Things to Do Under an Hour from Dallas–Fort Worth with Kids
54 kid-friendly adventures under an hour 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 “under an hour” 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 10 min drive
Cedar Ridge Preserve
Dallas, TX
Hiking600 acres of rugged trails and scenic overlooks in Dallas. Free. Best from about age 4. About two …
about 10 min drive
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas, TX
MuseumFree-admission art museum in the Dallas Arts District with a hands-on kids studio, Egyptian …
about 10 min drive
Dallas World Aquarium
Dallas, TX
AquariumDescend through an indoor rainforest of sloths, toucans and monkeys to a shark tunnel and manatees …
about 10 min drive
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Dallas, TX
MuseumHangar museum at Dallas Love Field with thirty-plus aircraft, the Apollo 7 capsule, flight …
about 10 min drive
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dallas, TX
ScienceFive floors of hands-on science in downtown Dallas with dinosaur skeletons, an earthquake simulator, …
about 10 min drive
Trinity Forest Adventure Park
Dallas, TX
Aerial-AdventureAerial adventure park with zip lines and ropes courses in the treetops. Paid entry. Best from about …
about 10 min drive
Trinity River Audubon Center
Dallas, TX
NatureTrails through the largest urban hardwood forest in the US. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About …
about 10 min drive
White Rock Lake
Dallas, TX
Biking9.4-mile paved biking loop around a scenic Dallas lake. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
about 15 min drive
River Legacy Parks
Arlington, TX
Hiking1,300-acre park with paved trails and mountain biking along the Trinity River. Free. Works from …
about 15 min drive
Southwest Nature Preserve
Arlington, TX
HikingQuiet urban preserve with scenic lake overlook in Arlington. Free. Best from about age 3. About an …
about 15 min drive
Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine
Grapevine, TX
SwimmingIndoor water park hotel in Grapevine kept at 84 degrees year-round, with body slides, a wave pool, a …
about 15 min drive
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas Fort Worth
Grapevine, TX
Indoor-PlayIndoor LEGO play center at Grapevine Mills with build zones, two rides, a 4D cinema, soft play and a …
about 15 min drive
Lake Grapevine Horseshoe Trails
Grapevine, TX
HikingEasy lakeside hiking trails on Grapevine Lake. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. …
about 15 min drive
Meadowmere Park
Grapevine, TX
SwimmingSandy beach swimming on Lake Grapevine with playground and camping. Paid entry. Works from toddler …
about 15 min drive
SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium
Grapevine, TX
AquariumMall aquarium in Grapevine with eye-level tanks, touch pools and a walk-through shark and ray …
about 15 min drive
Colleyville Nature Center
Colleyville, TX
NatureNature trails and playscape perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Free. Works from toddler age. …
about 20 min drive
Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill, TX
HikingFamily-friendly state park on Joe Pool Lake just 20 minutes from Dallas - swimming, hiking, camping, …
about 20 min drive
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. …
about 20 min drive
Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve
Southlake, TX
NatureShort easy trails through rare Cross Timbers forest in Southlake. Free. Works from toddler age. …
about 20 min drive
Prairie Creek Waterfall
Richardson, TX
HikingHidden suburban waterfall and shaded creek trail in Richardson. Free. Works from toddler age. About …
about 25 min drive
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. …
about 25 min drive
Northshore Trail
Flower Mound, TX
Mountain-Biking26 miles of lakeside singletrack mountain biking trails. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day …
about 25 min drive
Rowlett Creek Preserve
Garland, TX
Hiking524-acre preserve with creek crossings and mountain bike trails. Free. Best from about age 3. About …
about 25 min drive
Spring Creek Forest Preserve
Garland, TX
HikingOld-growth forest with guided nature hikes near Dallas. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …
about 30 min drive
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Plano, TX
HikingFamily-friendly trails and an observation tower in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …
about 30 min drive
Crayola Experience Plano
Plano, TX
Indoor-PlayTwo floors of hands-on art stations in Plano where kids name their own crayon, melt wax into art and …
about 30 min drive
Legacy West
Plano, TX
PhotographyModern architecture and a choreographed fountain at this lifestyle center on the Frisco-Plano …
about 30 min drive
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve
Plano, TX
Hiking800-acre park with boardwalks and kayaking in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. …
about 30 min drive
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Fort Worth, TX
ScienceFort Worth science museum with a toddler wing, a dinosaur dig pit, water play, a dome theater and …
about 30 min drive
Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
Fort Worth, TX
Nature25 miles of trails with bison and prairie dogs in Fort Worth. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
about 30 min drive
Gateway Park
Fort Worth, TX
Mountain-BikingBeginner-friendly mountain bike trails along the Trinity River. Free. Best from about age 5. About …
about 30 min drive
Kimbell Art Museum
Fort Worth, TX
MuseumFree permanent collection in a famous Louis Kahn building in Fort Worth, small enough for a one-hour …
about 30 min drive
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, …
about 30 min drive
Tandy Hills Natural Area
Fort Worth, TX
HikingNative prairie wildflowers and skyline views in Fort Worth. Free. Best from about age 4. About an …
about 30 min drive
Trinity Trails
Fort Worth, TX
BikingOver 100 miles of paved family-friendly trails along the Trinity River in Fort Worth - free biking, …
about 35 min drive
B.F. Phillips Community Park
Frisco, TX
NatureRanch-themed community park with open fields and rustic backdrops. Free. Works from toddler age. …
about 35 min drive
Frisco Central Park
Frisco, TX
PhotographyScenic park with waterfalls and bronze cattle sculptures popular for portrait sessions. Free. Works …
about 35 min drive
Frisco Commons Park
Frisco, TX
NatureNature trails and an amphitheater surrounded by mature trees in central Frisco. Free. Works from …
about 35 min drive
Frisco Heritage Center
Frisco, TX
PhotographyHistoric buildings and a steam locomotive make this a top portrait photography spot. Free. Works …
about 35 min drive
Frisco Rail District Murals
Frisco, TX
PhotographyColorful street murals along historic Main Street perfect for edgy senior portraits. Free. Best from …
about 35 min drive
Frisco Square
Frisco, TX
PhotographyUrban architecture and a central park gazebo ideal for portraits and family photos. Free. Works from …
about 35 min drive
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
Seagoville, TX
NatureBoardwalk trails over marshes with interactive nature center. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. …
about 35 min drive
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 …
about 35 min drive
Kathy Seei Park
Frisco, TX
NatureBronze longhorn sculptures and a pond in a compact landscaped park. Free. Works from toddler age. …
about 35 min drive
Limestone Quarry Park
Frisco, TX
NatureFormer quarry with exposed limestone walls and prairie wildflowers. Free. Works from toddler age. …
about 35 min drive
Little Elm Beach
Little Elm, TX
SwimmingSandy lake beach on Lewisville Lake with roped swim area and free life jacket loans. Free. Best from …
about 35 min drive
Museum of the American Railroad
Frisco, TX
MuseumFrisco rail museum with full-size steam locomotives, a Pullman sleeper and vintage passenger cars …
about 35 min drive
National Videogame Museum
Frisco, TX
Indoor-PlayFrisco museum of video game history with a free-play 1980s arcade, playable consoles, and …
about 35 min drive
Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Park
Frisco, TX
PhotographyFree outdoor sculpture park with 50+ works and beautiful landscaping. Free. Works from toddler age. …
about 35 min drive
East Fork Park
Wylie, TX
CampingSandy swim beach and lakeside camping on Lake Lavon. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day …
about 45 min drive
Erwin Park
McKinney, TX
Mountain-Biking10 miles of DORBA-maintained mountain bike trails in McKinney TX with a beginner skills course, …
about 45 min drive
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
McKinney, TX
NatureInteractive nature museum and 289-acre wildlife sanctuary. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
about 50 min drive
Cleburne State Park
Cleburne, TX
CampingNo-wake lake for safe paddling and swimming near Fort Worth. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …
about 55 min drive
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Pilot Point, TX
CampingSandy beach swimming, kids fishing pond, and lakeside camping at Ray Roberts Lake - a big North …
Towns in this drive-time band
- Frisco, TX (11)
- Dallas, TX (8)
- Fort Worth, TX (7)
- Grapevine, TX (5)
- Plano, TX (4)
- Arlington, TX (2)
- Cedar Hill, TX (2)
- Garland, TX (2)
- Little Elm, TX (2)
- McKinney, TX (2)
- Cleburne, TX (1)
- Colleyville, TX (1)
- Flower Mound, TX (1)
- Lewisville, TX (1)
- Pilot Point, TX (1)
- Richardson, TX (1)
- Seagoville, TX (1)
- Southlake, TX (1)
- Wylie, TX (1)