Things to Do 1–2 Hours from Dallas–Fort Worth with Kids
15 kid-friendly adventures about 1 to 2 hours from Dallas–Fort Worth, nearest first.
- Under 1 hour (54)
- 1-2 hours (15)
- 2-3 hours (10)
- 3-4 hours (74)
About these times. Each estimate is a straight-line measurement from the middle of the DFW metroplex, roughly Grand Prairie, padded by 17% for winding roads and divided by a 55 mph average — so “about 1 to 2 hours” means roughly that, not a routed time. Traffic, where in Dallas you start, and the last few miles of park road can all move it by half an hour. Check a map before you load the car.
about 1 hr drive
LBJ National Grasslands
Decatur, TX
Hiking20,000 acres of prairie with mountain biking and primitive camping. Free. Best from about age 4. A …
about 1 hr drive
Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway
Weatherford, TX
Biking20-mile flat rail trail perfect for kids building biking endurance. Free. Best from about age 3. A …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Wills Point, TX
CampingSandy swim beach and shaded camping an hour east of Dallas. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Glen Rose, TX
HikingReal dinosaur tracks in a riverbed plus 20 miles of trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Glen Rose, TX
NatureDrive-through safari park near Glen Rose TX where kids hand-feed giraffes from the car - 1,800 acres …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Rough Creek Lodge
Glen Rose, TX
CampingLuxury family ranch resort with outdoor activities near Glen Rose. Paid entry. Best from about age …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Sherman, TX
Nature12,000-acre wildlife refuge with kids programs on Lake Texoma. Free. Best from about age 3. A …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Lake Whitney State Park
Whitney, TX
CampingWhite limestone shoreline swimming and easy trails on Lake Whitney. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Purtis Creek State Park
Eustace, TX
FishingStocked catch-and-release lake where kids always catch fish. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Mineral Wells, TX
Rock-ClimbingNatural rock climbing at Penitentiary Hollow plus lake swimming and trails. Paid entry. Best from …
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Mineral Wells Fossil Park
Mineral Wells, TX
NatureFree fossil digging where kids keep 300-million-year-old marine specimens. Free. Best from about age …
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Eisenhower State Park
Denison, TX
CampingBlufftop trails and lake swimming on Lake Texoma. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day …
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Meridian State Park
Meridian, TX
CampingCCC-era lake park with screened shelters and paddleboating. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A …
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Cooper Lake State Park
Cooper, TX
CampingUncrowded lakeside camping with swim beach in Northeast Texas. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A …
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Cameron Park
Waco, TX
HikingDramatic blufftop trails and hidden grottos above the Brazos River. Free. Best from about age 4. …