Car Hire Dallas

The sprawling metropolis of Dallas is divvied up into distinctive pockets, with a modern road network making it easy to explore the different neighbourhoods. In this city, as in the rest of the US, you drive on the right-hand side of the road.

On signposts, Interstate highways are prefixed with the letter ‘I’ and State Highways are prefixed with ‘SH’. The standard speed limit on these routes is 70mph, although it can increase to 85mph in some places.

Many highways charge a toll. The I-35 is one such example, which brings you from the International Airport into the heart of Dallas in 30 minutes. There are numerous ways to pay, including online. 

The urban speed limit is set at 30mph. Look out for one-way signs, as some can be easy to miss at a glance. In terms of parking, there are plenty of on-street spaces and car parks where you can pay on your phone. Private garages in Downtown Dallas also offer competitive rates, starting from around $4 per day.

The I-30 is the major route running east-to-west, passing by the Cotton Bowl Stadium, the entertainment district of Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas.

Continue this way to explore Fort Worth, the stomping ground of cowboys and girls. This neighbouring city is just 30 minutes’ away on the I-30 and on your way, you’ll pass the Six Flags Over Texas theme park - a thrilling pitstop for all the family.

Follow the I-45 southbound from Downtown Dallas to the rocket-fuelled city of Houston. It’s a relatively short journey by American standards, covering 385km in around three hours and 45 minutes.

Alternatively, join the I-35E southbound, soaring over the Trinity River and past Dallas Zoo – another family favourite. Eventually, this merges into the I-35, taking you onwards to Austin, the state capital, in three hours and San Antonio in four and a half.

Dallas has become a thriving, prosperous centre for culture, shopping and eating, making the city an ideal place to visit if you’re wanting a fun-filled holiday away or whether you’re stopping in on business.

The JFK legacy

You’ll be able to take a tour inside the Sixth Floor Museum, in the former book depository where the fatal shots were fired which killed President Kennedy in 1963. There are multi-media displays but the most memorable sight is simply looking from the window where Lee Harvey Oswald caused one of history's most shocking moments. You can also wander the Dealey Plaza and famous ‘grassy knoll’ outside, and visit Oswald’s home and the theatre where he was arrested.

Retail therapy

Take the time to relax and window shop in Dallas’s incredible range of stores. You’ll find premium department stores like Macy’s, factory shopping villages like the NorthPark Centre or up-market Highland Park Village, and the quirky antique shops and furniture stores of Uptown. Things get more eccentric and bohemian in Greenville Avenue and the Dallas Farmer’s Market stands as a symbol for health in the city.

Enjoy the social scene

After dark Dallas becomes one of the liveliest cities in the southern states. You’ll be able to find any sort of entertainment here, from laidback cafes to DJs starring at multi-storey high-tech clubs like Zouk. You’ll find the big name bands and performers playing at acclaimed long-standing venues like Trees in the entertainment hot spot of Deep Ellum, or the elegant modern hall at Winspear Opera House in the Arts District.

Meanwhile the Dallas food scene is dominated by barbecued meat and Tex-Mex influences. Expect local ingredients and big portions. And look out for the latest trends in the city: colourful street food vans and a new wave of sophisticated chef-owned gourmet restaurants. Lockhart Smokehouse BBQ and Sammy's Bar-B-Q are two of the city's best places to get a real taste of Dallas.

The Wild West of Fort Worth

If you’ve got a car, it makes sense to pop to the neighbouring city of Fort Worth. It’s only 35 miles away and you’ll find a different sort of atmosphere in the ‘City of Cowboys and Culture’. It seems a strange mix but you can expect to see Wild West shows and displays as well as fine art galleries and museums – the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame offers a fantastic insight into the area's western routes.

Explore the beauty of the Lone Star State when you organise car hire in Dallas.