# Weekend getaways from Dallas–Fort Worth with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/dallas-fort-worth/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Dallas–Fort Worth for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. After the weekends there are 3 day trips that work any weekend.

Last checked: 2026-10-29.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Oklahoma City (about 3 hr 30 min)

The OKC Renaissance and Scottish Festival at Fair Park has jousting, falconry and fire breathers. Kids are $5, and every advance adult ticket comes with a free kid ticket.

- **OKC Renaissance and Scottish Festival**, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m., OKC Fair Park, between Gates 1 and 2. Adults $13 in advance, $17 at the gate; kids $5; 2 and under free; one free kid ticket (12 and under) with each advance adult ticket. Jousting, falconry, fire breathers, magicians, pirates and fairies, and turkey legs. Official page: https://okcfairpark.com/schedule/category/series/okc-renaissance-and-scottish-festival/gate-1/

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Oklahoma City (about 3 hr 30 min)

The Devon Ice Rink opens Friday, and Safari Lights opens at the zoo on Saturday. Little skaters can rent a penguin helper for $10 an hour.

- **Devon Ice Rink**, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Fri 3–11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Myriad Botanical Gardens. $15 with skate rental; penguin skate helper $10 an hour. Outdoor rink downtown. Opens Nov. 13. Official page: https://downtownindecember.com/devon-ice-rink/
- **Safari Lights**, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, 5:30–11 p.m., Oklahoma City Zoo. Walk-thru from $14; drive-thru combo from $60 per vehicle. Wildlife lanterns by car or on foot, nightly from Nov. 14. Timed tickets in advance. Official page: https://www.okczoo.org/safarilights

Also within reach: Houston (about 4 hr 30 min): Galaxy Lights at Space Center Houston, 6 to 10pm. Kids 3 and under are free, and the indoor exhibits are right there if it rains.

## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Oklahoma City (about 3 hr 30 min)

Safari Lights at the zoo in the evening, and the downtown ice rink opens at 11 on Saturday, before nap.

- **Devon Ice Rink**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri 3–11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Myriad Botanical Gardens. $15 with skate rental; penguin skate helper $10 an hour. Outdoor rink downtown. Opens Nov. 13. Official page: https://downtownindecember.com/devon-ice-rink/
- **Safari Lights**, Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 5:30–11 p.m., Oklahoma City Zoo. Walk-thru from $14; drive-thru combo from $60 per vehicle. Wildlife lanterns by car or on foot, nightly from Nov. 14. Timed tickets in advance. Official page: https://www.okczoo.org/safarilights

Also within reach: Houston (about 4 hr 30 min): Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field. The family four-pack is $59 on select dates, and early-bird prices end November 20.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Oklahoma City (about 3 hr 30 min)

Safari Lights and the Devon Ice Rink.

- **Devon Ice Rink**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri 3–11 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Myriad Botanical Gardens. $15 with skate rental; penguin skate helper $10 an hour. Outdoor rink downtown. Opens Nov. 13. Official page: https://downtownindecember.com/devon-ice-rink/
- **Safari Lights**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 5:30–11 p.m., Oklahoma City Zoo. Walk-thru from $14; drive-thru combo from $60 per vehicle. Wildlife lanterns by car or on foot, nightly from Nov. 14. Timed tickets in advance. Official page: https://www.okczoo.org/safarilights

## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Houston (about 4 hr 30 min)

Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field is open Saturday and Sunday evenings.

- **Sugar Land Holiday Lights**, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, Evening times on the ticket page, Constellation Field. Family 4-pack $59 on select dates; early-bird prices through Nov 20. Opens 11/20; runs through 01/03. Includes photos with Santa nightly through Dec 23. A sensory-friendly night is Dec 15. Official page: https://www.sugarlandholidaylights.com/tickets

## Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on.

- **Turner Falls Park**, Davis, OK (about 2 hr 15 min from Dallas–Fort Worth). Oklahoma's largest waterfall at 77 feet, with swimming below the falls in season. Official page: https://www.turnerfallspark.com/
- **Schlitterbahn New Braunfels**, New Braunfels, TX (about 4 hr 30 min from Dallas–Fort Worth). Home of Schlitterbahn, a waterpark built around river rides and slides. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/schlitterbahnnewbraunfels
- **Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge**, Medicine Park, OK (about 4 hr 30 min from Dallas–Fort Worth). A wildlife refuge known for its roaming herds of bison and longhorn. Official page: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains

## Day trips any weekend

- **Dinosaur Valley State Park**, Glen Rose (about 1 hr 30 min from Dallas–Fort Worth). Real dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy riverbed, best seen when the water is low. Day passes can sell out, so reserve ahead. Hours: Gates 6am–10pm daily, office 8:30am–4:30pm. Cost: $8 per adult 13 and up, kids 12 and under free. Official page: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/dinosaur-valley
- **Fossil Rim Wildlife Center**, Glen Rose (about 1 hr 45 min from Dallas–Fort Worth). A 7.2-mile drive-through where giraffes and antelope come up to the car, and each car gets a bag of feed. The Overlook halfway around has a café and restrooms. Hours: Open year-round except Thanksgiving and Dec 24–25; gates open 8:30am. Cost: Per person, priced by date; buy ahead online. 2 and under free. Official page: https://fossilrim.org/faq/
- **Cameron Park Zoo**, Waco (about 2 hr from Dallas–Fort Worth). A walkable zoo set in a large city park, sized well for a few hours with young kids. Hours: Daily 9am–5pm, last entry 4:30pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Cost: Adults $18, kids 3–12 $14, 2 and under free. Official page: https://www.cameronparkzoo.com/plan-your-visit/hours-pricing/

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Dallas–Fort Worth with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Dallas–Fort Worth are Oklahoma City, Houston. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

**What are good day trips from Dallas–Fort Worth with kids?**
Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose (about 1 hr 30 min), Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose (about 1 hr 45 min), Cameron Park Zoo in Waco (about 2 hr). Hours and prices are on each card, checked on the official pages.

**Which cities are within an easy drive of Dallas–Fort Worth?**
Oklahoma City (about 3 hr 30 min), Austin (about 3 hr 45 min), Houston (about 4 hr 30 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

**What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Dallas–Fort Worth?**
Turner Falls Park (about 2 hr 15 min), Schlitterbahn New Braunfels (about 4 hr 30 min), Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (about 4 hr 30 min). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.

**Why is the same city picked more than once?**
Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

**Are the times and prices current?**
They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.