If you only do one thing in Fort Worth, make it the Stockyards. This is where the city got its “Cowtown” name. Cattle came through here by the hundreds of thousands, and the old brick streets, saloons and livestock pens are still standing. It’s a working piece of history rather than a museum, and it’s about 20 minutes from our house.
The cattle drive
Twice a day, at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., real cowhands drive a herd of Texas longhorns down East Exchange Avenue. It takes about eight minutes from start to finish. It’s free, no tickets needed, and it runs nearly every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The weather can cancel it.
Find a spot in front of the Livestock Exchange Building or on the observation deck along East Exchange Avenue about 15 minutes early, especially on weekends. Kids love it, and so do the adults pretending not to.
New in 2026, a ticketed show called Legacy of the Longhorn runs Monday through Thursday afternoons inside the historic coliseum. It stretches the experience to about 45 minutes. The street drive is still free.
Rodeo and honky-tonks
On Friday and Saturday nights, Cowtown Coliseum hosts the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, with bull riding, barrel racing and roping in an arena that has run rodeos for more than a century. Recent schedules list a 7:30 p.m. start, which leaves time for the 4:00 p.m. cattle drive and dinner first.
After the rodeo, the honky-tonks pick up. Billy Bob’s Texas is the famous one, a huge country music hall with live shows and two-stepping late into the night. Mule Alley, a row of restored horse and mule barns, now holds Western shops and restaurants.
Getting there from Casita
Head northwest past downtown Fort Worth to the Stockyards. Without traffic it’s about 11 miles and 20 minutes. There’s paid parking in lots around the district. Once you’re parked, everything is walkable.
Eat and drink nearby
Cane Rosso on East Exchange Avenue serves wood-fired pizza and welcomes dogs on its patio. For a steak or barbecue dinner before the rodeo, Exchange Avenue and Mule Alley have plenty of options within a few minutes’ walk.
Make a weekend of it
Spend the next morning at the Cultural District museums, or walk Sundance Square downtown. If you’ve brought your dog, our dog-friendly Fort Worth guide has more patios and parks.
Then come home to a fenced backyard and a quiet street. Check our dates for your Stockyards weekend.
Tips from the house
- Plan around the cattle drive at 11:30 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. It's free, takes about eight minutes, and runs most days of the year.
- Stand near the Livestock Exchange Building on East Exchange Avenue for the best view of the herd.
- Do the 4:00 p.m. drive, then dinner, then the 7:30 p.m. rodeo on a Friday or Saturday night.
- Dogs on a leash are welcome to watch the cattle drive, as long as they stay calm around the longhorns.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The streets are brick and the district is best on foot.
Good to know
What time is the Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive?
Twice a day, at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Central time, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. It's free and depends on the weather.
When is the rodeo at the Stockyards?
The Stockyards Championship Rodeo runs Friday and Saturday nights at Cowtown Coliseum. Recent schedules list a 7:30 p.m. start. Confirm the time when you buy tickets.
Can I bring my dog to the Stockyards?
Leashed dogs are welcome to watch the cattle drive and walk the district, and several nearby restaurants have dog-friendly patios.
How far are the Stockyards from Arlington?
From our home near Lake Arlington, the Stockyards are about 11 miles, usually around 20 minutes by car.
Photo: Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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