These 10 trips within an hour of Fort Worth offer a summer trip that won’t guzzle gas
.jpg "There are many options for fun day trips within a couple of hours of Fort Worth.")
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10 short Fort Worth road trip destinations
These 10 trips prove you don’t have to go far from Fort Worth for adventure.
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The beginning of summer is a time when Texans will hit the road for vacation, returning to near pre-pandemic travel numbers.
Despite record high gas prices, the American Automobile Association estimates an over 8 percent increase in road travel this year. Just under 35 million automobiles are expected to travel during Memorial Day weekend, about 2.5 million less than 2019.
In Texas, gas is higher than it’s ever been. The state average as of Tuesday was $4.27, a 6-cent increase from a week ago and a 49-cent increase from April. Flight prices have also increased with airlines upping ticket fares to offset fuel costs.
If you’re looking for a summer get-away that doesn’t take a hit at your pocketbook, check out these 10 destinations all within two hours of Fort Worth. Whether you set out on your own or travel with friends and family, each destination has its own unique vibe from quaint towns with boutique shopping, restaurants and homemade pecan goodies, to outdoor adventures with wild animals, quiet trails, fossilized dinosaur tracks and even a waterfall.
Also, check out these five day-trip destinations that came from Star-Telegram readers.
Happy exploring!
Glen Rose, ‘Dinosaur Capital of Texas’
- Distance from Fort Worth: 1 hour
- Attractions: Fossilized dinosaur tracks, live animals, swimming, trails, fishing
- Need to know: Park hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; wildlife center is open 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Explore animal kingdoms, both present and prehistoric, at Glen Rose, a city 52 miles southwest of Fort Worth, also known as the “Dinosaur Capital of Texas.”
Visit wild attractions like Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Or, enjoy a day out in the sun at Wheeler Branch Reservoir. Because attractions are outdoors, be sure to pack water, snacks, sunscreen and other necessities.
Millions of years ago, dinosaurs left footprints in the mud at the edge of an ancient ocean. Today, you can stand where those dinosaurs once stood in the bed of the Paluxy River. Walk in the footprints of the ancient Acrocanthosaurus and Sauroposeidon. Download the digital dinosaur track maps to find the dinosaur tracks. Note: you’ll have to stick your feet in the water, so wear waterproof shoes.
Though the park is best known for dinosaur footprints, there’s a lot more to do as you roam the park. Explore scenic trails by foot, horse or bike while you snap photos with life-size dinosaur replicas and learn about the dinosaurs that lived in the area. Picnic outside in the group picnic area or pavilion (the store has snacks and drinks). Or take a dip in the Blue Hole, a 20-feet-deep swimming area inside the Paluxy River. Park tickets are $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Reservations are highly recommended; make reservations online or by phone at 512-389-8900.
Take a seven mile drive to marvel at over 1,000 animals from 50 species at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, a conservation facility focused on rehabilitating endangered animals. The Texas-style safari was voted “Best Wildlife Park” by the 2020 USA TODAY Reader’s Choice Awards. There are two ways through the park: take your own car or ride in a center vehicle for a guided tour. You’ll see (and sometimes feed) giraffes, ostriches, zebras, cheetahs and rhinos. Stop at the Children’s Animal Center, where you’ll meet animals like Nausie, a mischievous Nigerian dwarf goat; Pearl, a bare-eyed cockatoo; Einstein, a loving and curious emu; and Hamlet, a pot-bellied pig. Take a break to grab a bite at the cafe, or to buy a souvenir from the gift shop. Tickets must be purchased in advance; buy them online. Self-guided tours are $25 for adults and $20 for children 3 to 11 years old. The center is open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the tour takes about two hours.
Wheeler Branch Reservoir Park is a great place to relax in nature. It’s been described as a fisherman’s paradise. Fish for catfish, bass, sunfish and walleye. And ride the waters in a kayak or canoe. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 13.
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Cedar Ridge Preserve
Distance from Fort Worth: 45 minutes
Location: 7171 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas
Attractions: Hiking trails, fishing, swimming
Need to know: Hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 6:30 a.m. until dusk. More info here.
If you’re looking for an outdoor excursion away from home but still in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Cedar Ridge Preserve is an option. About 30 miles east of Fort Worth, this preserve offers hiking trails for visitors to traverse through nature.
Cedar Ridge Preserve is maintained by the nonprofit organization Audubon Dallas. There is no entry fee, but a visitor donation of $3 is encouraged.
Dogs are welcome at the preserve but must be leashed at all times, according to the preserve’s guidelines. Dog waste must be bagged and disposed of in the trash cans at the front entrance.
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Canton, Texas
- Distance from Fort Worth: 90 minutes
- Attractions: Shopping until your feet give out
- Need to know: Plan to spend at least five hours, bring cash
Want to go on a shopping adventure? Visit what’s called the world’s largest flea market in Canton, east of Dallas off I-20.
With over 5,000 vendors, you’ll find one-of-a-kind home decor, clothes and basically a little bit of everything you can think of. First Monday Trade Days opens the weekend (Thursday to Sunday) before the first Monday of every month, bringing about 100,000 visitors from across the country. Find the 2022 calendar online.
“If you are looking for something, you will most likely find it at First Monday,” says one Tripadvisor reviewer.
This is the perfect girls trip or romantic getaway for you if you love bargains. Or if you enjoy finding collectibles, antiques, vintage items or handmade products. The market is one big treasure hunt.
Get there early to find parking before it gets too crowded; Thursday and Friday tend to be less crowded. Parking is $10 a day. Plan to be there at least five hours, and bring cash because some vendors don’t accept credit cards. First Monday is open sun up ‘til sun down, the website says.
Be prepared to shop until you drop, visitors say, because you’ll be walking a lot across the 450-acre market. Alternatively, rent a scooter. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, have a map handy and a bag, cart or wagon to carry your finds. Also, be prepared to bargain with vendors. You could get a good deal out of it.
For some, the best part of First Monday is the food. There are tons of options to choose from. There’s fair food like corndogs, popcorn and fried everything. There’s Southern fare like gumbo.
For lunch, Blind Fox is highly recommended. The food truck serves Hispanic-inspired fast-casual food including tacos and quesadillas. For dinner, visit Archie’s BBQ for meat plates and sandwiches. End the night with homemade ice cream at Taylor’s Homemade Ice Cream.
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Historical Granbury Square
Distance from Fort Worth: 1 hour
Location: East Pearl Street, Granbury
Attractions: Shopping, dining, beach, bed and breakfast spots. More here
Within an hour of Fort Worth is the city of Granbury, with the Hood County Courthouse in the middle of a historical square made up of shops and restaurants along the Brazos River. Kristen Gibson, the Visit Granbury assistant director, said she encourages first-timers to stop by the visitor center so they can receive free information on what to do and where to go during their stay.
“Everybody and every age, there’s something to do here,” she said. “Because it is so diverse here, we like to help everybody kind of tailor their perfect vacation, because not everybody vacations the same.”
With a plethora of events happening year-round, Gibson said there’s not a bad time to visit. The summertime offers a calendar full of live music events in and around the square.
Gibson said it’s hard to recommend one restaurant because it depends on each person’s taste buds. There’s everything from bar food to fine-dining options, along with a bakery called Baked! Bread and Pastry Co., which makes everything from scratch.
To beat the heat during the summer months, visitors can enjoy a free escape on the white sand of Granbury Beach, right by the square.
There’s plenty to see and do, so for those wanting to take an extra day or two to soak it all in, Granbury offers chain hotels as well as bed and breakfast places.
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Turner Falls, Okla.
- Distance from Fort Worth: 2 hours
- Attractions: Waterfall, swimming, castles, caves, zip line
- Need to know: Feeling lucky? On the way home, stop by the casinos near the Texas border
For adventure lovers, Turner Falls — about halfway between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City — would be the best day trip destination. At 77 feet, the waterfall in the heart of the Arbuckle Mountains is Oklahoma’s tallest.
There are tons of swimming areas, old castles and caves to explore and scenic areas to hike. Purchase your tickets online, summer admission is $9.
Swim right under the waterfall, or at Blue Hole Pool or Honey Creek. There are diving boards and slides. Hike on the 3.5 mile hiking trail. As you walk, watch for wildlife. You’ll find three caves above the waterfall to wander through.
Stop by Collings Castle, a must-see maze-like mansion built in the 1930s. It’s open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is included with admission into Turner Falls Park.
Looking for a little more excitement? Try the zip line. You will be hoisted 717 feet high and 727 feet back, overlooking Turner Falls. Book online or in the Curio Shop; tickets cost $15 for one rider or $25 for two riders.
Have dinner at Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Ranch, a family-run BBQ joint with an almost five-star rating. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Allow yourself plenty of time, because wait time tends to be long during peak hours.
End the night with fried pies from Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies. Choose from over 20 flavors, including savory, sweet and sugar-free.
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Dr Pepper Museum
Distance from Fort Worth: 90 minutes
Location: 300 S. 5th St., Waco
Attractions: Tours, games, Dr Pepper soda fountain
Need to know: Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sundays, noon-5:30 p.m.
Discover the history of the soft drink industry centered around Dr Pepper at this three-story museum, not far off Interstate 35W in downtown Waco. Each admission ticket comes with a free Dr Pepper at the museum’s soda fountain. Guests can also make a personalized soda in the Liquid Lab at $10 per bottle.
Admission prices for visitors 65 and older, military members and educators with an ID is $8. Adults are $10; college students with an ID, high school students and children are $6. Children 4 and under are free.
For visitors heading down to the museum this spring, road improvements are happening in front of the building but the museum is still open during its regular hours.
While in Waco, stop by the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a 1970s excavation site of Columbian mammoths and other Ice Age animals. And on the way home, don’t miss the longtime Czech Stop off I-35 in the town of West. The store is famous for its kolache and other baked sweets.
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Grapevine, Texas
- Distance from Fort Worth: Less than 30 minutes
- Attractions: Amusements galore for kids, global dining, wineries, farmers market
- Need to know: Downtown is quaint with shops, restaurants and wine tastings
Looking to take a day trip without all of the driving? Grapevine, a city nestled between Dallas and Fort Worth, has a lot to offer. And it’s only 25 minutes northeast of downtown Fort Worth.
Grapevine is a perfect destination for families with kids, or just the grownups.
Little ones will enjoy the Sea Life Aquarium at Grapevine Mills Mall, featuring a 360 degree ocean tunnel that makes you feel like you’re swimming with sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and fish of every kind. Aside from being face-to-fin with animals, pet a starfish and a sticky anemone, explore other exhibits or catch a show. Purchase an aquarium admission ticket for $23 online, or buy a combined Legoland and Sea Life ticket for $37. It’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Legoland Discovery Center, also located at Grapevine Mills Mall, is a family must. This 35,000-square-foot attraction features more than 2 million Lego bricks. Build and time a race car, look at some of DFW’s most famous landmarks miniaturized and play with millions of Lego bricks. Watch adventures with fun characters in a four-dimensional cinema. Hop on some action-filled rides, too. Legoland is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online for $25.
Leaving the kids at home? Take a foodie tour through Grapevine.
Harvest Hall is a European-style, 20,000-square-foot food hall featuring seven cuisines, from Mexican street food to a Mediterranean kitchen. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., at 815 S. Main St.
Minutes from Harvest Hall, stroll through the Farmers Market of Grapevine (520 S. Main St.) to take home some produce, homemade gifts and baked goods. Try gourmet popcorn, fried pies, handmade cheeses, raw honey and tamales. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
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Palestine, Texas
- Distance from Fort Worth: 2 hours
- Attractions: Goat yoga, swimming, fishing, kayak/canoe rides, hiking, baked goods
- Need to know: The annual Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration is March 18-April 3
Palestine is a charming East Texas town with more than 1,800 historic sites off U.S. 287 South.
With elaborate architecture and dazzling dogwood trees, a day trip to Palestine will let you unwind and forget about your worries back home. Hang out by the water, practice some goat yoga (yes, you read that right) and treat yourself to lots of dessert.
Yoga is therapeutic, but wait until you add some adorable goats to the mix. With Oh My Goat yoga in Palestine, you’ll be practicing your sun salutation alongside Pygmy Nigerian cross goats. The goat yoga class is $30 per person. If you’re feeling creative, add on painting for $35. To register for a class, call 903-549-2920 or email ohmygoatpalestine@gmail.com.
After your yoga class, cool off at Lower Lake, located at Upper Lake Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Pack food and have a picnic, fish or take a kayak or canoe through the water. Or, go hiking on the Wolf Creek Lake trail.
In between adventures, be sure to hit Palestine’s sweet spots. Visit Oxbow Bakery, an award-winning family-owned pie shop in Palestine. They sell classic pies like pecan and pumpkin, and unique pies like pecan praline cream and lemon icebox. If you want to try everything, get a slice of each for $4, or buy a whole pie for $20 if you know what you want.
Another dessert spot, Eilenberger Bakery, is famous for its pecan-loaded Texas fruitcakes. The top-rated bakery is ideal for breakfast or lunch because it sells sandwiches, salads, cookies, pies, cupcakes, brownies and pastries.
Spend the rest of your day hiking or biking at Davey Dogwood Park, a 254 acre picturesque park and pack a picnic to enjoy.
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Stephenville Historical House Museum
Distance from Fort Worth: 90 minutes
Location: 525 E. Washington St., Stephenville
Attractions: Historical buildings, self-guided tours
Need to know: Hours are Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m-5 p.m.; Sundays, 12-5 p.m.
Southwest of Fort Worth in Erath County is the Stephenville Historical House Museum, a great place to wander when the weather is nice. The site is home to several historical buildings, from cottages to log cabins, that are from around the county. One building called the Tarleton Ranch House served as the headquarters for a 10,000-acre ranch operated by the Tarleton State University founder, John Tarleton.
A historic chapel is on the property where weddings and Sunday services are held, museum staff said.
A monthly series called Pickers & Poets is in the spring and fall. The free event is a song swap among artists with wine and beer provided by local vendors, said Dana Adams, the museum vice president. The next event is March 13 in the evening.
While in Stephenville, grab a bite at Grumps Burgers, which offers sides including onion rings and fried pickles.
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Possum Kingdom State Park
Distance from Fort Worth: 2 hours
Location: 3901 State Park Road 33, Caddo
Attractions: Camping, fishing, hiking, geocaching
Need to know: Hours are daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hit the road and head west to Possum Kingdom State Park where visitors can hike, bike, fish and camp within driving distance of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
The entrance fee for adults is $4, and children 12 and younger are free.
According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, visitors can fish for bass, catfish and crappie with no fishing license required. On Possum Kingdom Lake, you can swim, boat, water ski, scuba dive and snorkel.
With air-conditioned cabins and campsites offered on a nightly rate basis, a day-trip to Possum Kingdom State Park can turn into a weekend getaway.
Venture outside the park to the nearby cities of Mineral Wells and Graham for shopping, dining and entertainment all year round.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
