A huge waterfall in Turner Falls Park (Wirestock Creators/ Shutterstock)
Sometimes you just need a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the metroplex. Flights can be costly, especially when traveling with children, so road trips can offer a more cost efficient way to vacation. First seen as a road trip series in our COURIER DFW newsletter, here are five itineraries for road trips within a five hours drive of Dallas-Fort Worth.
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Lake Texoma
Ninety minutes from Dallas, the Texas-Oklahoma border is a great area for enjoying the outdoors with the family, but also gives some nightlife options with several casinos around for a night out.
Where to stay
🔑 Get a cozy, affordable log cabin right just a 7-minute walk to the lake
🔑 Get the convenience of pools, golfing, food, and lake access at the Tanglewood Resort
🔑 Lux it up with a room at the Choctaw Casino
🔑 Accommodate a big group in a house in the peninsula town of Pottsboro, complete with an entertainment shed and a golf cart for a quick ride to the lake
What to do
👉 Swim in the waterfall or hike the trails of Turner Falls Park
👉 Hit the slots or catch a show at Choctaw Casino
👉 Find a good spot for fishing
👉 Book a farm tour and pet goats, ducks, chickens, and donkeys and get access to farm-fresh products
👉 Rent a boat or some jet skis for a day on the lake
What to eat
🍴Highport BBQ – Texas pit-style barbecue in an airstream
🍴Bella Vita – No-frills Italian food
🍴 Ollie’s Juke Joint & Cafe – Cajun comfort food
🍴Kitchen 70 – Pub eats at the West Bay Marina
Tulsa, OK
Art deco at Warehouse Market (John Elk/Getty Images)
Visit a city with a ton of history, a vibrant arts scene, and the largest curations of art deco architecture in the country. Tulsa is just a four-hour drive and offers an affordable vacation of fun and flavor.
Where to stay
🔑 Stay at the 100-year-old hotel that John F. Kennedy Jr. visited
🔑 Try this charming carriage house downtown
🔑 Cater to a large group at this 5-star, Yellowstone-esque retreat space
🔑 Consider the city’s outskirts to get this log cabin overlooking Skyline lake
What to do
👉 Did you know the city regularly hosts professional golf championships like the US Open and PGA Championship? Book a tee time at one of Tulsa’s many high-quality golf courses
👉 Kayak and paddle board down the Arkansas River. You can rent equipment here
👉 Visit the Greenwood Rising museum for a history lesson about the Tulsa Race Massacre, then visit shops in the Historic Greenwood District, the former site of Black Wall Street
👉 Since Tulsa is known as the art deco capital of the US, you can visit the Deco District and book a tour to see all the best architecture and building interiors
What to eat
🍴 Reserve a table at Sisserou’s for upscale Caribbean fare
🍴 Go just outside of Tulsa to Broken Arrow to enjoy modern Native American cuisine at Natv
🍴 Find a taste of New Orleans at Nola’s Creole and Cocktails, and yes, there are beignets!
Spicewood, TX
Joi Louviere/COURIER DFW
A charming area an hour northwest of Austin, Spicewood is a key part of Hill Country’s charm with weekend markets, tons of wineries, and lots of year-round activities for outdoors-lovers.
Where to stay
🔑 Glamp in Talula Mesa tents (I’ve done this!)
🔑 Try a yurt at Lucky Arrow
🔑 Bring a group to a stunning private home for a steal
🔑 Book a villa at Carter Creek Winery
What to do
👉 Kayak or paddleboard on Lake Travis
👉 Get a tour and wine tasting at one of the many local vineyards, like Spicewood Vineyards
👉 Bike the trails at Muleshoe Bend, best known for lake views and some of the prettiest bluebonnet fields in the state
👉 Visit the 115 acres and 32 natural springs that make Krause Springs a favorite spot for swimming
What to eat
🍴 Enjoy a glass of wine and a meal at the Bistro at Flat Creek Estate (I highly recommend their wood-fired pizzas!)
🍴 Chow down at Opie’s Barbecue, a place many say has some of the best barbecue in Texas
🍴 Get everything from cottage cheese pancakes to wagyu burgers at Lana’s Patio, a food truck with cutesy, covered outdoor seating
Waco, TX
Enjoy an evening glass of wine at Valley Mills Vineyard. (Joi Louviere/COURIER DFW)
Centered around the Brazos River, Waco may not be what you think of when you want a quick escape, but its budding hospitality scene offers affordable fun for all ages.
Where to stay
🔑 Rest up at a funky and colorful boutique hotel in downtown Waco
🔑 This tent, cabin, and RV campsite offers amenities, like a pool, pickleball and tennis courts, and a mini golf course
🔑 Check “stay in a container home” off your bucket list at this tiny home that’s a guest favorite
🔑 For a luxurious cabin experience, try Live Oak Lake
What to do
👉 Dr Pepper drinkers will enjoy the soda’s designated museum
👉 Get a vineyard tour and wine tasting at Valley Mills Vineyard
👉 Lean into the fandom of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia empire, including several retail spaces, a restaurant, and a castle. There’s even a tour for super fans
👉 Lovers of all things Texas sports will be in heaven at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
What to eat
🍴 Make a reservation at Cafe Homestead for a delicious farm-to-table experience
🍴 Grab good food and craft beer at Pivovar, with brew so good you can bathe in it—no really
🍴 It may seem unlikely, but authentic Jamaican food has a home in Waco at Tru Jamaica, and the restaurant has the reviews to prove it
Fredericksburg, TX
ShengYing Lin/Shutterstock
Fredericksburg is the German-inspired gem of Hill Country, ripe with rolling green, beautiful wildlife, and grapes—the only whining you’ll do on this trip will be when sampling some of the region’s best vino.
Where to stay
🔑 This log cabin takes it back to basics if basics includes a hot tub
🔑 The Albert Hotel has a full-service spa
🔑 Check out these cottages right off of the city’s main drag
🔑 Accommodate a large group on this 5-acre property
What to do
👉 Book a wine tour with The Peach Express where you can visit several wineries in one day, through the convenience of a shuttle bus
👉 Go peach picking or dig into whatever produce is in season at Behrends Orchard or Jenschke Orchards
👉 Feast your eyes on some stunning rock formations at Enchanted Rock
👉 Shop around—Fredericksburg’s Main Street has adorable locally-owned boutiques and mercantiles where you can buy everything from boots to jam
What to eat
🍴 The Old German Bakery and Restaurant is a local favorite, as the owner migrated from Germany to the US nearly 30 years ago and brings authentic menu items
🍴 If your Hill Country visit requires a fancy dinner, Jack’s Chop House is the upscale steakhouse for you
🍴 Clear River Homemade Ice Cream for an incredible selection you don’t see every day
