The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic district in Fort Worth with daily cattle drives, open-air attractions and scheduled shows. For a Fort Worth Stockyards day trip from Dallas, you can travel by rail connections or drive, then build your visit around the cattle drive and the district’s other activities.
- Daily cattle drives: 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM, weather permitting.
- Transit: Orange Line service connects Fort Worth Central Station with the Stockyards.
- Open-air maze: $8 admission, with daily hours of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Rodeo: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM.
Dallas Love Field Inn offers guest rooms in Dallas for your trip.
Why make the trip to the Stockyards
The Fort Worth Stockyards combines historic district streets with live cattle-drive traditions and open-air attractions. You can watch the Fort Worth Herd move along East Exchange Avenue, then visit the Longhorn pens or fit in the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze.
The Longhorn steers can be viewed and photographed daily in pens behind the Livestock Exchange building on East Exchange Avenue. If you want to add a scheduled show, check the day of the week against the district’s schedule before arranging the rest of your visit.
How do you get from Dallas to the Fort Worth Stockyards?
You can reach the Stockyards by rail via Fort Worth Central Station or use a rail-and-transfer route from DFW Airport. The final connection from Fort Worth Central Station to the district is Trinity Metro’s Orange Line.
From Dallas by rail
DART describes the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) as commuter rail connecting downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. At Fort Worth Central Station, transfer to Trinity Metro’s Orange Line for the Stockyards. DART provides weekday and weekend schedule links, so check the current TRE schedule when planning your trip.
For more on local connections and routes, read the Dallas guide to transit, driving and visitor routes.
From DFW Airport
From DFW Airport Terminal B, ride TEXRail to North Side Station and transfer there to the Orange Line for the Stockyards. If you are considering the TRE route, note that TRE and the TRE LINK shuttle between CentrePort/DFW Airport Station and DFW Airport do not operate on Sundays.
The Orange Line runs daily from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day. For a broader view of public transport, the Dallas metro and DART guide explains how the city’s transit system works for visitors.
By car
Driving gives you a direct option, but parking rates vary by day and special events can have separate rates. Review the parking information below before choosing a day to visit.
A practical day-trip sequence
A simple way to organize your Stockyards day trip is to start with the cattle drive, then visit the Longhorn pens and choose an attraction or show that fits the day’s schedule.
Arrive in time for the 11:30 AM Fort Worth Herd cattle drive on East Exchange Avenue. It takes place daily, weather permitting.
After the drive, visit the Longhorn steers in the pens behind the Livestock Exchange building. They are available to view and photograph daily.
Use the afternoon for the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze or explore other district attractions and shops.
If you are staying into the evening, check whether a rodeo or other scheduled show is running that day.
The 4:00 PM cattle drive provides another chance to see the herd if it better fits your schedule. Leave room between scheduled activities to get from one part of the district to another.
Stockyards attractions and schedules
The Stockyards pairs daily activities with shows scheduled on particular days, so use the weekly pattern to shape your visit. The district map gives the schedule for the Old West comedy gunfight shows, Stockyards Championship Rodeo and PBR Stockyards Showcase.
The Cowtown Cattlepen Maze is an open-air maze covering 5,400 square feet, with a second-story observation deck. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and admission is $8 per person.
A Tuesday offer gives half-price admission all day; you must mention the code word “Cowtown” or show the offer on your phone. Group tickets are available for parties of more than 20.
Old West comedy gunfight shows take place at Stockyards Station on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:45 AM and 4:15 PM. The Stockyards Championship Rodeo runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, while the PBR Stockyards Showcase runs Thursdays at 7:30 PM.
Hours, prices and show schedules can change, so check the official site before you go.
Food, access and event-day planning
Parking is available through self-parking and valet, with rates that vary by day. Self-parking is credit-card-only; premium lots have higher posted rates, and special-event rates are posted separately.
Self-parking costs $12.50 Monday through Wednesday, $17.50 Thursday, and $22.50 Friday through Sunday, before sales tax and service fee. The 24-hour rate is $32.50. Trailers and RVs cost $27.50 and must use the Contestant Lot, accessed from Stockyards Boulevard.
Valet parking costs $20 Monday through Thursday and $25 Friday through Sunday, with sales tax and service fee included. Valet is credit-card-only. Hours are 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday through Wednesday, 11:00 AM to midnight Thursday and Friday, and 10:00 AM to midnight Saturday and Sunday.
For a day built around a show, compare its start time with your transport plan and parking choice. The Stockyards district has 46 bars and restaurants, 54 shops and more than 20 attractions, so you can fit a meal into the visit without needing to leave the district.
FAQs
Does the Fort Worth Herd cattle drive run every day?
Yes. The drives are scheduled daily at 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM on East Exchange Avenue, weather permitting.
How do you get to the Stockyards from Fort Worth Central Station?
Take Trinity Metro’s Orange Line from Fort Worth Central Station to the Stockyards. Service runs daily from 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day.
What days are the Stockyards Championship Rodeo?
The rodeo runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM. Check the official schedule when planning, since show details can change.
Can you visit the Stockyards by public transit on a Sunday?
The Orange Line runs daily. However, TRE and the TRE LINK shuttle between CentrePort/DFW Airport Station and DFW Airport do not operate on Sundays.