Getting around · Dallas · United States
Getting around Dallas
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dallas sprawls across a huge metro area, and most residents drive. Visitors staying downtown or in Uptown can manage with DART light rail, the free M-Line trolley, the streetcar and ride-hailing, renting a car only for Fort Worth and day trips. Not essential for a short city break based downtown or in Uptown, using DART, trolleys and ride-hailing.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- DFW, DAL
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- DART day pass
Ways to get around
Tram
DART light rail has four lines meeting downtown, reaching Deep Ellum, the Dallas Zoo, Fair Park, Mockingbird Station near SMU and DFW Airport.
Buy fares and day passes on the GoPass app rather than at machines.
Train
The Trinity Railway Express commuter train links Dallas Union Station with downtown Fort Worth in about an hour, with a stop near DFW Airport.
Tram
The vintage M-Line trolley runs free along McKinney Avenue between the Arts District and Uptown, and the Dallas Streetcar links Union Station with the Bishop Arts District.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Lyft are widely used and often the quickest way between neighbourhoods such as Lower Greenville, Bishop Arts and the Design District.
Car
A car is useful for Fort Worth, Arlington and day trips. Highways are fast outside rush hour, and toll roads are common.
Ask your rental company how tolls are billed; many roads have no cash booths.
Cycling
The Katy Trail, White Rock Lake loop and Trinity River trails are good for cycling, but streets between them are not bike-friendly.
Tickets and passes
DART day pass
Unlimited rides on DART buses, light rail and the streetcar for a day, sold on the GoPass app and at station machines.
From the airport
Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) lies about 30 km north-west of downtown; DART's Orange Line runs from Terminal A to downtown in about 50 minutes, and a taxi or ride-hail takes 25–45 minutes. Dallas Love Field (DAL), about 10 km from downtown, is linked by DART bus to the light rail and is 15–20 minutes by car.
Do you need a car?
Not essential for a short city break based downtown or in Uptown, using DART, trolleys and ride-hailing. A car makes sense for Fort Worth, Arlington stadiums and Hill Country or Waco day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth | About 45 minutes by car or 1 hour by TRE train | Car, or Trinity Railway Express plus bus |
| Arlington | About 30 minutes by car | Car or ride-hail |
| Waco | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car via I-35 |
| Grapevine | About 35 minutes by car | Car |
| Dinosaur Valley State Park | About 1 hour 45 minutes by car | Car |
| McKinney | About 45 minutes by car | Car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Dallas?
Not essential for a short city break based downtown or in Uptown, using DART, trolleys and ride-hailing. A car makes sense for Fort Worth, Arlington stadiums and Hill Country or Waco day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Dallas?
Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) lies about 30 km north-west of downtown; DART's Orange Line runs from Terminal A to downtown in about 50 minutes, and a taxi or ride-hail takes 25–45 minutes. Dallas Love Field (DAL), about 10 km from downtown, is linked by DART bus to the light rail and is 15–20 minutes by car.
+What is the best way to get around Dallas?
Tram: DART light rail has four lines meeting downtown, reaching Deep Ellum, the Dallas Zoo, Fair Park, Mockingbird Station near SMU and DFW Airport.