Comparison · Dallas vs Houston · United States
Dallas vs Houston
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Dallas for JFK history and Arts District; choose Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 362 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 362 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Dallas
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Houston
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Dallas | Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | JFK history, Arts District and Texas barbecue | NASA and Space Center Houston, Museum District and Viet-Cajun crawfish |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $190–$330 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | August, 35°C (95°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | DFW, DAL | IAH, HOU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dallas for…
JFK history and Arts District. Dallas is a big, spread-out Texan city whose essential sights cluster downtown: the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and an Arts District of free and low-cost museums including the Dallas Museum of Art…
Choose Houston for…
NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and one of its most diverse, which shows above all in its food: Viet-Cajun crawfish, Tex-Mex, Gulf seafood, Texas barbecue and the long strip-mall restaurant rows of Chinatown and the Mahatma Gandhi…
Top sights compared
| # | Dallas | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza | Space Center Houston |
| 2 | Dealey Plaza and the JFK Memorial | Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |
| 3 | Dallas Museum of Art | Houston Museum of Natural Science |
| 4 | Nasher Sculpture Center | Menil Collection |
| 5 | Crow Museum of Asian Art | Rothko Chapel |
Food compared
| Dallas | Houston |
|---|---|
| Smoked brisket | Viet-Cajun crawfish |
| Frozen margarita | Fajitas |
| Tex-Mex with queso | Smoked brisket |
| Chicken-fried steak | Kolaches |
Which is cheaper?
Dallas and Houston cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$350 in Dallas and $190–$330 in Houston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Houston on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Dallas and Houston are about 362 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Dallas and 3 in Houston.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dallas or Houston cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$350 in Dallas and $190–$330 in Houston (estimates).
+Is Dallas or Houston better for a first trip?
Pick Dallas for JFK history and Arts District, or Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District.
+How far is Dallas from Houston?
About 362 km in a straight line.