park
Burnet, TX
NatureKid-friendly guided cave tour near Burnet TX - walk a mile through cathedral-sized underground rooms …
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center
Cedar Hill, TX
HikingShaded canyon trails with a nature play area for kids. Free. Best from about age 3. About two hours. …
Brushy Creek Regional Trail
Cedar Park, TX
Biking14-mile paved trail with playgrounds connecting Cedar Park and Round Rock. Free. Works from toddler …
Colleyville Nature Center
Colleyville, TX
NatureNature trails and playscape perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Guadalupe River at Horseshoe Falls
Comfort, TX
SwimmingNatural horseshoe waterfall on the Guadalupe River near Comfort. Free. Best from about age 3. About …
Cedar Ridge Preserve
Dallas, TX
Hiking600 acres of rugged trails and scenic overlooks in Dallas. Free. Best from about age 4. About two …
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas, TX
MuseumFree-admission art museum in the Dallas Arts District with a hands-on kids studio, Egyptian …
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Dallas, TX
MuseumHangar museum at Dallas Love Field with thirty-plus aircraft, the Apollo 7 capsule, flight …
Trinity River Audubon Center
Dallas, TX
NatureTrails through the largest urban hardwood forest in the US. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About …
Gateway Park
Fort Worth, TX
Mountain-BikingBeginner-friendly mountain bike trails along the Trinity River. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
Kimbell Art Museum
Fort Worth, TX
MuseumFree permanent collection in a famous Louis Kahn building in Fort Worth, small enough for a one-hour …
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
Fort Worth, TX
MuseumFort Worth museum of the women of the American West with a bucking bronc ride simulator, rodeo gear, …
Tandy Hills Natural Area
Fort Worth, TX
HikingNative prairie wildflowers and skyline views in Fort Worth. Free. Best from about age 4. About an …
Trinity Trails
Fort Worth, TX
BikingOver 100 miles of paved family-friendly trails along the Trinity River in Fort Worth - free biking, …
B.F. Phillips Community Park
Frisco, TX
NatureRanch-themed community park with open fields and rustic backdrops. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Frisco Central Park
Frisco, TX
PhotographyScenic park with waterfalls and bronze cattle sculptures popular for portrait sessions. Free. Works …
Frisco Commons Park
Frisco, TX
NatureNature trails and an amphitheater surrounded by mature trees in central Frisco. Free. Works from …
Frisco Heritage Center
Frisco, TX
PhotographyHistoric buildings and a steam locomotive make this a top portrait photography spot. Free. Works …
Frisco Rail District Murals
Frisco, TX
PhotographyColorful street murals along historic Main Street perfect for edgy senior portraits. Free. Best from …
Frisco Square
Frisco, TX
PhotographyUrban architecture and a central park gazebo ideal for portraits and family photos. Free. Works from …
Kathy Seei Park
Frisco, TX
NatureBronze longhorn sculptures and a pond in a compact landscaped park. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Limestone Quarry Park
Frisco, TX
NatureFormer quarry with exposed limestone walls and prairie wildflowers. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Museum of the American Railroad
Frisco, TX
MuseumFrisco rail museum with full-size steam locomotives, a Pullman sleeper and vintage passenger cars …
National Videogame Museum
Frisco, TX
Indoor-PlayFrisco museum of video game history with a free-play 1980s arcade, playable consoles, and …
Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Park
Frisco, TX
PhotographyFree outdoor sculpture park with 50+ works and beautiful landscaping. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Rowlett Creek Preserve
Garland, TX
Hiking524-acre preserve with creek crossings and mountain bike trails. Free. Best from about age 3. About …
Spring Creek Forest Preserve
Garland, TX
HikingOld-growth forest with guided nature hikes near Dallas. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …
Inner Space Cavern
Georgetown, TX
NatureWalk through an Ice Age cave 30 minutes from Austin. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two …
San Gabriel Park
Georgetown, TX
BikingAward-winning playscape and river trail in Georgetown. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
Palmetto State Park
Gonzales, TX
HikingTropical palmetto forest and warm springs along the San Marcos River. Paid entry. Best from about …
Mission Tejas State Park
Grapeland, TX
HikingHistoric Spanish mission replica in towering East Texas hardwood forest. Paid entry. Best from about …
Lake Grapevine Horseshoe Trails
Grapevine, TX
HikingEasy lakeside hiking trails on Grapevine Lake. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. …
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium
Grapevine, TX
AquariumMall aquarium in Grapevine with eye-level tanks, touch pools and a walk-through shark and ray …
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houston, TX
BikingPaved bayou trails with destination playground and bat colony viewing. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
Houston, TX
NatureWetland wildlife viewing and hands-on nature center east of Houston. Free. Works from toddler age. …
The Health Museum
Houston, TX
ScienceHouston museum of the human body with a walk-through giant heart, a climb-in brain and a simulated …
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center
Humble, TX
NatureBoardwalk trails through cypress swamp with free guided canoe trips. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Pedernales Falls Trammel Crossing
Johnson City, TX
SwimmingHistoric river crossing with natural wading pools away from the crowds. Paid entry. Best from about …
Pedernales River Nature Park
Johnson City, TX
SwimmingQuiet Pedernales River swimming with limestone wading pools. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
Lewisville, TX
Nature2,000 acres of prairies and wetlands with guided nature programs. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
Johnny Broyles Nature Trail
Little Elm, TX
HikingPaved 2.7-mile nature trail along Lake Lewisville in Little Elm. Free. Works from toddler age. About …
Mineral Wells Fossil Park
Mineral Wells, TX
NatureFree fossil digging where kids keep 300-million-year-old marine specimens. Free. Best from about age …
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Monahans, TX
Hiking70-foot sand dunes with disc surfing and spectacular sunsets. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …
Mother Neff State Park
Moody, TX
HikingFirst Texas state park with limestone sinkhole pool and historic CCC buildings. Paid entry. Best …
Comal River Tubing
New Braunfels, TX
TubingGentle spring-fed tubing on the 2.5-mile Comal River in New Braunfels TX - tube rentals with shuttle …
Legacy West
Plano, TX
PhotographyModern architecture and a choreographed fountain at this lifestyle center on the Frisco-Plano …
Prairie Creek Waterfall
Richardson, TX
HikingHidden suburban waterfall and shaded creek trail in Richardson. Free. Works from toddler age. About …
Briscoe Western Art Museum
San Antonio, TX
MuseumCompact Western art museum on the San Antonio River Walk with a stagecoach, saddles, historic …
Eisenhower Park
San Antonio, TX
HikingObservation tower and six miles of trails with playground. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …
Friedrich Wilderness Park
San Antonio, TX
HikingFree 600-acre Hill Country hiking on the edge of San Antonio. Free. Best from about age 4. About two …
Phil Hardberger Park
San Antonio, TX
HikingLand bridge and world-class nature playscape in San Antonio. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium
San Antonio, TX
AquariumSmall River Walk aquarium in San Antonio with a walk-through ray and shark tunnel plus supervised …
San Antonio Museum of Art
San Antonio, TX
MuseumArt museum in a castle-like former brewery on San Antonio's Museum Reach, holding mummies, Roman …
Rio Vista Park
San Marcos, TX
SwimmingCrystal-clear spring-fed river with natural falls for floating and swimming. Free. Best from about …
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
Seagoville, TX
NatureBoardwalk trails over marshes with interactive nature center. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve
Southlake, TX
NatureShort easy trails through rare Cross Timbers forest in Southlake. Free. Works from toddler age. …
Cameron Park
Waco, TX
HikingDramatic blufftop trails and hidden grottos above the Brazos River. Free. Best from about age 4. …
Jacob's Well Natural Area
Wimberley, TX
SwimmingCrystal-clear artesian spring swimming hole in Wimberley TX - swimming requires advance online …