Dallas Cowboys Travel Guide for Fans

Dallas is one of the highest-demand NFL travel markets in the league, and a Dallas Cowboys home weekend ranks at the top of every serious football fan's priority list regardless of allegiance. The Cowboys play home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which sits 20 miles west of downtown Dallas and 20 miles east of Fort Worth in the Arlington Entertainment District next door to Globe Life Field where the Rangers play. The Loews Arlington Hotel, the Live! by Loews Arlington, the Sheraton Arlington, and the Texas Rangers Hilton all sit walking distance to the gates, while the Joule Dallas, the Adolphus, and the Ritz-Carlton Dallas downtown all sit a 25-to-30-minute rideshare from the venue. AT&T Stadium opened in 2009, hosted Super Bowl XLV in February 2011, will host games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup including a semifinal, and runs a retractable roof plus retractable end-zone doors that turn the building into the largest indoor-outdoor venue in football. That layout matters more than first-time visitors expect. Where you stay, how you get to the venue, and how early you arrive all connect into one decision.

Demand for Cowboys tickets and Dallas hotels increases sharply for division matchups against the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders, plus high-profile primetime games and visits from the Chiefs, 49ers, or any contender. Hotels in Arlington near AT&T, in downtown Dallas, in the Uptown district, and in Fort Worth all serve different parts of the trip, and ticket pricing shifts based on opponent and seat location, which is why Travel Packages remove the guesswork. Aligning hotels with tickets early is the difference between a smooth Dallas trip and one built around freeway frustration. Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages bundle tickets, hotels, and optional flights into a single booking, which is the most efficient way to lock in the right combination before availability tightens.

This Dallas Cowboys travel guide breaks down how to plan the trip properly. Where to stay near AT&T Stadium and across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, how to get to the venue from DFW Airport or Dallas Love Field, where to eat across the Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex, and steakhouse scenes, what tailgating actually looks like in the lots around the building, the best Cowboys tickets at every price tier, and how to bundle tickets, hotels, and flights into a single Travel Package through Elite Sports Tours.

Table of Contents

• Why Every Cowboys Fan Should Travel for Games
• The Best Hotels Near AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games
• How to Get to AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games
• Top Restaurants Near AT&T Stadium
• Tailgating at Dallas Cowboys Games
• Best Seats and Ticket Options at Dallas Cowboys Games
• Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tours at AT&T Stadium
• Where the Dallas Cowboys Stay on the Road
• FAQs About Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages and Tickets

Why Every Cowboys Fan Should Travel for Games

Dallas is the most-requested NFL travel market in the league, and that has everything to do with what the Cowboys franchise represents. The team carries the "America's Team" identity, leads the league in merchandise sales and TV ratings, and home Sundays at AT&T Stadium consistently sell out regardless of the team's record on the field. The crowd noise inside AT&T during a primetime Cowboys game can match any indoor NFL venue, and the silver-and-blue sea fills the parking lots by mid-morning every home Sunday from September through January.

What separates a Dallas Cowboys trip from other NFL markets is the combination of venue spectacle and Texas-sized dining. AT&T Stadium itself is the destination: the retractable roof, the retractable end-zone doors, the column-free interior, and the 60-yard center-hung HD video board that hangs over the field. The venue hosts the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Big 12 Championship, college football championship games, WrestleMania, and major concerts year-round. Beyond the venue, Dallas-Fort Worth delivers Texas BBQ at Pecan Lodge and Lockhart Smokehouse, Tex-Mex at Mi Cocina and El Fenix, steakhouses at Pappas Bros and Bob's Steak and Chop House, and the Stockyards experience over in Fort Worth. For division matchups against Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, plus marquee primetime visits, those home dates fill quickly, and Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages clients tend to book six to eight months in advance for those games.

The Arlington Entertainment District layout is also a real factor. AT&T Stadium sits next door to Globe Life Field where the Rangers play, with Texas Live! the dining-and-entertainment complex between the two venues. Travelers who book the Loews Arlington hotel can walk to the AT&T gates in under 15 minutes, and travelers who book downtown Dallas hotels at the Joule or the Ritz-Carlton can rideshare to the gates in 25 to 30 minutes via Interstate 30. Travelers building Travel Packages get more out of the trip when they treat the Dallas weekend as a full DFW getaway rather than a single Sunday outing.

The Best Hotels Near AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games

Where you stay sets the tone for the entire Dallas Cowboys trip. AT&T Stadium sits in Arlington with a hotel pocket that has expanded significantly since the Loews Arlington opened in 2024, so the strongest options for a Cowboys weekend cluster in three areas: Arlington near the venue itself, downtown Dallas for the city-destination angle, and Fort Worth Stockyards for travelers who want a different Texas vibe. The Loews Arlington Hotel, the Live! by Loews Arlington, the Sheraton Arlington, the Texas Rangers Hilton, the Joule Dallas, the Adolphus, the Crescent Hotel, the Ritz-Carlton Dallas, the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth, and Hotel Drover all sit within a walk to a 35-minute rideshare of the gates depending on neighborhood.

The decision usually comes down to which Dallas-Fort Worth area matches the trip. The Loews Arlington and the Live! by Loews Arlington sit at the upper end with direct walking access to AT&T Stadium and pair well with travelers building a multi-day Travel Package with a Texas Live! Saturday night. The Joule Dallas, the Adolphus, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Rosewood Mansion handle the upscale downtown angle for travelers who want the Dallas city base. The Crescent Hotel handles the Uptown design-forward setup. The Worthington Renaissance and Hotel Drover handle the Fort Worth Stockyards angle. The Sheraton Arlington and the Texas Rangers Hilton handle the value-tier Arlington base near the venue. Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages through Elite Sports Tours feature these hotels selected for proximity to the venue, neighborhood fit, and Cowboys home ticket logistics.

For the complete breakdown of every property near the venue with distances, loyalty programs, and Dallas Cowboys fan-specific notes, read the Best Hotels Near AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games guide.

How to Get to AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games

Getting to AT&T Stadium requires planning around Dallas-Fort Worth metro traffic on game day. DFW International Airport sits 12 miles north of the venue and connects via rideshare in 20 to 25 minutes depending on traffic, while Dallas Love Field sits 20 miles northeast with a 25-to-30-minute rideshare. From most downtown Dallas hotels, the route to AT&T runs west on Interstate 30 and takes 25 to 35 minutes via rideshare on a Cowboys Sunday, longer for primetime kickoffs. From the Loews Arlington and properties in the Arlington Entertainment District, the walk to the gates takes under 15 minutes.

For Cowboys fans driving in for a home game, parking lots and garages around AT&T Stadium require a pre-purchased pass for proximity, with options ranging from the Lots 1 through 15 immediately adjacent to the building to overflow lots at the Globe Life Field parking structures and across Randol Mill Road. The Arlington Via Rideshare service operates throughout the Entertainment District and offers a flat-rate alternative to Uber and Lyft on Cowboys home Sundays, which is unique to Arlington among NFL markets. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft operate throughout DFW with designated drop-off zones near AT&T, though pickup after the game can take longer due to road closures and demand. Travel Packages through Elite Sports Tours include hotels close enough to walk or short-rideshare that many travelers skip driving entirely on game day.

For the complete breakdown of driving routes, parking locations, Arlington Via timing, and rideshare access, read the How to Get to AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games guide.

Top Restaurants Near AT&T Stadium for Cowboys Fans

Dallas-Fort Worth has one of the strongest food scenes in the South, and the strongest restaurants for a Cowboys weekend run from the Texas BBQ institutions through the Tex-Mex corridor and the Dallas steakhouse heavyweights. These are the spots the Elite Sports Tours team recommends to Travel Packages clients first.

Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum is the institution every traveler needs to hit at least once. The brisket, the beef ribs (when they have them), and the Hot Mess loaded sweet potato are the orders that define modern Dallas BBQ. The location sits a 30-minute rideshare from AT&T Stadium, which makes it an easy Saturday lunch stop on the way to a Sunday home weekend. Lines on Cowboys Sundays are real and arriving early matters. Lockhart Smokehouse in the Bishop Arts District handles the central-Texas brisket-and-sausage approach with the original Kreuz Market sausage that defines the genre.

Cattleack Barbeque in Farmers Branch is the higher-end Dallas BBQ experience that opens only a few days a week, with the Wagyu brisket and beef rib that Texas Monthly has put on its top-fifty list multiple times. Goldee's Barbecue in Fort Worth takes the cross-metro pilgrimage for travelers willing to drive 40 minutes west, and the brisket has earned the Texas Monthly number-one ranking in recent rankings. Heim Barbecue in Fort Worth is the more accessible Cowtown BBQ stop with the Bacon Burnt Ends as the signature.

For Tex-Mex, Mi Cocina handles the upscale-modern angle with locations across the metro, El Fenix in downtown Dallas is the Tex-Mex institution dating to 1918, and Mia's on Lemmon Avenue is the family-run spot that has anchored Dallas Tex-Mex for decades. For steakhouses, Pappas Bros Steakhouse in downtown Dallas handles the dry-aged ribeye and one of the strongest wine lists in the South, Bob's Steak and Chop House at the Omni Dallas is the no-nonsense Texas steakhouse with the giant glazed carrot, and Nick and Sam's in Uptown handles the design-forward steakhouse angle.

For something quick before kickoff, the Texas Live! complex directly between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field handles the in-and-out crowd with multiple counter-service options including PBR Texas. The Tipsy Cow at Live! by Loews handles the casual Saturday-night beer-and-burger setup. None of these restaurants require staying near the venue if your Travel Package places you in any DFW property, since rideshare distances are manageable across the metro with the right timing.

Tailgating at Dallas Cowboys Games

Tailgating around AT&T Stadium is one of the strongest tailgating cultures in the NFL, and the Arlington surface-lot setup gives the lots a space-and-scale advantage that more compact NFL venues cannot match. The lots immediately around the building open hours before kickoff and fill with Dallas Cowboys fans running grills, smokers, tents, and full setups in the available spaces. The atmosphere on a Cowboys Sunday is louder and more BBQ-driven than first-time visitors expect, with smoke from full briskets and ribs rolling across the lots from morning through kickoff.

Access to the surface lots is tied directly to a pre-purchased parking pass, and demand increases significantly for division matchups against Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, plus visits from the Chiefs, 49ers, or any NFC playoff contender. Without a pass, lot access for traveling Cowboys fans is limited to walking through and observing rather than setting up. The Lots 1 through 15 immediately around AT&T are the primary tailgating destinations, with overflow gathering at the Globe Life Field parking structures across the Arlington Entertainment District. Operational rules apply across all lots: open-flame grills and smokers are permitted in surface lots but not in garages, alcohol consumption is allowed within private setups in permitted areas, and security presence increases closer to kickoff.

For travelers without a parking setup, walking through the active lots before heading inside is the simplest way to experience the Dallas Cowboys tailgating culture. Texas Live! between AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field also functions as a pre-game gathering zone with bars, food, and live music on Cowboys Sundays. For travelers staying at the Loews Arlington or the Live! by Loews, walking directly to the venue eliminates the parking decision entirely.

Best Seats and Tickets at Dallas Cowboys Games

The seating geography inside AT&T Stadium is one of the most ambitious in the NFL, and that makes the ticket selection important enough to get right the first time. The lower bowl along the sidelines delivers the closest connection to the field, with sections in the lower 100s offering the strongest sightlines for actual football. Lower-end-zone tickets in sections behind the goalposts give a different angle, with views that work best when the Cowboys are driving toward your section. These tickets sit at the higher end of the price tier and are usually the first to tighten when Travel Packages clients book division games or marquee primetime visits.

Club-level tickets in the 200s sit above the lower bowl and combine elevated sightlines with indoor concourse access, shorter concession lines, and the various premium-club spaces inside AT&T. The Hall of Fame Club, the Miller Lite Club, and the Silver Club are some of the most ambitious stadium-club setups in the NFL for travelers who want the upgraded experience. For travelers who want premium experiences, suite tickets and club tickets are bundled into Travel Packages and pair cleanly with the Loews Arlington or the Joule Dallas. Upper deck tickets in the 400s remain the value pick at AT&T, and the elevation provides a full-field perspective plus a direct view of the 60-yard center-hung video board, which is part of the venue experience for many fans. The retractable roof keeps every level comfortable regardless of weather, which is one of the underrated advantages of Cowboys seats compared to open-air NFL venues.

For section-by-section seating analysis with ticket recommendations by budget, read the Best Seats and Ticket Options at Dallas Cowboys Games guide.

Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tours at AT&T Stadium

Behind-the-scenes tours of AT&T Stadium are some of the most comprehensive in the NFL and can be a strong half-day add-on for Cowboys travelers in town for a long weekend. Tour routes inside the building typically include the sideline-level walkthrough, the home locker room area, the press box, the Miller Lite Club, the suite level overlooking the playing surface, and the contemporary art collection on display throughout the venue. Tour availability does change with the home schedule, the Cotton Bowl Classic in late December, the Big 12 Championship, college football championship windows, WrestleMania prep when applicable, and concert touring, so confirming dates with the team organization directly is the right move when planning a Dallas trip. Travel Packages can be timed around tour availability when fans flag the request at booking.

For tour schedules, route details, and bookable Dallas Cowboys travel add-ons, read the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tours at AT&T Stadium guide.

Game Day Planning for Dallas Cowboys Games

A clean Cowboys gameday comes down to preparation. Tickets need to be loaded onto phones the night before, not at the gate at 12:55 p.m. when the Wi-Fi is overloaded. Pre-purchased parking permits also matter at the AT&T lots. Lots fill early on Dallas Cowboys home Sundays, and walking up without a confirmation is how travelers end up parking outside the Arlington Entertainment District. Fans on Travel Packages with a Loews Arlington or downtown Dallas hotel typically walk or rideshare from the hotel and skip the parking decision entirely.

Dallas weather is rarely the variable it is in other NFL markets because AT&T runs a retractable roof that closes for cold or active rain. September and October games can hit the upper 90s with humidity in DFW, while late-November and December games swing to the 40s and 50s with occasional cold fronts. The retractable end-zone doors also open during mild weather for an indoor-outdoor feel that no other NFL venue can match. Layered clothing and sun protection both belong in the bag from early-season games onward.

Round it out with team gear, a pre-game tailgate plan if you have a parking pass, and a confirmed Travel Package through Elite Sports Tours. That eliminates the three biggest variables on any Dallas Cowboys trip: tickets in the right section, a property in the right DFW district, and flights into DFW International. Travel Packages fold all three into a single booking.

Where the Dallas Cowboys Stay on the Road

For Cowboys fans curious about the team's road logistics, NFL franchises typically use full-floor takeovers at four-and-five-star downtown properties with secure ballroom space for team meetings. The Dallas Cowboys are no different, and the team's road choices in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Washington follow the standard NFL pattern.

For the complete breakdown of where the Dallas Cowboys stay on the road and how travelers can book the same properties for road-game trips, read the Where the Dallas Cowboys Stay on the Road guide.

Plan Your Dallas Cowboys Trip With Elite Sports Tours

Dallas is the most travel-ready NFL city for fans of any allegiance, and a home game at AT&T Stadium belongs at the top of any serious NFL fan's list. The hard part is logistics. Finding the right hotel in the right DFW area, locking in tickets in the section that matters, and building flights, a hotel room, and tickets into a single schedule that works on a Cowboys home weekend.

That is what Elite Sports Tours does. The company bundles tickets with Dallas-area rooms and optional flights into Travel Packages, and has been booking these trips for years. Travel Packages cover every Cowboys home game on the calendar, and the Travel Packages team at Elite Sports Tours handles the moving pieces so fans do not have to manage four different vendors for one weekend. Every Travel Package includes tickets, hotel, and ticket-tier options in the right area at minimum, with optional flights and premium ticket upgrades available.

Browse current Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages and individual Travel Packages at the Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages page. For a customized Travel Package that includes a specific hotel preference, suite tickets, or flights from a particular city, the Elite Sports Tours travel team will build it.

FAQs About Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages and Tickets

How do I book Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages through Elite Sports Tours?

Visit the Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages page and select the home game to attend. The Elite Sports Tours travel team can bundle tickets, a Dallas-area hotel, tickets, and optional flights into a single booking. For custom Travel Packages with specific hotel or ticket requests, contact the Elite Sports Tours team directly.

What is the closest hotel to the venue?

The Loews Arlington Hotel sits closest to AT&T Stadium, as the closest hotel option, with under a 15-minute walk from the front of the property to the gates. The Live! by Loews Arlington, the Sheraton Arlington, and the Texas Rangers Hilton are all walking distance to the venue, making them the easiest hotel picks. Downtown Dallas options including the Joule, the Adolphus, and the Ritz-Carlton run 25 to 30 minutes via Interstate 30. All of these hotels are common picks on Travel Packages.

When should I book Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages and tickets?

For premium home games like division rivals against Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, plus marquee primetime visits and any matchup against the Chiefs or 49ers, Travel Packages and tickets should be booked six to eight months in advance. Cowboys home dates have tightened across the board given America's Team status. Travel Packages lock in tickets and a hotel together, which simplifies the timeline.

How do you get to AT&T Stadium on game day?

The simplest option for Arlington-based travelers is walking to the gates from the Loews Arlington or the Live! by Loews. From downtown Dallas, rideshare via Uber or Lyft takes 25 to 35 minutes via Interstate 30. Driving requires a pre-purchased parking pass at AT&T, while Arlington Via Rideshare operates throughout the Entertainment District as a flat-rate alternative. Fans on Travel Packages with an Arlington hotel typically walk to the gates with tickets ready.

How long do I need for a Dallas travel weekend?

Most travelers book a two-night stay, arriving Saturday and departing Monday. That gives fans a Saturday for a Pecan Lodge BBQ lunch, a Dallas Museum of Art or Sixth Floor Museum visit, a downtown hotel dinner, and a Texas Live! pre-game build before a full Sunday at AT&T. Three nights works well for fans who want to add a Fort Worth Stockyards day trip or a Rangers game at Globe Life when the schedules overlap. Travel Packages are flexible on the number of nights.

What is the weather like at AT&T Stadium?

Cowboys home games run from September through early January. Dallas weather ranges from the upper 90s with humidity in September to the 40s with occasional cold fronts in December. The retractable roof at AT&T closes for cold or active rain, and the retractable end-zone doors open during mild weather for an indoor-outdoor experience that no other NFL venue can match. The seating bowl stays comfortable regardless of the forecast outside.

Is tailgating allowed at Dallas Cowboys games?

Yes. Tailgating is allowed in designated surface lots around AT&T Stadium with a pre-purchased parking pass. The Lots 1 through 15 adjacent to the building are the primary tailgating destinations on Cowboys Sundays, and the BBQ-and-smoker tailgate culture is one of the strongest in the NFL. Without a parking pass, traveling fans can still walk through active lots or pre-game at Texas Live! between AT&T and Globe Life Field. Travel Packages can include parking add-ons on request.

Can I combine a Cowboys game with other Dallas-area sports or attractions?

Yes. Globe Life Field where the Rangers play sits next door to AT&T Stadium with Texas Live! between the two buildings, which makes a Saturday-night Rangers game and a Sunday Cowboys game a natural double-header when the schedules overlap. The Mavericks and Stars at the American Airlines Center downtown Dallas, plus the Fort Worth Stockyards 30 minutes west, all add weekend options for travelers building multi-event Travel Packages with Elite Sports Tours.

Explore More Dallas Cowboys Travel Resources

Planning a trip to see the Dallas Cowboys? These guides break down each part of the process so you can align tickets, hotels, and travel into one structured plan:

Best Hotels Near AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games: The full property breakdown near the venue for travelers with tickets and Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages.

How to Get to AT&T Stadium for Dallas Cowboys Games: Driving routes, parking, Arlington Via timing, and rideshare access for AT&T Stadium.

Best Seats and Ticket Options at Dallas Cowboys Games: Section-by-section seat analysis and tickets guide at AT&T Stadium.

Where the Dallas Cowboys Stay on the Road: Team hotel notes for road-game travelers.

Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tours at AT&T Stadium: Behind-the-scenes venue tour details.

Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages: Browse all current Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages with tickets and accommodations from Elite Sports Tours.

Editorial Note

This guide was written by the Elite Sports Tours team because Dallas is the most-requested NFL trip in the company's catalog regardless of fan allegiance. AT&T Stadium opened in 2009 with the largest column-free interior in football, the new Loews Arlington Hotel opened in 2024 to anchor the Entertainment District, and the depth of the Texas BBQ and Tex-Mex food scenes make it a higher-priority weekend than most travelers realize. Everything in this guide reflects what Elite Sports Tours is actively booking through Dallas Cowboys Travel Packages and individual Travel Package deals.

Travel Disclaimer

Dallas Cowboys home schedules, venue policies, Arlington Via routes, hotel availability, and ticket pricing all change throughout the season. Always confirm specific gameday details with the team organization, the hotel, and transport provider directly before traveling. Elite Sports Tours updates Travel Packages, tickets, and Travel Package availability as the schedule and venue policies change.

Updated April 2026