Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Fort Worth

Traffic in Fort Worth, Texas can be bad, but there are ways to get around it and enjoy your visit.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Fort Worth, Texas is more than just Dallas’ shadow—it features world-class art galleries, the Stockyards National Historic District, and lots of other attractions. Fort Worth is busy though, so getting around the city in a car will mean putting up with a significant amount of traffic.
From a legendary museum scene to old-timey Texas charm to plenty of good food, Fort Worth has quickly become a destination in its own right. However, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is busy, and as Texas’ population grows, traffic will grow in tandem.
But that’s why the
car insurance
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Jerry
has put together this handy guide for everything you need to know in order to navigate Fort Worth traffic like a pro. We'll even tell you how to navigate
Fort Worth car insurance costs
! Let's get started. 
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What is driving in Fort Worth like?

The car is king in Texas, and in big cities like Fort Worth and
Dallas
, that couldn’t be more true! Commute times are high, as are gas prices, parking, and insurance rates.

Roads

Fort Worth’s downtown is laid out in a grid pattern, which is relatively easy to navigate. The city’s major highways and interstates cross-cross the area, making it a straightforward drive between Fort Worth and Dallas—except heavy traffic can throw a Texas-sized wrench in your plans.
I-35 runs north and south through the city, while I-20 and I-30 run east to west and connect Fort Worth to Dallas. Any and all are subject to congestion, so give yourself plenty of extra time to make it to work, appointments, and events.
MORE: The ultimate guide to moving to Fort Worth

Parking

Fortunately, there is plenty of parking to be had in Fort Worth.
Here’s a map
with rates for parking downtown. And here are some of the most popular places to park:
City Hall/Resident Lot:
  • Paid parking available Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • $1.50 per hour, with a $7 daily maximum
  • Parking after 6:00 pm is free
  • This lot uses pay stations that are similar to meters on the street
  • Remember to note your parking spot number before paying
Houston Street Garage:
  • 0–21 minutes (no in/out privileges): $3
  • 21–40 minutes: $6
  • 41–60 minutes: $9
  • 61–80 minutes: $12
  • 81–100 minutes: $15
  • 101 minutes–12 hours: $18
  • For special events, there is an $18 flat rate

Meters

There are plenty of parking meters located within Fort Worth’s Central Business District, the Medical District, and along University Avenue near Texas Christian University.
Parking is allowed between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and is free after 6:00 pm and on weekends.
In the Cultural District on Will Rogers West, meters are available from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm every day.
All parking meters are free on the following city-observed holidays:
  • New Year's Day 
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 
  • Memorial Day 
  • Independence Day 
  • Labor Day 
  • Veterans Day 
  • Thanksgiving Day 
  • Thanksgiving Friday 
  • Christmas Day
The rates for Fort Worth parking meters are as follows and are color-coded:
  • 1 hour (red)—$1.50/hour
  • 2 hours (orange)—$1.50/hour
  • 4 hours (blue)—$0.75/hour
  • 10 hours (green)—$0.50/hour
You can pay for parking via the Fort Worth Parking App or at a pay station—just enter your license plate number and display your ticket on the dash.
You can also find parking at the
Downtown TIF
, which offers free night and weekend parking. There are literally thousands of spots made available at the following garages:
  • City Center Garage #2—400 Jones St. 
  • The Tower Garage—400 Taylor St. 
  • 777 Main Parking Garage—601 Commerce St. 
  • Sundance Square Garage #3—345 W. 3rd St.

Weather

During the summer months, Fort Worth is muggy and hot and temperatures are routinely above 100 degrees. Winters are often cold and windy with temperatures usually hovering around 37 degrees.
Of course, driving in the Texas heat can be taxing on your vehicle—an overheated engine is a common problem in these parts. This can lead to mechanical failure and
engine damage from overheating
Overheating happens because your car’s cooling system needs to work harder than usual to keep the engine temperature at an ideal level. But you can do a few things to ensure your car’s engine stays cool despite the Texas heat:
  • Get your belts and hoses inspected for leaks
  • Have your
    coolant flushed
    and refilled occasionally during the summer months
  • Keep an eye on your temperature gauge to guard against overheating
  • Test your air conditioner to ensure it is working properly 
  • Get your battery looked at to ensure it's in good shape
  • If you’re worried your car may overheat, run the heat—this will draw hot air away from your engine, helping to cool it down—or pull over and park in the shade to allow the engine to cool off
MORE: How to find city parking
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Traffic and transportation options in Fort Worth

There are lots of cars on the roads in and around Fort Worth. However, this is a city built for cars, so having one is a good idea.
Rush hour is definitely the worst time to drive in Fort Worth. But in a city this busy, there isn’t really a good time to drive.
Tune into
WBAP News 820
for updated Fort Worth traffic information.

Should I rent a car in Fort Worth?

Renting a car
in Fort Worth is a good idea if you’re visiting! The city’s layout is based on a grid pattern, so it's not hard to navigate. And the area’s highways make getting around easy, so long as you aren’t caught in rush-hour traffic. 
If you aren’t planning on driving a whole lot while in the Fort Worth area, you might want to take the bus, as both Fort Worth and Dallas offer extensive bus systems.

Public transit

Even in a region built for cars, the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) offers plenty of flexibility in getting around. 
If you want to take the train from Fort Worth to Dallas (or vice versa), it runs from Fort Worth’s T&P Station to Dallas’ Union Station Monday through Friday from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm. Trains run on Saturday but much less than during the workweek. There is no train service on Sundays.
Costs for the DART depend on whether you buy a local ($6) or regional ($12) pass. You can use the local DART pass on 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 Trinity Railway Express services, as well as Trinity Metro services
If you only need a transit pass for a few hours, the AM/PM pass ($3) might be a good option. Day passes cost $6.
Fort Worth’s bus system, Trinity Metro (also known as “the T”) has many routes, but visitors should be fine with the following:
  • Nos. 12, 14, and 15 connect downtown Fort Worth with the Stockyards
  • No.2 gets you to the Cultural District via No.7, which then heads towards the Fort Worth Zoo
Going one way on a local route will cost you $2. A local day pass is $5, while a regional pass is $12. You can also buy a seven-day pass for $25.
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Crime rate in Fort Worth

Any city’s crime rate can affect your experience while driving through it, and Fort Worth is no exception. This can impact insurance rates for drivers in Fort Worth, as well.
Overall, the Fort Worth crime rate is lower than other cities relative to its size, but some metrics do stand out—both to visitors and to insurers.
Violent crime in Fort Worth is higher than the national average, as are property crimes. According to the FBI, you have a 1 in 30 chance of being a victim of crime in Fort Worth.
On a macro level, there are 33 crimes per 1,000 people in Fort Worth, which is not among the highest rates. Phew!
In terms of motor vehicle theft, Fort Worth is at the wrong end of the spectrum—there is a 1 in 262 chance that your car will be stolen in Fort Worth.

How to find car insurance in Fort Worth

Even if driving in the Fort Worth area can be a bit of a slog (especially during rush hour), that does not mean that finding affordable
Texas car insurance costs
needs to be as trying!
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