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!
To wrap up the day, head to your dinner reservation at the Meddlesome Moth. It’s a hip spot with fantastic Yelp reviews that we agreed with! Excellent food, great cocktails, and a large local beer selection. The atmosphere is unique as well with old stained glass and a small dimly lit room, you’ll be happy you snagged a table here! If it’s booked here, you could also try Wheelhouse nearby.
[Google Map of Today]
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!
