5 great self-drive journeys beyond Dallas

Explore Dallas and beyond with these five great self-drive journey ideas. Hire a car from Dallas Airport and choose between a range of fantastic destinations, from Houston to Palo Duro.

Houston

Houston is only a four-hour drive from Dallas along l-45 S. It’s a very easy drive within a day, but if you’re willing to take your time and soak up as much southern culture as you can, it’s well worth stopping at a few towns along the way.  One of them should be the charming Tyler, which is the home of the annual Texas Rose Festival. Once you arrive in Houston, you’ll be blown away by the famous Johnson Space Centre and the city’s vibrant live entertainment scene.

Big Bend National Park

Drive seven and a half hours south west of Dallas to arrive at Big Bend National Park. This is a breathtaking region, full of dramatic mountains, rivers and desert. In this case the destination really is the prize! However, make sure you still take the time to enjoy the journey there. While driving along l-20 W, stop over at Midland. Here, you will enjoy entertaining yet educational activities by visiting museums and the l-20 Wildlife Preserve.

Austin

Austin should be high on your must-visit list while in the United States. Austin is home to countless adventures for thrill-seekers, from bike riding and zip lining to some incredible tours for foodies. It’s only three and a half hours south of Dallas, making it a great destination to stopover for only one or two nights if you’re pushed for time. On the way down, you should check out impressive cities like Waco and Georgetown, which are full of beautiful Victorian architecture.

Fort Worth

Drive only 40 minutes west of Dallas and you’ll stumble upon Fort Worth. It’s known internationally as the ‘City of Cowboys and Culture’. So if you love Western movies about cowboys, then this is the town for you! There are plenty of shops and restaurants nestled in the famous Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Get a real taste of a hard day’s work in the south by witnessing the district’s cattle drives, which run twice a day. Because Fort Worth is only a short drive from Dallas, you’ll easily be there and back within a day!

Palo Duro Canyon

Travel six hours north west of Dallas and not far from Amarillo (worth a stopover just for its famous Big Taxan Steak Ranch) is Palo Duro. It’s the country’s second largest canyon and it’s definitely worth admiring. At Palo Duro you can explore the canyons on horseback, by bike, car or even put on your walking shoes and hike it. While travelling along US-298 N to get here, make the time to stop by the enchanting Wichita Falls to break up the drive.

BRIANNA PIAZZA

Brianna Piazza

Brianna Piazza is an Australian television reporter and part-time travel blogger. Originally from Melbourne, she's currently living in Cairns where she works for WIN News and spends her weekends exploring the outdoors Far North Queensland.

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