North America > United States > Dallas (DFW)
The Car or no Car advice for Dallas can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Dallas ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Dallas ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Dallas?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
🚗 Renting a car — the normal choice
Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the world’s largest airports, and its rental centre is huge. Cars are plentiful, prices are usually fair, and road layouts are clear. Dallas Love Field (DAL) also has strong rental options. Because distances are long and many roads remain high-speed, visitors often collect a rental car as a matter of course.
Driving standards are generally good, although traffic can grow heavy during rush hour. Once you learn the major freeways — I-35, I-30, US-75, the President George Bush Turnpike and LBJ Freeway — the region becomes easy to navigate.
🚆 Public transport — ambitious, but limited
Dallas has DART, a large light-rail network by U.S. standards. It looks impressive on a map. However, it is slow, infrequent outside peak times, and often impractical for sightseeing. Yes, it does connect DFW Airport to downtown. Yes, it provides access to a few neighbourhoods. Yet, the system rarely takes you to the places most visitors want to see.
There are buses too, but they also suffer from long waits and sprawling routes. In short, Dallas is one of the least convenient American cities for car-free travel.
🚄 High-speed rail proposals
Texas has long discussed a high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston. The plan would cut travel time to about 90 minutes. It would be transformative. However, progress has been slow, with funding, political resistance and land ownership disputes slowing the project. At present, there is no high-speed rail and no firm timeline. Amtrak service is also minimal, with only long-distance routes passing through.
🎯 What visitors actually want to see
Most of Dallas’s standout attractions sit far from each other:
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The Sixth Floor Museum (Dealey Plaza)
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AT&T Stadium in Arlington
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Fort Worth Stockyards
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The Dallas Arboretum
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Southfork Ranch (for the Dallas TV classic)
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Frisco’s sports arenas and museums
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Grapevine wineries
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Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Although taxis and rideshares exist, distances and costs add up quickly. A rental car provides predictability and saves time.
🌵 Day trips and road-trip potential
Dallas is also a road-trip launch pad. Once you have a car, possibilities multiply:
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Waco — Magnolia Silos and Fixer Upper fame.
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Austin — live music and food trucks.
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San Antonio — the River Walk and the Alamo.
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Palo Duro Canyon — almost a “little Grand Canyon.”
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Route 66 towns in the Texas Panhandle.
Texas is designed for long, open-road adventures. A car transforms your trip into something much bigger than a city break.
🧳 Conclusion — Should you rent a car in Dallas?
Yes — overwhelmingly. The city sprawls, the attractions are far apart, and public transport simply cannot compete with the convenience of driving. If ever there was a place where renting a car feels natural, it is Dallas. You can explore the region freely, reach major sights, and even begin a classic Texas road trip the moment you leave the airport.