Discover 15 awesome winter vacation destinations in Texas and surroundings
Day trips, weekend getaways and longer winter-themed road trip ideas to keep you cozy and inspired throughout the season!
Winter is an amazing time to explore new places. With the perk of being able to indulge in America’s most beloved winter traditions at the same time: a fire pit under the stars, wine, hot chocolate, fireplace, s’mores, snow…
There are superb places to travel on winter around Dallas. Some of them especially beautiful at this time of the year.
In this post you’ll find 15 winter road travel ideas from Dallas. Short and long road trips, suitable for all time frames: day trips, weekend getaways, long weekend trips and longer vacations.
From destinations that are ideal to enjoy the cold weather to weatherproof places that can be visited any time of the year, discover every road trip from Dallas that is worth considering this winter season.
For more travel ideas, check our Trips from Dallas page.
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM DALLAS IN WINTER
1. Grapevine, TX
Distance: 22 miles/ 0 h 25 min from Dallas
Day trips from Dallas in winter? Grapevine, the ‘Christmas Capital of Texas’, is an amazing option especially (but not only) in December.
Grapevine Main Street is as charming as it gets. Lovely boutiques, unique shops, top wineries, cozy tasting rooms and good restaurants makes it a perfect place to stroll on a beautiful winter day.
Warm up with a self-guided wine tasting tour through Grapevine Main Street’s wineries and tasting rooms: Bingham Family, Messina Hof, Sloam and Williams , Umbra, Wine Fusion, Farinas and Grapevine Springs.
Engage in one of the tons of Holiday themed events offered in the course of 40 days on Christmas Season, that turn Grapevine into one of the best winter destinations in Texas!
Grapevine is also home to the Great Wolf Lodge and Gaylord Texan, both offering Holiday themed vacations. Great options for a winter staycation in the Dallas area, and amazing winter vacation spots in Texas. The Holiday Season at the Gaylord includes famous Christmas attractions, as the Ice® exhibition, and the Great Wolf Lodge features an indoor waterpark ideal for a splash in a cold winter day.
2. Canton, TX
60 miles/ 1h 00 m from Dallas
What about outdoor shopping at the world’s largest flea market in a sunny winter day? And maybe visiting a winery afterwards? Canton, only one hour from the city, offers both possibilities and makes another amazing winter day trip from Dallas.
The Canton First Mondays happen every month in the 4 days preceding the first Monday of the month.
Yes, you’ll find all sort of (cool) junk there, just as in any other flea market. But not only that. At the Canton First Mondays you can find everything you can think of, from shark teeth to bat skeletons, swords, toys, wood decor, military gear, antiques, unique handmade gifts, Christmas decor and more. There are also several food vendors on-site, offering authentic Texas street food, and the laid-back ambiance is neat.
Use appropriate winter clothes (it’s an open-air venue), bring cash, bargain, grab a taco or hot dog at one of the food vendors and have fun!
Canton is on the route of the Piney Woods Wine Trail. Combining shopping at the World’s largest flea market with a visit to a local winery can be a superb way of spending a beautiful winter day!
Check here the Piney Woods Wine Trail map.
In this post you’ll find more info about Canton (destination # 4) to plan your perfect winter getaway from Dallas.
3. Piney Woods Wine Trail, TX
66 miles to 161 miles/ 1h 00 m to 2h 45m from Dallas
East Texas has its own Wine Trail with amazing wineries and vineyards, and locations as close as 1 hour driving from Dallas!
Take a winter day trip from Dallas and explore top-rated wineries in the Piney Woods Wine Trail at your own pace. Engage in wine tastings. Tour vineyards. Buy local wine.
An afternoon sipping wine in a cozy tasting room, overlooking beautiful vineyards, screams winter to me. And is one of my favorite ways of enjoying the season, especially on those superb cold and sunny days.
Check here the Piney Woods Wine Trail map and plan your road trip.
Half of the Piney Woods Wine Trail wineries are concentrated in the Canton and Tyler surroundings. So, you can combine these 3 places in an amazing short road trip from Dallas in winter.
4. Waco, TX
75 miles/ 1h 20m from Dallas
Waco is a great day trip destination from Dallas year-round. Wintertime is no exception: you can skip the crowds and still enjoy the best that a day trip to Waco has to offer.
A handful of great and unique weatherproof attractions make Waco a great winter travel destination in Texas.
There you can visit TV famous Magnolia Market, where you can shop Joanna Gaines home goods, have a treat at decadent Magnolia Bakery, grab a bite at one of the food trucks on-site and chill out by their green area playing lawn games – and eventually enjoying live music. You can check on a real mammoth excavation site at Mammoth National Monument. And visit a historic Dr. Pepper bottling plant converted into a museum. Overall, is a fun winter getaway from Dallas.
Make sure to wear appropriate clothing: all attractions are indoors, but both the Magnolia Market and the Mammoth Monument have outdoor areas as well – and to reach the Mammoth fossils you do need to walk a short and easy trail outdoors!
A bonus tip: for those very needed extra winter calories, stop by the tiny town of West on your way to Waco. Head to Slovacek’s or Little Czech Bakery and try the famous Kolaches to understand why all the hype around this delicious Czech pastry.
BEST WINTER WEEKEND GETAWAYS FROM DALLAS
5. Salado, TX
Distance: 144 miles/ 2 h 00 min from Dallas
A trip to Salado is a cool weekend getaway near Dallas in winter.
The charming small town historic and artsy vibe and lovely B&Bs make it perfect for cold weather days.
Sample Texas wine at local and cozy Salado Winery Co. Taste local crafted beer listening to live music at Barrow Brewing Company. Have dinner at historic Barton House, an over a century old restaurant.
Stroll through boutiques, galleries and cafes along Main Street. Take glass blowing and pottery classes – or simply watch artists performing their works.
6. Jefferson, TX
167 miles/ 2 h 30 min from Dallas
Jefferson is a unique and cozy winter destination. A historic charming town, said to be the most haunted place in Texas, and surrounded by jaw-dropping nature.
One of the best winter weekend getaways from Dallas if you’re looking for something really close to the city – it’s only 2h30 driving from the Big D and a complete change of scenery.
Stay in one of the several historic Bed & Breakfasts in Jefferson. Stroll through the town historic landmarks, boutiques, antique shops, cafes and restaurants. Hop on a romantic carriage ride. Explore a haunted house or take a ghost tour.
Jefferson is also home to one of the best barbecue joints in Texas. And to a top-rated winery, where you can taste wine listening to live music (in selected weekend nights).
The quaint small-town is surrounded by amazing nature as well: Jefferson is right at the Piney Woods region of Texas and you can find amazing Caddo Lake and Daingerfield State Park within a short driving distance from there.
Find in this post detailed info on how to spend a weekend in Jefferson and surroundings and embark on an amazing winter road trip from Dallas through East Texas.
7. Fredericksburg, TX
260 miles/ 4 h 10 min from Dallas
This German heritage small-town, constantly featured as one of the most charming small towns in Texas, is one of the best winter weekend getaways from Dallas. It is, indeed, a year-round destination. But it has EVERYTHING a place needs to keep you cozy and warm even in the coolest days of the year!
The best wineries in Texas line up along Wine Road 290, just off Fredericksburg – you can even take a wine shuttle to explore them.
In town, along charming Main Street, you also find amazing tasting rooms, as well as excellent German food and other restaurants, cafes and quaint shops.Nearby Enchanted Rock is a superb place to enjoy the outdoors in a sunny winter day and offers one of the best hikes in Texas.
8. San Antonio, TX
274 miles/ 4h 20m from Dallas
San Antonio is not only one of the best winter destinations in Texas, but in the whole US, according to National Geographic.
A winter getaway from Dallas to San Antonio in December is a no-brainer. The city’s gorgeous display of Christmas lights along the river walk, and daily Christmas carols from late November through mid-December, attract National attention and make already charming San Antonio even more magical.
But San Antonio is a great winter destination in Texas out of the Holiday Season as well: the city has enough attractions to keep you entertained anytime of the year, and leave you craving for more.
Main attractions are the Riverwalk, The Alamo and Spanish Missions, Historic Market Square, Williams Historic District and Pearl Market. In this post you find a detailed weekend itinerary with all the info you need to make the most of your winter trip to San Antonio and cover all the city’s must-sees.
9. Hot Springs, AR
285 miles/4h 20m from Dallas
Soaking into hot waters at the Historic Bathhouse Row. Making your own hot tea on the streets with water from the public hot springs. What on this earth can be more winterish than that?
Hot Springs is a great winter weekend getaway from Dallas. Besides the hot springs themselves, Hot Springs is also home to a beautiful historic downtown and gorgeous outdoors.
Activities there include strolling through the charming shops, cafes and restaurants. Great hiking trails – just use appropriate gear and warm up walking through nature. As well as the only brewery inside a State Park in the US, serving beer crafted with thermal spring water!
Find here the best things to do in Hot Springs (destination # 16) and plan a cozy and active weekend getaway in the neighboring State of Arkansas, only 4 hours from Dallas.
BEST WINTER ROAD TRIPS FROM TEXAS
10. Memphis, TN
452 miles/ 6h 35m from Dallas
Memphis is a weatherproof destination and a must-take winter trip from Dallas. Take advantage of the winter holidays and cross it off your bucket list!
Hometown of Elvis Presley and birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, Memphis is a lively city famous for the Blues music scene. There you can tour famous music studios, visit Elvis last home and gravesite, Lorraine Motel – the place where Martin Luther King was murdered over 50 years ago, indulge in pubs and live music at Beale Street, try the famous Tennessee barbecue and more.
Don’t miss out on any of the city’s must-sees! Find out the best things to do in Memphis in this post (destination # 3).
Memphis is only about 3 hours away from Nashville, another famous year-round destination. You can combine both places in a perfect winter road trip from Dallas, check the complete itinerary Dallas – Memphis – Nashville here.
11. New Orleans, LO
425 miles/ 7h 00m from Dallas
A worldwide famous travel destination and one of the 20 top winter destinations in the U.S., New Orleans rocks and is a top contender if you are looking for road trips from Dallas in winter.
The European-African roots are everywhere making the environment and culture unique and different from everything else you’ve seen in the US.
There are tons of things to do in New Orleans to keep you amused, find in this post the ones you cannot miss (destination # 5) and have the time of your life!
12. Nashville, TN
664 miles/ 9h 30m from Dallas
Nashville is a lot of fun year-round. A vibrant city with a startling music scene and tons cool attractions. Combine a visit to Nashville with a stop in Memphis for an unforgettable music-themed winter road trip from Dallas.
Musts in Nashville include the Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry, listen to live music at the city’s top music venues, tour the Music Row, visit the RCA Studio B, the Country Music Hall of Fame and stroll through Broadway.
You can also defy the cold weather with a tasting tour at the original Jack Daniel’s Distillery, a more than cool winter side trip to take from Nashville.
In this post you’ll find a complete road trip itinerary from Dallas to Nashville, including a stop in Memphis. Check the attractions you cannot miss while in Nashville and plan your weekend getaway from Dallas to the ‘America’s Music Capital’.
13. Santa Fe and Taos, NM
640 miles/ 9h 30m from Dallas
A winter road trip from Dallas through Northeast New Mexico should be added to anyone’s bucket list. This portion of New Mexico is simply stunning and home to two must-visit travel destinations: Santa Fe and Taos.
Santa Fe is a more than charming artsy town, full of culture and surrounded by impressive places, such as Bandelier National Monument, Santuario de Chimayo, Tent Rocks National Monument and Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. It’s especially beautiful during the Holiday season, when it gets adorned by the traditional ‘luminarias’ (paper lanterns), and an amazing winter getaway from Dallas.
Taos is a mountain town less than 1h30 from Santa Fe, the base town to explore top-rated Taos Ski Valley, and home to Taos Pueblo (an over 2000 years old ancient village) and jaw-dropping Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It’s also the perfect hub to explore the Enchanted Circle, which takes you through stunning landscapes and connect world-class ski areas.
Find here a detailed winter travel itinerary through Taos, Santa Fe and surroundings, with the best things to do and everything you need to know to plan your winter road trip from Dallas to New Mexico.
14. Colorado Springs, CO
720 miles/ 10h 30m from Dallas
Colorado is beautiful! And a winter road trip from Dallas to Colorado Springs is an amazing way to sample the best the State has to offer
Colorado Springs is a year-round destination. But I’ve been there during wintertime (spring break) and it seemed like the most perfect winter destination from Texas to me. With luck, you can even get some snow, what makes the already stunning landscape even more magical.
There are amazing places to stop along the way between Dallas and Colorado Springs. From the iconic Cadillac Ranch, in Amarillo, to the jaw-dropping Royal Gorge Bridge and thrilling Skyline Drive, in Cañon City.
And Colorado Springs itself offers unbelievable places to visit and awesome things to do – Garden of Gods, Pikes Peak, and Cave of the Winds are some of the ones that should be on your list for this trip.
You can solely visit Colorado Springs or stretch to a ski resort if time allows. World-class ski resorts are only about 2h 30m from Colorado Springs, a perfect add on to your trip if you have extra days to explore Colorado.
Discover in this post all the must-sees and must-visits between Dallas and Colorado Springs, the best things to do in the city. There you’ll also find info about Breckenridge, the winter destination from Texas I’ll cover next.
15. Breckenridge, CO
817 miles/ 12h 30m from Dallas
Winter = snow fun. But us, the ones that live in Dallas and surroundings, need to work a little harder to enjoy this LOL.
We are far from most ski areas, this is true. And while jumping on a plane to reach a ski resort may sound tempting, a long winter road trip from Dallas to world-famous ski areas in Colorado will allow you to explore amazing places along the way, that otherwise you would never get to visit!
I have two favorite ski resorts to visit from Dallas. One of them Taos, already explored above. The other one Breckenridge, in Colorado, listed as one of the top 20 winter destinations in the US. If you are looking for a top-notch ski resort within a driving distance from Dallas, look no further!
Check this post for a complete winter road trip itinerary from Dallas, TX to Breckenridge, CO. Discover the best places to stop along the way and how to make the most of your winter vacation from Texas.
Summing Up
Warm up exploring awesome winter road trip destinations from Dallas, ideal for the colder months.
Here you found 15 winter travel ideas to keep you busy in the upcoming months and inspire your Thanksgiving, Holiday and Spring Break vacations.
Quick break from the city? Grapevine, Canton and Waco are great places for day trips from Dallas in winter.
Weekend travel close to Dallas? Pick your favorites among Piney Woods Wine Trail, Jefferson and Salado, all amazing winter destinations in Texas.
Willing to make some more miles? Fredericksburg, San Antonio and Hot Springs make awesome weekend getaways from Dallas in winter.
Skiing? Taos Ski Valley and Breckenridge are top-rated ski resorts within a reasonable driving distance from Dallas – and amazing stops along the way. Perfect destinations for winter road trips from Texas, as much as Memphis, Nashville, Santa Fe and Colorado Springs.
Choose your favorite travel destinations and make your winter travel bucket list. Explore incredible places this season and in the years to come!
What is your favorite winter getaway from Dallas? Which are the attractions and things to do you look for during winter trips?
Leave a comment, I’ll love to hear from you!
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