Decatur, TX
LBJ National Grasslands
20,000 acres of prairie with mountain biking and primitive camping. Free. Best from about age 4. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Free
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 (56)
- 1-2 hours (15)
- 2-3 hours (10)
- 3-4 hours (76)
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
about 1 hr drive
Weatherford, TX
Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway
20-mile flat rail trail perfect for kids building biking endurance. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Biking
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Free
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Wills Point, TX
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Sandy swim beach and shaded camping an hour east of Dallas. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Glen Rose, TX
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Real dinosaur tracks in a riverbed plus 20 miles of trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Glen Rose, TX
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Drive-through safari park near Glen Rose TX where kids hand-feed giraffes from the car - 1,800 acres of zebras, cheetahs, rhinos and 50+ species
- Nature
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Glen Rose, TX
Rough Creek Lodge
Luxury family ranch resort with outdoor activities near Glen Rose. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Plan to stay overnight.
- Camping
- Ages 5+
- Overnight
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Sherman, TX
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
12,000-acre wildlife refuge with kids programs on Lake Texoma. Free. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Easy going.
- Nature
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Free
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Whitney, TX
Lake Whitney State Park
White limestone shoreline swimming and easy trails on Lake Whitney. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 15 min drive
Eustace, TX
Purtis Creek State Park
Stocked catch-and-release lake where kids always catch fish. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Fishing
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Mineral Wells, TX
Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Natural rock climbing at Penitentiary Hollow plus lake swimming and trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.
- Rock Climbing
- Ages 5+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Mineral Wells, TX
Mineral Wells Fossil Park
Free fossil digging where kids keep 300-million-year-old marine specimens. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours.
- Nature
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Free
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Denison, TX
Eisenhower State Park
Blufftop trails and lake swimming on Lake Texoma. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.
- Camping
- Ages 3+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 30 min drive
Meridian, TX
Meridian State Park
CCC-era lake park with screened shelters and paddleboating. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Cooper, TX
Cooper Lake State Park
Uncrowded lakeside camping with swim beach in Northeast Texas. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.
- Camping
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Paid
about 1 hr 45 min drive
Waco, TX
Cameron Park
Dramatic blufftop trails and hidden grottos above the Brazos River. Free. Best from about age 4. About two hours. Dogs welcome.
- Hiking
- Ages 4+
- ~2h
- Free