Getting Around Dallas: A Practical Guide
Dallas is a sprawling city that has historically been built around automobiles, so visitors should understand the various transportation options available. The good news is that reaching the city from the airport is straightforward, and once downtown, you'll find a modern light rail system connecting major areas.
Arriving from the Airports
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW Airport is located halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. Several options exist for reaching downtown Dallas:
- Light Rail (Orange Line): The most convenient option is the DART light rail. The DFW Airport DART station is located outside Terminal A on the lower level. To reach it, take an escalator to the airside SkyLink tram (the fastest way) to Terminal A, or if you have baggage to claim, use the orange Terminal Link bus on the lower level of any terminal. From the DART station, the Orange Line takes you directly downtown, where you can transfer to other light rail lines. This is typically the most affordable option.
- Shared-Ride Shuttles: Various shared-ride shuttle services provide door-to-door pickup and drop-off service, costing approximately $30 for the roughly 20-mile journey to most areas of the city.
- Taxi: You can easily hail a taxi outside any terminal by following signs to the taxi stand.
- Hotel and Car Rental Shuttles: Most chain hotels and car rental companies offer courtesy shuttle services.
- Commuter Rail Alternative: You can also take a DART bus to CentrePort/DFW Station to catch the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter train to downtown, though be aware this service runs only once per hour during most of the day.
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Love Field is Dallas' original airport and is located within the city limits, not far northwest of downtown. It is the home base of Southwest Airlines, which also operates most of the low-cost flights here alongside some service from other carriers.
- Light Rail Connection: Take the Love Link bus (DART route 524) from Love Field to Inwood/Love Field Station, which is served by the Green and Orange light rail lines.
- Shared-Ride Shuttles: Various shared-ride shuttle services are available, costing approximately $30 for the roughly 20-mile journey to most areas of the city.
- Note: Unlike DFW, a dedicated rail link has not been built directly to Love Field itself, so you must first take a bus to connect to the light rail system.
Getting Around by Light Rail and Metro
DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) operates the public transportation system and began operating the first light rail system in the Southwest United States in 1996. The system has expanded significantly and remains the backbone of public transit in Dallas.
The Light Rail Lines: Four main light rail lines and one hybrid rail line are currently in service, all connected downtown by four rail stations:
- Red Line: Runs through Oak Cliff, downtown, Uptown, North Dallas, Richardson, and Plano.
- Blue Line: Serves South Dallas, downtown, Uptown, North Dallas, Garland, and Rowlett.
- Green Line: Goes through southeast Dallas, Fair Park, Baylor University Medical Center, downtown, Victory, areas west of Dallas Love Field, Farmers Branch, and terminates in Carrollton.
- Orange Line: Follows the Red Line from North Plano through downtown, then follows the Green Line through Victory to Bachman Station, then continues west to Las Colinas before terminating at DFW Airport.
- Silver Line: Serves Grapevine, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano.
Downtown Stations: The Red, Orange, and Blue Lines all connect at Cityplace/Uptown Station, which is currently the only subway station in the Southwest. This makes downtown the central hub for transferring between lines.
Heritage Streetcar: The M-Line Trolley, a heritage streetcar, provides service between Cityplace/Uptown station in Uptown and St Paul station in Downtown, offering a charming alternative for traveling between these two areas.
Commuter Rail: The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) connects downtown Dallas's Union Station with downtown Fort Worth's T&P Station and several points in between, making it useful if you plan to visit Fort Worth. TRE trains run every half-hour during rush hour and every hour otherwise, taking just over an hour for the full journey from Fort Worth to Dallas. Note that TRE trains do not run on Sundays.
Transit Information: DART now uses Google Maps as its main provider of transit information, making it easy to plan trips using the familiar mapping tool on your phone.
Buses and Other Public Transit
DART operates an extensive bus network throughout the Dallas area that complements the light rail system. Buses serve areas not yet covered by the expanding rail network, and many bus routes connect to light rail stations for convenient transfers.
Intercity Buses: If you're arriving from another city, several intercity bus services operate from Dallas:
- Greyhound Lines operates the majority of intercity bus service and has its terminal near downtown Dallas.
- Megabus operates low-cost double-decker coaches to major cities in Texas and Arkansas.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Traditional taxis are readily available at the airport and throughout the city. You can hail a cab at designated taxi stands, particularly outside airport terminals. For other areas of the city, ride-hailing services like those common in major U.S. cities are available, though these are not specifically detailed in the sources provided.
Driving and Rental Cars
The automobile remains the primary mode of transportation in Dallas. If you're comfortable driving, rental cars are widely available through both national chains (which offer convenient locations and return policies) and local companies (which may offer better prices).
Understanding Dallas Streets: Be aware that Dallas does not have a unified street grid across the entire city. The downtown area runs on a grid that is rotated 45 degrees from the standard north-south/east-west orientation, which can be confusing for visitors unfamiliar with the city. However, most of the rest of Dallas and its suburbs follow a simple one-mile square grid with streets running north-south and east-west.
Traffic Patterns: Rush hour traffic flows toward downtown in the mornings and away from downtown in the afternoons. The worst congestion typically occurs on I-35E, US-75, and the stretch of I-635 between them.
Highway Nicknames: Major highways have local nicknames you may hear: US-75 is called "Central Expressway" or "Central"; I-635 is known as "LBJ" (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway); and the confusing 5-mile stretch southwest of downtown where I-35E and I-30 briefly merge is called "the Mixmaster."
Walking and Cycling
Dallas is moderately walkable, with the most pedestrian-friendly areas concentrated near downtown and Uptown. The city has made efforts in recent years to improve walkability through new development that accommodates pedestrians alongside cars.
Walking Trails: The city has developed several walking trails worth exploring:
- The Katy Trail, built over the old Katy Railway, runs from Victory Park through Uptown and Oak Lawn to Knox Park.
- Levee-top trails run along the Trinity River.
- The Texas Buckeye Trail is located in the Great Trinity Forest of south Dallas.
- Walking trails are maintained at parks around White Rock Lake and Bachman Lake.
Cycling: The city maintains an extensive network of bike routes along low-volume roadways throughout Dallas that parallel major thoroughfares. These routes are cyclist-selected and designed to provide safe alternatives to busier roads.
Downtown Pedestrian Tunnels: Downtown Dallas includes a series of pedestrian tunnels, though these have been controversial due to concerns about their impact on street-level activity.
Summary
For most visitors, the DART light rail system provides an efficient way to reach downtown from either airport and to move between major areas like downtown, Uptown, and nearby suburbs. Buses fill in gaps not covered by rail. If you rent a car, be prepared for the city's non-standard street grid in the downtown area and expect significant traffic during rush hours. Downtown and Uptown areas are reasonably walkable, making these good neighborhoods to stay in if you want to minimize driving.