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Texas, United States

Dallas

Spend a day and a night: Pecan Lodge for lunch, Dealey Plaza history, then Deep Ellum for beer and music. Below: 3 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 3 places to eat, plus how Dallas fits into a longer trip.

Plan Dallas with friendsBrowse 9 places
Dallas, Texas, United States
Places
9

3 See · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Texas BBQ Trail

Best season
Oct – Apr

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

36°C / 97°F avg high

Coolest month
January

13°C / 55°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 116 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Dallas

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

3 sights worth building a day around across West End, Arts District and Reunion.

  • The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in DallasPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

    Museum on JFK's assassination inside the former Texas School Book Depository.

    Tip Buy timed tickets online; allow time for the audio guide.

    • West End
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Morning
  • Dallas Museum of Art in DallasPhoto: Oliver · Google
    See

    Dallas Museum of Art

    Free general admission museum anchoring the Arts District.

    • Arts District
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Reunion Tower GeO-Deck in DallasPhoto: Hitesh Prajapat · Google
    See

    Reunion Tower GeO-Deck

    Observation deck 470 feet up with 360-degree city views.

    • Reunion
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Sunset

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Arts District.

  • Klyde Warren Park in DallasPhoto: Kevin1086 · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Outdoors

    Klyde Warren Park

    Deck park over a freeway with food trucks, lawn games and skyline views.

    • Arts District
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Weekday lunch

Eat

Where we would book a table in Dallas across Deep Ellum, Farmers Branch and Bishop Arts District.

  • Pecan Lodge in DallasPhoto: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Pecan Lodge

    Deep Ellum smokehouse known for brisket, beef ribs and the Hot Mess sweet potato.

    Tip Arrive before 11am to beat the line; beef rib sells out early.

    • Deep Ellum
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Lunch
  • Cattleack Barbeque in DallasPhoto: Mitch Pritchard · Google
    Eat

    Cattleack Barbeque

    Farmers Branch pitmaster spot with some of the best brisket in North Texas.

    Tip Open limited days (typically Thu–Fri plus one Saturday a month); check before going.

    • Farmers Branch
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Thursday lunch
  • Lockhart Smokehouse in DallasPhoto: Lockhart Smokehouse BBQ · Google
    Eat

    Lockhart Smokehouse

    Bishop Arts barbecue hall serving meat by the pound, Kreuz-style sausage included.

    • Bishop Arts District
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Dallas in Deep Ellum.

  • Westlake Brewing Company in DallasPhoto: Westlake Brewing Company · Google
    Drink

    Westlake Brewing Company

    Deep Ellum taproom in a 1940s building with a big patio, house brews and flatbreads.

    • Deep Ellum
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Oak Cliff.

  • Bishop Arts District in DallasPhoto: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Shop

    Bishop Arts District

    Walkable blocks of indie shops and restaurants in Oak Cliff.

    • Oak Cliff
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

How to fit Dallas into a trip

Dallas is stop 1 of 3 on our Texas BBQ Trail route. Follow it as-is or lift Dallas into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Dallas month by month

Average daily highs run from 13°C / 55°F in January to 36°C / 97°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 116 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Dallas weather and the best time to visit →

Near Dallas

8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Dallas questions, answered

How many days do you need in Dallas?

On our Texas BBQ Trail route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Dallas best known for?

Spend a day and a night: Pecan Lodge for lunch, Dealey Plaza history, then Deep Ellum for beer and music. Standouts on our list: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Museum on JFK's assassination inside the former Texas School Book Depository); Dallas Museum of Art (Free general admission museum anchoring the Arts District); Reunion Tower GeO-Deck (Observation deck 470 feet up with 360-degree city views).

When is the best time to visit Dallas?

Our Texas BBQ Trail route is best Oct – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (36°C / 97°F), the coolest in January (13°C / 55°F) and the most rain in May (about 116 mm).

What are the best things to do in Dallas?

Start with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas Museum of Art, Klyde Warren Park and Reunion Tower GeO-Deck. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Dallas?

Our picks: Pecan Lodge (Deep Ellum); Cattleack Barbeque (Farmers Branch); Lockhart Smokehouse (Bishop Arts District). Arrive before 11am to beat the line; beef rib sells out early (Pecan Lodge).

What is near Dallas?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Dallas & Reunion Tower (about 1 km / 1 mi), Bishop Arts District (about 4 km / 3 mi) and Wichita Mountains (about 281 km / 175 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Dallas with your crew

Open the Texas BBQ Trail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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