Offering a unique blend of the outdoors, culture and heritage, Texas is a state like no-other – something showcased throughout both Dallas and Fort Worth. If you hire a car at Dallas Fort Worth Airport, you’ll be able to easily get to all the districts of the two cities thanks to an impressively efficient road system.

You’ll find the roads are generally wide, smooth, straight and well maintained, with inner-city Dallas have a grid-like pattern of routes, which are easy to navigate. The airport stands midway between the two downtown areas - it's a 30 minute drive into central Dallas via the I-35E, and it takes the same amount of time heading west on Highway 121 to get to Fort Worth.

You can quickly reach the International Parkway, or State Route 97, which runs north-south through the heart of the airport complex. Taking the 97 gives you the choice of heading north to meet Highway 114 or I-635, or south to meet Highway 183.

It's worth noting that some of the major routes in Texas come with a toll charge – you can find out more information about these online here. Remember to always carry your driver’s license, as the local authorities may want to see this whilst you're in your hire car.

The state’s rules are very similar to many other US states. For the full version of the Texan driving laws, you can read all the rules and regulations of the road online here.

From the hive of activity in central Dallas, to the cowboy backdrop of Fort Worth, hiring a car from the airport will allow you to explore everything this vibrant areas has to offer, and will let you take in the beautiful Texan scenery further afield.

Dazzling Dallas

A thriving modern American city, Dallas stands on a flat northern Texan plain and spreads out on either bank of the Trinity River. Although the city has boomed in recent years, it homes historic monuments and museums that pay homage to it's past. One of the main attractions is the old area of Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. It’s now designated as a National Historic Landmark and the sixth floor of the Book Depository is now a major museum. Outside you can freely wander the scene of one of the biggest moments in the USA's history.

Elsewhere, Dallas is rather a fun place to explore. Head for the family-friendly theme parks to lose a day in thrills and laughter, like the enormous Six Flags and Zero Gravity. Nature lovers can gaze at birds, mammals and fish in replica world environments in the Dallas World Aquarium or explore over 2,000 animals amid 95 acres at the Dallas Zoo.

Explore Fort Worth's Wild West

A former trading post for cowboys Fort Worth has become an ultra-modern city, you can still find traces of the old Wild West here. Visit the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and learn all about the iconic women of the American west, with exhibits and stories from throughout time on display. The nearby Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame honours ‘the rodeo and western lifestyle’ of the cowboys and may be worth visiting.

It’s not all spittoons and cowboys though, Fort Worth boasts plenty of serious culture. You'll find fine art at the Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Amon Carter Museum of American Art, with works by local and international artists. This trio of galleries are all housed in buildings that are acclaimed architectural pieces themselves.

The great Lone Star outdoors

The northern half of the Lone Star State swaps the famous desert landscapes of the south for mountains, forests and grasslands. One of the highlights is the amazing Dinosaur Valley State Park where you can find dinosaur footprints preserved in the geological landmark of the rocks alongside the Paluxy River.

If you're looking for history and heritage, the Wichita Falls Railroad Museum tells the story of the railroad that has served Texas since the days of the Wild West, with troop sleeping cars, steam locos and old railway artefacts all on show. And at Plano, you can relax in the great Texan outdoors at the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, with hundreds of acres of beautiful landscape to bike, hike or simply birdwatch in.