Are you looking for the best state parks to visit near DFW? The DFW area has several state parks surrounding it that remind you that everything is bigger in Texas, including the parks.
Here are the seven best state parks to visit near DFW, all fewer than 400 miles away:
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Address: 100 Park Rd 71, Mineral Wells, TX
Distance from Dallas: 80 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 50 miles
Finally, we have Lake Mineral Wells State Park for families who don’t want to drive too far. This park is known for its mineral-rich “Crazy Water,” one of the few places in the state where you can climb its rocks. But if you’re not feeling brave, it also has places for picnicking, biking, swimming, and fishing.
Tip: Although there are plenty of places to see fall foliage in Dallas, nearby Mineral Wells is also lovely this time of year.
Closures: Part of the Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway will be closed for remodeling from January 26 to April 15, 2025.
Read: Where to Find Bluebonnets in DFW
Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway
Address: 850 Caprock Canyon Road, Quitaque, TX
Distance from Dallas: 325 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 290 miles
First on our list of the best state parks to visit near DFW is the gorgeous Caprock Canyons. Your kids will be in awe at how many bison there are at this park! In fact, this park is home to the Texas State Bison Herd. Back in the 1870s, rancher Charles Goodnight saved what little remained of the Southern Plains Bison, and the bison you’ll see at the park are its descendants. You and your kids will also love swimming at Lake Theo, admiring the red rock cliffs, and camping under the starry sky.
Caddo Lake State Park
Address: 245 Park Road 2, Karnack, TX
Distance from Dallas: 175 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 200 miles
Caddo Lake State Park is a long-time DFW fav. Named after the Native American tribe, Caddo Lake is one of the few natural lakes in the entire state of Texas. Your family can get lost in its beauty, catch a big fish, or go kayaking. Its cypress swamp is also a wonder and has many ghost stories and folklore surrounding it. It’s also home to many Bigfoot sightings.
Will your family finally catch him? Slide Caddo Lake to the top of your list of the best state parks to visit near DFW.
Closures: As of April 6, 2025, the boat ramp and canoe rentals are closed due to flooding. Also, some areas may be closed due to prescribed fire operations.
Read: 6 Places to Find Tulips in North Texas
San Angelo State Park
Address: 362 S. FM 2288, San Angelo, TX
Distance from Dallas: 260 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 215 miles
San Angelo State Park is home to both present and past life, from its bison and longhorns to its 250 million-year-old fossils in the San Angelo Formation. You and your family will love hiking, biking, and, yes, Texas horseback riding across its many trails without feeling too overwhelmed by its scope.
Closures: As of March 1, 2025, and March 22, respectively, there’s a burn ban, and the Burkett Trail Bridge is closed.
Read: Guide to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Address: 209 State Park Road, Murfreesboro, AR
Distance from Dallas: 250 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 290 miles
Did your kids love the Minecraft movie? Let them mine for real diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. In 1924, the Uncle Sam Diamond (a 40.23-carat white diamond that is the still biggest ever found in the U.S)
was found here, and it’s worth almost a million dollars today!
Maybe your family can hit the jackpot…or at least find a couple of little diamonds to take home. After mining, cool down at the Diamond Springs Water Park or take a hike on its many trails. This part of our list of the best state parks to visit near DFW is truly a diamond in the rough.
Read: Guide to the Fort Worth Zoo
Lake Wister State Park
Address: 25679 U.S. Highway 270, Wister, OK
Distance from Dallas: 230 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 240 miles
Maybe a lake is at the top of your list of the best state parks to visit near DFW. If so, Lake Wister State Park should be at the top of that list!
Wister is an artificial lake due to a dam constructed in the 1940s. But the fun is all-natural! Your kids will love swimming, boating, and enjoying learning about nature at its nature center. It’s also in the Ouachita Mountains, so you and your family can go on a more ambitious hike if you want to.
Closures: As of April 6, 2025, the boat ramps have been closed due to increased water levels from flooding.
Read: Guide to the Dallas Zoo
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Address: 11450 Park Road 5, Canyon, TX
Distance from Dallas: 370 miles
Distance from Fort Worth: 340 miles
Why go all the way to Arizona when you can visit the Grand Canyon of Texas? Palo Duro Canyon is 120 miles long, up to 800 feet deep, and 100% fun for the home family. Explore its otherwordly trails, or see the Texas Outdoor Musical in its amphitheater, with dates going from June 6 to August 9 in 2025.
Closures: As of April 4, 2025, all trails are closed due to rainfall; check back for openings.
Other Places to Visit
Do you know of another great place to take your family, or do you have a favorite you didn’t see mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below!