enjoy the outdoors

Get into these Fort Worth-area state parks for one day free

Cedar Hill State Park is one of the many Texas State Parks that will have free admission on November 3.

tpwd.texas.gov/

Calling all outdoorsy Fort Worth residents: Keep an eye the forecast for Sunday, November 3, because you won't want to miss out on free admission to all Texas state parks in celebration of Texas State Parks Day.

The free admission day is a new tradition after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) celebrated its centennial in 2023. In a press release, Texas State Parks director Rodney Franklin said he hopes the event encourages Texans of all ages to explore and enjoy Texas' natural beauty.

"Any day in a Texas state park is a good day," said Franklin. "[All Texans] are invited to visit a park that is new to you, take a friend and try a new adventure."

Cedar Hill State Park is the closest park for residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The park has about 1,200 acres of trails for hiking and biking, plus 350 campsites, the Penn Farm Agricultural Center, and more. Visitors are also welcome to fish in the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake, which is full of largemouth black bass, crappie, and catfish.

"We have two lighted fishing jetties and a perch pond for kids," the park's website says. "We also have two four-lane boat ramps and lighted boat trailer parking. You do not need a fishing license to fish from shore or pier in a state park."

Fort Worth residents can also visit Lake Mineral Wells State Park, which is just 48 miles west of downtown Fort Worth. TPWD lauds Lake Mineral Wells for its "natural beauty [and] colorful history."

Lake Mineral Wells State Park Lake Mineral Wells encompasses 640 acres, where visitors can boat, kayak, or fish.tpwd.texas.gov/

"Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway sits in the heart of cattle country, near what was once a popular health resort," the website says. "You will love the area’s history and scenery, but you’ll also enjoy the park’s outdoor amenities: a lake, a rock climbing area, and miles of trails."

For North Texans who are keen on a weekend road trip to take advantage of the free admission day, two parks should be at the top of the list: Garner State Park (330 miles southwest of Fort Worth) and Palo Duro Canyon State Park (about 355 miles northwest of Fort Worth). The two popular parks recently appeared among the top 10 best state parks in the nation, according to the 2024 HomeToGo State Park Index.

But if traveling long distances isn't in the cards for that weekend, there's always one of the many nearby state parks across North Texas, such as:

Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose
Cleburne State Park
Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site and Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Pilot Point
Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wills Point
Purtis Creek State Park, Eustace

A full list of parks and a map of the closest nearby can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.

dallas fort worth free admission north texas state parks texas parks and wildlife department texas state parks

Holiday News

Buses and trains in Fort Worth will follw special holiday '24 schedule

Trinity Metro

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Dallas and Fort Worth transportation agencies will observe special hours over the Christmas and New Year's holidays for 2024, which unfortunately this year fall on a Wednesday. Is there anything worse than a Wednesday holiday?

Here's the schedule for December 24-25, and December 31-January 1:

Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro will have some service modifications for the Christmas holidays. If a specific service (such as Trinity Metro TEXRail) is not listed, that means it is operating on its regular schedule.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

No bus routes will leave from Fort Worth Central Station after 7:15 pm.The last scheduled pick-up time for On-Demand paratransit will be 7:45 pm.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Trinity Metro bus and Trinity Metro On-Demand (including paratransit) will operate on a modified holiday schedule.

All buses, including Orange Line, will run on an hourly schedule, with the exception of Molly the Trolley, which will operate every 30 minutes.

Trinity Metro On-Demand in Alliance, Mercantile, North Side, Southside, Southeast and South Tarrant will operate 7 am-7 pm.

Services in TCC Northeast and Mansfield will not operate.

Trinity Railway Express (TRE), TRE LINK, and the CentrePort Shuttle will not operate.

Customer Support & Solutions team members will be available 5 am-5 pm at 817-215-8600. The ticket sales kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station will be closed.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Trinity Metro will have some service modifications for the New Year’s Day holidays, as noted below. If a specific service (such as Trinity Metro TEXRail) is not listed, that means it is operating on its regular schedule.

Free rides on New Year's Eve

Trinity Metro will offer free rides on all services in Tarrant County on New Year’s Eve – bus, Trinity Metro TEXRail, Trinity Railway Express and Trinity Metro On-Demand (including paratransit).Trinity Metro On-Demand Southside will operate until 1 am. All other rideshare services will operate on regular schedules.

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

All buses, including Orange Line, will run on an hourly schedule, with the exception of Molly the Trolley, which will operate every 30 minutes.

Trinity Metro On-Demand in Alliance, Mercantile, North Side, Southside, Southeast and South Tarrant will operate 7 am-7 pm.

Services in TCC Northeast and Mansfield will not operate.Trinity Railway Express, TRE LINK, and the CentrePort Shuttle will not operate.

Customer Support & Solutions team members will be available 5 am-5 pm at 817-215-8600.The kiosk at Fort Worth Central Station will be closed.

TEXRail to airport

Travelers who want to avoid traffic hassles when heading to DFW Airport this holiday season can ride Trinity Metro TEXRail for only $2. With a new schedule that offers 30-minute frequency throughout the majority of the day, riders have convenient options for meeting flight times.

Five of the TEXRail stations – three in Fort Worth and two in North Richland Hills – have designated long-term parking for $5 a day. Stations with long-term parking include:

Customers can make reservations and payments in the Ace Parking app on Apple or GooglePlay devices.

DART

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

DART Buses and Light Rail: Operating on a regular weekday schedule
TRE: Normal Service

DART GoLink: GoLink is running from 5 am to midnight in all Zones. DART Paratransit: Operating a normal schedule.

DART Customer Relations Center (trip planning) will be open from 5 am–12 am. DART Customer Support Center (inquiries and complaints) 8 am–5 pm. DART Lost & Found, also 8 am–5 pm.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

DART Buses and Light Rail: Operating on a weekend schedule
TRE: No service

DART GoLink: GoLink is running from 5 am to midnight in all Zones except the Inland Port Transportation Management Association Zone (IPTMA which includes areas in Lancaster, DeSoto, Wilmer & Hutchins).

DART Paratransit: All subscription trips for DART Paratransit will be cancelled except for those going to and from dialysis appointments on Wednesday, December 25. Riders can still call in and book demand trips for this day as needed. Reservations will remain open on December 25 from 8 am-5 pm. Customers can also schedule, view, and cancel trips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at DART.org/paratransit.

DART Customer Relations Center and DART Lost and Found and Administrative Offices will be closed.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

DART Buses and Light Rail: Operating on a regular weekday schedule.

Free DART Rides on New Year's Eve

Coors Light and DART will once again help North Texas residents get home safely on New Year's Eve.

Free transportation will be offered the night of New Year's Eve on DART buses, light rail, Paratransit Services and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) between EBJ Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport Station for everyone from 6 pm until the end of service.
Look for New Year's Eve schedules at DART.org and TrinityRailwayExpress.org.

transportation holidays traffic