Scenic Drives Near Dallas: Roads Worth the Gas (Year-Round)

I've been on two wheels and three wheels on most of these roads myself, so this isn't a desk-researched "pretty views" list — it's rated for what actually matters when you're driving: surface, curves, and traffic.

The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Loops (Best in April, Good Year-Round)

Three official loops — north, south, west — 40-plus miles total, mapped by the Ennis Garden Club. Best in April with bluebonnets in bloom, but genuinely good rural driving any month. Our own Slingshot rides only run these roads in April; the roads themselves are drivable year-round in your own vehicle.

FM Roads Around Waxahachie and Ellis County

Rolling farm-to-market roads with genuinely low traffic — a good stretch for an open-cockpit drive any time of year.

Lake Bardwell Loop

3,500 acres of lake with real curves along the shoreline roads — water views most drives near Dallas can't offer.

Highway 34 South Toward Corsicana

Long straight stretches, good for opening it up a bit, with genuine fall color potential as the season turns.

Fort Worth Stockyards Backroads

The approach roads into the historic Stockyards district make the destination itself feel like part of a longer drive rather than a straight highway shot.

Scenic Loops Near Texas Motorplex

If you're already headed to a race weekend, the roads around the track are worth extending your trip for — especially combined with an Ennis stop.

A Winter Sunday Drive North of Dallas

Proof this list isn't just an April bluebonnet pitch with a disclaimer — cooler weather and quieter roads north of the metro make for a genuinely good winter drive, open cockpit or not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is a good scenic drive near Dallas?

The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails loops are my top pick, especially in April — see the full list above for year-round options.

What are the best roads to drive in North Texas?

For open-cockpit driving specifically, the Ennis loops win — rural, low-traffic, and scenic in every season.

Drive Them Yourself

See how the trail loops work, read things to do in Waxahachie, or drive these roads in a Slingshot come April.