Everything’s bigger in Texas and when it comes to the family resorts, North Texas has the biggest! Biggest hotels, biggest water parks, and biggest bang for your buck. Check out our favorite Texas Family Resorts in the Dallas Fort Worth area and North Texas.
Best Places to Stay with Kids in the Dallas Fort Worth Area
Check out our favorite DFW area resorts that are great for vacations and staycations, because life is short and the Texas Summer is long! We’ve included resorts within the Greater Dallas, Forth Worth, and North Texas areas. Where to first?
1. Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center– Grapevine, Texas
The Gaylord Texan Resort is located in Grapevine, Texas just between Dallas and Fort Worth. This resort has 3 large atriums that allow you to beat the Texas heat in the summer months (who are we kidding… late Spring to early Fall) by feeling like you’re outside while actually being in a comfortably air-conditioned atrium.
Keep your eyes peeled for characters that cruise around the resort grounds and change with the seasons. If you’re visiting in thh Summer, don’t miss the fort-themed water playground in the Paradise Springs water park area. It is just a short shuttle ride from the main Gaylord Texan resort and is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
In December, we love to kick off the holiday season with a weekend at ICE! Gaylord Texan, ice skating, and enjoying a character breakfast to complete the holiday magic!
What we love most about it:
- Riding the water slides and the lazy river – more Best Texas Lazy Rivers here!
- ICE! Gaylord Texan during Christmas time – see more seasonal celebrations here
Read our full resort review here: Gaylord Texan Resort and Spa
📍Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center –1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051
2. Hilton Anatole– Dallas, Texas
The Hilton Anatole in the heart of Dallas is the perfect combination of hotel in the front, and resort in the back.
The JadeWaters water park offers a lazy river, multiple swimming pools, and splash pads. For family vacations spent at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, you’ll want to stay an extra night just to eat at another one of the hotel restaurants.
What we love most about it:
- Floating the lazy river at the JadeWaters water park – more of the Best Lazy Rivers in Texas
- Close proximity to the heart of Dallas, Texas… and, of course, Medieval Times!
Read our full resort review here: Hilton Anatole
📍Hilton Anatole – 2201 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207
3. Great Wolf Lodge – Grapevine, Texas
The Great Wolf Lodge is the ultimate family resort! Mainly due to the HUGE indoor/outdoor full-tilt water park with something to enjoy for kids and parents alike.
The water park has multiple water slides, splash pads, water playgrounds, and pools. This resort was designed with families in mind with rooms big enough to accommodate the whole family with different sleeping arrangements (hello, bunk beds!) and even themed suites you’ll want to check out (or should I say check-in?).
There are also multiple on-site restaurants and even the MagiQuest adventure, an interactive game using a magic wand to complete quests and adventures that gives major Harry Potter vibes. With the combination of amenities and accommodations, you’ve got the perfect family vacation!
What we love most about it:
- Water slides galore! Something for everyone in the year-round indoor/outdoor water park
- Themed suites offer entertainment (and SPACE!) for the whole family
Read our full resort review here: Great Wolf Lodge
📍Great Wolf Lodge Water Park – 100 Great Wolf Dr, Grapevine, TX 76051
4. The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Club and Spa – Frisco, Texas
The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Club and Spa is a relaxing resort nestled on the Fazio Golf Course in Frisco, Texas about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas. Our favorite part about this resort is the impressive outdoor pools, water slide, and splash pad! Families will also enjoy the outdoor activity lawn, on site dining options, and proximity to Toyota Stadium, home of the FC Dallas Major League Soccer Team. There is also a kids club that pairs perfectly with the newly enhanced spa!
What we love most about it:
- Splash pad, water slide, and outdoor pools – duh!
- Seasonal poolside dining (and drinks) from Ranch Water – yum.
📍The Westin Dallas Stonebriar Golf Club and Spa – 1549 Legacy Dr, Frisco, TX 75034
5. Omni Las Colinas Hotel – Irving, Texas
The Omni Las Colinas Hotel is located on Lake Carolyn in Irving, Texas. Guests will enjoy the lake views, outdoor pool with ample poolside loungers, and on site spa experience. There are three restaurants to choose from ranging from upscale dining to poolside bites. Lake Carolyn provides pretty views but also entertainment with opportunities for SUP boards or even a gondola boat ride – choose you’re own adventure!
What we love most about it:
- Outdoor pool with poolside dining and lake views
- Gondola boat rides on Lake Carolyn – you’ll forget if you’re in Italy or Irving!
📍Omni Las Colinas Hotel – 221 Las Colinas Blvd E, Irving, TX 75039
6. Hampton Inn and Suites Fort Worth Downtown – Fort Worth, Texas
The Hampton Inn and Suites Fort Worth Downtown is a great option for families traveling with young children. The hotel is located across the street from the Fort Worth Convention Center and about 2 blocks from the vibrant nightlife of Sundance Square. The family-friendly indoor pool has a zero-grade entry, fountains, and splashers that your littles are sure to enjoy. And if you weren’t already convinced, daily hot breakfast and wifi are included in the room rate!
What we love most about it:
- Indoor pool perfect for families with young children
- Complimentary daily hot breakfast
📍Hampton Inn and Suites Fort Worth Downtown- 1001 Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
7. Rough Creek Lodge – Glen Rose, Texas
The Rough Creek Lodge and Resort is located in Glen Rose, Texas about 2 hours southwest of Dallas . You can stay in the main lodge or opt to rent a private cabin or home and there is a restaurant onsite with an upscale, Texas-style seasonal menu.
This ranch-style resort is our pick for the best ranch resort in Texas due to it’s extensive list of resort activities. Swimming, fishing, shooting sports, mini golf, a giant maze, zip lining, hiking, a petting corral, wagon rides, lawn games, and live music… just to name a few! And for the future paleontologists in your group, Rough Creek Resort has a fossil hunt complete with excavation tools. There’s even a chance to explore real dinosaur footprints in Dinosaur Valley just 20 miles from the resort.
What we love most about it:
- Giant maze and zip lining on the resort – like, what?!
- Fossil hunting because #GlenRose
📍Rough Creek Lodge – 5165 Co Rd 2013, Glen Rose, TX 76043
8. Hilton Dallas / Rockwall Lakefront – Lake Ray Hubbard, Texas
The Hilton Dallas / Rockwall Lakefront hotel is located 22 miles east of downtown Dallas on Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall, Texas. Enjoy the outdoor pool, on-site spa, and lake views by day and the dining and entertainment options of Rockwall Harbor by night. Ask about the pet-friendly rooms if you want to bring fido along!
What we love most about it:
- Lake views and dock right outside the hotel
- Proximity to dining and movie theater at Rockwall Harbor
📍Hilton Dallas / Rockwall Lakefront – 2055 Summer Lee Dr, Rockwall, TX 75032
9. The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas– Las Colinas, Texas
The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas is nestled into the stunning expanses of golf courses in Las Colinas, located just about halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and just minutes from the DFW International Airport. Along with access to world-class golf, tennis, and spa exerience, guests can enjoy the newly revamped resort pool complex with ample relaxing poolside loungers and a pool bar. Kid-friendly resort activities like family movie night and fireside s’mores will keep your family entertained during your stay.
What we love most about it:
📍The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas – 4150 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75038
10. Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star – Frisco, Texas
The Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star is located in the heart of the nightlife of Frisco, Texas just north of Dallas. The resort has multiple relaxing pools, impressive dining options, and best of all proximity to The Star entertainment district and home of the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and practice facility.
What we love most about it:
- Proximity to the Dallas Cowboys practice field and headquarters
- Relaxing at the pool
📍Omni Frisco Hotel at the Star – 11 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX 75034
11. Cooper Hotel and Conference Center – Dallas, Texas
The Cooper Hotel and Conference Center is located in the heart of Dallas, Texas. This is a health forward resort hotel spacious rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness facility, resort lap pool, and miles of paved nature trails perfect for walking and running under the oak trees in the heart of Dallas.
What we love most about it:
- Rest and rejuvenation from spending time at this health conscious resort
- Miles of trails for walking and jogging
📍Cooper Hotel and Conference Center- 12230 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75230
12. Wildcatter Ranch and Resort- Graham, Texas
The Wildcatter Ranch and Resort in Graham, Texas is about 2 hours west of Dallas in North Central Texas. There is a steakhouse on the property known for traditional steaks as well as the Texas staple, chicken fried steak. Activities at the ranch resort include shooting sports, archery, axe throwing, horseback riding, roping lessons and swimming. There are also lessons available in branding, complete with a set of leather coasters to take home to always remember your stay at Wildcatter Ranch!
What we love most about it:
- Roping and branding lessons to feel like a true Texan
- Steakhouse offerings – ranch to table!
📍Wildcatter Ranch and Resort – 6062 TX-16, Graham, TX 76450
13. Tanglewood Resort– Lake Texoma, Texas
The Tanglewood Resort on Lake Texoma in Pottsboro, Texas checks all the boxes for a great Texas Family Resort like having an onsite restaurant, a spa, golf, and a resort pool… with the added bonus of all the lake sports as well! Guided fishing excursions and watercraft rentals are available for guests to schedule.
What we love most about it:
- Fishing experience with a guide
- Relaxing in the outdoor pool with lake views… not lake snakes!
📍Tanglewood Resort – 290 Tanglewood Cir, Pottsboro, TX 75076
Best Things to Do With Kids in the Dallas Fort Worth Area
There are so many more kid-friendly things to do in DFW. Check out our favorite sources for kid-friendly activities in Dallas, Forth Worth, and North Texas!
- Breshell.com – Best Things to do with Toddlers in Frisco, Texas
- FTW Today – 30 Kid-friendly activities in Fort Worth
- DFW Child – 181 Things to do with kids in Dallas-Fort Worth
- Plano Moms – The Biggest List of Unmissable Things to do with Kids in Dallas Fort Worth
From our family to yours, Happy Travels!
Please note that this page contains affiliate links and any reservations made through such links will award us a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you. This helps keep our family traveling to new resorts to continue providing you with reviews of the best resorts in Texas for the best family vacations.