Making quality time with your kids can often feel like herding cattle, but a family getaway at one of these Texas ranches is one way to take the reins and strengthen those family bonds. Far from the demands of homework, dentist appointments and the digital world, here you and your family can breathe the fresh air and explore hundreds of open acres of pristine grasslands, rivers and wooded trails—and then settle around an evening campfire.
Most of these destinations below even allow your family pet to come along. So, wrangle up your whole posse for a wild western adventure at these six kid-friendly Texas ranches, all within a 5-hour drive from Dallas-Fort Worth.
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Rough Creek Lodge & Resort
At 11,000 acres and not far from Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Rough Creek Lodge & Resort embraces the Texas “bigger is better” mantra. The property lives up to its reputation as a top outdoor family destination by offering an excess of recreation options, packing every acre with activities that appeal to every age.
Start the day off by navigating the twists and turns of the largest maze in Texas, and then visit the petting corral, explore miles of hiking trails, or splash the swimming pool with a 66-foot slide and a lazy river.
There’s a whole range too of sports and recreational activities: archery range, driving range and 18-hole miniature golf course, the four-lane bowling alley, batting cage, zipline and a climbing wall, a basketball court and a pickleball complex, and a rope course to boot. With all those options for entertainment, it’s more likely the kids will be good and exhausted and ready for bedtime.
For lodging, families won’t exactly be roughing it during their stay at Rough Creek Lodge, which presents overnight options of 51 stylish guest rooms and suites in its five-star Main Lodge, as well as four secluded cabins and five luxurious guest houses.
The Main Lodge restaurant has won dozens of culinary awards. Chef Gerard Thompson puts his modern interpretation on rustic American cuisine through dishes like his Grilled Texas Quail, Handmade Pheasant Ravioli, and Bacon and Stilton Blue Cheese Quesadilla. Best of all, children age 15 and younger eat and stay free on the resort’s Getaway Package.
Location: 5165 County Road 2013, Glen Rose, Texas, about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth
Contact: 800/864-4705; reservations@roughcreek.com
Learn more: roughcreek.com
Brazos Bluffs Ranch
Just a short 15-minute drive north from Waco, the 300-acre ranch gets its name from the property’s lofty bluffs that tower more than 100 feet above the river valley. Brazos Bluffs Ranch is unique in that it is situated where the longest river and longest fault line in Texas meet. Families can take in the breathtaking views of grassy meadows and centuries-old oak trees on horseback. “The Lone Star” excursion is a two-hour sunset ride for all skill levels age 10 and up.
Drinks and snacks are included, and in cooler months guests can unwind next to a campfire with a cup of hot cocoa and s’mores. A 90-minute trail ride is also offered for all skill levels age 7 and up. Guides will capture family memories by taking photos and sharing them once you’ve returned.
Lodging at Brazos Bluffs Ranch includes a rustic three-bedroom stone and log home with river access, as well as a secluded cabin that sleeps two guests. Densely wooded trails afford guests an abundance of hiking options, and riverfront access allows for convenient kayaking or canoeing. There’s also a pickleball court on the property if the kids want to pick up the popular sport.
Location: 7007 Gholson Road, Waco, Texas
Contact: 254/722-9182
Learn more: brazosbluffsranch.com
Blue Hills Ranch
Have you ever wanted to bottle-feed a kangaroo or eat dinner with a giraffe at eye level? At Blue Hills Ranch, guests can not only interact with animals but also learn about their diet, breeding and conservation, as well as participate in their enrichment.
Some of these and other experiences (like swim with an otter) at Blue Hills have an age restriction of 12 and older, but several are open to all ages, including the private safari tours. Kids as young as 9 can join the horseback riding.
A separate 220 acres are dedicated for equestrian exploration with a network of trails that guide riders through woodlands and meadows and past streams and ponds. Sunrise and sunset tours are available. Have your own horse? You can reserve an all-day pass. Besides that, you’ll have to leave your own pets at home.
Seven themed cabins are situated throughout the ranch property, some featuring kitchenettes and others with full kitchens for cooking up some grub after a long day. Blue Hills’ all-inclusive experience includes accommodations, behind-the-scenes animal interactions, concierge services, swimming pool access, and a welcome basket.
Location: 2032 Blue Cut Road North, McGregor, Texas, about 20 miles southwest of Waco
Contact: 833/711-1777
Learn more: bluehillsranch.com
Moon River Ranch
If you take your rustic outdoor adventure with just a touch of comfort, Moon River Ranch provides the ultimate glamping experience. Its main accommodation, the Master Penthouse Lodge & Suites, has 20 bedrooms and can sleep up to 50 guests. Other lodging options include riverfront wagons, cabins, and casitas, most of which are pet friendly.
Families have no shortage of activities at Moon River Ranch, which include axe throwing, skeet shooting, ATV tours, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, archery, and fishing. However, the main draw to the ranch is its more than 500 exotic animals roaming freely on 550 acres of grassland.
Luxury Safari Picnics are available upon request and pair gourmet cuisine with an up-close view of zebras, oryx, longhorns, llamas, wildebeests, bison, deer, peacocks, horses, and even albino camels.
Location: 402 County Road 417A, Satin, Texas, about 20 miles southeast of Waco
Contact: 254/218-3090
Learn more: moonriverranch.com
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BlissWood Bed & Breakfast Ranch
This a bona fide working farm is just two hours east of Austin. It’s 350 acres are home to many exotic animals, such as bison and blackbuck antelope, that guests can see up-close on 45-minute safari tours.
BlissWood’s Texas Family Package includes ranch games like horseshoes and beanbag toss, kite flying, and evenings filled with stargazing by a campfire with s’mores as the ranch guitarist serenades you. Daytime itineraries may also include guided horseback riding, kayaking, trapshooting, archery, and catch-and-release fishing. BlissWood also makes it easy for families to record their memories by offering two-hour photo shoots with award-winning photographer Skeeter Hagler.
This country retreat accommodates overnight guests in homey cabins, many of which have private fire pits and hot tubs, as well as unique glamping options such as the decked-out Conestoga Covered Wagon and the Grand Safari Tent.
A continental breakfast is included in the lodging rate and is placed in visitors’ accommodations prior to arrival to enjoy at their leisure each morning. All lodging features either full or efficiency kitchens, so you have the ability to bring, store and cook your family’s favorite meals during your stay.
Not just a haven for families looking to connect, BlissWood is a retreat for man’s best friend. Its Border Collie Rescue program has fostered more than 300 dogs since 2010. So, there’s no reason to leave your own four-legged friends at home.
BlissWood’s Hug a Horse Experience is a great option for those too young to ride. A percentage of the proceeds go to the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, which rescues and fosters horses.
Location: 13597 Frantz Road, Cat Spring, Texas
Contact: 713/301-3235
Learn more: blisswood.net
Twin Elm Guest Ranch
Located in the Cowboy Capital of the World, Twin Elm Guest Ranch is as authentic as it comes for a true Texas family vacation. Perched on one of the highest peaks in Bandera overlooking the Medina River, ranch hands cater to their guests by preparing picnic lunches, taking guests tubing on the river or on hayrides, guiding trail rides for those 8 and older, and by sharing the best place to find arrowheads and their favorite fishing spots. Roping and branding demonstrations ensure your little buckaroos will leave the ranch with a new set of skills.
Lodging at Twin Elm Guest Ranch is simple and affordable with several available cabins and lodges. An indoor game room/arcade, swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts make the ranch an ideal playground for all ages.
For those who like to bring their home with them, the adjoining 2E RV Guest Ranch Resort has more than 20 full-hookup sites and a club house with a full kitchen. Its close proximity to the historic town of Bandera provides families an opportunity to shop for Western wear and chow down on some of the best home-cooked Mexican food and barbecue in the state.
Location: 810 FM 470, Bandera, Texas, about 280 miles south of Dallas-Fort Worth
Contact: 830/796-3628
Learn more: twinelmranch.com
Top photo of BlissWood Bed & Breakfast courtesy of Skeeter Hagler Photography
