Drivable Weekend Trips from Dallas that Offer a Great Change of Pace

So you want to get out of town, but just for the weekend. Just to breathe a little bit of different air. Just to get a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of a Dallas weekend. Lucky for you, there is so much going on in the surrounding area, and there are just as many spots to relax and do nothing, if that is more your speed. Check this list out for some of our favorite drivable weekend trips from Dallas.

1. frisco

Frisco is a perennial contender on the latest list of "fastest-growing" cities in the U.S., so there is always something new to experience from the last time you visited. In nearby The Colony, visit Grandscape for some of the best shopping and dining in town. Lava Cantina ALWAYS has some sort of live performance going on, too! The new Truckyard location out there is great because it's so much more wide open than the original in Dallas, and Frisco Square is another great shopping and dining district where there's always something fun to do. And we haven't even mentioned The Star! Take a tour of the facility where the Dallas Cowboys practice, play catch on the front lawn with the kiddos, and, yes, it's another of the MANY destinations for great shopping and dining in this GREAT shopping and dining town.

2. Fort Worth

The more leisurely pace and friendly faces of Fort Worth make it SUCH a great change of pace from Dallas. It's nice to soak it all up for an entire weekend rather than just one night out at a time! If you do, be sure to book a stay at Hotel Drover in the Stockyards if you can. Spend a day walking up and down Exchange Street, tasting every bite, sipping every cold one and shopping 'til you drop at all the cute boutiques in the area, but don't miss the DAILY cattle drives, either! Catching a show at the iconic honkey-tonk Billy Bob's is also a must. When you're done at the Stockyards, mosey on over to Clear Fork and/or West 7th for even more shopping and nightlife options.

3. choctaw resort & casino

One of our favorite casino-and-resort destination is just 90 minutes north of Dallas on I-75, and a weekend at Choctaw is truly one of the most fun you can have for your road trip dollar! One of us on the team loves it so much that we spent our birthday here last year! Cocktaw brings the vibes to tiny Durant, and we need you guys to know how obsessed we are — you need to get a trip on the books ASAP! You're in for 7,400 slot machines, 100 table games and a state-of-the-art poker room, 16 restaurants and tons of beautiful bars for cocktails, dancing at Gilley’s, incredible entertainment with some of the biggest names in music like Chris Stapleton and Walker Hayes, fun and games at The District with bowling, an arcade and six movie theaters, two stunning resort-style pools with swim-up bars, an amazing spa for a little R&R and a 1,700-room luxury hotel.

4. austin

Rainey Street. Sixth Street. South Congress. Two of the greatest music festivals in the land. All in one great city just three hours south of Dallas. There seems to always be a great excuse to scoot down I-35 to ATX. Even if you're going for no reason at all, there's always something new to explore in the city that has transformed itself from "Live Music Capital of the World" to bona fide tech metropolis in the last 20 years or so. And when you go, discerning traveler, it's an absolute MUST that you stay at Thompson Austin, or its sister hotel right next door, tommie, downtown. Either way, you'll get access and proximity to three great restaurants, one of the most stunning pool decks in all of Austin, as well as the state-of-the art fitness center and spa onsite. Austin is a journey, so you might as well get started on all there is to explore from right in the middle of it all.

5. san antonio

San Antonio is the most underrated big city in Texas, but it's a place we keep finding our way back to because of the culture, the food, and yes, the River Walk. Texas history is on full display at the Alamo, of course, but just as interesting are the numerous other missions that live on to tell the tale of the greatest state in the union through the years. The museum scene is strong here as well — check out a show at the Tobin Center for Performing Arts, see the exhibits at the San Antonio Museum of Art and visit historic Market Square, especially during their annual Fiesta celebration! And have we got the perfect place to stay in SA, too! Thompson San Antonio puts you right in the middle of all the action with its River Walk location and provides the kind of luxury stay you demand. Eat at the famed Landrace restaurant and live your best nightlife 20 stories in the sky at The Moon's Daughters.

6. fredricksburg

Fredircksburg is our Texas Wine Country home base. The grape harvests in August and September a as well as Fredericksburg's Oktoberfest celebration and the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest, make the fall season THE desired time to plan your trip here. Plus, October is Texas Wine Month, which means tons of special events for visitors and residents alike. But don't sleep on the National Museum of the Pacific War if you're a history buff, or a visit to the serene Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

7. hyatt lost pines resort

Sticking with the Texas Hill Country theme for another entry, get away from it all and pamper yourself at Cedar Creek's Lost Pines Resort. This Texas hidden gem allows you to get your dose of family fun, have that elusive romantic getaway weekend, or just enjoy a little "me" time at one of the most luxurious Texas destinations on the map. Relax at the tranquil Lost Pines Spa, tee off from an award-winning 18-hole golf course, book a winter adventure with Renegade Trailhead and explore the resort grounds on horseback, or shift gears to unwind and enjoy our fire pits while making s’mores. There's truly something for everyone here.

broken bow, OK

Visit Broken Bow for the expansive views alone — you'll discover something you absolutely love before you leave, trust us. If you like fishing, Broken Bow is home to lakes, rivers, and creeks. If you like hiking, there are trails all over, courtesy of the beautiful Ouachita mountains. If you like boating, kayaking, or zip-lining, ATV-ing, golfing, or even horseback riding you'll be super impressed at all Broken Bow has to offer, especially when you book your stay with the AMAZING folks at Misty Blue Cabin, which is where we stay every time we go.

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