24 Hours in Dallas? The Most Exciting Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Only have one day in Dallas and looking to make the perfect itinerary?

No Bulls&#!: If you’ve only got enough time for a day trip to Dallas, Texas, it really is all you need. I was even able to tack on Fort Worth since there was only one thing I wanted to see there.

It’s not that there’s nothing to do in Dallas Texas. If you have only a day in any city, you’re not trying to go to every museum and stroll around every city park…just the iconic ones.

So take it chill; here is a one day itinerary of the best things to do in Dallas and Fort Worth. If you’re interested or have more time in this Texas city, listed are other potentially fun things to do that may be of interest at the end.

#1 Top Tour Pick

JFK Assassination & Sixth Floor Museum Tour

Best Attraction of Dallas

• Learn the story of John F. Kennedy’s assassination
• Museum Admission & Transportation Included

Book Here

Dallas and Fort Worth Overview

Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the United States, and this doesn’t count its Siamese sister city Fort Worth. As in every large city, expect decent nightlife, good food, bad parking, and fun things to do.

They also do have that good ol’ southern hospitality going for them. There are three main districts I’ll be separating the itinerary into:

1. Main Street District (Downtown Dallas)
2. Nearby Arts Districts
3. Fort Worth

You can cover all areas of Dallas in one day unless you are an avid museum-goer.

Sample One Day in Dallas Itinerary (Lots of Walking)

Below is a suggested sample Dallas day trip itinerary to see the best places in a time-maximizing way. Scroll down for a more detailed description of the Dallas attraction.

If you have more time, switch and swap with some other great fun things to do listed at the end of the post.

1. Park your car at The Sixth Floor Museum to see the history behind the assassination of JFK. (I learned that when I got to Dallas)
2. Once you’ve learned the political atmosphere and timeline of JFK’s assassination, seeing Dealey Plaza has a lot more sentiment
3. Start walking through downtown Dallas passing the Old Red Museum and the JFK memorial.
4. Check out the AT&T Discovery District. They have events on most weekends.
5. Lunch act The Exchange Hall or The Farmer’s Market. Shop local at The Shed if it’s the weekend.
6. Continue to artsy Deep Ellum, then walk/uber/bus/join a tour back to your car.
7. Check out Bishop Art’s District for some street art and afternoon coffee.
8. Combine a tour to Fort Worth making it in time before the sunset to see the Fort Worth Water Gardens.

Budget Tip: Save money if you plan on doing a few attractions from the Dallas Citypass. It may be worth looking into getting one here.

Best Things to Do with one Day in Dallas & Ft Worth

1. The Sixth Floor Museum

So if you’re like me and didn’t know that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy happened in Dallas, then I’m here telling you that now. The city designated the Sixth Floor Museum to journey through JFK’s legacy and his untimely death carried out by Lee Harvey Oswald. Can you guess which floor he shot out of?

If you’re a history buff, the Sixth Floor Museum is not short. I think I was in there for at least 2 – 3 hours.

If you park at the Sixth Floor Museum’s lot, there is a fee, but if you park in Lot C, you’re good until nighttime. Parking in Dallas was difficult, especially on the weekend.

👉 Visit the Dealey Plaza Sixth Floor Museum

Address: 411 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75202

2. Dealey Plaza

Dealey Plaza had more sentiment after coming out of the Sixth Floor Museum. I look to the spot where JFK died, and it’s not just another part of the road but where a pivotal moment of American history happened. It’s strange how something can change meaning with more knowledge and context.

Walk through Downtown Dallas

The Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza are just on the cusp of downtown Dallas, so they are the perfect starting location to walk into the skyscrapers of the city center. In order, here are a few things to point out for your self-guided walk.

👉 Want to learn even more about Dallas? Book This 3 Hour City Highlights Tour

3. Old Red Museum

The looming, ornate Old Red Museum is sure to catch your eye as you walk into downtown Dallas. This castle-like building was built as a courthouse in 1892 but turned into a museum.

Address: 100 S Houston St, Dallas, TX 75202; The museum has moved from the Old Red Courthouse and is currently closed to the public. (Update 2024)

4. John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza

Only one block from Dealey Plaza, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza symbolizes the “freedom of President Kennedy’s spirit”.

Address: 646 Main, Dallas, TX 75202

5. The Giant Eyeball

I could not tell you why there is a giant thirty-foot-tall blue eyeball in the middle of downtown.

Address: 1601 Main, Dallas, TX 75201

6. AT&T Discovery District

Now for some fun, the AT&T Discovery Park is a social hub for locals and tourists alike, with events happening every weekend, people passing out AT&T merch, a football game projected on the side of the building, a DJ, and even a great market, but I’ll get to that in a second.

Address: 308 S Akard St, Dallas, TX 75202

AT&T Experience

Aside from the park, get techy with it in the AT&T experience (next to the AT&T store). Just walk in to play free video games and see what new AI or AR simulations the company is working on.

Where to Eat Lunch

From where you are, there are two options of millennial food courts to check out.

7. The Exchange Market

If you’re already in the AT&T Discovery Park, the Exchange Market might be a no-brainer if you’re already feeling the hunger rumbles. This food court houses 16 dining choices and two full-service bars, all in a newly constructed modern dining experience in the AT&T Discovery Park.

Address: 211 S Akard St, Dallas, TX 75202

8. Dallas Farmer’s Market & The Shed

If you decide to walk (or get your car), you can go to The Market Shops at the Farmer’s Market. More like a hangar filled with a variety of food options

If you’re coming on the weekend, The Shed at the farmer’s market is an open-air pavilion selling locally made desserts, artisan souvenirs, or locally grown produce. They are open Saturdays (9am-5pm) or Sunday (10am-5pm) only.

Note: It is hard to get parking if you’re here on the weekend.
Address: 123 Taylor St, Dallas, TX 75201

9. Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum is the go-to neighborhood for art lovers and instaworthy graffiti murals. Quirky and fun, this expansive arts district is filled with hidden gem art galleries, unique shops, and fantastic street art.

If you’re walking from downtown, it will be just across the highway. Or otherwise, join this small group walking tour, which includes a visit to this live music capital of North Texas.

If you’re planning on staying for some nightlife, Deep Ellum has events every day. Check out their events page for more information on their event calendar.

10. Bishop Arts District

Can you tell that I love art? If you haven’t had enough art galleries and street art from Deep Ellum, drive to the Bishop Arts District. There are over sixty mostly locally-owned shops around, and I’ve heard that it’s a excellent place for some obscure coffee shops.

For another amazing arts district, next time you’re in Sin City, step off the strip to 18B district.

11. Fort Worth Water Gardens

The Fort Worth Water Gardens was my one Fort Worth bucket list thing to see. Look how cool it is! The shadows and colors change in this cool-looking fountain depending on the time of day. The Water Gardens’ park features three pools of water: the aerating, the quiet, and the active pool.

Address: 100 E 15th St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Other Things to Do in Dallas

Before you go, let me give you my top tour picks in Dallas:

Dallas City Parks

12. Klyde Warren Park

If you were to visit any Dallas parks, it should be Klyde Warren Park. Aside from having a little bit of a nature reprieve from the urban landscape, many fun activities are available there. Often, events are held in this park ranging from yoga to meditation sessions, movie nights, and live music. There are also a bunch of food trucks in the park.

13. Pioneer Plaza

Claimed to hold the largest bronze monument in the world, Pioneer Plaza takes the motto “Everything’s bigger in Texas” and applies it to 49 bronze longhorn sculptures.

Address: 1428 Young St, Dallas, TX 75202

Dallas Arts District Museums

The Downtown Arts District is home to some of the city’s favorite museums. It is also one of the largest art parks in the United States.

14. Dallas Museum of Art

With a price tag of free and more than 22,000 art pieces on display, the Dallas Museum of Art is worth swinging through if you’re an art museum lover.

15. Crow Collection of Asian Art

The Crow Collection of Asian Art showcases Asian art and cultures of mainly Japan, China, India, and Southeast Asia.

16. African American Museum

Continuing with our Dallas art museums is the African American Museum, dedicated to preserving and displaying African American culture and art. This museum is also free.

17. Nasher Sculpture Center

Gaze at over 300 modern and contemporary large-scale structures in the Nasher Sculpture Garden in the Arts District.

18. Perot Museum of Nature and Science

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science takes us through the journey of our Earth from the past to now.

Miscellaneous

• The Reunion Tower GeO-Deck – Panoramic Views of Dallas
• State Fair of Texas– Must-do o if you’re in town at the end of September. Bring your cowboy boots and blue jeans and cheer on the bull riding cowboys.
• Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park – Home to a collection of 19th-century pioneer and victorian homes
• Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – Stay at The Resting Home to get free Arboretum tickets!
• George W. Bush Presidential Library
• White Rock Lake – If you’re looking for a bit of outdoor adventure, there are miles of hiking and kayaking
• Dallas World Aquarium
• Dallas Zoo

Where to Stay in Dallas

Since you’re most likely just planning on spending a day in Dallas, you will probably want to stay close to downtown to hit all the attractions quickly. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

Final Thoughts: Even Less than One Day in Dallas?

If you have even less time, then these are the things to do you should prioritize in Dallas.

• Sixth Floor Museum
• AT&T Discover District
• Ft. Worth Water Gardens

But if you are choosing which city in Texas to focus most of your time on, I would choose to prioritize Houston and Austin.