10 Must-See Day Trips From Fort Worth

Fort Worth’s history with cattle and railroads runs deep. If you’ve never been to the Stockyards to see the Fort Worth Herd out for their twice daily stroll through the area, it’s a must-see event. But if you’ve seen all that, it’s time to consider a day trip to one of dozens of cities and towns nearby. We picked 10 of the best day trips from Fort Worth, the longest is to Abilene, about two and a half hours outside of the city.

Grapevine

Fans of wine love Grapevine because this Texas city hosts Grapefest every year. You’ll love trying some of the different wines and seeing all of the live entertainment. Seven different tasting rooms are within the city limits allow you to sample wines to find some new favorites. You don’t need to worry about finding things to do with your kids either. The Legoland Discovery Center appeals to kids of all ages with fun hands-on and interactive exhibits. Not far away is Nash Farm , which is a historic working farm with a petting zoo. You can book a trip on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad to see the city in a new way or stop by Grapevine Lake to explore the reservoir with boating and fishing spots.

Dallas

Though Dallas is less than 45 minutes from Fort Worth, many locals never make the drive. The Sixth Floor Museum is where you can learn about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Once you finish at the museum, head out to Dealey Plaza where the incident occurred, but make sure that you use caution as the road is quite busy. Known as The Big D, the city is home to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden , which sits right alongside the lake. While you might get lucky and see some scheduled events there, you can also spend time checking out the park and native plants.

Canton

Finding bargains on your trip is easy if you hit Canton on the first Monday of each month. This is when the city hosts First Monday Trade Days , which is the nation’s biggest flea market and welcomes hundreds of vendors. Even if you take the roughly one-hour drive on a different day of the month, Canton has things you can do. Over at Splash Kingdom Paradise Island , you’ll find a small snack bar and several swimming pools, along with some rides. Visitors and locals love Cherry Creek Park because of the small castle that greets them when they arrive and the playground areas inside. Blue Moon Gardens , with a large selection of plants, is also in Canton.

Corsicana

If you’re a fan of Wolf chili and use it as a staple in your house, head to Corsicana where the brand started. It’s easy to find dishes that use the chili on the menus at local restaurants, but you may want to sample some of the hot and spicy foods, too. The Collin Street Bakery is the perfect place to pick up a sweet treat or find some desserts to take home after your day trip. Head downtown to pick up the self-guided walking tour that takes you around some of the most historic buildings and monuments. At the Pearce Collections Museum , you have the chance to see artifacts that date back to the Civil War and some that are even older. Pioneer Village is also in Corsicana and boasts multiple historic buildings and vehicles.

Athens

Right around 1.5 hours from Fort Worth, Athens is right off two different state highways. Stop by the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center to learn more about what fisheries do and some of the fish found here. It also houses a conservation center that offers educational programs designed to help visitors learn more about protecting the local fish. The East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society hope to do the same thing for native plants. This local attraction has an accessible walking trail that takes you around some of its plants and two miles of rougher trails that keep you deep into the woods. You don’t need to travel far to try your hand at scuba diving, because Athens is home to the Athens Scuba Park . You can take lessons and rent gear to explore the more than eight miles of water.

McKinney

You can reach McKinney from Forth Worth in right around an hour. McKinney ranks as one of the top 20 places to live in the country because of its peaceful environment. As you walk through downtown, you might feel as though you went back in time because most of the shops and restaurants are locally owned. Chestnut Historic Square Village is close to downtown and features ten old buildings that volunteers helped restore. Volunteers also dress up in costumes and lead you through the village to tell you about its history. The Heard Natural Science Museum is also worth a trip because it lets you learn more about the area’s natural history and see some of the native wildlife. End your trip with a stop by the Collins County History Museum , which features special exhibits every month along with a permanent collection of local artifacts.

Denton

It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get to Denton from Fort Worth. Though the town is fairly small, it has big attractions like the Courthouse on the Square . Built in 1896, it is one of the city’s oldest buildings and houses a large museum dedicated to the history of Denton and the whole state. Touring some of the nearby historic buildings can work up an appetite, but popular restaurants such as Hannah’s and Barley & Board are close by. The Old Alton Bridge is a former bridge that is now open to the public as part of a hiking trail that helps you explore the town. At Pilot Knoll Park, you’ll find boat launches that help you enjoy the water and camping spots. Ray Roberts Lake State Park Isle de Bois has just as many camping spots.

Abilene

Longer day trips like the one between Forth Worth and Abilene take right around 2.5 hours. You won’t want to miss the Frontier Texas Museum as it has many artifacts dating back to the state’s early days, when Native American tribes called the state home. Over at the Taylor County History Center , you’ll find more than ten historic buildings and structures, many of which have interior displays. At the Abilene Zoo , you can see more than 800 animals in their natural habitats, and then take a safari train around the park. If you prefer the outdoors, hit Historic Fort Phantom Hill to see the ruins of the old fort. You might also enjoy the camping spots and hiking trails in Abilene State Park .

Thackerville

You don’t need to stay in Texas because day trips to Thackerville, Oklahoma take just over an hour. The biggest reason to visit this city is the WinStar World Casino . At 400,000 square feet, it is the largest casino in the world. You can spend a whole day here and still not have a chance to try all of the games and machines. Thackerville Park is just a short walk from the casino and lets you burn some calories as you walk or jog the fitness trail. The Palladium Sports Lounge is where locals go when they want to catch a game or enjoy some delicious wings and other dishes. The lounge has enough TVs that you never need to worry about missing the big game. Don’t forget about I Love This Bar & Grill , which country singer Toby Keith owned prior to his death in February 2024. Nature lovers should check out the beautiful wildflowers, like those pictured above, when they’re in season.

Dublin

Though it shares its name with a town in Ireland, Texas’s Dublin only takes 1.5 hours to reach from Forth Worth. Day trips to this city let you check out the former site of the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company and the statue outside. Old Doc’s Soda Shop is close by and looks similar to the old soda shops that once dotted the city. You can even sample some local drinks made in Dublin. The Dublin Rodeo Heritage Museum is the best place to go if you love rodeos and cowboys. It’s also right next to the Dublin Historical Museum and across the street from the WM Wright Historical Park, which has a grist mill and an old log cabin on display. Fans of cheese can’t visit Dublin without stopping by Veldhuizen Cheese. Not only can you sample a few different kinds of cheese, but you can tour the makers’ farm.

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