Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco
Longhorn cattle drives in Fort Worth, dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River and ice-age mammoths in Waco, on the way from Dallas to Austin.
- Distance
- 482 km (300 mi)
- Driving
- 5 h 21 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- TX
- Updated
- July 4, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 482 km (300 mi) with 9 stops, from Dallas to Austin. About 5 h 21 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Texas
Route description
Leave Dallas west on I-30 for Fort Worth, about 50 km away, and spend a morning in the Cultural District, with the Kimbell and Amon Carter museums close together. Then head north to the Stockyards for the twice-daily longhorn cattle drive on Exchange Avenue. Evening rodeos run at the Cowtown Coliseum on Friday and Saturday nights; parking lots here charge a fee.
Drive south-west on US-377 and TX-144 to Glen Rose, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Fort Worth. Dinosaur Valley State Park has tracks of sauropods and theropods in the bed of the Paluxy River, best seen when the water is low in late summer and autumn; bring water shoes. The park has a campground with electric sites, and there are two large fiberglass dinosaurs by the entrance.
From Glen Rose take TX-144 and TX-6 south-east to Waco, about 1 hour 45 minutes. Waco Mammoth National Monument lies on the north side of town; tours leave at set times, so check the schedule. By the Brazos River, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the old suspension bridge of 1870 are a short walk apart, and Cameron Park has river bluffs and trails.
Waco to Austin is about 160 km on I-35, one of the busiest and slowest highways in Texas; avoid rush hour on both ends. Allow two or three days for the whole trip. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since summer heat often passes 38 °C. All stops are easy for RVs, although Fort Worth and Waco street parking is tight for long rigs.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Dallas
TX - 260 km
Fort Worth
TX - 35 km
Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
HistoryFort Worth, TXBrick cattle pens, saloons and the old livestock exchange north of downtown. Longhorns are driven down Exchange Avenue twice a day, at 11:30 and 16:00; paid parking lots surround the district.
- 487 km
Glen Rose
TX - 57 km
Dinosaur Valley State Park
NatureGlen Rose, TXDinosaur footprints 113 million years old are pressed into the bed of the Paluxy River. They are best seen in late summer when the water is low; check the park’s track report before you go.
- 6120 km
Waco
TX - 78 km
Waco Mammoth National Monument
HistoryWaco, TXA covered dig shelter protects the bones of Columbian mammoths from a nursery herd that died here about 65,000 years ago. Guided tours run through the day; the site is a few minutes off I-35.
- 89 km
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
HistoryWaco, TXThe official museum of the Texas Rangers beside the Brazos River, with firearms, badges and the story of the lawmen from the 1820s onward. Easy RV parking right off I-35 at University Parks Drive.
- 9186 km
Austin
TX
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Dallas → Dinosaur Valley State Park · 99 mi · 1 h 46 minOn the way: Fort Worth, Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, Glen Rose.Overnight nearby, for example: Dinosaur Valley RV Park (< 1 km); Oakdale Park (4 mi).
- Day 2: Dinosaur Valley State Park → Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum · 85 mi · 1 h 31 minOn the way: Waco, Waco Mammoth National Monument.Overnight nearby, for example: Quail Crossing RV Park (10 mi); Speegleville Park (7 mi).
- Day 3: Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum → Austin · 115 mi · 2 h 04 minOvernight nearby, for example: Meadow Lane RV Park (15 mi); Austin RV Park North (15 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and December–February. Hot in June–September. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco?
3-day road trip of about 482 km (300 mi) with 9 stops, from Dallas to Austin. About 5 h 21 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco?
We suggest 3 days: about 5 h 21 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco start and end?
It starts in Dallas and ends in Austin.
Which states does Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco pass through?
Texas.
Where can you camp along Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco?
OpenStreetMap lists 261 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Sandy Lake RV Resort, Meadow Lane RV Park and Austin RV Park North.
When is the best time for Cowtown, dinosaur tracks and mammoths: Fort Worth to Waco?
The most pleasant months are usually March–April and October–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
