DALLAS: How is driving in Dallas???

[rbuzzotta]

I will be travelling to Dallas this weekend with my DD. I am debating whether or not to rent a car or take a taxi from DFW to downtown Dallas (about 25 minutes). Both will cost about the same.

I was wondering how the driving is from DFW to downtown Dallas?? Can anyone compare it to Boston driving???

Thanks

 

[cinlee3]

I've never been to Boston but I leave about 15 minutes from DFW. On the weekend the traffic should not be bad at all.

What are you in town for?

 

[rbuzzotta]

DD is in a cheerleading competition at the Convention Center. We are staying at the Adams Mark in the financial area of Dallas.

Her team will be going by bus but we opted for an earlier flight out on Monday so I needed transportation. I like the thought of having access to a car while I stay there. I would like to show DD where JFK was assassinated etc....

We will be arriving at DFW around 2:30 on Friday. I am assuming traffic into downtown Dallas won't be bad..........am I right???

Any info you could give me would be appreciated....

Thanks

 

[cinlee3]

You better get out of the airport quickly because you will be hitting rush hour traffic otherwise.

183 and I-35 usually back up worse going out of Dallas in the afternoon. Going into downtown you will be going the opposite of the rush hour traffic.

I was thinking you would be arriving on Saturday and traffic should not be bad then. In any case if you are used to big city driving, you should be fine.

Good luck to your DD in the competition.

 

[KathyTX]

rbuzzotta,

I live near DFW, and have driven in Boston. There are a lot of similarities- crowded roads and aggressive drivers.

Cinlee's right, you'll be fine driving a rental. I would get a good map to show where you're going (mapquest.com should be fine) and study it a bit beforehand to have a little familiarity with the area. You'll take the South exit out of the airport, and have a nice, straight shot to downtown from there.

From the airport to downtown should be pretty easy. Downtown itself will be congested in the afternoon, with lots of one way streets. But anyone who's used to driving in Boston shouldn't have a bit of trouble here.

Have a great time at the competition!

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thank you both for the info. I am used to driving a Suburban but will only have a full size car in Dallas!!! Should make for an interesting trip! LOL!!

I have gotten directions on both expedia.com and mapquest. I will take both. Also, I will try to get an area map!!!

Lots of one-ways!!!! Welcome to Boston!!! HA-HA!! I am pretty used to banging a u-turn just about anywhere!! LOL

Thanks for the luck for DD!! I am really excited. Should be a fun weekend.........plus it is my b-day!!! WE are going to Hard Rock on Sunday night for a big party (over 100 from her gym will be going!!). Is the area safe to walk????

Thanks again.....

 

[KathyTX]

Rosemary,

I haven't walked downtown at night in a long time, but...

Our downtown area is generally business folks in the daytime, mostly deserted by all but the homeless at night. There are pockets of activity (the West End, for instance) that draw folks at night, but not near where you'll be.

It's a little over a mile from your hotel to the Hard Rock. Personally, if it were me, I'd plan to drive at night.

I also don't know the condition of sidewalks between your two points. The Hard Rock is not technically "downtown", and there may be stretches of construction or no sidewalks there.

I imagine the hotel staff will be able to give you better advice.

 

[cinlee3]

I personally would not walk downtown at night.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Don't walk ALONE in DT Dallas at night, but there are some great sights to see at night there. You and your DD together should be okay walking. You may feel safer with some mace is you do decide to walk around at night. There are some great things to see and there are horse-drawn carriages that you can take also. There is one particular place that I like to go at night in DT. Look for the tall glass building that comes to a point at the top...it kinda looks like a pencil-shape I guess you could say. Anyway, there's a restraunt in that building (around towards the back...probably too expensive but I've never eaten there so I don't know for sure) anyway, around the back you'll almost feel like you're at Epcot. They have water shooting up from the side walk and a really pretty water foutain that you can just sit by and relax. This is where my DH use to work.

As for traffic at 2:30 on Friday...I use to live right next to the airport (and when I say right next I mean I practically lived on airport property!) You just jump on 183 and take I35E South until you get to DT. Traffic at that time won't be bad (unless some idiot has an accident) In my experience traffic TOWARDS DT is worse in the mornings (because everyone is going to work) so I35 southbound will be more conjested. Then starting around 4 traffic going AWAY from DT is worse (because everyone is getting off work) so I35 northbound will be more conjested. DH use to work in downtown when we lived in Irving (right next to the airport) and he could get to work in 15 minutes. My school (which is almost the DT area) I could get to in ten minutes or less.

I would go with renting the car...when it comes down to it, it's best to have access to a car while you're here. Trust me, you really don't want to have to get on a DART bus! and the cabs can get just as expensive as the rental car!

 

[DStar4cup]

We live in the Dallas area but my daughter did the NCA High school competition at the convention center in Dec. She also stayed at the Adam Mark Hotel. When we would go down instead of parking at the convention center we would park at the Hotel and ride the dart rail to the convention center. If you decide to go without the rent car you can travel around downtown on the Dart rail. The staff in the Hotel told me where to get on at and once I was on it was very easy to figure out what stop I needed to get off at. It also is very reasonable. Only about 4 dollars for the day but I think it may even be cheaper on weekends!! If you have any questions let me know and I will do what I can to answer. My youngest gets to compete at Disney in March!! I can't wait.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thanks for the added information Princess Aurora and DStar4cup!

I will opt to take the rental car. It doesn't sound too bad travelling to Downtown dallas on Friday. How about going back to the airport for a 1 PM departure on Monday (being a holiday i am assuming it won't be too bad).

Thanks for the info.

We will also be competing in FL in March but at US/IOA. Good luck to your DD, DStar4cup. Who does she cheer for???

 

[DStar4cup]

Ultimate Texas Cheer In the junior intermediate division. We are a new gym and we are only sending 1 squad. Who does your daughter cheer for? If you need any info. let me know. If I don't know the answers I will try to find out for you. Good luck in Dallas and in Florida. Are ya'll staying at the all-star or the CBR in Florida?

 

[slimplaw]

Traffic going back to the airport on Monday should not to be too bad. Many businesses and schools will not be off for the holiday. We are expecting rain for Thursday through Sunday, so come prepared.

 

[Tigger1]

How about taking a train from the airport to Dallas. This might be a hassle though to get to the hotel. The train might take you where you need to go though. Might want to look into it.

Tigger

 

[rbuzzotta]

DStar4cup, my DD cheers for East Elite Cheer Gym and she will be competing in the Sr. Prep division.

We are staying at Hard Rock in March.

I looked into the train (DART). I would have to make 2 or 3 transfers and it would take 1 hr. and 15 minutes. Then I think we would have to walk a few blocks from there. Thanks for the info though.

Thank you all for the helpful information.

 

[DStar4cup]

When you ride the rail you get on 1 train and there is no transfers between the Adam Mark and the Convention Center. It usually took about 15 minutes to get there. Were you talking about the train that runs from the airport? Driving between the Hotel and the convention center is bad either. The Hotel is only a few miles from the Convention Center. Good Luck this weekend. We are not doing this competition but my oldest did with the High School and NCA puts on a good show.

We are moving to the Hard Rock on Monday 1th of March.