Fort Worth - city in Texas, United States

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of approximately 661,000, it is Texas's 5th largest city. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, which has a population exceeding 6 million. Sometimes referred to as Cowtown, it is by far closer to its cowboy roots than neighboring Dallas. This article also covers North Richland Hills, a neighboring community.

Understand

Fort Worth grew from a military camp established at the close of the Mexican War by Gen. Winfield Scott, and named for Gen. William Jenkins Worth who fought in the war. Forty-two men of Company F, 2nd Dragoons, established the camp on June 6, 1849. The Fort Worth to Yuma, Arizona stage line was established in 1850. The city became the seat of Tarrant County 1860, and after the Civil War, it became a major shipping and supply depot for cattlemen.

Climate

Fort Worth is located in the American South, and has a subtropical climate with mild winters, hot summers, and a wet spring and fall in between. In winter and summer it can also be a very dry place, as it receives warmer, drier weather from the Mojave Desert in the west and the Great Plains in the north.

Winters are generally mild, with average highs in the mid to upper 50s (10-15 °C) and average lows around the freezing mark (0-5 °C). It is not uncommon for Winter days with highs in the upper 60s (~20°C) with the following days high temperature 20-30 degrees cooler. It may snow in Fort Worth a couple times a year, and occasionally winter temperatures will not get above freezing (32°F, 0 °C), but for the most part winter is just relatively dry and cool. There is, however, the danger of freezing rain and ice storms.

Spring and fall bring very pleasant temperatures, but spring is also known for its storms. Fort Worth is at the Southern tip of Tornado Alley, and springtime weather can be quite volatile and severe storms often occur. Summers are hot and dry - but often humid - with temperatures frequently surpassing 100 °F (38 °C).

Average precipitation in Fort Worth is 33 inches (830 mm) per year.

Neighborhoods

  • TCU (Texas Christian University), 2900 S University Dr, 32.708451°, -97.361499°. The TCU area is dominated by the campus. Some unique restaurants and boutiques are mixed with standard college fare, but the campus is beautiful and shows up in force (and in Purple) for gamedays 2018-02-17
  • Sundance Square (Downtown Fort Worth), 400 Main St, 32.7549445°, -97.3314084°. Sundance Square is a city park in downtown that plays host to multiple events year round. Night and weekend parking is free and additional security patrols not only keep the area safe, but also can help you find your next destination. 2018-02-17
  • Stockyards, 32.7888519°, -97.3491774°. A national historic district, the Stockyards is the iconic background for which Fort Worth is known. The backdrop is all things western from cattle drives and BBQ to country music and belt buckles. No trip to Fort Worth is complete without a quick stop here. 2018-02-17
  • The Cultural District, 32.750624°, -97.362143°. Home to world class museum, the stock show & rodeo as well as numerous restaurants and merchants, this area hosts many of Fort Worth's main attractions. Located across the Trinity River, 2 miles west of downtown, this area could be thought of as uptown. The area is also known as West 7th. 2018-02-17
  • Near Southside, 32.73225°, -97.33486°. Also called South Main and Magnolia, this is the area where artists and more liberal mindsets are welcome. The area hosts multiple of the cities micro breweries, bars and restaurants. The area is undergoing a renaissance with new building and merchants, but the growth is keeping with the vibe of the current culture. 2018-02-17
  • Southwest Fort Worth (Camp Bowie, Hulen, Clearfork), 32.7026386°, -97.4156228°. While not a single neighborhood, Southwest Fort Worth has a collection of different shopping areas and neighborhood restaurant clusters. 2018-02-17

Get in

By plane

All the major American carriers and many international ones provide scheduled passenger service into the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 📍 (IATA: DFW), located from downtown Fort Worth. This airport is one of three major hubs for American Airlines. American Airlines is also headquartered in Fort Worth.

By train

The Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center 📍 at 1001 Jones St is the central hub for Amtrak inter-city trains and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter trains to Dallas, along with Greyhound inter-city bus service and local bus service provided by the T. TRE trains can provide a stress-free way to travel between the two cities during rush hour and also serve the more historic T&P Station 📍 at 1600 Throckmorton St on the south side of downtown.

Amtrak's Texas Eagle provides daily service between Chicago, Illinois and San Antonio, Texas with stops in Fort Worth and Dallas. Also, Amtrak's Heartland Flyer provides daily service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, and points in between. Woefully underfunded, passenger train service in the United States is a slow but scenic way to travel, if you aren't too concerned about arriving on time.

Alternatively, arrive from DFW Airport on TEXRail, another commuter train that provides direct rail service from the airport to downtown Fort Worth.

By car

Fort Worth may be easily reached via I-20 or I-30 from the east or west, or by I-35W from the north or south. I-35 splits into two branches north of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, the west branch going to Fort Worth and the east branch (I-35E) to Dallas. The branches rejoin to the south.

Car rental companies include:

By bus

Get around

Mass transit

Buses and trains via Trinity Metro link many areas of town over mid-range distances. Trinity Rail Express has commuter train service between downtown Fort Worth, DFW Airport and downtown Dallas. Service is Monday through Saturday. No scheduled services on Sundays and most major holidays.

Molly the Trolley bus service provides local public transportation in areas like downtown Fort Worth, the Historic Stockyards, and to Sundance Square during lunchtime. Hours of operation vary by route.

By bike

  • Fort Worth B-cycle. Bike sharing program with stations throughout downtown. $8/24 hours; $15/3 days; $20/week 2018-02-19

See

Tarrant County Courthouse

Museums

Attractions

Downtown convention center

  • Fort Worth Water Gardens, 1502 Commerce St, 32.747778°, -97.326667°, +1 817 392-7111. A man-made watery setting to get away from the hustle and bustle downtown. For some awesome architecture, check out the 1933 Beaux Arts Style designed post office building at 251 Lancaster and Texas & Pacific Railway Station at 221 Lancaster (across the street from the south edge of the water gardens). 2018-04-07
  • Burnett Park, 32.75041°, -97.33362°. Located on land donated by cattle baron Samuel Burk Burnett, features sculptures, pools, and granite walkways. Vast green parks and surrounding network of major lakes offer abundant opportunities for water sports and outdoor recreation.
  • The Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, 32.74025°, -97.36337°, +1 817-871-7686. The sprawling gardens includes a large flower garden, lawn, indoor tropical forest, and a beautiful Japanese garden. Admission: $12 adults, seniors $10, children $5 (May 2022). Japanese garden additional $3.

Do

The Modern Art Museum

Zoological Parks and Theme Parks

  • The Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Parkway, 32.72373°, -97.35594°, +1 817-759-7555. M-F 10AM-5PM; Sa Su 10AM-6PM. Come see the animals and interactive exhibits. $7-10.50 (Wednesdays are half-price)
  • SeaQuest Fort Worth, 1974 Green Oaks Rd (located in Ridgmar Mall), +1 817 731-5357. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su Noon-6PM. Kind of a minor aquarium but with some quixotic activities like "Fishy Kisses" and "Snorkel With The Stingrays" - these cost extra, naturally. $15.99 adults (over 12), $9.99 kids, $12.99 seniors/military 2022-01-17
  • NRH2O Family Water Park, Grapevine Highway (#26) between Precinct Line and North Harwood Road (in nearby North Richland Hills), 32.8509°, -97.1931°, +1 817 427-6500. Taller than 48 inches M-Th $20, F-Su $25; shorter than 48 in, military, senior M-Th $17, F-Su $20. 17-acre park with 23 attractions, including the country’s longest uphill water roller coaster. 2021-07-10

Hiking and Natural Areas

Sports

  • TCU Horned Frogs, 32.70901°, -97.36712°. The sports teams representing Texas Christian University, have branded themselves as "Fort Worth's team". The Frogs are best known for their football program, a rising national power in the first part of this century. TCU now competes in the Big 12 Conference. Most of TCU's athletic venues are on campus, with the best-known being Amon G. Carter Stadium (football) and Schollmaier Arena (basketball).
  • Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Cir, Fort Worth, TX 76177, 33.0363°, -97.2816°, +1 817 215-8500. Catch NASCAR and other events here, such as an extravagant Christmas display. 2022-01-17

Events

  • Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival. Ranked 8th in the country by the Art Fair Source Book and the Harris List, and number one in Texas, Main St. hosts tens of thousands of people annually during the four-day visual arts, entertainment and cultural event. Main St. showcases a nationally recognized fine art and fine craft juried art fair, live concerts, performance artists and street performers on the streets of downtown Fort Worth-stretching nine blocks on Main Street from the Tarrant County Courthouse to the Fort Worth Convention Center. free
  • Sundance Square Parade of Lights. Late November. Watch colorful illuminated floats, beautiful antique cars, marching bands, equestrian units, horse-drawn carriages and a cast of delightful characters dressed in their holiday best. The unforgettable parade and an annual visit from Santa Claus and his elves will make the Sundance Square Parade of Lights a fun-filled holiday experience for the entire family! Free.
  • Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, at Alliance Airport north of downtown. Features air stunts and formations like the Blue Angels. Typically around 3rd weekend of October.

Learn

Buy

Shopping Malls

Other

Eat

Fort Worth is similar to many Texas cities in that there are two main food groups, BBQ and Tex-Mex. While tastes are changing and multiple options are available, these will still be your best two bets in the city. A growing food truck scene is starting to make a presence in the city, and some of the local breweries are making drinks worth recommending to friends.

Budget

  • Angelo's Bar-B-Que, 2533 White Settlement Rd, 32.75889°, -97.35239°, +1 817 332-0357. M-Sa 11AM-10PM. Tied with Railhead (below) for the best BBQ in the southwest. A Fort Worth classic. This is in an old wooden barn, which adds a great atmosphere to the dining experience. The pork ribs were very tasty and the large cold beers were particularly nice. Meats melt in the mouth and beans are awesome. They actually bbq on premises which some of the other place don't. It's about a 5-min drive out of the downtown area. $10 for a full plate with one or two meats and three sides.
  • Railhead Smokehouse, 2900 Montgomery St, 32.73112°, -97.37058°, +1 817 738-9808. M-Sa 11AM-9PM. Tied with Angelo's for the best BBQ in the southwest.
  • Fuzzy's Taco Shop, 2917 W Berry St (Two locations), 32.70598°, -97.35902°, +1 817-924-7943. Su-M 7AM-10PM, Tu-W 7AM-11PM, Th-Sa 7AM-2AM. Excellent taco dive - lots of food for cheap, great fish tacos, late hours, cheap drinks, all without leaving the affluent TCU area.
  • Kincaid's. M-Sa 11AM-6PM. Texas' (perhaps America's) best burgers. Original Camp Bowie location is in a kitschy old grocery story.
  • The Love Shack, 110 Exchange Ave (in the Stockyards), 32.788748°, -97.348657°, +1 817 740-8812. Su-Tu 11AM-9PM, W-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM. Excellent unique hamburger created by celebrity Ft. Worth chef, Tim Love. Daily flavored milk shakes. Live music. (Possible cover charge on weekends.) Cash only.

Mid-range

  • Nonna Tata, 1400 W. Magnolia Ave, 32.73076°, -97.34046°. Lunch Tu-Th 11AM-3PM; Dinner M-Th 5:30PM-9PM, F 5:30PM-10PM. Certainly one of Fort Worth's smallest restaurants, Nonna Tata is also one of its best. With only 21 seats indoors and another 30 outdoors, the restaurant fills up early and often develops long waits on weekends. Absolutely amazing authentic Italian food, with a menu that changes weekly and amiable service. BYOB, cash only, no reservations. $15-30
  • Central Market, 4651 West Freeway, 32.73003°, -97.38909°, +1 817 989-4700. 7AM-9PM Daily. DFW's best gourmet grocery also has a formidable cafe attached, with amazing, huge custom sandwiches, cheap and great pizzas and international noodle dishes made for you, a mind-boggling prepared food section and $15 meals for two bagged and ready to go. Any kind of food you could want, done extremely well, for grocery story prices, plus a generous selection of wine and beer. $5-15
  • Chef Point Cafe, 5901 Watauga Rd., 32.86097°, -97.25346°, +1 817 656-0080. M-Th 11AM-9PM, Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 11AM-8PM. Fine dining in a Conoco station.
  • Fred's Texas Cafe, 2730 Western Center Blvd, 32.86012°, -97.3205°, +1 817 232-0111. M-Sa 10AM-midnight, Sunday Brunch. The "Outlaw Chef" cooks genuine Southern/Texican food in one of the most unique and exciting ways you'll find in Fort Worth. Super laid-back setting, with genuine Texas food and genuine Texas music. Happy hour before 6 and whenever it's raining. $8-12
  • Hunter Brothers' H3 Ranch, 109 E Exchange Ave, 32.78911°, -97.34889°, +1 817 624-1246. For the cowboy tourist. A strong cowtown theme predominates in this Stockyards-area steakhouse. Come for the atmosphere first, the food second. $18-30
  • Joe T. Garcia's, 2201 N. Commerce St., 32.78450°, -97.34818°, +1 817 626-4356. A Fort Worth legend, dine family style in a large converted mansion or in its beautiful expansive gardens with lush vegetation and calming pools; choose from one of two menu options nightly. There is frequently a line around the block in good weather, so arrive early or be prepared to wait. Great margaritas. Cash only (ATM on site).
  • La Familia, 841 Foch St., 32.750087°, -97.356291°, +1 817-870-2002. Tu–Th 11AM–9PM, F 11AM–9:30PM, Sa 9AM–9:30PM, Su M closed. Mexican restaurant locally renowned for their excellent Tex-Mex and friendly owner (Al) and staff.
  • King Tut, 1512 West Magnolia Ave., 32.73085°, -97.34271°, +1 817 335-3051. M-F 11AM-2PM & 5PM-9PM; Sa 5PM-9PM. Egyptian restaurant with excellent Middle Eastern cuisine.
  • Spiral Diner, 1314 W. Magnolia, 32.73083°, -97.34012°, +1 817 3-EATVEG. Tu-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-5PM. The only strictly vegan restaurant in Fort Worth, Spiral Diner has an eclectic menu that will not let you down on taste. One of Fort Worth's finest restaurants regardless of dietary restriction.
  • Uncle Julio's, 5301 Camp Bowie Blvd, 32.73445°, -97.40097°, +1 817 377-2777. Excellent and diverse Tex-Mex menu, friendly staff, decent happy hour before 6PM. $8-30

Splurge

  • Bonnell's, 4259 Bryant Irvin Rd, 32.68952°, -97.41123°, +1 817 738-5489. Lunch Tu-F 11AM-2:30PM, Dinner Tu-Sa 5:30PM-9:30PM. Chef Jon Bonnell's southwest-themed masterpiece.
  • Del Frisco's Steakhouse, 812 Main St, 32.75204°, -97.32984°, +1 817 877-3999. M-Th 5-10PM; F-Sa 5-11PM; Su 5-9PM. One of the finest steakhouses in the world, with an excellent wine list. It is, however, extremely expensive, and you will have to wait a little while even if you have a reservation. Don't come here for anything other than steak, but if you are looking for steak, it is hard to beat. $50+
  • Reata Restaurant, 310 Houston St, 32.75476°, -97.33262°, +1 817 336-1009. Lunch 11:30AM-2:30PM, Dinner 5PM to 10:30PM daily. One of the most widely acclaimed restaurants in Texas, and one of the first to bring "Cowboy cuisine" to the forefront of the refined American palate. Online reservation system.
  • Saint-Emilion, 3617 W 7th St, 32.75109°, -97.37069°, +1 817 737-2781. Tu-Sa 6PM-9PM. The best French country food in Fort Worth, and a cozy dining experience. $25-50

Sweets

  • Melt Icecream, 1201 W Magnolia Ave #115, 76104, 32.7304787°, -97.3382182°. Tiny ice cream parlor serving creative flavor combos frequently with lines out the door at multiple times in the day 2018-02-19

Drink

  • Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, 111 E 3rd St, 32.75567°, -97.33107°, +1 817 336-7468. The gameroom offers a place to play a game of pool, chess or darts. The shiny, faux-rock floor throughout is enhanced by the vast collection of vintage dinnerware adorning every wall. They have the largest selection of beer (225 varieties) around. Menu selections include Creamy Beer Cheese Soup, the Build-Your-Own Sausage and Cheese Plate, spicy sausage quesadillas and traditional bratwurst with German potato salad.
  • Chat Room Pub (The Chat), 1263 West Magnolia Ave, 32.730938371422496°, -97.33916759490967°, +1 817 922-8319. 3PM-2AM. Good drink selection in a chilled atmosphere.
  • The Usual, 1408 W. Magnolia Ave, 32.73076°, -97.34083°, +1 817 810-0114. A high-end craft cocktail bar popular with the hip Magnolia Avenue set. A somewhat mixed, gay-friendly spot with very modern decor and a nice but small patio out back. This is the place to go for expensive but very well-mixed takes on the classics, and an inspired cocktail menu. Try the Montpelier, which mixes bourbon, smoked maple syrup, Jamaican rum, and Italian vermouth.
  • Pouring Glory, 1001 Bryan Ave, 76104, 32.734043°, -97.3250209°. 50+ taps with local, regional and a few international flavors off the beaten path. Food is good enough to be a stand alone restaurant, but be careful of the pretzilla 2018-02-19

Breweries & distilleries

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Lockheed Martin Plant

Options ideal for travel to the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics plant: 200 N Grants Ln, adjacent to the Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (JRB, formerly Carswell Air Force Base):

Connect

Good cellular phone coverage by all major providers throughout the city and all major roadways. Internet hot-spots available at most Starbucks Coffee locations, DFW Airport, and FedEx Kinko's offices.

Daily newspaper:

Stay safe

As with any other large city, be vigilant in Fort Worth. The city's central arts and entertainment district is well policed, however, as so long as you make sure you lock your car and hide any valuables inside, all that you need is a little extra awareness of your surroundings. The city's freeways can be quite dangerous if you are not accustomed to driving in such high volumes of rapidly moving traffic; keep this in mind when you are planning a trip.

Areas to avoid after dark are the East Side, Southeast Side (especially in the Stop Six section), the Como neighborhood, and the Trails/Calmont neighborhood, as these places have high rates of gun crimes from armed robberies to shootings.

The Stockyards bar and club district can get rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights, but the nightlife at Sundance Square in Downtown is more laid back.

Cope

Gym workout

  • 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness (which now includes Ballys) have many locations throughout the area. If you have a regular membership with either of them from back home your membership is good here. Note that some memberships are only good for one location and will cost extra to access a different gym/club than the one you normally go to at home. Ask before leaving. Otherwise day passes range from $10-20. Bring a lock and towel.
  • Kadampa Meditation Center Texas, 2836 Stanley Avenue, 32.71005°, -97.34638°, +1 817-303-2700. Offers relaxation meditations and meditation classes to increase inner peace. 2021-09-06

Go next

  • Mineral Wells, home to Lake Mineral Wells State Park
  • Bridgeport, 30 miles to the northwest has a nice lake for boating and fishing.
  • Weatherford, 20 miles west of downtown Fort Worth.
  • Grapevine has a nice historic main street area and numerous wineries.
  • Glen Rose 50 miles southwest has Dinosaur Valley State Park and Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

Fort Worth

fortworthtexas.gov
Postal code:76101–7612476126–7612776129–761377614076147–76148761507615576161–7616476166761777617976180–761827618576191–7619376195–7619976244761027610376105761087611276114761157611676117761197612176124761307613476137761487616476182761927619376195761967618176198Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/ChicagoPopulation:918,915Coordinates:32.76, -97.33

Tarrant County

2nd-order administrative division

Texas

Primary administrative division

United States

usa.gov
Population:327.2 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (USD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50