Looking for the best day trips from Fort Worth?
Located in North Texas, Downtown Fort Worth is famous for its historic Stockyards, interesting museums, restaurants, live music, and street art.
The city has a rich history and plenty of attractions for all kinds of travelers.
It is also perfectly located to enjoy plenty of amazing destinations in the Texas Hill Country, North Texas, as well as East Texas.
Whether you want to explore Texan small towns or take a day trip to enjoy natural attractions, you have plenty of options.
Also Read: 33 Best Day Trips in Texas
Best day trips from Fort Worth
From prehistoric beasts to beautiful wildflower fields, you’re never far from an exciting adventure when exploring the region around Fort Worth.
Here are some of our favorite day trips from Fort Worth to enjoy a fun-filled day.
Dallas
Dallas is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular day trips from Fort Worth.
With several attractions such as the sixth floor museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas World Aquarium, the Entertainment District of Deep Ellum, the views from Reunion Tower observation deck, museums and nature parks, the city is a favorite with locals as well as visitors.
Enjoy the bustling City Life, explore neighborhood such as Bishops Arts District, and spend time in nature at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
Glen Rose
Glen Rose is known as the Dinosaur Capital of Texas.
It is home to Dinosaur Valley State Park, which is world-famous for its amazing dinosaur tracks.
Thousands of large footprints have been discovered here belonging to dinosaurs that lived in this part of Texas millions of years ago.
Kids as well as adults enjoy hiking the riverbed to see the tracks.
Apart from the state park, another prominent Glen Rose attraction is Dinosaur World.
On the self-guided walking tour of the park, kids can see life-size sculptures of T-Rex, Brachiosaurus, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and other popular dinosaurs.
Nearby Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is also an amazing place to visit with kids.
Love dinosaurs? Read our post on Best Dinosaur Museums in Texas including the Texas Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country near Austin.
Wichita Falls
The city of Wichita Falls makes a great day trip from Fort Worth.
Wichita Falls has many attractions including the Wichita Falls Railroad Museum and the Falls in Lucy Park.
See the beautiful butterflies at River Bend Nature Center or visit the Museum of North Texas history.
Enjoy some shopping or dining in the city or visit Castaway Cove Waterpark for an amazing day of fun for all ages!
Waco
Head to Waco to explore one of Texas’ most popular destinations.
Waco has an amazing zoo, great shopping, several historical attractions, and delicious Mexican food.
See the skeletons of ice age mammoths at the Waco Mammoth National Monument.
Spend the day exploring Magnolia Market or visit the iconic Dr. Pepper Museum.
Waco also has many other museums including the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the Mayborn museum.
The animals and sculptures at Cameron Park Zoo are a hit with kids while the historic Waco suspension bridge is great for a walk over the Brazos River.
Lake Murray State Park
Located across the border in Oklahoma, Lake Murray State Park is a great place to visit for nature lovers.
The park offers many miles of hiking trails, swimming and boating on the lake, and wildlife watching.
Tucker Tower offers amazing views of the lake while the museum located on the main level has many interesting exhibits.
Horseback riding and fall foliage colors are also popular activities.
Athens
Athens, Texas is a popular day trip destination near Fort Worth.
The city is famous for the East Texas arboretum, lake activities including the Athens scuba park, and charming downtown area.
You can also tour the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and see its aquariums and hands-on exhibits.
Several wineries are also located near Athens, Texas.
McKinney
McKinney with its historic downtown area is an amazing Fort Worth day trip.
Take a walk through the charming downtown and explore the historic buildings, antique stores, and cafes.
Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary is a must-visit for nature lovers.
Kilgore
Located in East Texas, Kilgore is an amazing stop for history buffs.
The city has several museums and historical sites including the extensive East Texas Oil Museum, dedicated to local history of oil exploration.
You can also visit the World’s Richest Acre Park as well as Downtown Kilgore.
Canton
Take a day trip to Canton for unique shopping and delicious food.
Visit the First Monday Trade Days, the largest flea market in the world.
Hunt for unique treasures to take home and enjoy fair food including turkey legs and funnel cakes.
Enjoy the many wineries, restaurants, and cafes in the town.
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a gorgeous spot to spend the day.
The area around the lake has many activities including hiking, biking, swimming, golfing, and fishing.
Several parks are located near Joe Pool Lake including Cedar Hill State Park and Lloyd Park.
Lake Whitney State Park
Lake Whitney, located near Hillsboro, is popular for water sports enthusiasts.
Fishing for bass, catfish and other fishes at Lake Whitney is very popular.
Enjoy beautiful wildflowers during springtime and explore the hiking trails on a pleasant fall day.
Granbury
Granbury is another great destination for day trips from Fort Worth.
The city has several attractions including the Granbury Opera House, historic Courthouse Square, and Lake Granbury.
The downtown historic Granbury Square is the prettiest Town Square in Texas and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Stroll around downtown to admire the town’s history, visit antique stores, art galleries, and cafes.
Enjoy delicious food at one of the many restaurants in town or take a romantic horse carriage ride around Granbury.
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City also makes an amazing day trip from Fort Worth.
Visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to learn about the American West.
Explore downtown at night when many of the city’s art galleries, restaurants, and shops are open late.
Enjoy an upscale meal with incredible views in the city or see the animals at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Grapevine
Grapevine is a charming small town located north of Fort Worth.
There are plenty of Grapevine attractions for all ages.
Enjoy a train ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad or see the amazing holiday lights in downtown.
Grapevine is the Christmas capital of Texas and an amazing place to visit in the holidays.
Fort Richardson State Park
Fort Richardson state park is located in Jacksboro.
The park has plenty of rich military history and you can tour Fort Richardson on a visit to the historic site.
The park also has nice hiking trails, plenty of wildlife, and outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, and even stargazing.
You can also see a lot of birds on the nature trails.
Addison
The nearby suburb of Addison makes a great trip from Fort Worth.
The historic town developed around the cotton gin built in 1902 but has now become a vibrant urban destination.
Visit the main street of downtown Addison or check out the many restaurants in the city.
Military and aviation enthusiasts must visit the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison.
Palestine
Located in Anderson County, Palestine is perfect to spend an amazing day.
Explore the pretty shops in downtown, see fall colors at Davey Dogwood Park, or ride the historic train to Rusk at the Texas State Railroad.
At Christmas, take the kids to meet Santa Claus on the famous Polar Express.
Visit museums to explore East Texas culture or go on the Piney Woods urban wine trail to tour wineries.
We hope you liked our guide on the best day trips from Fort Worth.