Dallas to Destin road trip: Drive time, distance & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Dallas to Destin drive are Shreveport LA, Jackson MS and Mobile AL. The distance from Dallas to Destin by car is 696 miles, with a 10h45m driving time.

Planning a Dallas to Destin road trip itinerary

The Dallas to Destin drive takes you from north Texas to the Florida Panhandle.

Dallas has plenty of high quality cultural attractions. These include the Nasher Scupture Center, Pioneer Square and the Perot Museum of Science and Nature.

But for many visitors, the main reason to visit Dallas is the JFK assassination. Yes, you can go up to the Book Depository where Lee Harvey Oswald supposedly took his shot from.

Top Dallas experiences include a JFK Assassination and Museum tour, the GeO-Deck at Reunion Tower and a self-guided scavenger hunt.

Good places to stay in Dallas with a pool include the sassy Kimpton Pittman downtown and the historic Warwick Melrose near Turtle Creek.

How to do the JFK sites in Dallas

The best way to combine the JFK sites in Dallas is a special themed tour. This takes in the JFK Memorial, Dealey Plaza and the Grassy Knoll before heading to Lee Harvey Oswald’s rooming house. It finishes in the Sixth Floor Museum of the Texas Book Depository. On the way, expert guides take you through the assassination facts and theories. Find out more here.

Destin is a beach town on the Florida Panhandle, with white sand beaches and several golf courses. The Destin Harbor Boardwalk tends to be the centre of activity, and there is plenty of activity to be in the centre of.

Top Destin experiences include a sunset tiki cruise, a Crab Island sandbar adventure, a dolphin-watching speedboat cruise and parasailing.

You can also try jetski rentals, the Maximum Magic show, Hydrojet sunset tours and banana boat rides.

If looking for Destin accommodation, the Comfort Inn and Suites offers good value and the plush Henderson Beach Resort has private beach access.

Dallas to Destin distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Dallas to Destin is 696 miles. You can expect a driving time of around ten hours and 45 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-20, US-49, US-98 and I-10.

The best stops to add to a Dallas to Destin road trip itinerary are Shreveport LA, Jackson MS and Mobile AL.

For more suggestions, read the guides to the Dallas to Jackson MS drive and Jackson MS to Mobile drive.

Best stops between Dallas and Destin: Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport is best known for its riverboat casinos, but there are a few other strings to its bow. Surprisingly interesting attractions include the Shreveport Water Works Museum, which looks at the ways we use and treat water, and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. The latter is inside a masterpiece of modern architecture, and features a series of extraordinarily detailed dioramas depicting Louisiana life.

The best Shreveport experiences include scavenger hunts and the Shreveport Aquarium.

Dallas to Destin road trip attractions: Jackson, Mississippi

The capital of Mississippi has a collection of strong museums. The Mississippi Museum of Art has a great Southern art collection. The Old Capitol Museum and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum cover politics and history.

The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is arguably Jackson’s highlight, though. It comes with a 100,000-gallon aquarium showing off the species that live on the Gulf Coast, and is within LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. That means plenty of nature trails to enjoy when the weather’s good.

Highly-reviewed Jackson MS accommodation includes the plush Westin and the more charming Old Capitol Inn.

Dallas to Destin drive: Mobile, Alabama

The Alabama Gulf Coast port city of Mobile has a perhaps unexpected party spirit. This is best explored in the bars, or at the Mobile Carnival Museum.

You can also head on board the USS Alabama battleship or visit the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. The latter includes a ship simulator, where you can have a go at steering a ship through the Gulf.

Mobile experience options include a downtown food tour and a wildlife kayaking tour.

Top Mobile accommodation picks include the personality-packed Fort Conde Inn and the riverside Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza.