Texas region guide
Things to do in North Texas
Plan a trip around 24 published destinations in North Texas. Compare parks, waterways, historic places, trails, caverns, wildlife areas, and visitor attractions, then connect the places that fit your route.
Explore North Texas
Use this guide as a starting point for discovering public lands, natural features, heritage sites, and visitor attractions across North Texas. Each destination page brings together location details, activities, amenities, current source information, and nearby stops so you can build a realistic itinerary instead of a disconnected list.
Before leaving, confirm operating hours, reservations, fees, weather, water conditions, closures, and access rules with the destination’s official source. Distances and services can vary considerably across Texas, so allow extra time between remote stops.
Popular activities in North Texas
Destinations in North Texas
Open a guide for visitor information, things to do, maps, planning notes, and related places.
Acton State Historic Site
Acton · Hood County County · North Texas
Visit the burial place of Elizabeth Crockett, wife of Alamo defender David Crockett, marked by a prominent state monument.
Bonham State Park
Bonham · Fannin County · North Texas
A wooded North Texas retreat centered on a small lake, with paddling, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, and camping.
Brazos River Scenic Segment — Bosque to Hood
Bosque County, Johnson County, Hood County County · North Texas
A nationally inventoried Brazos River reach with outstanding wildlife, scenery, and recreation values below DeCordova Bend Dam.
Brazos River Scenic Segment — Parker to Palo Pinto
Parker County, Palo Pinto County County · North Texas
A scenic Brazos River reach below Possum Kingdom Lake with limestone bluffs, wildlife habitat, fishing, and demanding paddling conditions.
Caddo National Grassland
Honey Grove · Fannin County County · North Texas
Explore prairie, woodland, lakes, trails, campsites, fishing areas, and equestrian recreation across the Caddo National Grassland near the Red River region.
Cedar Hill State Park
Cedar Hill · Dallas County · North Texas
Joe Pool Lake recreation, extensive mountain-bike trails, camping, fishing, swimming, and preserved Penn Farm history near Dallas.
Cleburne State Park
Cleburne · Johnson County · North Texas
A spring-fed lake and wooded limestone hills with hiking, mountain biking, fishing, paddling, swimming, cabins, and camping.
Cooper Lake State Park — Doctors Creek Unit
Cooper · Delta County County · North Texas
Explore the north side of Cooper Lake from the Doctors Creek Unit, with lakeside hiking, camping, fishing, birding, paddling access, and prairie-and-woodland scenery.
Cooper Lake State Park — South Sulphur Unit
Sulphur Springs · Hopkins County County · North Texas
Visit the larger South Sulphur Unit of Cooper Lake State Park for hiking and equestrian trails, camping, lake recreation, wildlife watching, and family day use.
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Glen Rose · Somervell County · North Texas
World-famous dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River, with river swimming, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and family exploration.
Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site
Denison · Grayson County County · North Texas
Tour the modest birthplace of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and learn about his family, childhood, military career, and presidency.
Eisenhower State Park
Denison · Grayson County · North Texas
Lake Texoma cliffs, coves, swimming, fishing, boating, wooded trails, OHV routes, cabins, and camping near Denison.
Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site
Jacksboro · Jack County · North Texas
A restored frontier military post with original and reconstructed buildings, Lost Creek trails, camping, fishing, and military history.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Sherman · Grayson County County · North Texas
Explore Lake Texoma shoreline, wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, wildlife drives, trails, and major wintering habitat for geese, ducks, shorebirds, and other North Texas wildlife.
Lake Arrowhead State Park
Wichita Falls · Clay County · North Texas
A prairie lake destination near Wichita Falls with boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, disc golf, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway
Mineral Wells · Parker County · North Texas
A North Texas park with lake recreation, Penitentiary Hollow climbing, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, camping, and the long Lake Mineral Wells Trailway.
Lake Tawakoni State Park
Wills Point · Hunt County · North Texas
A large reservoir park east of Dallas with boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, birding, camping, and broad shoreline views.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
Decatur · Wise County County · North Texas
Discover Cross Timbers scenery, grasslands, equestrian trails, lakes, campsites, hunting areas, and wildlife habitat at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland.
Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
Strawn · Palo Pinto County · North Texas
A developing North Texas state park protecting rugged hills, canyons, creeks, and wildlife habitat, with future plans for trails, camping, and outdoor recreation.
Possum Kingdom State Park
Caddo · Palo Pinto County · North Texas
Clear blue water and limestone cliffs on Possum Kingdom Lake, with boating, fishing, swimming, paddling, hiking, cabins, and camping.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park — Isle du Bois Unit
Pilot Point · Denton County · North Texas
The south-side Ray Roberts Lake unit offers boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, equestrian trails, camping, and a large beach area.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park — Johnson Branch Unit
Valley View · Cooke County · North Texas
The north-side Ray Roberts Lake unit features boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, camping, and quieter wooded shoreline recreation.
Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site
Paris · Lamar County County · North Texas
Tour an ornate Victorian home interpreting the Maxey family, politics, military service, domestic life, and changing Texas society.
Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site
Bonham · Fannin County County · North Texas
Visit the longtime home of U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn, preserved with original furnishings, vehicles, and personal collections.