A Perfect Weekend in Dallas: A Route You Can Follow

A good weekend in Dallas runs Friday evening to Sunday afternoon and moves in one direction: Downtown and Deep Ellum on Friday night, the West End, Klyde Warren Park and the Arts District on Saturday, Bishop Arts for Saturday dinner, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on Sunday. Hours and prices change, so check each site before you go.

The route is built so you never backtrack across town. Friday and Saturday sit inside or right beside Downtown, Saturday evening crosses the Trinity River to Oak Cliff on the Dallas Streetcar, and Sunday is the one stop that needs a car or a rideshare.

How we chose

We started with the places Dallas is known for, then kept only the ones that fit together on a map, open on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and confirmed on the venue's own site. We dropped anything we could not confirm as open, and we kept the pace honest: three or four stops a day, with time to eat.

Save this: the weekend at a glance

1. Friday 5:30 p.m. Walk the bronze longhorns at Pioneer Plaza, Downtown. Free; park at your hotel or ride DART.
2. Friday 7:00 p.m. Brisket at Pecan Lodge, Deep Ellum. DART to Deep Ellum Station.
3. Friday 8:30 p.m. A show at Trees, Deep Ellum. A short walk from Pecan Lodge.
4. Saturday 9:00 a.m. Dallas Farmers Market, The Shed. On-site and street parking.
5. Saturday 10:30 a.m. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Timed tickets; DART to West End Station.
6. Saturday 12:30 p.m. Dealey Plaza, West End. Next door to the museum.
7. Saturday 1:00 p.m. Lunch at Klyde Warren Park. Garages nearby, valet on the west side.
8. Saturday 2:00 p.m. Nasher Sculpture Center, Arts District. Show a DART ticket for a discount.
9. Saturday 3:30 p.m. Crow Museum of Asian Art, Arts District. Free.
10. Saturday 6:30 p.m. Pie at Emporium Pies, Bishop Arts. Dallas Streetcar from Union Station.
11. Saturday 7:30 p.m. Dinner at Gloria's Latin Cuisine, Bishop Arts.
12. Or instead: Dinner at Lucia, Bishop Arts. Reserve ahead.
13. Sunday 9:00 a.m. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, East Dallas. Drive or rideshare; on-site lot.

Friday night: Where do you start a weekend in Dallas?

Start Downtown on foot, then head east to Deep Ellum for dinner and live music. Both stops are easy on DART, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail system, so you can leave the car at the hotel.

1. Pioneer Plaza, Downtown (about 5:30 p.m.)

Pioneer Plaza, at the corner of Griffin Street and Young Street in Downtown Dallas, is a bronze cattle drive: Visit Dallas describes a herd of longhorn steers driven by three cowboys on horseback, the work of sculptor Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas. It is an outdoor public plaza, so there is no ticket, and it is a quick, free way to land in the city before dinner. No hours are posted, so go while there is still daylight.

2. Pecan Lodge, Deep Ellum (about 7:00 p.m.)

Pecan Lodge, at 2702 Main Street in Deep Ellum, is the barbecue stop. Order the Hot Mess, a salt-crusted sweet potato piled with barbacoa, or bring friends for The Trough, a platter of beef rib, pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausage meant for four or five people. Pecan Lodge typically opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. on Fridays, and its site carries a banner saying it stays open only until it sells out, so do not arrive late. Use Deep Ellum Station on DART, or park in the neighborhood and plan to walk between stops.

3. Trees, Deep Ellum (about 8:30 p.m.)

Trees, at 2709 Elm Street, is a Deep Ellum live music room a short walk from Pecan Lodge. It has no standing hours, only a show calendar with door and start times, so pick a night on the Trees site before you book dinner. Tickets cost the same at the box office as online. If Trees has nothing you like, The Bomb Factory at 2713 Canton Street, a short walk away, also posts a show calendar on its official site.

Deep Ellum dates back to 1884 and made its name as a blues and jazz district, and you can feel that history after dark even without a ticket. See our Deep Ellum guide for more.

Saturday morning and afternoon: What should you see Downtown?

Saturday belongs to Downtown and the Arts District, and you can do all of it in about eight hours without a car. Park once, or ride DART in and out.

4. Dallas Farmers Market, The Shed (about 9:00 a.m.)

The Dallas Farmers Market, at 920 South Harwood Street, is where Texas farmers and producers sell directly to shoppers in The Shed, an open-air pavilion. The Shed typically runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and the market has operated in Dallas since 1941. Buy something portable for breakfast and keep moving. See the Dallas Farmers Market area page.

5. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (about 10:30 a.m.)

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, at 411 Elm Street in the West End, is the one stop where you must plan ahead. Every ticket is timed entry, and the museum's site advises buying online in advance. It is typically open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4:15 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday. Adult tickets are typically $24 online and $27 at the door, with children five and under free.

Here is a tip that saves time: rolling luggage and bags larger than 14 by 22 by 9 inches must be checked for a $5 fee per item, so leave the big bag at the hotel. For transit, West End Station on DART is about three blocks east, and paid lots sit next to the museum, with fees that vary by lot. Check the museum's visit page before you go.

6. Dealey Plaza, West End (about 12:30 p.m.)

Dealey Plaza, at 400 Main Street, is next door to the museum. The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department describes it as a 3.1-acre park established in 1935 with a fountain and memorial areas, and it is a public park with no admission. Walk it after the museum, when the exhibits give the place its context.

7. Klyde Warren Park, Arts District (about 1:00 p.m.)

Klyde Warren Park, at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, is a free deck park built over a freeway that ties Downtown to Uptown. It is typically open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and its official site lists the day's events and programs. Eat lunch here, then walk a few blocks into the Arts District. Parking is in nearby garages, with valet at 2000 Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Our Dallas Arts District guide maps what else is nearby.

8. Nasher Sculpture Center, Arts District (about 2:00 p.m.)

The Nasher Sculpture Center, at 2001 Flora Street, is a sculpture museum with a garden. It is typically open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and adult admission is typically $10. Show your DART ticket and the price drops to $8. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. Details are on the Nasher visit page.

9. Crow Museum of Asian Art, Arts District (about 3:30 p.m.)

The Crow Museum of Asian Art, at 2010 Flora Street, is across the street from the Nasher and is listed as always free. It is typically open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Mondays. It is a good last stop because you can take as long or as little as you want. Check the Crow Museum site for current hours.

Saturday evening: How do you get to Bishop Arts?

Take the Dallas Streetcar from Union Station, about five blocks south of The Sixth Floor Museum, to the Bishop Arts stop in Oak Cliff. DART's streetcar line is about 2.45 miles with six stops, and it typically runs daily from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. Check the DART Dallas Streetcar page and DART's fare page for current service and fares before you ride, then plan to ride back before the last run.

If you drive instead, park once in the Bishop Arts District and walk. It is a small, walkable neighborhood. Our Bishop Arts District guide and Oak Cliff guide go deeper.

10. Emporium Pies, Bishop Arts (about 6:30 p.m.)

Emporium Pies, at 314 North Bishop Avenue, is a Bishop Arts pie shop in Oak Cliff, Dallas, and a good way to start the evening with dessert first. Hours typically run 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; check the Emporium Pies site before you go.

11. Gloria's Latin Cuisine, Bishop Arts (about 7:30 p.m.)

Gloria's Latin Cuisine, at 600 North Bishop Avenue in the Bishop Arts District, is the casual dinner choice. The Oak Cliff location typically opens at 11 a.m. daily and stays open until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. the rest of the week, with happy hour on weekday afternoons. Gloria's also hosts a salsa night here, so check the Gloria's Bishop Arts page for the schedule.

12. Lucia, Bishop Arts (the dressier dinner option)

Lucia, at 287 North Bishop Avenue, serves house-cured salumi and handmade pasta, and its site lists dining room hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. It is the better choice for a sit-down Saturday dinner, but check the official site and reserve ahead. Pick Lucia or Gloria's, not both.

Sunday: Is the Dallas Arboretum worth the drive?

Yes. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is the one stop on this route that needs a car or rideshare, and it is the right way to end a weekend in Dallas.

13. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, East Dallas (about 9:00 a.m.)

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, at 8525 Garland Road beside White Rock Lake, covers 66 acres of display gardens. It is typically open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daytime admission on Friday through Sunday is typically $25.95 for adults and $21.95 for children aged 3 to 12, with parking at $15 per vehicle. Arrive at opening, when the paths are quiet and the light is good, and plan on two to three hours. Check the Arboretum site for seasonal programs, which can carry separate tickets. Read more on the East Dallas and White Rock Lake page.

If you still have energy after, the City of Dallas lists the White Rock Lake Park Loop Trail at 9.4 miles, and it runs right past the Arboretum, and the Dallas Farmers Market is open Sunday from 10 a.m. on your way back toward Downtown.

Where should you stay and park?

Stay Downtown if you want to do Friday and Saturday on foot and by DART, or near Union Station if the streetcar matters most. See our travel and lodging listings. For parking, plan on paid lots at the Sixth Floor Museum, garages near Klyde Warren Park, street or lot parking in Deep Ellum and Bishop Arts, and the Arboretum's on-site lot. For rides between Downtown stops, DART's trip planner at dart.org is the official tool. See the best things to do in Dallas for extras if you add a day.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What should you do with a weekend in Dallas?

Spend Friday night in Downtown and Deep Ellum, Saturday at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Klyde Warren Park and the Arts District, with dinner in Bishop Arts, then visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on Sunday. That order keeps the route geographic, with only the Arboretum needing a car or rideshare.

Do you need a car for a weekend in Dallas?

Not for most of it. Downtown, Deep Ellum and the Arts District work with DART and walking, and the Dallas Streetcar links Union Station to Bishop Arts. The Dallas Arboretum in East Dallas is the stop where a car or rideshare is easiest.

Do you need tickets for The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza?

Yes. All tickets are timed entry, and the museum advises buying online in advance. It is typically open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday, so it fits a Saturday visit.

How do you get from Downtown Dallas to Bishop Arts?

Take the Dallas Streetcar from Union Station to the Bishop Arts stop in Oak Cliff. DART lists the line as about 2.45 miles with six stops, typically running daily from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. Check DART's site for current fares and service.

Which Dallas attractions on this route are free?

Pioneer Plaza, Dealey Plaza, Klyde Warren Park and the Crow Museum of Asian Art are free to visit. The Sixth Floor Museum, Nasher Sculpture Center and Dallas Arboretum charge admission, so check each official site for current prices.