You know what they say: everything is bigger in Texas! Dallas is the epitome of BIG southern hospitality and is a part of the 4th largest metropolitan area in the nation. Dallas attracts over 27 million visitors every year from all over the globe and is known for its mix of luxury, modernity, and southern charm. Dallas is a hub for entertainment, restaurants & fine dining, and a growing nightlife scene. Living in the city can get EXPENSIVE, especially with more and more people migrating to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area to live. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 10 FREE things to do in Dallas for any visitor looking to tackle the city on a budget!
This is a Guest Post by Kia from Passport Noire
How to Have an Epic (and Cheap) Dallas Trip
I love finding free things to do wherever I travel, and you can have a fabulous time with a very limited budget. However, there are some things that might be worth paying for if you have the budget to do it. Perhaps by compromising and saving money on some things, you can afford to splurge a little on something you really want to do.
For example, you could save money by staying in cheap accommodation and doing lots of free activities in Dallas, and then treat yourself to a food tour or a nice dinner, or something unique and fun like a tour of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Some of the most popular tours and activities in Dallas that you might be interested in include:
Or you can browse more paid things to do in Dallas here. That said, no matter what budget you have, there is no need to pay for activities in Dallas if you don’t want to. You can still have an amazing time in Dallas without spending a lot of money, and have some unique experiences you will remember forever!
Where to Stay in Dallas on a Budget
If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay in Dallas, sadly there are no longer any hostels in Dallas since the Deep Ellum Hostel closed in 2022.
For cheap hotels or motels in Dallas, check out Booking.com for great deals on hotel stays like the SOVA Micro-Room & Social Hotel as well as apartments like this cute studio that gets great reviews for the location and facilities. Here are some more affordable hotel options in Dallas:
- Canvas Hotel Dallas: A boutique hotel offering a stylish and contemporary experience with amenities including beautiful urban decor, a rooftop pool and bar, a fitness center, on-site restaurant, and a prime location near downtown attractions, making it an ideal choice for travelers seeking a chic and convenient stay in the heart of Dallas. >>>CHECK REVIEWS & PRICES
- Fairfield Inn & Suites: An affordable option just outside the downtown area, providing guests with comfortable accommodations and amenities including spacious rooms, complimentary breakfast, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and a convenient location near major highways and attractions. >>>FIND OUT MORE
- Hotel ZaZa Dallas: Offers an upscale and unique experience with amenities such as stylishly designed rooms, an outdoor pool, a spa, a fine dining restaurant, and vibrant bar scene. Plus, a central location near shopping, dining, and entertainment options, making it an exceptional choice for those who want to splurge on their stay in Dallas. >>>CHECK PRICES AND AVAILABILITY
10 Free Things To Do in Dallas
We’ve covered how to enjoy Dallas on a budget and cheap places to stay in Dallas, so now let’s get onto the best free things to do in Dallas! Here’s our pick:
Explore White Rock Lake and Park
White Rock Lake Park is one of the most popular parks in the DFW area and one of our most famous green spaces. This park surrounds the 1000+ acre man-made lake, which offers a variety of activities for visitors. It has become an ideal location for walking or running, hiking, biking, boating, and even kayaking.
The grounds of the famous Dallas Arboretum also look out onto the lake, so be sure to pay the Arboretum a visit! You will also find a museum that tells the history of the lake, as well as the Bath House Cultural Center.
Hike the Trails of Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve
The Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve offers a respite from the busy city atmosphere and is approximately a 20-minute drive from downtown Dallas. The preserve is a 600-acre natural destination and includes nine trails for visitors to explore. There are trails for all ages and fitness levels.
Some trails, such as the Bluebonnet trail, offer a leisurely stroll, while others around the Cattail Pond offer a bit more of a challenge. Along the trails, there are also a number of lookout points at higher elevations that serve as ideal locations to capture scenic views of the city.
The Preserve is busiest on the weekends, and the small parking lot at the main entrance of the trails can sometimes make parking difficult, so be sure to get there early on weekend days. The preserve is closed on Mondays.
Tour the African American Museum in Fair Park
The African American Museum of Dallas is a true gem of the city, located in Fair Park of South Dallas. Admission to the museum is free, but I highly recommend leaving a small tip to help continue the museum’s operation.
There are two floors: the bottom floor features a variety of art exhibits from Dallas natives and the top floor features exhibits that explore artifacts, maps, and relics from the city’s early beginnings. You can easily spend 1.5-2 hours at the museum, reading old text or admiring maps of old Dallas.
The museum also has a gift shop, stocked with a number of hand-crafted items, books, and small trinkets. Additionally, the museum often serves as a venue for many events hosted by African-Americans across the city.
Picnic at Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park is one of the city’s most famous parks, located in the center of downtown. It features an expansive green space with plenty of small tables and seating areas. Klyde Warren is perfect for a picnic downtown and is also an ideal location for pet owners to bring their small best friends.
Perhaps one of the biggest draws of Klyde Warren as a destination is the array of food trucks that surround the park where you can get a tasty and cheap meal. Whether it’s pizza, Greek, Cuban or Italian, there is a selection of food trucks to choose from that rotate on a weekly basis.
On the right days, you can also catch a variety of programming, including outdoor yoga classes and musical performances.
Visit the Dallas Farmer’s Market
A weekend at the Dallas Farmer’s Market is always a good time. Saturdays at the Market are the most popular. There are two primary areas of the Farmer’s Market: the Market and the Shed. The Market is an indoor area that features a number of vendors selling clothing, hand-made crafts like candles and soaps, as well as a variety of cultural foods.
The Shed is the outdoor portion of the market where patrons can browse fresh produce, locally grown and sourced. There are also a number of food/restaurant vendors (the main reason that I go!) selling a small selection of menu items from their local businesses. Many vendors also offer free samples of their products or foods.
Entry into the Farmer’s Market is completely free, and any purchases made at this market are a great way to support the local community.
Run, Bike or Walk along the Katy Trail
The Katy Trail is known well to many Dallas natives and tourists alike. The “Katy” is a 3.5-mile privately owned trail that runs from Southern Methodist University to the American Airlines Center. On any given day of the week, you can find a swath of runners, bikers, and walkers traversing the well-paved trail.
It is also a common space in the city for many citizens and visitors to walk their dogs! There are several entry points to the Katy Trail, including public parks, recreation centers, and even private entrances from many luxury apartments located along the trail.
Once you reach the center of the trail, don’t forget to stop at the Katy Ice House, a popular restaurant offering patio seating and some of the best beer, burgers, and barbecue in the city! If you’re in town during the fall, don’t miss out on the Katy 5K, hosted every year around September.
Admire the Art at Fabrication Yard
Fabrication Yards is a graffiti artist’s dream! Located in West Dallas, this is a free graffiti art exhibit where anyone can come and contribute to the large numbers of graffiti murals and wall art. The grunge and vibrant colors of the surroundings make it an ideal location for photos and has a reputation for being insanely Instagrammable and cool.
There has been discussion that Fabrication Yard likely won’t remain as a permanent fixture. Several buildings around the area have already been purchased and deemed for future development. As such, if you’re in town, be sure to see this celebration of creativity, as it is likely to disappear soon!
Attend the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) Symphony in the City
If you’re a music lover, this free DSO outdoor concert series is not to be missed. The DSO performs free concerts at various parks throughout the city as a part of their community outreach efforts. The music is typically a mix of classical and popular American patriotic tunes and is perfect for families. The series of concerts typically starts around Labor Day and goes until the end of summer.
Visit the Dallas Museum of Art
The Museum of Art is a 370,000 square foot museum with a number of installations that are sure to dazzle patrons of any age. There are a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits that feature art from every continent on the globe. In addition to more traditional portraits and sculptures, the museum also has an impressive interactive art exhibit. These exhibits allow you to release your inner child and can be experienced solo or as a member of a larger group or family.
Visit the Murals in Deep Ellum
Deep Ellum is one of the most popular areas of the city and is located near downtown in East Dallas. It is also one of the most culturally significant areas of the city, as it was historically an African-American center for commerce in Dallas. Today, it is home to a number of bars, restaurants, and music venues, making it a staple for nightlife in the city.
By day, many tourists check out the neighborhood to view the plethora of murals and street art that line the walls of many establishments in the area. You can also browse the variety of small shops that line Elm Street, the main street for which “Deep Ellum” is named. Popular restaurants in Deep Ellum include the Pecan Lodge, Emporium Pies, and Vidorra.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Dallas on a Budget
Dallas is an ever-growing metropolitan area with much to do, see, and explore. Whether you are a budget traveler or a connoisseur of all things elegant and luxury, Dallas has something for you! Come visit and see what our city has to offer, and enjoy a combination of fabulous free attractions in Dallas with other exciting things to do.
Want More Cheap Travel Tips for the USA?
Check out these blog posts about budget travel in the US, or click here to read all of my USA posts.- The Best Cheap Weekend Getaways for Couples
- How to Travel for Free
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- Free Things to do in Seattle Washington
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- Free Things to do in New Orleans
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- Free Things to do in Detroit, Michigan
About the Author
Kia Byrd is an Internal Medicine physician in Dallas, Texas. She enjoys learning about different cultures through travel and has a passion for sharing her experiences with the world. She is the creator of couples travel blog Passport Noire, along with her co-creator and significant other, Arias WebsterBerry.
They began Passport Noire, initially, with the intention to share their experiences and the lessons they’ve learned from travel with family, friends, and fellow travelers. It has evolved into a platform to encourage young millennials, especially millennials of color, to see the beauty in experiencing the rest of the world.
Kia’s favorite international destination is Barcelona, Spain. Her favorite domestic (US) travel destination is New Orleans, Louisiana.
Read more from Kia and Passport Noire on “Things to Do” when traveling to other destinations around the Southern US and the world:
5 Things to do in Oxford, Mississippi: A Weekend Travel Guide