The Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas have a sort of allure to them. People have always been fascinated with the wild west and cowboy culture, I visited myself for that very reason. Fort worth is a city in Texas 30 minutes west of Dallas. The Historic Forth Worth Stockyards are full of western themed restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. This is a destination where you can go to a rodeo, cowboy museums, and various western stores all on the same walkable street.
When I visited it was for a stop on a road trip. I stayed at the Holiday campground in Fort Worth that was about 35 minutes from the Fort Worth Stockyards. This campground surprised me with how large it was. I stayed in camp spot #64 which was very secluded from the other campsites, it had its own separate driveway to it. The Holiday campground is situated along Benbrook Lake so it would be a good place to stay for someone that wants to bring their boat or go fishing from the shore. I stayed there for 2 nights and did like how well the campground was maintained. There is a restroom area at the campground where the showers had also been renovated recently so it was very nice to have access to new clean showers.
Getting to the stockyards is fairly simple since it mostly freeway driving until you get there. Once you get to the stockyards finding parking can be difficult depending on what time you arrive. The big draw to the stockyards would have to be the twice daily cattle drive down the main street. The cattle drives are done at 11:30am and 4:00pm. I would recommend getting to the stockyards forty-five minutes to an hour before the cattle drive starts since the streets close down and parking fills up. Parking can be found in various lots and on the streets surrounding the main street. I paid for parking at a lot to the left of the Stockyards Museum. Since I don’t remember how much the parking was that leads me to believe that it wasn’t an excessive amount, I feel like I would have remembered if it was expensive.
The cattle drive is probably the main event most tourists go to see in Fort Worth but there are plenty of other things to see and do to make this the perfect weekend or day trip. I went to the Stockyards by myself on a solo trip and did not truly get the full experience, I do plan on going back at some point with my dad and sister. When I visited I did not plan properly which was my mistake. I don’t think my poor planning would have been a mistake if I was with other people but going into a city environment alone with no plans proved to be difficult to get the full experience. I am mostly a person that travels to parks and natural areas where just doing a small hike or a scenic drive with overlooks is a way to feel as if I have experienced the area. That being said, I scoped out the stockyards and know what types of things I would love to do on my second time around.
The first thing I would ensure is that I could go to a rodeo. I visited the weekend after the big stock show ended so there were no rodeos or shows while I was visiting. Experiencing a rodeo in a historical cowboy town would make the whole trip. There are plenty of rodeos throughout the year so planning a trip around one of them is a huge recommendation. If you aren’t able to go to a rodeo and you still want to see the cattle make sure you see one of the cattle drives. The cattle pen is also viewable by the public any time they are not walking down the main street. Viewing platforms have been built around the pens so you’re able to see the animals and take photos. After the cattle drive is completed there is also another photo opportunity for anyone brave enough to climb on back of one of the Longhorn steer. Along the street there will be various cowboys with steer that you can pay to have your photo taken with. I would do this if I went back again. I cannot think of another chance I’d ever get to take a picture like that and I think the cost would be worth the souvenir, the photos are $10.
After all of the excitement of the rodeos and cattle drive there are other things to do such as shop and eat. The shopping is all western inspired with shops ranging from basic souvenir shops to very high end western wear shops. The souvenir shops seem to have longer operating hours than the surrounding stores. I attempted to go to the Wrangler store but was then notified that they were closing at 4 that day and I walked in at 3:50 so I didn’t get a chance to purchase anything. I recommend looking at the hours of specific stores you may want to shop at to ensure this doesn’t happen on your visit. The restaurants and bars in Fort worth draw crowds of all ages. For anyone that wants to enjoy country music and good food there are endless options. Everything is walkable from wherever you parks since the area is only a few streets wide. The restaurant/bar I would try upon returning would be Billy Bobs. This is home to what claims to be Texas’ largest honky tonk. Billy Bobs would be the place to go if you wanted to try your hand at line dancing, see a concert, or even see some bull riding. The restaurant seems to be famous for a reason, there is so much to do there. Before planning to visit I would recommend going on their website to see what events are coming up.
There are plenty of other attractions at the stockyards but those are the main ones I would focus on with a day or two of visiting. Hope this help anyone who is planning on going! This destination truly is a unique one and with the right planning it could become a new favorite for many.
The Fort Worth Stockyards certainly sound like an iconic spot to see on a visit. The cattle drive does sound fascinating. But seeing a rodeo would be on our plans. We would certainly do some shopping and come home all geared up!
The Fort Worth Stockyards look like an incredible place to experience Texas history and cowboy culture! I appreciate the insights on what to see and do. I’m excited to visit and soak up the unique atmosphere. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow yeah that sounds super unique!
I loved reading about your experience at the Fort Worth Stockyards! The way you captured the essence of this historic area makes me want to visit even more. (I love historic places!) The blend of old Western charm with modern attractions sounds like such a unique experience. I’m particularly interested in checking out the cattle drive and the rodeo you mentioned—those seem like must-sees! Thanks for sharing these insights and tips!
Oooh fun! I guess now you’ll have to go back (so you can say it’s not your first rodeo…) 😉
What kind of food did you try? Was it traditional wild-west food or steaks? Or was there a whole range of tasty things to try? I am not sure I even know what a honky tonk is!?
I opted for the classic steak and baked potato combo, it just felt right in that atmosphere. There were tons of more traditional wild-west options but this is an area where a lot of southwestern food is available as well. I personally love both so there are a lot of options if you do as well. And a honky tonk is still somewhat of a mystery to me as well lol, from my understanding its a place where you can eat, dance, and listen to music. I think line dancing is the main distinguisher but I could be totally wrong, and if I am wrong I will blame on being from Ohio hahaha.