Best Day Trips On A Budget Near DFW

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Need a little break from the city? From cheese farms and dairy farms to old forts and a town straight out of a western movie set, these fun day trip escapes are closer than you think—and it'll cost you next to nothing to visit them.Corsicana
City of Corsicana
200 N. 12th St.
Corsicana, TX 75110
(903) 654-4800
www.cityofcorsicana.com

Corsicana is known for being home to Collin Street Bakery, maker of the world's most famous deluxe fruitcakes. But this old oil town, just an hour south of DFW, has more to offer than cake. History buffs of all ages will want to visit the Pearce Civil War and Western Art Museum located in the Cook Center on the Navarro College campus. Here they'll find one of the best collections of Civil War history in the nation, as well as over 200 works of art depicting the American West. Located two miles from the Navarro College is Pioneer Village, an interactive village filled with log cabins and buildings representing life in the 1800s. Also in Pioneer Village is the Lefty Frizzell Country Museum, featuring memorabilia from Frizzell and other famous country music greats of that time period. A trip to Corsicana isn't complete without a stop for sandwiches and sweets at the Collin Street Bakery. The best place to find it is in its historic downtown location on West 7th.

Dublin
Dublin Chamber of Commerce
111 S. Patrick
Dublin, TX 76446
(254) 445-3422
www.dublintxchamber.com

While Dr. Pepper is no longer being made in Dublin, the Dublin Bottling Works is still producing a variety of cane sugar sodas and offers tours of the historic facilities from Tuesday through Saturday. But sodas aren't the only reason to make the hour drive down to this area. The Veldhuizen Farm, makers of raw artisan hand-crafted cheese, is located here. Visitors can stop by for a taste of cheese, or come for a tour on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. to see it being made. If you drive the scenic route down Highway 67, you can make a pit stop for lunch in Hico — a town that looks like it came straight out of an old western movie. Check out the legendary Koffee Cup Family Restaurant for chicken fried steak and mile high pies. But save some room because the best chocolates in the state are located across the parking lot at Wiseman House Chocolates.

Related: Scenic Drives Within 60 Miles of DFW

Denison
Denison Area Chamber of Commerce
313 W. Woodard St.
Denison, TX 75020
(903) 465-1551
www.denisontexas.com

Just a 70-mile drive north of DFW will get you into the heart of the Red River Valley where the art-centric community of Denison lies along the banks of Lake Texoma. The city is the birthplace of America's 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and his original home, dating back to the 1870s, is open for visits at the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site. Train enthusiasts will enjoy the railroad artifacts and diesel train simulator at the Red River Train Museum located in the Historic Katy Depot. Or just spend time browsing the many art galleries and antique shops located in Denison's vibrant historic downtown district.

Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs Department of Tourism
1220 Cessna Drive
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
(903) 885-5614
www.visitsulphurspringstx.org

Sulphur Springs, located around 75 miles east of DFW, has something special that can't be found anywhere else — a see-through public restroom right in the center of its busy downtown square. Don't worry about being seen if you need to use it. It's made of one-way mirrors so that you can see out, but no one can see in. In addition to fancy toilets, the town square features a stunning 1894 Romanesque Revival-style courthouse, a veterans memorial and an array of charming antique shops and bistros. The area is known as the dairy capital of the state, so call ahead for a free tour of the Southwest Dairy Center and Museum. Kids will especially enjoy learning how to separate cream and turn it into butter, plus everyone gets to sample fresh ice cream at the end of the tour.

Fort Richardson State Historical Park
228 State Park Road 61
Jacksboro, TX 76458
(940) 567-3506
www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Texas has more old forts than any other state, one of which is Fort Richardson, the largest U.S. Army post in the nation. The fort, located around 60 miles from DFW— was established just after the Civil War in 1867 to protect the frontier against the Kiowa and Comanche Indians. Today, visitors can tour two replica barracks as well as seven of the post's original buildings. In addition to tours, there's a host of events that take place here, including a ghost walk on October 25th at 5:30 p.m. and a Civil War reenactment scheduled for October 31 through November 2.

Related: Best DFW Day Trips For Under $100