Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Dallas

Traffic in Dallas is no picnic, but there are ways to get around this busy city by car or by public transit.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Dallas’ sense of swagger is well-deserved—this city is big, diverse, and very, very busy. Besides its world-class arts district, legendary hotels and restaurants, and numerous attractions, Dallas is notorious for its heavy traffic. 
Getting around by car is certainly possible but not without headaches. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system is a good alternative to traveling around this bustling Texas metropolis.
Dallas is truly a sight to see. If you’re looking for a true
Texas
experience with a cosmopolitan edge, you’re in the right place. From fried chicken, rest-stop momos, and Eastern European pastries to presidential history tours and awe-inspiring botanical gardens, Dallas has the spot for you—if you can fight the traffic, that is.
We've put together this handy guide to help you make your way around Big D—without tearing your hair out in the process!
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

What is driving in Dallas like?

Did we mention Dallas is busy? Cars are king in the Metroplex, with its countless highways and freeways crisscrossing each other. It’s a cacophony of concrete, metal, glass, and lots of honking horns.

Roads

Dallas is laid out in a convenient grid pattern and is theoretically easy to navigate. But traffic can get in the way of even the best-laid plans! Dallas is pretty much always bustling, so while directions from A to B will be straightforward, it might take you a while to get there
The walkable Main Street Historic District runs along (surprise) Main Street, sandwiched in between Elm Street to the north and Commerce Street to the south. North Lamar Street is the district’s western border, while the I-345 elevated highway is the area’s eastern terminus. 
Pretty much every highway in the Dallas-
Fort Worth
area is a slow go, but the Woodall Rodgers Freeway is something else. Situated north of downtown and running east to west from North Beckley Avenue to the U.S. 75/North Central Expressway, Woodall Rodgers is known to have some of the worst traffic congestion in the metro region. 
Both the I-45 (Schepps Freeway), which ends right in the heart of downtown, and the I-635 (LBJ Freeway)—the interstate loop that encircles the city—are also notoriously jammed. Driver beware!

Parking

There is plenty of metered parking in downtown Dallas, but that doesn’t mean there will be many spots available. Remember, this is a happening town with lots going on, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled in order to grab a spot.
Parking at meters will cost you between $0.50 to $2 per hour and is enforced each day between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm. 
You can also find monthly parking downtown, though costs can range from $50 to $200 per month, depending on the location and proximity to amenities and event spaces. 
MORE: How to find city parking

Weather

Texas is known for its heat—and it gets hot and muggy in Dallas. During the summer months, temperatures can hover near the 100-degree mark. The winter is colder and windier, with temperatures settling around the 36-degree mark, on average.
Still, you’ll be driving in warm weather for the most part while in Dallas, meaning you’ll have to pay particular attention to your engine. Engines can easily overheat in hot climates, and this can cause mechanical issues and engine failure—both of which can be costly to repair.
Issues like this arise when you’re driving in hot weather because your vehicle’s cooling system works overtime to keep the engine at an optimal operating temperature. When the temperature rises, your engine won’t operate properly, so look out for
symptoms of engine damage from overheating
Here are a few tips to ensure your engine remains cool in the Dallas heat:
  • Have your car’s belts and hoses inspected for leaks
  • Get your
    coolant flushed
    and refilled a few times during the warmer months
  • Watch your temperature gauge to make sure your engine is okay
  • Before the weather warms up, test your air conditioner to ensure its working properly
  • Get a trusted mechanic to check your battery condition
  • Running the heat is a good (albeit counterintuitive) way to cool your engine down if you’re worried it's in danger of overheating, as running heat sucks hot air away from the engine and lets it cool down
  • As a last resort, you can always pull your car over and park in a shaded area, which will help the engine cool down
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now

Traffic and transportation options in Dallas

Dallas residents drive often, but if you don’t want to be behind the wheel, DART can provide an alternate way of getting around Big D.
The DART Light Rail is an efficient way to head downtown to see the sights, including Deep Ellum and University Park. The light rail line has four lines: red, orange, blue, and green. It services 64 stations across the city and runs from 5:00 am to midnight every day.
If you need to get from Dallas to Fort Worth, hop onto the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), which connects both cities’ downtowns, as well as Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. You can grab the TRE from Union Station in Dallas, and it will drop you at Texas & Pacific (T&P) Station in downtown Fort Worth.
The cost for DART varies—if you purchase a local pass, it will cost you $6. A regional pass costs $12. You can use the local DART pass to ride the following:
  • DART rail
  • DART buses
  • Trinity Metro (Fort Worth bus system) between Dallas Union Station and Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
The regional DART pass can be used on the following:
  • All DART and TRE services, as well as Trinity Metro services
If you’ll only be traveling for a short time, say a morning or afternoon, the AM/PM pass ($3) is a good option. Day passes cost $6.
DART’s bus system in Dallas is extensive. There are 11,000 stops throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Buses run from 5:00 am to midnight.
A very novel way to get around downtown is with the McKinney Avenue Trolley or M-Line Trolley. This old-fashioned, electric streetcar hits all the prime spots in downtown Dallas, including the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Dallas World Aquarium, and the Dallas Museum of Art. 

Crime rate in Dallas

A city’s crime rate can certainly affect your experience driving through it, and Dallas is no exception. A high (or low) crime rate will also impact the
car insurance
premium you pay.
Overall, Dallas’ crime rate is higher than average for cities its size, with 45 crimes committed per 1,000 residents. Both the violent crime rate and property crime rate are higher than the national average, too. You have a 1 in 22 chance of being a victim of violent crime or property crime in Dallas.
Another thing to keep in mind about Dallas—it has a high car theft rate. According to the FBI, there is a 1 in 125 chance that your car will be stolen. That’s high for a big city—and significantly higher than neighboring Fort Worth.
rating reverse-full
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”

How to find car insurance in Dallas

Driving in Dallas can be an unnerving experience, what with those Texas-sized traffic jams! But getting great
Texas car insurance costs
doesn’t need to be nearly as difficult.
Jerry
makes shopping for great insurance quick and simple. Best of all? Jerry users save $800+ per year!
Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture, Jerry is a trustworthy insurance comparison app. Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete and you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes for coverage similar to your current plan. 
Just make your pick, and Jerry handles the rest—securing your new insurance and helping to cancel your old policy. And before every policy renewal period, you’ll be presented with new competitive quotes, which means you’ll always have the best coverage at the best price.
“Super cheap!
Jerry
saved me over $4,500 during the entire year. The money really adds up.” —D’Shawn G.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
avatar
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
rating primary
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings