Day Trippin' › Texas › From Dallas › Best biking spots
Our picks for the best biking spots within 3 hours of Dallas: 15 places, 2 under an hour away, 7 between 1 and 2 hours and 6 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 75201.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Cedar Hill State Park, 29 min southwest of Dallas.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
#1 · State park · 1 hr 27 min southwest
Walk in real dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River bed near Glen Rose, with about 20 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.
Heads-up: Tracks are not always visible and trails close when wet, so check the park's trails and tracks update first. The park often fills, so reserve a day pass. Swimming in the river, no lifeguards. Pets on…
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#2 · State park · 29 min southwest
Big park on Joe Pool Lake with a gravel swimming beach, the DORBA mountain bike trail and the historic Penn Farm.
Heads-up: Dirt trails close for weather (all dirt trails were closed in early November 2026), so check trail status. Joe Pool Marina is permanently closed. Park often fills; reserve. Assistive chairs…
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · State park · 1 hr 11 min southwest
Wooded park around spring-fed Cedar Lake with swimming, paddling and a technical 6-mile mountain bike loop among nearly 13 miles of trails.
Heads-up: No-wake lake, no jet skis. Self-service kayak rentals at Cedar Lodge (card only). Busy in spring and summer, so reserve. ADA-accessible covered fishing pier. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in swim areas.
Photo: GrapevineTxOnline.com, CC BY 2.0
#4 · State park · 1 hr 12 min north
Bluff-top park on Lake Texoma with a sandy swimming cove, two fishing piers, more than four miles of walking and biking trails and fossils from an ancient ocean.
Heads-up: Rods and tackle can be borrowed; no license needed from shore. Separate OHV trail needs an OHV permit. Reservations recommended. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in buildings or swim areas.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#5 · State park · 1 hr 27 min east
Pine-forest park with a 64-acre spring-fed lake for swimming and paddling and more than 13 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.
Heads-up: Park store rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats and johnboats (store open Thursday to Monday). 5 mph lake. Often full, so reserve. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in swim areas.
Photo: NetherlandishYankee (talk), Public domain
#6 · Historic site · 1 hr 31 min west
Original 1860s buildings of a big frontier Army post at Jacksboro, plus the 9-mile (one way) Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway for hiking, biking and riding and a sand beach on Lake Jacksboro.
Heads-up: Self-guided building tours Saturday and Sunday 10 to 4; guided tours Tuesday to Friday at 10 and 2, free with entry. Buildings are not climate controlled, so tour in the morning in summer. No…
Photo: John Bonzo, CC BY 3.0
#7 · State park · 2 hr 34 min southeast
Pine forest park around 210-acre Lake Raven with a swim area, kayak rentals, 21 miles of hiking and biking trails and access to the Lone Star Hiking Trail.
Heads-up: Swim area 10 to 8, no lifeguards. Boats at idle speed only. The Lone Star Hiking Trail is hikers only. Often full, so reserve.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#8 · State park · 2 hr 43 min east
Park on Wright Patman Lake with a designated swimming area, 4.8 miles of hiking trails and hilly park roads for biking.
Heads-up: No lifeguard. All-terrain wheelchair if you contact the park ahead. Pets on a 6-ft leash, not in swim areas.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#9 · State park · 2 hr 57 min south
Onion Creek pours over limestone ledges at the Upper and Lower Falls, just 13 miles from the State Capitol. There are nearly 9 miles of trails, including a paved hike and bike loop.
Heads-up: Reserve day passes, as it often fills. No food, coolers, glass, speakers or pets in the water at the falls. Creek floods after rain. All-terrain wheelchairs for the Onion Creek Trail.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#10 · Bike trail · 2 hr 57 min south
A 2.8-mile hard-surfaced trail inside McKinney Falls State Park that suits road bikes, strollers and easy walks.
Heads-up: Part of McKinney Falls State Park, so reserve a day pass. All-terrain wheelchairs available on this trail. Hot in summer, go early.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#11 · State park · 1 hr 6 min southeast
Quiet park around a 355-acre lake with idle-only boating, kayak rentals, swimming and the 4.1-mile Wolfpen Hike and Bike Trail.
Heads-up: Only 50 motor boats at a time. Borrow rods and tackle; no license needed. Night fishing permit costs extra. All-terrain wheelchair on request.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#12 · Lake · 2 hr 6 min east
A power-plant-warmed lake with year-round fishing, island campsites and nearly four miles of hiking and biking trails.
Heads-up: Swimming allowed, no lifeguards. Lighted fishing pier and canoe rentals. Winter fishing tournaments can crowd the ramp. Office closed Christmas Day. Leashed pets welcome.
Photo: LoneStarMike, CC BY-SA 3.0
#13 · Bike trail · 2 hr 50 min south
A 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, with a boardwalk section over the water.
Heads-up: Dogs must be leashed. E-bikes allowed under 10 mph, no scooters. Boardwalk is open 5 a.m. to midnight. Paid parking in some lots.
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#14 · Bike trail · 1 hr 7 min west
A 20-mile rail-trail with flat grades and gentle curves running between two towns, shared by bikers, hikers and horseback riders.
Heads-up: Run by Lake Mineral Wells State Park; check the park's trail status line before riding because trails can close in wet weather. Bring water; there is little shade in summer.
#15 · Bike trail · 52 min north
A 20-mile trail corridor from Ray Roberts Dam to Lake Lewisville; 10 miles are for hiking and biking only and 12 miles are open to horses.
Heads-up: Part of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Check the park's trail update before going. Pets on a 6-ft leash.
Our top picks are Dinosaur Valley State Park (1 hr 27 min), Cedar Hill State Park (29 min), Cleburne State Park (1 hr 11 min), Eisenhower State Park (1 hr 12 min) and Tyler State Park (1 hr 27 min). The page lists 15 places in all.
15: 2 under an hour away, 7 between 1 and 2 hours and 6 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 75201.
Cedar Hill State Park, about 29 min southwest of Dallas.
1 need no pass or fee, including Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Fees change, so check each place.
15 of the 15 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.