Dallas is great. The family-friendly fun there is awesome, the food scene is great, and the culture found there is some of the best around. Still, even when a place is great, sometimes it’s necessary to escape the city, soak up some nature, and take in some new sights at one of these weekend trips from Dallas.
The good news? There are plenty of awesome options near Dallas. In fact, choosing which place to visit might be the biggest challenge you face.
Lucky for you, we’ve narrowed things down and created this itinerary of the 3 best weekend trips from Dallas. These trips are best taken in an RV in order to get the full experience. Besides, who wouldn’t want to save money on lodging to put toward future trips?
RVs For Rent Near Dallas
A Step Back in Time: Dinosaur Valley State Park
Drive time: 1.5 hours
Easily one of the best weekend trips with dogs, with kids, or even with a group of outdoorsy friends, Dinosaur Valley State Park has a lot to offer. If you’re looking for a true escape into nature with a little taste of paleontology on the side, this is an excellent spot for weekend getaways from Dallas!
Image source: Randall Chancellor
Things to Do
The main attractions at Dinosaur Valley State Park are the dinosaur footprints found there. Obviously, you will want to try to see the dinosaur tracks right away. Unfortunately, because the tracks are in a riverbed, they are not always visible. Visit during a dry part of the year to increase your chances of seeing this incredible sight.
Whether or not you are able to see the dinosaur tracks, you will find lots of other great things to do in the park. You can take a guided tour on horseback or hop on a horse-drawn wagon with the Eagle Eye Ranch Carriage Company, and hiking is of course a must-do while in the park. Many people enjoy mountain biking on the many trails, and swimming, fishing, and paddling are popular river activities.
We also highly recommend attending a Ranger program if possible!
Where to Stay
One of the coolest things about using Dinosaur Valley State Park as your escape is that you can actually park your RV in the park itself. This means you never have to leave the beauty of this natural area during your stay there!
The onsite campground includes 44 sites with water and electric hookups. A dump station and restrooms with showers are available.
A Seaside Escape: Galveston Island
Drive time: 5 hours
Looking for weekend trips from Dallas for families? Galveston Island is an excellent pick. Grab the kids, the dog, and grandma and grandpa, and pack up for an amazing seaside escape that the family won’t soon forget. Yes, this is easily one of the best weekend trips from Dallas and is well worth the five-hour drive.
Things to Do
Obviously, you will want to spend most of your time relaxing on the beach, building sand castles, and jumping the waves. The town of Galveston has plenty of great food options, including a Rainforest Cafe that is tons of fun for the kids, along with MOD Coffeehouse for some excellent coffee.
If you prefer more peace and quiet, try heading out of town to Galveston Island State Park where you can enjoy the usual beach activities as well as some fantastic bird watching, hiking, and biking. Be sure to visit the nature center at the park to learn more about the area.
Still need ways to fill time? Consider visiting Moody Gardens or Pleasure Pier.
Where to Stay
There are several RV campgrounds in Galveston. That said, our absolute favorite place to camp on the entire island is the aforementioned Galveston Island State Park. We love the tranquility found here and appreciate that it feels like a true escape from the hustle and bustle.
Each site includes water and electric hookups, and some beachside sites are available. There is a dump station onsite, and restrooms with showers are available for guest use.
A Relaxing Getaway: Hot Springs National Park
Drive time: 4.5 hours
Those hoping for weekend getaways from Dallas for couples might want to take a look at Hot Springs National Park. Although this park is all the way over in Arkansas, it’s actually much closer than many parks in Texas. It’s a great choice for relaxing weekend getaways from Dallas.
Things to Do
Obviously, the number one thing to do in Hot Springs National Park is, well, soak in the hot springs. Believe it or not, you can’t just head to a natural outdoor pool to do this. Instead, you must pay to bathe at one of the park’s historic bathhouses. The good news? The experience is well worth it.
Other things to do in the park include hiking the many trails, bird watching, and stopping by the visitor center in order to chat with a Ranger and learn more about the history of this incredible place. You can head into the town of Hot Springs for some good food, and you won’t want to miss out on drinking some delicious water straight from the spring. (You can even fill a jug if you like!)
Where to Stay
While there are several RV parks near Hot Springs National Park, the only place to stay within the park itself is Gulpha Gorge Campground. Fortunately, it is a lovely campground and we highly recommend making this your home base while visiting the park.
Surprisingly, this NPS campground features full-hookup sites, meaning you’ll be camping in luxury. Restrooms are available and the campground offers easy access to the activities in the park.
In our opinion, these are some of the best weekend trips from Dallas. That said, they are far from the only awesome weekend getaways from Dallas out there. Whether you choose from this list or decide to explore someplace different, we’re sure you’ll have an amazing time.
Of course, you will need an RV to go on your weekend RV adventure. That’s where our Dallas RV rentals come into play. We have rentals of all shapes and sizes. Want something small? This lovely Winnebago campervan should do the trick. Meanwhile, large families will appreciate this spacious Forest River travel trailer. Book your ideal rental RV today so you can go adventuring as soon as possible!
