Plan your visit · Vol. III
Arrive like a local.
Everything you need to know before your first night on Cedar Springs — flights, hotels, weather, getting around, and what to wear.
Flights & arrival
Getting here.
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
15 minutes to Cedar Springs. Southwest’s hub. Smaller, faster, closer. Rideshare to The Strip runs $15-20. This is the airport locals use — if you can fly Southwest, choose Love Field.
DFW International (DFW)
30-40 minutes to Cedar Springs. The big one — American Airlines hub, international flights, every carrier. Rideshare runs $25-35. DART Orange Line connects to downtown if you want to save.
Pro tip: Skip the rental car
Cedar Springs is a four-block strip. Everything is walkable once you’re there. Use rideshare to get from the airport, then walk or Uber between neighborhoods. Parking on the Strip is tight on weekends and most bars don’t validate.
Hotels & neighborhoods
Where to stay.
Oak Lawn / Cedar Springs
Best for: walking to bars. You’re on The Strip. Roll out of bed and into JR’s patio. The Warwick Melrose is the classic choice — a historic boutique hotel one block from Cedar Springs.
Uptown
Best for: brunch + nightlife balance. 10-minute walk to Cedar Springs, tons of restaurant options on McKinney Ave. Hotel ZaZa and The Joule are strong picks.
Downtown
Best for: Pride 2026. Walking distance to the new Main Street parade route. 5-min rideshare to Cedar Springs. The Adolphus and The Statler are standouts.
Transportation
Getting around.
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft)
The default. Cedar Springs to Bishop Arts: $10-15. Cedar Springs to Deep Ellum: $8-12. Expect surge pricing after 2 AM on weekends — budget $20-30 for the ride home.
Walking
The Strip is four blocks — you can walk the whole thing in 10 minutes. The Katy Trail connects Uptown to Oak Lawn and is safe and lit until late.
DART Rail
Dallas’s light rail connects the airport, downtown, and Deep Ellum. Closest stop to Cedar Springs is Cityplace/Uptown (Red/Orange lines) — a 12-minute walk. $2.50 per ride.
E-scooters & Bikes
Lime scooters are everywhere in Uptown and Oak Lawn. Great for daytime hops between neighborhoods. Not recommended for late-night bar-hopping.
Climate & wardrobe
Weather & packing.
Spring (Mar-May)
70-85°F. Perfect patio weather. Light layers for evening. Occasional thunderstorms.
Summer (Jun-Aug)
95-105°F. Hot. Seriously hot. Sunscreen, water, light fabrics. Pride month is June — hydrate.
Fall (Sep-Nov)
70-85°F. The locals’ favorite season. Warm days, mild nights. Peak patio season.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
40-60°F. Mild by northern standards. A jacket for evening. Rare ice storms.
What to wear on The Strip
There is no dress code on Cedar Springs. Country boots at Round-Up, crop tops at Station 4, business casual at Alexandre’s. Wear whatever makes you feel like yourself. The only rule: comfortable shoes — you’ll be walking and dancing.
First-timer tips
Nightlife 101.
Cover charges
Most bars on the Strip are free. Station 4 charges $5-10 on weekend nights. Rose Room cabaret shows are ticketed ($15-25).
Tipping
$1-2 per drink at the bar. 18-20% at restaurants. Tip your drag performers — $1-5 per number is standard. Cash is king.
Hours
Texas law: last call is 2 AM. The Strip peaks between 11 PM and 1 AM on weekends. Weeknight events start earlier — 8-9 PM.
The bar crawl route
Start south: Sue Ellen’s or Cheat Code (happy hour). Walk north: JR’s patio, Round-Up for two-step, Station 4 for dancing. End north: Alexandre’s for a nightcap or Woody’s for karaoke. The whole walk is 10 minutes.
Drag shows
The Rose Room at Station 4 is legendary — Dallas’s premier drag cabaret. Shows Friday and Saturday, two per night. JR’s does Drag Race viewing parties on Wednesdays. Tip the queens in cash and cheer loud.
IDs & age
21+ at all bars. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID — out-of-state licenses and passports are accepted.
Etiquette & safety
Good to know.
Ask before you photograph
Not everyone on the Strip is out everywhere. Ask before taking photos that include other people. The rainbow crosswalks are fair game.
Everyone is welcome
Cedar Springs is for the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities — and allies. Respect pronouns, respect space, and you’ll be welcomed.
Get home safe
Use rideshare after dark. Walk with friends. Bars will let you wait inside for your ride. Read our safer routes guide.