Overland Trips from Dallas: Texas and Nearby Routes to Try

Dallas-Fort Worth isn’t surrounded by mountains, but it sits within a day’s drive of some of the best overland country in the south-central U.S. Below are four destinations worth planning around, from a quick off-road park weekend to a week in the Chihuahuan Desert. We’re a trailer showroom in Addison, so we’ve added notes on what each place means if you’re towing.

Before any trip: rules, permits, fees, fire restrictions and road conditions change. Check with the managing agency or park shortly before you go, and don’t rely on this article (or any app) as a current source.

Hidden Falls Adventure Park (Marble Falls, TX)

Best for: a shakedown weekend, practicing your driving, and getting to know a new trailer close to home.

Hidden Falls is a privately owned off-road park just outside Marble Falls in the Texas Hill Country, roughly a four-hour drive from Dallas. It covers several thousand acres with an extensive network of trails for 4x4s, side-by-sides, ATVs and dirt bikes, and terrain ranging from easy tracks to steep, rocky climbs. The park sells day and annual permits and offers camping, with options ranging from primitive sites to hookup sites.

Notes for trailer owners

• This is a good place to learn how your rig behaves, but most people unhitch at camp and run the trails with the vehicle alone.
• Use the weekend to test your setup: how long the fridge holds, how quickly you can set up camp, and what you forgot to pack.
• Check the park’s current rules, fees and trail ratings on its website before you go.

Ouachita National Forest (Oklahoma and Arkansas)

Best for: forested mountain driving, cooler weather and dispersed camping, a few hours from DFW.

The Ouachita National Forest spreads across the Ouachita Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The Talimena National Scenic Byway runs about 54 miles along the ridgetops (Oklahoma Highway 1 and Arkansas Highway 88) between the Talihina, Oklahoma, area and Mena, Arkansas. It’s paved and a good anchor for a longer trip, with many unpaved forest roads branching off it.

Notes for trailer owners

• Dispersed camping is allowed in much of the forest, but where you can drive and park is governed by the forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs). Download the current maps from the Forest Service before you go.
• Forest roads range from graded gravel to rough two-tracks. Conditions change after rain, and some roads are closed seasonally.
• Cell service is limited or absent in many areas. Download offline maps and tell someone your plan.
• Fall foliage season can be busy on the byway itself, so plan on weekdays if you can.

Big Bend National Park (West Texas)

Best for: desert solitude, dark skies and backcountry camping, on a longer trip.

Big Bend is a long day’s drive from Dallas, well over 500 miles, so most people plan at least a week. The park has a network of backcountry dirt roads and dozens of primitive roadside campsites: small, flat gravel spots next to your vehicle with no shade, water, toilets or other amenities.

Permits

A backcountry use permit is required to camp at the primitive roadside sites. According to the National Park Service, some sites can be reserved online through Recreation.gov, while others are permitted only in person at park visitor centers. Check the park’s current permit page before you go, since the process has changed over time.

Notes for trailer owners

This is the most important point for anyone towing: the NPS says most primitive roadside campsites in Big Bend are not accessible to RVs or trailers. A small number of sites can take small trailers, depending on availability and road conditions, and those are in high demand. Some sites will not be permitted for trailers of any length.

• Many backcountry roads require a high-clearance, often four-wheel-drive vehicle. The park publishes its own definition of what counts as high clearance.
• Roads can become impassable after rain.
• Generators are prohibited in the backcountry, so plan to rely on battery and solar power. Our off-grid power guide shows how to size a system for multi-day stays.
• Carry plenty of water, plan for extreme heat outside the cooler months, and know that services are far apart.

A common approach is to camp the trailer at a site that permits it (or in a developed campground) and explore the rougher roads with the vehicle alone.

Big Bend Ranch State Park (West Texas)

Best for: remote, rugged country with fewer people, often paired with a Big Bend National Park trip.

Big Bend Ranch State Park, run by Texas Parks and Wildlife, sits west of the national park along the Rio Grande. It has dozens of designated vehicle campsites and roughly 70 miles of unmaintained roads intended for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, plus maintained dirt roads.

The scenic River Road (FM 170), a paved route that follows the Rio Grande between Lajitas and Presidio, runs along the park’s southern edge and is worth the drive on its own.

Notes for trailer owners

• TPWD notes that motor homes and trailers are not recommended for the park’s interior, though some specific campsites can accommodate small trailers. Check the campsite descriptions on the TPWD website before you plan.
• Some campsites are reachable with two-wheel drive; others require a high-clearance 4x4.
• Camping requires a permit from TPWD. Confirm current reservation rules, fees and road status with the park.

Planning Tips for Overland Trips from DFW

Do a shakedown first

Before a remote trip, spend a night or two somewhere close with services nearby. You’ll find loose fittings, missing tools and gaps in your packing list while help is still easy to reach.

Check your weights before you go

A loaded trailer weighs more than its spec-sheet dry weight. Confirm you’re within your vehicle’s tow and payload ratings with water and gear on board. Our overland trailer buying guide explains GVWR, payload and tongue weight.

Plan for heat and water

Much of Texas is hot for a large part of the year. Carry more water than you expect to use, plan shade for midday, and treat or disinfect water from onboard tanks per local health guidance.

Respect closures and the land

Stay on designated roads, use established sites where required, pack out all trash and follow current fire restrictions. Rules exist to keep these places open.

Find a Trailer That Fits the Trip

If you’re looking for an overland trailer in Texas, our in-stock inventory is at our Addison showroom, a short drive from most of DFW. Our compact Badger 35 is a rooftop-tent trailer with a 150Ah lithium system and 21 gallons of fresh water. Contact us to arrange a visit.