A Family-Friendly 3-Day Dallas to Oklahoma City Itinerary: Zoos, Parks, and Night Lights
Everything’s bigger in Texas—and delightfully close in Oklahoma. This family-friendly 3-day itinerary stitches together Dallas’s skyline and museums with Oklahoma City’s parks and canals, perfect for a mid-range budget. Expect short drives, stroller-friendly sights, and plenty of wow moments from zoo encounters to glowing night lights.
Dallas rose from ranching and railroads to a modern hub of art and tech, while Oklahoma City reinvented itself around resilience, green spaces, and community. Together they offer a tight loop of iconic viewpoints, hands-on science, and easy dining that works for toddlers, teens, and grandparents alike.
Practical notes: Fly into Dallas (DAL/DFW), then drive roughly 3–3.5 hours to Oklahoma City on I‑35. CityPASS-style bundles stretch your budget in Dallas, and many parks in both cities are free. If you’re visiting in November–December, festive light displays are a standout—book ahead.
Dallas
Skyscrapers and street tacos meet parks-on-bridges in Dallas. Families love ping-ponging between the Perot Museum’s dinosaur digs, the Dallas Zoo’s giants of the Savanna, and Klyde Warren Park’s food trucks perched above a freeway.
- Top family sights: Dallas Zoo, Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Dallas World Aquarium, Klyde Warren Park, Reunion Tower GeO-Deck.
- Fun facts: Reunion Tower’s 561-foot orb has 259 LED light panels; Klyde Warren Park sits atop a recessed highway; the Dallas Zoo is the oldest in Texas.
- Good eats nearby: Pecan Lodge (Texas BBQ), Velvet Taco (creative tacos), Eno’s Pizza Tavern (thin-crust pies), food trucks at Klyde Warren Park.
Where to stay (mid-budget picks): Downtown makes sightseeing easy. Search deals at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Dallas Downtown, or browse more on Hotels.com Dallas and family-sized rentals on VRBO Dallas. Splurge options include Omni Dallas Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas.
Getting here: Compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
Family-ready tours and passes:
3hr Dallas Cowboys Stadium Small Group Tour with Transportation
Seasonal light experience (Nov–Dec): Dallas Christmas Lights Tour through Highland Park’s mansions is a family favorite.
Oklahoma City
OKC pairs a welcoming, small-city feel with ambitious parks and museums. Bricktown’s red-brick warehouses frame canal walks and family dining, while Scissortail Park stretches from downtown to a lakeside playground.
- Top family sights: Oklahoma City Zoo, Scissortail Park, Bricktown Canal, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
- Fuel stops: Hatch Early Mood Food (brunch), Elemental Coffee (pour-overs, pastries), The Mule (grilled cheeses), Hideaway Pizza (local chain kids love).
Where to stay: Walkable downtown access at Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Downtown/Medical Center or art-filled 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City. Browse more on Hotels.com OKC or VRBO OKC. Classic upgrade: The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City.
Getting from Dallas to OKC (morning departure): Drive ~205 miles via I‑35 in 3–3.5 hours; fuel and snack stop in Ardmore or Turner Falls area. Prefer flying? Check short-hop options on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
Family-friendly tours:
Guided Streetcar Tour: Memorial, Downtown & Bricktown
Oklahoma City Indoor Skydiving (iFLY)
Day 1: Arrive in Dallas + Zoo and Skyline
Morning: Travel to Dallas. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you arrive early, grab coffee and kolaches at Village Baking Co. on Lower Greenville; otherwise head downtown to check in.
Afternoon: Check into La Quinta Inn & Suites Dallas Downtown (walkable to many sights). Picnic at Klyde Warren Park—let the kids run through the Children’s Park and sample food trucks (often Asian fusion, BBQ, or pressed panini). Then head to the Dallas Zoo to see giraffes, elephants, and the two-acre Savanna habitat; if you purchased Dallas CityPASS®, you can choose the Zoo as one of your included attractions.
Evening: Time sunset at the Reunion Tower GeO-Deck for 360° city views. Dinner nearby: Eno’s Pizza Tavern (Bishop Arts; cracker-thin pies and a solid kids’ menu) or Velvet Taco (global flavors; order the chicken tikka taco and elote). Seasonal lights option (Nov–Dec): book the Dallas Christmas Lights Tour for a cozy ride through Highland Park’s over-the-top displays. Otherwise, enjoy Klyde Warren Park’s evening lawn games and skyline glow.
Day 2: Drive Dallas → Oklahoma City, Bricktown & Scissortail Park
Morning: Depart Dallas around 8:30 a.m. for the ~3–3.5 hour drive to Oklahoma City via I‑35. Stretch stops with kids: Ardmore parks or the Oklahoma Welcome Center. Expect tolls in places; keep a card handy. Check into Embassy Suites OKC Downtown/Medical Center (indoor pool and made-to-order breakfast), or browse Hotels.com OKC for options.
Afternoon: Lunch in the Plaza District at The Mule (inventive grilled cheeses—try the Macaroni Pony—or tomato soup with tots). Then roll into downtown for the Guided Streetcar Tour: Memorial, Downtown & Bricktown, an easy way to learn OKC’s story without little legs getting tired. Families with very young kids might swap in Scissortail Park—splash pad in warm months, playgrounds year-round.
Evening: Stroll the Bricktown Canal at dusk and watch the lights come on. Dinner picks: Hideaway Pizza (Oklahoma staple, hand-tossed; “Big Country” is a fan favorite) or Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (casual, fast, kid-friendly). Cap the night with hot chocolate at Elemental Coffee or a scoop at a nearby creamery.
Day 3: OKC Zoo Morning + Departure
Morning: Fuel up at Hatch Early Mood Food (cinnamon roll pancakes, chorizo burritos) or Syrup (waffles, scrambles). Then head to the Oklahoma City Zoo for a half day—don’t miss the Sanctuary Asia elephants and the lush Cat Forest. If thrill-seekers are in the group, consider swapping an hour for iFLY Indoor Skydiving (ages and weight limits apply).
Afternoon: Quick lunch near downtown—Big Truck Tacos (mix-and-match tacos) or Empire Slice House (New York-style slices)—then depart by road back to Dallas or fly out of OKC. For flights, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have extra time before an evening flight, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is superb and surprisingly engaging for kids.
Evening: Travel home with happy, park-tired kids. If staying another night, try dinner at Charleston’s (comfort American, kids’ menu) and a sunset stroll across Scissortail’s Skydance Bridge.
Optional swaps and add-ons: Sports fans can replace a Dallas afternoon with the Cowboys Stadium Tour in Arlington. In Dallas, use the Hop-On Hop-Off to easily pop between the Perot Museum, the Dallas World Aquarium, and the Arts District. Winter visitors can also look for “The Light Park” drive-thru experiences around DFW—check seasonal schedules.
With two lively cities, easy drives, and budget-friendly parks and passes, this itinerary balances learning with play—and daylight adventures with twinkly nights. From giraffe feedings to canal walks, you’ll collect just-right memories in three relaxed, well-fed days.