Weekend Getaways

12 Best Weekend Getaways From Dallas That Texans Swear By

8 min read

Texas is massive, which means your weekend options from Dallas range from Hill Country wine to Gulf Coast beaches to desert landscapes that feel like another planet. Here are 12 trips worth packing a bag for.

Drivable (Under 3 Hours)

1. Fredericksburg

4 hrs

$300–$500/person · Texas wine country

German heritage town in the Hill Country with 50+ wineries, incredible peach season, and Main Street shopping that's genuinely fun. Enchanted Rock is 20 minutes away for a sunset hike. The Nimitz Museum is surprisingly world-class.

Best for: couples, wine lovers

2. Broken Bow, OK

3 hrs

$250–$400/person · Cabin in the woods

Luxury cabins in the Ouachita National Forest with hot tubs, fire pits, and total silence. Beavers Bend State Park has kayaking, hiking, and fly fishing. This is where Dallas goes to disappear for a weekend.

Best for: couples, friend groups wanting cabin vibes

3. Waco

1.5 hrs

$200–$350/person · More than Magnolia

Yes, the Silos are there. But Waco also has Cameron Park with incredible bluff trails, a growing craft beer scene, and Dr Pepper's birthplace. The Mammoth National Monument is genuinely fascinating and most people don't know it exists.

Best for: couples, families

4. Turner Falls, OK

2 hrs

$150–$250/person · Swimming hole paradise

A 77-foot waterfall with natural swimming pools in the Arbuckle Mountains. Castle ruins from the 1930s dot the hillside. It's the cheapest getaway on this list and one of the most fun in summer.

Best for: friend groups, budget trips, summer escapes

Medium Drive (4–6 Hours)

5. Austin

3 hrs

$350–$550/person · Obvious but earned

South Congress for shopping and food, Barton Springs for swimming, Rainey Street for bars, and live music literally everywhere. Skip 6th Street and head to East Austin for the best restaurants and bars locals actually go to.

Best for: friend groups, nightlife, live music

6. San Antonio

4.5 hrs

$300–$450/person · Underrated food city

The River Walk gets all the attention but the Pearl District is where San Antonio shines — a former brewery turned into a food and cultural hub. The best puffy tacos, breakfast tacos, and barbacoa in Texas are all here.

Best for: foodies, couples, history lovers

7. Marfa

6 hrs

$350–$500/person · Desert art town

A tiny West Texas town that became an international art destination. The Chinati Foundation, Prada Marfa, the mysterious Marfa lights, and the most incredible night sky you'll ever see. The drive itself through Big Bend country is half the experience.

Best for: art lovers, photographers, adventurous couples

8. Hot Springs, AR

4.5 hrs

$250–$400/person · Historic spa town

An entire downtown of historic bathhouses fed by natural hot springs. Bathhouse Row is a National Historic Landmark. The town has a funky, artsy vibe with surprisingly good food and the Ouachita Mountains for hiking.

Best for: couples, wellness lovers

Quick Flight (1–2 Hours)

9. New Orleans

1.5 hr flight

$400–$600/person · Always worth it

Skip most of Bourbon Street. The Bywater, Marigny, and Garden District are where the real New Orleans lives. Po'boys at Parkway, jazz at Preservation Hall, beignets for breakfast, and cocktails that have been perfected over 200 years.

Best for: friend groups, foodies, music lovers

10. Santa Fe, NM

1.5 hr flight

$400–$600/person · Adobe and art

One of America's oldest cities with a completely unique aesthetic. Canyon Road has 80+ galleries in a single mile. The food blends Native, Spanish, and Mexican influences into something you can't get anywhere else. Meow Wolf is 15 minutes away.

Best for: art lovers, foodies, couples

11. Port Aransas

5.5 hrs

$300–$450/person · Texas beach town

A laid-back Gulf Coast island with fishing, beach bars, and none of the South Padre crowds. The ferry ride to get there is part of the charm. Great for fishing charters and seafood straight off the boat.

Best for: beach lovers, fishing enthusiasts, friend groups

12. Eureka Springs, AR

5 hrs

$250–$400/person · Victorian mountain town

A quirky Ozark town built into a mountainside — no two streets are on the same level. Springs, caves, the Thorncrown Chapel (a glass church in the woods), and a surprisingly vibrant arts scene. One of the best-kept secrets in the South.

Best for: couples, art lovers, anyone wanting something different

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