Fort Worth's cultural amenities, schools, strong job market, and affordable real estate make it an attractive city for people to live. But as nice as it is to spend a day at home in town, there's plenty to explore when you need a short get-away. When you need an escape, fill up the car and try these day trips from Fort Worth.
Lucy Park, Wichita Falls
Distance from downtown: 116 mi
In the center of Wichita Falls, Lucy Park is a 178-acre regional park located on a bend of the Wichita River. Its natural setting is dotted with huge pecans, cottonwoods, and other native trees.
Some consider the park's walking trails some of the state's best. A 1.7-mile paved trail circles the park and connects to the city-wide Circle Trail System. Hike along to reach the Wichita Falls. Cross the swinging bridge over the river and enjoy a scenic walk.
The park also has a swimming pool, disc golf, modular playground, picnic shelters, and picnic pavilions. The River Bend Nature Center has live exhibits of amphibians, spiders, and reptiles, a butterfly conservatory, and more nature trails. At its Children's Garden, little ones can explore the outdoors and dig for dinosaur bones.
Granbury & Lake Granbury
Distance from downtown: 37.5 miles
One of the shorter day trips from Fort Worth, the resort community of Granbury lies on the shores of Lake Granbury.
One of the three lakes formed by damming the Brazos River, Lake Granbury sits right in the heart of Granbury. It's a place for enjoying the wide, open outdoors, with fishing, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, camping, and much more in and around the lake. The water runs 33.5 miles long and has five public boat ramps, two fishing piers, and four camping areas.
Anglers cast a reel for striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and catfishing.
At City Beach Park, cool off right from the sandy shores. Rent human-powered craft from here or launch from the nearby ramp. There's a spray park and access to Granbury's boardwalk.
Besides the refreshing lake, visitors can enjoy shopping, dining, and exploring at the historic buildings of Granbury. It's the first town square in Texas to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic Opera House was built in 1886 and still hosts a regular schedule of performances. While in town, visit Barking Rocks Winery or Revolver Brewing for locally crafted wine and beer.
North Texas Wine Country
Distance from downtown: various
North Texas Wine Country is one of Texas' largest wine-making and grape growing regions. The result is a smattering of wineries from the DFW metroplex to the Red River.
Create your own day trip visiting the vintners across our region. This website has a list of all the member wineries and their open hours. Along your drive, you'll be treated to the rolling hills and Texas landscapes that enrich the varietals.
Lake Murray
Distance from downtown: 101 mi
This gem is in south-central Oklahoma. Lake Murray is known for being part of the state's largest park and for its crystal clear spring-fed waters. The entire lake is inside the park, meaning adventurers find secluded beaches, campsites, and hiking trails.
Scenic Highway 77S runs entirely around the 150 miles of shoreline. It provides access to all the day-use parks, beaches, and state park facilities. Plus it's a gorgeous drive with multiple views of the blue lake.
On the south end of the lake is the Lake Murray Nature Center and Tucker Tower. Built in the 1930s, a short 65-foot climb to its top will give miles of panoramic views of the lake.
Another unique amenity of Lake Murray is its floating cabins. You literally sit on the lake during your stay with lakefront views that can't be beaten.
Other activities available are Lake Murray include boat rentals, golf, hiking, biking, waterskiing, and swim beaches.
McKinney
Downtown Square
Distance from downtown: 57.1 miles
McKinney is a lively Texas town with a historic downtown square and cultural district founded in 1848. The area is walkable and hosts farmers' markets, outdoor festivals, and vintage shops. Popular events like McKinney Oktoberfest, Arts in Bloom, and the July 4th Hometown Parade draw thousands to the downtown scene.
The downtown shopping area features over 100 retailers offering boutique shopping, a rising culinary scene, and an eclectic creative community. There is the Franconia Brewing Company, lead by a Bavarian brewer, and McKinney Coffee Company, a family-operated coffee shop.
Outside the town limits is the Mitas Hill Vineyard and Winery with tours and tastings on the weekend. The winery has a restaurant and a pizza oven.
Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary
Distance from downtown: 57.6 mi
Close to McKinney is the Heard Natural Science Museum. Sure to delight families, this 289-acre wildlife sanctuary and natural science museum was founded to educate children about nature. The sanctuary operates children's programs throughout the year, but its programming can interest anyone.
The refuge shelters many different species of animals, insects, and birds. The museum exhibits educate visitors on Texas' natural environment, from minerals and fossils to North Texas' local ecosystems. Its two gardens illustrate wildlife-friendly landscapes and native plants.
Over 20,000 students visit the center in a year. Programs include guided nature trails, live animal presentations, a preschool program, homeschool science classes, summer camps, adult and teacher workshops.
Corsicana
Distance from downtown: 78.1 mi
A day trip to Corsicana offers a range of things to do to suit different tastes.
At Navarro College, the Cook Education Center Planetarium specializes in showing informative astronomy and science-themed programs. For a complete list of general public presentations and show schedule, please visit the Planetarium Shows. The college is home to the Pearce Museum. It hosts a collection of documents, artifacts, and photographs from the American Civil War and the historic American West. The Pioneer Village is a research facility and an attraction focused on Navarro County's evolution from 1838 onward.
The Corsicana Opry and Event Center is a historic early-1900s building used to host a variety of functions. This building preserves plenty of original and handmade details; it is considered one of the first clear-span buildings in Texas. Original 2" x14" wooden beams bolted six deep create wood rafter ceiling. Another unique original feature is the 10'x16' vault with the old Mosler safe.
Corsicana's Collin Street Bakery has been featured on the Food Network, History Channel, and in People Magazine. Operating since 19896, it is renowned for its fruitcake and pecan cakes.
Just outside Corsicana is Navarro County's first vineyard and winery, Angelita Vineyard and Winery. Enjoy a wine tasting or flight and enjoy Texas sunsets over the vines.
Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wills Point
Distance from downtown: 87.5 mi
Lake Tawakoni appears in many top day trip lists. With a 37,879-acre reservoir and 376 acres of oak forest, it's a pretty place to enjoy Texas outdoors. The state park offers camping, boating, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and swimming. There are five miles of trails, full hook-up RV sites, and primitive camping. The park rangers host programs throughout the year.
Waco
Distance from downtown: 90 mi
You can't talk about day trips from Fort Worth without mentioning Waco. This Texas city is jam-packed with things to do. Here is the Dr Pepper Museum– the soft drink invented here– and the interactive Mayborn Museum for those with kids. This complex features an old settlers' village, a Comanche tipi, and a Pliosaur model. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum honors the white-hatted lawmen, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame spotlights distinguished Texas athletes.
Waco is also home to HGTV "Fixer Upper" stars Chip and Joanna Gaines and its famous Magnolia Market at the Silos. Get there early if you'd like to dine at the restaurant or pick up something from the bakery.
Nearby is BSR Cable Park, previously voted "best cable park in the world." It's a paradise for wakeboarders but offers plenty to do for those not into the sport. But for those who enjoy the sport, BSR has a six-tower cable system of custom rails, sliders, boxes and other obstacles, BSR's bi-level lake. There's also a lazy river, billed as the world's longest, a bar, a surf park, and Royal Flush water slide.
Another interesting feature of the Waco area is the Mammoth Site, established as a national monument in 2015. Here paleontologists found the remains of 24 Columbian mammoths.
Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison
Distance from downtown: 40.1 mi
For aviation buffs, be impressed by Cavanaugh Flight Museum's collection of 58 restored airplanes from World War I to Vietnam eras. The kicker? Many of these planes still fly, and visitors can arrange for a flight in a WWII-era aircraft. Most tours are self-guided, but formal tours can be arranged.
International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Boyd
Distance from downtown: 28.5 mi
The inhabitants of the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Inc. include bobcats, cougars, jaguars, lions, tigers, and bears. The IEAS provides a permanent home for exotic animals that have been abused, abandoned, neglected, confiscated, or previously owned by people unwilling or unable to provide for these animals. Visitors are educated about the 74 exotic species' individual needs and care.
First Monday Trade Days, Canton
Distance from downtown: 90.9 miles
Billed as the world's oldest and largest flea market, First Monday Trade Days in Canton attracts thousands of shoppers. The flea market began in 1850s and moved to its dedicated six-acre venue in the 1960s after outgrowing the town square. Today, First Mondays kept the name, but now the event lasts from Thursday-Sunday once every month. Who knows what treasures you’ll find! To avoid crowds, shop Thursdays.
Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose
Distance from downtown: 58.2 mi
Have members of the family in love with dinosaurs? A day trip to Dinosaur Valley is a must. In the Paluxy River bed, discover preserved 110 million-year-old dinosaur tracks from an ancient spiny lizard. In addition, the park has camping, fishing, mountain biking, and swimming.
Jefferson
Distance from downtown: 197 mi
The furthest day trip on our list, a visit here a world away from Fort Worth. Known as the Piney Woods region of Texas, Jefferson is home to many historic homes, landmarks, and museums. Among these is Fort Richardson State Historical Park.
Tour a restored 19th-century military fort. Seven of the original buildings have been restored: the post hospital; the officer's quarters (commanding officer); a powder magazine; a morgue; a commissary; a guardhouse; and a bakery, which baked 600 loaves per day.
In the park, there is camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, nature study, wading in the creek (seasonal), swimming (accessible via Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway or by road), and fishing. The nearby lake is stocked with bass, trout, and catfish during the year.
The Lost Creek Reservoir Trailway is a 9-mile hike, bike, and equestrian trail. Most of the trail travels by the creek or lakes, which provide numerous opportunities to fish and swim.
Jefferson, Texas, is considered by paranormal television shows and books to be one of the most haunted places in the United States. The ghost walks talk visitors on a walk through some of the town's most haunted locales.
A more curious attraction is the Museum of Measurement and Time. Here are eclectic items, like over 400 clocks, mostly American made, dating from 1700-1900, and over 1,000 salt and pepper shakers.
Tyler
Distance from downtown: 129 mi
Did you know that seven of Tyler's companies are responsible for processing and distributing roughly 75 percent of all the roses in America? It is truly America's rose capital. The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the country's largest and includes over 38,000 rose bushes with 600 different varietals. The best time to visit is in October for the Rose Festival and Rose Festival Parade.
If you're not interested in smelling the roses, other nearby attractions include the Caldwell Zoo with 2,000 animals from 250 species from Africa, North and South America. Tyler Junior College has the Center for Earth and Space Science Education; a state-of-the-art Planetarium features an immersive, full-dome video experience. Several wineries and breweries are nearby, including a cider brewery.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East provide ample opportunity for watersports or outdoor activities.
Fort Worth Cultural District
Distance from downtown: 0 mi
Why go far when you can have a day trip in your backyard? It's surprising how many people haven't visited the amenities next door. The Fort Worth Cultural District features some of the finest art collections in the world.
See the best of the best at Kimbell Art Museum, including Michelangelo, Picasso, Frida, Van Gogh and Monet. Amon Carter Museum of American Art homes the best western art pieces and other collections that show the diversity of American art. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has over 3,000 pieces showcasing artistic movements from 1940s onward.
