itinerary for dallas texas
Thank you for visiting Destination Dorworth. Here we are going to share our very detailed and helpful 2-3 day itinerary for the Dallas. Learn the best things to do in Dallas, TX!
This is a very longggg blog post. So if you'd prefer the more organized and concise itinerary in a PDF, sign up thru the pop-up to receive it for free. The charts show up better on computers and PDF (not mobile).
2-3 DAY ITINERARY FOR DALLAS TEXAS
Texas, USA Facts
Country: United States
Capital: Washington D.C.
Language: English
Time Zone: Central Time Zone (UTC/GMT -5 hours)
Weather by season: Jan-Mar 30s-60s, Apr-June 50s-90s, July-Sept 70s-90s, Oct-Dec 30-70s
Currency: US Dollar
International telephone dialing country code: +1-number
Food they’re known for: Tex-Mex, BBQ, and Steak
Drinks they’re known for: Dr Pepper started in Dallas! Margaritas are also popular here.
Tipping Expectations: 15-20% at restaurants
Popular Shopping Goods: cowboy boots
Common Shop Hours: 9am-5pm
Taxi Information: Use the Uber app
Hotel and Accommodation Recommendations in Dallas, Texas
Here are the top five accommodations in Dallas that are in a convenient location to all the action, have a romantic ambiance, and are good enough for our fine readers. They are listed below. Take a quick glance at them, book one, and download our Organized Travel PDF so you can write the booking details in your “Organize the Essentials List”.
Name | Avg Cost per Night | Stars | Address, City (Neighborhood) | Check In Time | Checkout Time | BOOK NOW |
Omni Dallas | $300 | 5 | 555 S Lamar St | 4pm | 11am | |
Magnolia Hotel Dallas Downtown | $135 | 4 | 1401 Commerce Street | 3pm | 11am | |
Hotel Crescent Court | $280 | 4 | 400 Crescent Court | 3pm | 12pm | |
The Highland Dallas (by Hilton) | $199 | 4 | E Mockingbird Lane | 3pm | 12pm | |
NYLO Dallas (loft style) | $134 | 4 | 1325 S Lamar St | 3pm | 12pm |
If you are looking for a more affordable option, an apartment rental is the way to go. Using Airbnb you can rent an apartment anywhere in the city. You typically don’t get the amenities of a concierge, breakfast, gym, pool, etc so you can get your stay for less than half the price of a hotel. You’ll want to book far in advance to get a good place with good reviews. Get $40 off your first booking here: BOOK AN AIRBNB (The Dallas Airbnb we stayed at)
Transportation Recommendations in Dallas, Texas
Here are the sources we recommend you use to book transportation within the city. In Dallas we recommend you use ride share companies to get around. Most things downtown are within walking distance. A rental car can be rented however parking and traffic are stressful downtown.
Type (rental car, taxi, train) | Company | Avg Cost | Website |
Ride share | Uber | varies | www.uber.com (free 1st ride code “stephanieb30”) |
Rental Car | rentalcars.com | varies |
Destination Dorworth is a participant in affiliate links for Booking.com and Airbnb. These links are of no extra cost to you, and simply go towards the costs of keeping this site running! Thanks in advance for your support.
Dallas Texas Trip Overview
2-3 DAY TRIP
DAY 1 BBQ, Brews, & the Arboretum park
DAY 2 Sightseeing Downtown & some JFK History
(DAY 3 optional) Waco’s Magnolia Market, Shopping, & the Stockyards Rodeo
Dallas Texas Trip Details
DAY 1 AT A GLANCE
Today’s Goal to Crush: Taste some of the best BBQ in Texas!
When you arrive in Dallas, hopefully you will feel a warm welcome from the kind people there. If you ask anyone where the best BBQ is, many will direct you to the Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum which is a must. This BBQ restaurant is known for its line out the door and it’s mouthwatering meats. It has been seen on the Food Network TV show Diners, Drive in’s, and Dives! The wait is worth it for their delicious food and comfortable picnic table style seating. Make sure you get a homemade cookie too!
Once your stomachs are content, walk around the neighborhood Deep Ellum and checkout the beautiful street art! There are also a few cute shops and breweries nearby if you’re in the mood. Consider trying the Deep Ellum Brewing Company!
The rest of the day is meant for the Dallas Arboretum which is a very large park area that is well taken care of. They have gardens, lakes, food, waterfalls, ponds, and beautiful places to relax in the grass. Take your time here and enjoy a nice day of walking around and catching views from just outside downtown Dallas. If you’re there during a holiday season, look out for their special events. PS- Wednesdays are BOGO day for tickets!
Day 1 Details
Destination | Hours | Address | Price | Website |
Dallas Arboretum | 9am-5pm | 8525 Garland Rd | $15 adult | BUY LATER |
Oh So Tasty Food Options Nearby:
Restaurant | Hours | Type of Food | Address | Price | Website |
The Pecan Lodge | Tue-Thur 11am-3pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-3pm, closed Mondays | BBQ | 2702 Main St | $ | |
Deep Ellum Brewing Company | Mon-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-12am, Sat 12-12, Sun 11am-7pm | Brewery | 2823 St Louis St | $ | |
The Meddlesome Moth | Mon-Thur 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 10am-10pm | American | 1621 Oak Lawn Ave | $$ | RESERVE |
Wheelhouse | Mon-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-10pm | Gastropub | 1617 Hi Line Dr | $$ |
DAY 2 AT A GLANCE
Today’s Goal to Crush: Learn more about the assassination of JFK.
Today you’re going to be a total tourist, so own it! We recommend grabbing tickets on a trolley tour from Big D Fun Tours. They have a hop on and off trolley that stops at all the nearby hot spots. If that’s not your thing, many of the places are also within walking distance downtown (if it’s nice out). The meeting spot is near the Sixth Floor Museum. Hop on here and then plan to get off at the Reunion Tower stop if you want gorgeous views from high up at their observation deck. Then ride the trolley a few more stops to learn more about the history of Dallas. If you’re hungry, consider getting off at the Klyde Warren Park for food at LARK on the Park where the sweet potato chips are to die for. Or they also have a line up of food trucks here! Some of the other stops include a farmer’s market (which isn’t a must-see), the aquarium, and museums.
The one museum you must go to is the Sixth Floor Museum. You will learn so much history about JFK and his assassination in Dealey Plaza by Lee Harvey Oswald. You receive headphones to listen to narration at each exhibit and get to see the actual spot the shooter was located at the devastating time he shot the former president.
To learn more about JFK history, here’s a few great books: The Hidden History of the JFK Assassination, The Man Who Killed JFK.
When you’re ready for dinner, head to your reservation at Meso Maya. They have a beautiful, outdoor patio you should request if the weather is nice. Try their avocado margarita for something unique. Everything there is to die for so expect to leave stuffed.
DAY 2 DETAILS
Destination | Hours | Address | Price | Website |
Big D Fun Tours | 10:45am-4:15pm | 411 Elm St meetup | $29/person | BOOK NOW |
Reunion Tower | 10am-9:30pm | 300 Reunion Blvd | $17/person | BOOK LATER |
Klyde Warren Park | 6am-11pm | 21012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway | free | |
Sixth Floor Museum | Mon 12am-6pm, Tue-Sun 10am-6pm | 411 Elm St | $16/person |
Oh So Tasty Food Options Nearby:
Restaurant | Hours | Type of Food | Address | Price | Website |
LARK on the Park | Mon-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-12am, Sat 10am-12am, Sun 10-10 | American | 2015 Woodall Rodgers Freeway | $$ | |
Meso Maya Comida y Copas | Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11-11 | Mexican | 1611 Mckinney Ave | $$$ | RESERVE |
Rise N1 | Mon-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11-11, Sun 11am-9pm | French/Souffle’s | 5360 W Lovers Lane, Suite 220 | $$ | RESERVE |
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DAY 3 AT A GLANCE
Today’s Goal to Crush: Attend a traditional Texas Rodeo.
Start today with the best brunch in town at Bread Winners. They have several locations but regardless of where you go, you’ll be greeted with some amazing and unique breads! They are quite delicious. Then toast to another amazing day in Dallas!
Later today you have some options. If you are an HGTV “Fixer Upper” fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines, then you must rent a car and drive south to Waco, Texas. Visit Magnolia Market at the Silo’s and become a total super fan. They have a home goods market, a bakery with the best cupcakes around, a garden seed shop, a lawn area, picnic tables, and food trucks. You can spend a few hours here in this small town. Don’t forget to get a t-shirt to remember this day! [See related post: Fixer Upper's Magnolia Market]
If you’re not familiar with the show, instead you could checkout The Truck Yard which is a fun area with food trucks and live music! Grab some snacks here and relax in the lawn.
You could also do some shopping at the Highland Park Village and maybe even pick-up some boots for later!
At night, it’s time to put on your cowboy boots and get ready for the Cowtown Coliseum Rodeo at the Fort Worth Stockyards. It’s west of Dallas and has rodeos all the time so check out their calendar. They always have a rodeo Fridays 8-10pm. Enjoy seeing some bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and silly clowns! Go early or stay late and walk around the Stockyards streets for some fun nightlife and great steak meals! Consider eating at H3 Ranch.
[If you spend more time in Fort Worth, checkout the Texas Motor Speedway if there's a race in town.]
DAY 3 DETAILS
Destination | Hours | Address | Price | Website |
Magnolia Market at the Silo’s | 9am-6pm | 601 Webster Ave | Free | Food and goods cost | |
Highland Park Village | Hours vary by shop | 47 Highland Park Village | Free | |
Cowtown Coliseum Rodeo | 8-10pm Fridays (check the calendar) | 121 E Exchange Ave | $15/person |
Oh so tasty food options nearby:
Restaurant | Hours | Type of Food | Address | Price | Website |
Bread Winners | Hours vary by location | Breakfast | Multiple locations | $$ | |
H3 Ranch | Mon-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm | Steak | 105 E Exchange Ave | $$$ |
We hope our Dallas Texas Itinerary was helpful!
Wow – what an amazing detailed post! I love the format! I used to visit Dallas a lot, as I had friends there, and never really visited as a tourist, which I regret as there’s so much to do there!
Leigh, thanks for checking it out! We found enough to do for a few days but more than that and we may have gotten bored. Definitely worth the trip though!
I have rarely come across such detailed itinerary. Some great Airbnb, hotel and food options.
Dallas, to be honest, isn’t a city I would visit. (too many other places to be covered first in the US for someone like me who lives in India). Although I liked the idea of attending a Texan Rodeo.
Shweta, glad you found it helpful! We live in the US so we’ve hit the major cities and are moving to the less popular ones now. So totally agree.
I have always visited Dallas for work when I lived in Houston for a while. I never knew it has so much to offer to the tourist. That street art looks really cool.
Anu, yea there’s a lot to do there for a few days! We really enjoyed learning the history of the city.
i have been to Austin, driven through Houston, but have not yet made it to Dallas. I would love to check you the Arboretum it looks lovely and its great to know there is a Rodeo every Friday! That would be a must do activity for sure!!
Candiss, hope you get to visit Dallas someday! Posting about the Arboretum in detail soon so check back.
I’ve never been to Dallas, but it’s on the wish list! This is such a detailed itinerary and hits all the marks for the “must-do’s” while visiting the city. Great job on the best way to maximize your time in Dallas in just a few days! I’m particularly interested in sampling the BBQ at the Pecan Lodge.
Heather, we hope you get to enjoy Dallas someday. Don’t skip Pecan Lodge. One of the highlights of our trip!
This is the most detailed quick guide to Dallas I’ve ever seen! I am from the U.S. and a Dr. Pepper fiend and I had no idea that it was started in Dallas! I’m ever-indebted to them. 😉 We stop in Dallas a lot on our way to Houston (where my in-laws live) and this has given us loads of tips to make that stopover more exciting. I definitely want to go on a street art adventure.
Paige, thanks so much! Hope you get to make a stop there soon!
It’s a long post, but extremely useful for anyone planning a visit to Dallas for sure. I remember when I was a kid there was a TV series called ‘Dallas’ (translated, of course) in India and to me that was United States! You certainly got my interest up about the city once again 🙂
Yes, long but we like to cover all the details in our itineraries haha. Thanks for checking it out!
Haven’t come across a better itinerary than this for Texas. SO easy on the eyes and loaded with useful information! Kudos guys! This is excellent and worth a share! 🙂 Love the street art pictures and how beautifully you have meshed each hour with various activity options! 🙂
Yay thanks so much! We tried to share all the best moments 🙂
As you said, it was a long post with lots of good information. I would love to visit Dallas and taste the BBQ and go to a rodeo, those sound like top Texan activities for tourists
Cristina, thanks for checking it out! Hope you get to experience those things someday. We loved it there!
This is such a useful guide to visiting Dallas! I love your “Today’s goal to crush” 😀 Attending a traditional Texas Rodeo sounds awesome! And of course we’d have to visit Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum for the best BBQ. Thanks so much for your recommendations!
Jen, thanks so the sweet compliments. Hope you get to go someday!
Wow — so detailed! I appreciate the amount of time that went into this. Def want to visit for the BBQ and street art!
Thank you so much, glad you got some travel ideas from it.
I love the detailed description of prices for hotels and car rentals! I only go here for layovers but you provide good information to stay longer! Thanks for sharing!
Victoria, yea hopefully you get to spend a few days there in the future.
Excellent guide material. One can save a lot of time on deciding what to do just by going through this. Never knew of this city from tourist point of view.
Thanks so much for the compliments. Yes it’s worth visiting for a few days if you ever get a chance.
Wow, did not know that there was so much to do in Dallas. The street art here is so cute and the suggested tour to discover the story of JFK assassination would be so interesting. Well captured in your guide. Cheers
Ami, yes there’s enough to do for a few days! Hope you get to go.
Thanks for the extensive list of recommendations! I love when lists are incredibly detailed because it gives me lots of different options to choose from and I don’t have to visit 4, 5, 6, or more websites to get a full picture of a particular destination! I’ve been thinking about heading someplace warmer during winter, so I’ll definitely have to keep Dallas in mind!
Thanks for checking out our blog! Yea checkout Dallas…and while you’re there maybe do Austin too. We love it there!
What a detailed itinerary for visiting Dallas! I haven’t been in 20 years, and see that so much has changed. Would love to visit the Truck Yard and do a tour of those amazing street murals – love the Steve McQueen one, it’s a classic! Very handy that you’ve made your recommendations downloadable into an ebook – great idea.
Claudia, Thanks for the compliments. Hope you get to visit there someday.
Wow, this is a very comprehensive post indeed! Thanks for the recommendations about the transportation. That’s usually my number 1 problem when I arrive in a new city. Based on your IT, I would totally enjoy 3 days there, especially checking out the street art, the arboretum, and the rodeo. Bookmarking this!
Aleah, thanks for checking it out! Yea transportation is different everywhere so that’s what we found easiest there. Everything is pretty closeby.
Wow, Dallas has some cool street art. I have tried some of the BBQ joints. Personally, the pecan lodge is my favorite.
I think it is kind of creepy how there is a X on the ground where JFK was shot and that people take selfies with it. I wish the city would put a crosswalk with a light near there so it is safe for the selfie people.
Yes we fell in love with the street art. And yes, not a fan of the X being there either.