There’s plenty to do in and around Dallas without breaking the bank. There are lots of museums, quirky and historic neighborhoods, parks, and local restaurants that can fill your itinerary and give you some fantastic experiences without exhausting your budget. Spend your money where it counts, cut unnecessary costs, and leave room for a few treats rather than trying to save on everything. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few tips for getting the best out of Dallas while on a budget..
Keep transport costs under control
Transport costs can add up quickly in Texas due to the large distances you may need to cover. So, work out what’s most cost-effective for you and your itinerary. For example, if you’re planning on heading to further-flung destinations, then look into Dallas Fort Worth rental cars, as getting a rental car is probably going to be better for your budget overall than relying on taxis and rideshares. On the other hand, if you’re not going far from central Dallas, DART trains and buses will probably make more financial sense than renting your own personal vehicle.
If you do rent a car, save money by choosing a smaller car (especially if you only need enough room for luggage). That way, you can potentially save money on fuel over the course of the trip.
Bonus Budget Hack: If you are staying around the city center, skip the rideshares entirely when traveling between the Dallas Arts District and the trendy Uptown neighborhood. Instead, hop on the McKinney Avenue Trolley (M-Line). It’s a charming, historic, air-conditioned streetcar, and best of all, it is 100% free!
Spend less on accommodation
A hotel in the city center is not always the cheapest option, and the lowest room rate is not always the best value – especially if you end up spending a fortune on transport costs and food because you took a cheap room in the suburbs.
So, compare hotels, guest accommodation, and holiday rentals before booking. Also check parking charges, breakfast costs and transport links because those extras can quickly increase the overall cost of your stay. Remember, staying one or two stops away from the busiest areas can reduce your accommodation costs without adding much extra traveling time.
Eat where local people eat
Dallas has plenty of independent cafés, diners, and barbecue restaurants where you can eat extremely well without paying fine dining prices. As a rule of thumb for picking a good, budget-friendly spot to eat, follow the locals. Head away from the busy, touristy areas, and look for food halls, food trucks and neighborhood cafés full of Dallas locals. These often cost much less than tourist spots and usually give you bigger portions, too!
The Dallas Farmers Market is another good place to buy lunch or pick up fresh food if your accommodation has kitchen facilities. You can get a lot of fresh, local produce here for low prices, and save money by preparing it yourself.
Fill your itinerary with free attractions
Several of Dallas’s best-known attractions have free admission. For example, the Dallas Museum of Art has permanent collections that you can visit without buying a ticket. Right next door in the Arts District, you can also explore the Crow Museum of Asian Art, which is completely free to enter every day. If you time your trip right, the neighboring Nasher Sculpture Center also opens its doors for free on the first Saturday of every month.
Similarly, Klyde Warren Park regularly hosts free events throughout the year. Or, if you prefer to self-guide your own entertainment, many Dallas neighborhoods will richly reward an afternoon spent exploring by yourself rather than paying for organized tours.
If you do plan to visit several paid attractions, there are still ways to do this without breaking the budget. Look for cheaper timeslots, and check whether combination tickets or online discounts are available before traveling.
Shop carefully
If you want to grab some souvenirs or even just enjoy a day shopping in Dallas, head beyond the luxury malls and grab yourself some boutique bargains. Bishop Arts District, Deep Ellum, and local markets all have independent shops that you can browse without spending a fortune. Charity shops, thrift stores, vintage stores and outlet centers can also give you much more interesting finds than the larger chain stores – and it’s arguably more rewarding to dig a great bargain out of an Aladdin’s Cave of a thrift store than it is to pick something shiny and generic off a curated designer display. Just remember to set yourself a budgetary limit before you hit the shops!
Dallas rewards thrifty travelers
Dallas, despite its reputation for glitz and big spending, is actually surprisingly easy to enjoy on a budget. There are plenty of low-cost and free attractions to enjoy, and you don’t need a huge amount of cash in your pocket to dip in and out of the city’s eateries and independent stores, or to enjoy the scenery in the wider North Texas area. So, don’t feel like you need to be a high roller to enjoy Dallas. Set yourself a budget, and head to Texas!
Lived in England since 1998 and travelled the world since 2005, visiting over 100 countries on 5 continents. Writer, blogger, photographer with a passion for adventure and travel, discovering those off beat places not yet on the tourist trail. Marco contributes the very best in independent travel tips and lifestyle articles.
