Summer Road Trip from Dallas to New Orleans

Summer means road trips for most families. Being well prepared and having a plan in writing will make your road trip fun and easy for each family member. The United States is a vast land and picking your road trip can be quite a challenge each year.

Here is a suggested itinerary for a summer road trip from Dallas to New Orleans and back to Dallas for 14 days:

Fly into Dallas either to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport or Dallas Love Field and stay two nights in Dallas. While in Dallas remember to get a western experience at Fort Worth’s Stockyards National Historic District, Fort Worth Herd, Billy Bob’s Texas and Cowtown Colliseum.

These places are unique to Texas. Fort Worth Herd has twice daily cattle drive thrills and Billy Bob’s Texas is the place for top country music performances. Check out live rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum.

If you are staying in Dallas, to go to Fort Worth is about 33 miles.

After two nights in Dallas, it’s time to take a 4 hour 43 minute drive to Hot Springs Arkansas. Relax and enjoy the thermal springs in Hot Springs. Get a bath or a spa treatment or massage at one of the hot springs. For centuries Hot Springs welcomes visitors from around the world each year.

Hot Springs, Arkansas has plenty of outdoor adventures like horseback riding, hiking, biking and camping for the whole family. Dad can play a round of golf at two of the 18-hole championship courses in Hot Springs.

After your two night stay in Hot Springs, it is time to move on to Little Rock. Little Rock is only a one hour 2 minute drive from Hot Springs.

Little Rock offers many free entertainment and fun things to do for kids and adults. The Arkansas Art Center, Arkansas Governor’s House, Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial, Arkansas River Trail and many more are all free for families to explore. Check out their website for more information.

Your two night stay in Little Rock will prepare you for your next destination. It is time to head to New Orleans for three nights. Your drive will be around 7 hours 19 minutes. It is going to be a long drive. Our suggestion is to start your drive early in the morning and bring all the fun things we have listed in our article called 5 Things To Do Before Taking a Family Road Trip with Kids.

If your kids are younger and cannot take a road trip for over five hours, we suggest stopping in Jackson Mississippi, your halfway point.

While in New Orleans don’t forget to try their variety of seafood and poboys or drink coffee and eat beignets at Café du Monte. Poboys are sandwiches made with fresh French bread with mayonnaise, fried shrimp and oysters. Beignets are fried dough covered with powdered sugar.

New Orleans is famous for its streetcars. For $1.25 get on the green cars through St. Charles line to uptown areas through old plantation homes, universities and zoo. You can take another route called Riverfront line that takes you along the river to French Market.

New Orleans is famous for its jazz music and nightlife in Bourbon Street. If your kids like insects you can visit the Audubon Insectarium on Canal Street.

Your exciting three nights in New Orleans will leave you wanting for more adventure. It is time to drive again. This time it’s a 5 hour 34 minute drive to Houston for your 2 nights stay. Houston is 347 miles from New Orleans.

Houston’s museums are free for families to explore including the Art Car Museum, The Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum, Station Museum and more. Space Center Houston has exhibits and a space shuttle replica of Explorer. It is a 122-foot, 130,000 pound wooden structure in front of the Space Center building.

Your next drive will be quite easy since it takes only 2 hours 44 minutes from Houston to Austin, the capital city of Texas.

The Texas State Capitol building is worth a visit when visiting Austin. This stunning building was opened in 1888 and is Austin’s major skyline. Take a 45 minute free tour inside the building. After your two nights stay in Austin, it is time to head back to Dallas.

Your drive to Dallas is only3 hours 15 minutes.

Planning a summer road trip is easy and fun with Travelmath’s calculator. You can use Travelmath on your smartphone too. Try it out today and let us know what you think.

Have a great summer road trip.