Discover 6 superb ways to spend a hot summer day in and around DFW.
Beaches, waterfalls, drive-thru safaris, and more. These summer adventures near Dallas will surprise you!
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Missing that vacation feeling, but traveling is not in your plans? Receiving guests this summer? Looking for out-of-the-box staycation ideas in Dallas?
We got your back!
Discover here six great places to visit in DFW and surroundings that will transport you elsewhere and give you that summer vibe you crave.
Fantastic beaches you would expect to find only on the coast. Nature preserves tall trees, shady trails, and swimming areas that will blow your mind—unique experiences to make everlasting memories.
A fine selection of some of the best things to do in Dallas and surroundings this summer while keeping safe and fresh at the same time.
The best part? All attractions are outdoors (safety first) and in DFW or close enough for a short day trip, so you can spend the most fantastic summer day ever and be back home by dinnertime to relax in the comfort of your home.
Peek below and plan your summer staycation!
For summer road travel ideas from Dallas, check our 2020 Summer Special.
Little Elm Beach
Little Elm, TX
0h40 from Downtown Dallas
Little Elm is the best lake beach on the Dallas outskirts.
Are you looking for a sandy beach close to Dallas? The Beach at Little Elm Park is your best bet.
In the Dallas suburbs, in Denton County, Little Elm Beach is a great place to spend a summer day and swim on Lake Lewisville.
The area is family-friendly, well-maintained, and top-rated by users. Some amenities there include kayak and sup rental, volleyball nets, a covered pavilion, and restrooms.
Make sure to pack a picnic – there are no food vendors there. Or combine your visit to Little Elm Beach with lunch at nearby Hula Hut, a waterfront restaurant with outdoor seats and fun decor.
Burger’s Lake
Fort Worth, TX
0h30 from Downtown Dallas
Summer adventure at its finest right in Fort Worth. Burger’s Lake is tons of fun for all ages!
Sandy beaches are one of the highlights at Burger’s Lake, a must-visit summer attraction.
This place is A LOT of fun! Located in Fort Worth, Burger’s Lake is sort of a rustic waterpark in a beautiful natural setting.
The spring-fed lake has a beautiful color and is surrounded by small sandy beaches, lounge areas, and shady picnic tables. Parents can relax in the water surrounded by the fantastic scenery while kids go wild, sliding and jumping in one of the several diving boards, tall slides – including a 20-foot slide – and 25-foot trapeze.
It is an amazing summer staycation destination in DFW and one to be definitively included in your summer adventures.
Tip: get there early to enjoy it safely, as it tends to get crowded later in the day.
Island View Park
Pottsboro, TX – 1h25 from Downtown Dallas
My favorite beach to visit near Dallas. Simply stunning!
This is by far my favorite beach in the Dallas surroundings, a true northeast Texas hidden gem. It is the place to go if you are in serious need of a beach fix but paying a trip to the coast is not in your plans.
Island View Park, at the Lake Texoma shores, is home to two outstanding sandy beaches with unbelievable scenery and clear water.
One of them is more rustic – and more beautiful, in my opinion – without any amenities other than a few shady areas under the trees.
Other with covered picnic tables (requires a reservation in advance), paddling rentals, restrooms, and a food truck, also beautiful but with a rockier bottom – make sure to bring water shoes.
Choose the one that suits your style better and get your beach fix near Dallas. You will be astounded by this place’s beauty!
Dinosaur Valley and Fossil Rim
Glen Rose, TX – 1h20 from Downtown Dallas
River beach at dinosaur Valley State Park, where you can spot dinosaur footprints along the riverbed.
Fossil Rim is one of the best zoo safaris in Texas and right by Dinosaur Valley State Park. Photo courtesy by Fossil Rim.
Other favorites on the list. Now when it comes to Texas State Parks and family-friendly attractions.
Dinosaur Valley State Park is one of my favorite State Parks in Dallas’s surroundings ever. It is gorgeous. It offers tons of fantastic swimming opportunities – a blue hole, sandy beaches along the Paluxy River shores, shallow river areas with running water for an open-air spa, lol. It has a great trail system. And it is home to actual dinosaur footprints!
It is the perfect place to beat the Texas heat and right next door to one of the best safari zoos in Texas, Fossil Rim.
Fossil Rim is another superb summer attraction near Dallas – you can drive through the animals and feed them from the comfort of your air-conditioned car.
Go early in the day to combine both Fossil Rim and Dinosaur Valley in a single trip and have the most perfect summer day ever. And heat-proof and social distancing friendly – beat that!
Tyler State Park and Ham Orchards
Tyler, TX – 1h30 from Downtown Dallas
In the Pine Woods regions of Texas, Tyler State Park is an oasis of shade and water near Dallas.
Hiking shady trails, kayaking, and swimming are some of the summer activities to try there.
Tyler State Park is one of the closest places to Dallas to experience the beautiful Piney Woods Region of Texas.
Expect tall trees and tons of shade. If you are not a local, you will find it hard to believe we have this type of landscape in Texas, let alone so close to Dallas!
On your way there, take a detour and stop at Ham Orchards in Terrel to pack your picnic. It is a local fave, open only during summer, famous for its barbecue and homemade peach ice cream.
Head then to Tyler State Park to enjoy it surrounded by nature. Then burn those extra calories hiking the gorgeous and shady trail around the lake. Top off with a splash from the diving platform located in the designated swimming area.
Get back home just in time to watch your favorite movie and recharge for your next summer adventure. It sounds like a fun summer day, doesn’t it?
Turner Falls and Arbuckle Wilderness
Davis, OK – 2h00 from Downtown Dallas
Turner Falls is stunning and only a short drive from Dallas.
Arbuckle Wilderness Zoo Safari is right next door.
A gorgeous waterfall, a rustic zoo safari, and the best fried pies in Oklahoma will give you the impression you have traveled someplace far, far away – and yet you’ll be only 2 hours away from Dallas.
Turner Falls Park is a popular travel destination in Oklahoma and home to the tallest waterfall in the state. It offers swimming, hiking, and even zip-lining.
It’s right next door to Arbuckle Wilderness, a zoo safari where you can drive your car through the animals and feed them – go early in the morning for the best experience.
Between the two places – which are only a few minutes apart – you’ll find mouthwatering Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies. Make sure to stop by and try this local staple. It is goooooood.
Our last – but not least summer staycation idea to enjoy in Dallas and its surroundings. Now, pic your favorites hit the road, and have (tons of) fun!
Summing Up
In this post, we have covered unique ideas on summer day trips from Dallas, ideal for a staycation.
Places far enough from the city for a change of air and close enough that they do not require a sleepover.
Little Elm Beach, Burger’s Lake, Island View Park, Dinosaur Valley, Fossil Rim, Tyler State Park, Ham Orchards, Turner Falls, and Arbuckle Wilderness are our ideas for a perfect summer adventure near Dallas.
I hope you have enjoyed this post (share with friends if you did!) and that you have a blast exploring the most amazing summer destinations in northeast Texas!
What is your favorite place near Dallas to spend an unforgettable summer day? Leave a comment below!
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