One of the big benefits of being located in a city like Ft. Worth is that a variety of cityscapes are available within a quick drive, offering a wide variety of short road trips and day trips from Fort Worth.
As a bonus, there is an Amtrak station in Ft. Worth that services the Texas Eagle and Heartland Flyer routes.
The Heartland Flyer can take you up to Oklahoma City and the Texas Eagle can take you further south to Austin and San Antonio! This is a great way to explore Texas without having to drive!
If you’re looking for a fun down-and-out road trip from Fort Worth, there are several must-see locations depending on how far you’re willing to drive!
This article is set up based on the driving distance to optimize your trip! Below you’ll find the best Fort Worth day trips divided between under 1 hour, under 2 hours, and over 2-hour drives!
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Fort Worth Day Trips Within a 1 Hour Drive
Arlington
Arlington is a sports lover’s dream. Globe Life Park is a great baseball experience, and you can also check out the local restaurants and bars around the stadium.
If you’re into quirky sightseeing spots, the International Bowling Museum is also located in Arlington!
Another top hit in Arlington, and the main reason that it’s one of the most popular day trips from Ft. Worth, is Six Flags!
If you’re a local resident a season pass is definitely worth it. It makes a great casual outing. Head over to ride a couple of rides, have funnel cake, and live your best life!
If you’re able to go in the summertime a Six Flags ticket will get you admission into both the amusement park and the corresponding water park called Hurricane Harbor. A day trip to Arlington is a great way to spice up your weekend!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
20 minutes.
Granbury
Often considered one of the best small towns in Texas, Granbury is home of one of Texas’ most beautiful town squares, an excellent lake, plenty of antiquing opportunities, and nearby access to other fun destinations near Fort Worth like Glen Rose.
While you’re there, be sure to hit the beach, check out the historic Granbury Opera House, visit Revolver Brewing, and, if you stick around for the evening, to take a ghost tour!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
55 minutes.
Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill State Park is one of the best North Texas state parks, and is a great asset to the area. It provides a great natural respite from the city life and has everything from boating to camping to fishing.
Located on Joe Pool Lake, there are over 7,000 acres of water to explore as well as miles of mountain biking and hiking trails.
This is a great spot for nature photography or bird watching!
Dogwood Canyon is also in Cedar Hill which provides for more great photography spots. The Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center continues to provide community education on natural resources and the importance of conservation!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
30 minutes.
Grapevine
The Christmas Capital of Texas just happens to be located practically next door to Fort Worth–and it’s worth a visit year-round.
Grapevine boasts an adorable downtown that is bursting with wine tasting rooms and delicious restaurants, as well as unique attractions like the DFW Founders Park (where you can observe planes taking off from DFW), the Grapevine Vintage Railroad (ever wanted to drink wine on a historic train?), and the popular Settlement to City Museum.
The best times to visit Grapevine are for Christmas–the decor is truly over the top–and for Grapefest, the town’s annual wine festival. However, you can never go wrong with a day trip to Grapevine!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
25 minutes.
Dallas
Dallas is a natural choice for a day trip, as it is a sister city to Ft. Worth. There are amazing restaurants, museums, and parks to explore.
Check out Reunion Tower, or have a spin around Trinity Groves. There is no end to the fun. Another really fun excursion is to do the Margarita Mile (drink responsibly of course!). The Margarita Mile is a list of all of the top margaritas located in the city.
After a good afternoon of tacos and margaritas, you can catch a concert at American Airlines Center or go to Deep Ellum for a slice of nightlife.
There are amazing rooftop bars and restaurants that serve up great hits from all over the country from brick oven pizzas to fresh beignets. Your stomach will thank you!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
35 minutes.
Frisco
If you’re a fan of Cowboy Country, this is the spot to be. Frisco is the home to “The Star” which is a large indoor practice stadium for the Dallas Cowboys.
The surrounding area is flooded with bars and restaurants. There are almost 30 restaurants and shops in the Star District alone.
You can catch a game at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark, or head over to the sculpture gardens.
If you love watching live sports events or just want an excuse to be out on the town, this is a short drive away.
The energy is electric on the weekend and it’s definitely worth the short drive from Fort Worth!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
50 minutes.
Glen Rose
Glen Rose is a beautiful getaway from Ft. Worth located near Dinosaur Valley State Park. Dinosaur Valley is known for having real dinosaur tracks preserved in the riverbeds of the Paluxy River.
There are lots of great spots to go horseback riding, golfing, hiking, or water tubing. There are tons of restaurants serving up virtually every dish you can imagine.
Enjoy the small-town feel in the cozy downtown area, go antique shopping, or try out a walking tour of the square. There are lots of relaxing activities to do with a small group or even on your own!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
55 minutes.
Day Trips from Fort Worth Within a 2 Hour Drive
Dublin
Known for being the home of Dublin Bottling Works–the original bottlers of Dr. Pepper–this quirky small town is one of the most unexpected day trips from Fort Worth!
Touring Dublin Bottling Works and visiting the museum located next door are absolute musts during your trip. Not only will you get a chance to see the behind-the-scenes of bottling soda, but you’ll also get all the details on why Dr. Pepper is no longer bottled in Dublin (and it’s a contentious story).
Dublin also boasts several small, interesting museums and nods to its status as the official Irish Capital of Texas–be sure to pose for a photo with the 4-leaf clover sign as you drive into town!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
1 hour, 35 minutes.
Waco
Waco might not seem like the place to be if you’re not a die-hard Baylor fan. On the contrary, since the growth of the Magnolia Silos District, this place is booming!
Whether you’re there to shop for home goods or you are dying to have cookies and muffins from the bakery there is a spot for you. The lines may be long but the fun of the experience makes up for it.
If you can make it out for the Spring Fling event make sure you dress up, it’s an Instagram dream out there! Explore all of the different vendors and eat your way through all of the food trucks, it’s so fun!
Once you wrap up at the Silos, be sure to check out the Wooly Mammoth National Monument, as well.
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
1 hour, 30 minutes.
Corsicana
Corsicana, made notable for the Netflix show “Cheer”, is a cute and cozy small town is rising in fame thanks to the film industry, its beauty, and how easy of a getaway it makes from Fort Worth or Dallas!
There is a quaint winery, great lakes for kayaking or fishing, and mouthwatering restaurants to try from. Downtown is a charming area that preserves so much of that old school country charm.
Despite being a small town this area has a thriving artist’s community with The Palace Theatre, 100 West, and other galleries and studios. With so much to do, it’s no wonder why so many people gravitate towards this town!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
1 hour, 30 miutes.
Wichita Falls
The waterfalls would seem like an obvious reason to come to Wichita Falls. While they’re beautiful and you should absolutely go, there is so much more you can include to enhance your trip!
The River Bend Nature Center is an important pillar for conservation and education in the area. They have the Ruby N. Priddy Butterfly and Nature Conservatory which is a huge hit, in addition, the United Children’s Garden is a great way to experience the beauty of nature.
These attractions are very inexpensive, and a great way to diversify your trip.
Also be sure to visit a lot of the smaller, local museums such as the Museum of North Texas History, these places have so much to offer in terms of education about the very communities we live in!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
1 hour, 40 minutes.
Tyler
Tyler, Texas is perhaps best known for its roses. It is known as “Rose City” or “The Rose Capital of America”.
Every year, the Texas Rose Festival is held in this area to commemorate the beautiful flower. The Tyler Rose Garden is the largest rose garden in the entire country.
In addition to the pride over these beautiful flowers, the town also has the pleasure of having a state park within its boundaries. You can go camping or take a hike for the day followed up by a wine tasting at a local winery or a trip to the Historic District, anywhere you look you’ll get a beautiful view!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
2 hours.
Day Trips from Ft. Worth 2+ Hours Away
Austin
Being one of the top 5 major cities in Texas, Austin is a definite “must-see” location. Described by some as the “Los Angeles of Texas” it has a lot of the cool, trendy vibes that are a staunch difference from the old country vibes of several other cities. Austin has lots of festivals and events happening all year round, you’re bound to run into something that’s up your alley.
From live music to authentic international cuisines you can’t really go wrong.
Definitely visit Barton Springs and South Congress, but also head out to the local food truck parks. This city is full of culture and pizzazz, all it takes to unlock it is an adventurous heart and an open mind!
Driving Distance from Downtown Fort Worth
2 hours, 45 minutes.
