Looking for cowboy charm and city convenience? Head to Mesquite, Texas! Just east of Dallas, Mesquite is known for rodeo thrills, Southern eats, and family-friendly fun. Whether you're catching a bull ride, shopping local markets, or exploring parks and trails, Mesquite delivers a Texas-sized mix of tradition and entertainment.
Mesquite, TX Highlights:
- Cheer at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo: Experience live rodeo action in the “Rodeo Capital of Texas.”
- Explore Downtown Mesquite: Stroll historic buildings, shop local vendors, and grab coffee or BBQ in a revitalized hub.
- Hike or bike at Samuell Farm: Escape into nature with scenic trails, picnic spots, and fishing ponds.
- Catch a show at Mesquite Arts Center: Enjoy concerts, visual arts, and cultural events year-round.
- Shop and dine at Town East Mall: One of the largest shopping centers in the area with plenty of food and fashion options.
Best Time to Visit Mesquite, TX
The best time to visit Mesquite is during the spring and fall (March–May and September–November). These seasons offer warm days and cool evenings, perfect for outdoor events, rodeo nights, and exploring local parks. Summer can be hot but is great for water parks and evening concerts.
How to Get to Mesquite, TX
- By Car: Located just off I-635 and I-30, Mesquite is a short 20-minute drive east of downtown Dallas.
- By Air: Fly into Dallas Love Field (20 min) or Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (35–40 min) and drive or Uber to Mesquite.
- By Public Transit: While DART light rail does not reach Mesquite, buses connect from nearby Dallas neighborhoods.
Where to Stay in Mesquite, TX
- Hampton Inn & Suites Mesquite – Next to the rodeo arena with free breakfast and an outdoor pool.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mesquite – Comfortable, convenient location for families or business travelers.
- Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott – Modern rooms with great service near shopping and dining options.
Best Things to Do in Mesquite, TX
⮕ Mesquite Arts Theatre
See live performances and enjoy exciting local talent on an affordable night out.
Mesquite Arts Theatre is a non-profit corporation established in 1984 in Mesquite, Texas, by the theatre-loving group of friends who thought it was time that their town had a community theatre. Their first rehearsal space was at a local church. The first two shows were performed at Mesquite High School. They performed such great plays as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. For a while, the theatre worked from the abandoned church owned by the City of Mesquite, making their own stage and borrowing equipment. Finally in 1995 the city bought an abandoned hospital and renovated it to become partly the Black Box Theater, and partly the Mesquite Arts Center. In 1996, Mesquite Community Theatre opened their first season in their new facility where they work today. Through all these difficult times, the theatre gained a reputation for high production standards and quality plays season after season.
1527 N Galloway Ave, Mesquite, TX 75149, Phone: 972-216-8126
⮕ Opal Lawrence Historical Park
Tour preserved buildings and explore local history on a peaceful weekend trip.
The Opal Lawrence Historical Park is a 13-acre historical park in Mesquite, Texas, which celebrates the farming community of north central Texas. The farmstead complex showcases the typical evolution of domestic buildings between the 1870s and the late 20th century on the blackland prairie and North Texas plains. Lawrence family members lived at the home until 1995. .The Opal Lawrence house, which is the centerpiece of the Opal Lawrence Historical Park, showcases the farming lifestyle of one of the earliest Mesquite families. Its style is considered Texas prairie vernacular and is in the same condition as it was when it was built. It is listed as Texas Historical Landmark. There is also a late 1800s barn, a log cabin and a nature trail.
701-711 E Kearney St, Mesquite, TX 75149-2611
⮕ Mesquite Aviation
Learn to fly or book a tour on an unusual adventure with sights.
Mesquite Aviation offers visitors fantastic way of seeing Mesquite and the surrounds from the bird-eye perspective and flying enthusiasts to finally fulfill their dream of learning to fly. Located at Mesquite Metro Airport, Mesqite Aviation offers aircraft rental, tours, discovery flights, aerial photography and professional pilot training. Their Discovery Flight! Allows people to see how it feels flying during a half-hour affordable flight while sitting in the cockpit and experience the thrills of climbing, turning, descending and landing. Mesqite Aviation highly trained instructor can help you get Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI and CFII certificates. For those who just want to enjoy the views, Mesquite Aviation offers short or longer flights in their Cessna 172. The flight offers a great birthday or anniversary gift, or a surprise for your Valentine.
1130 Airport Blvd Suite 100, Mesquite, TX 75181, Phone: 972-222-3546
Where to Eat:
⮕ El Fenix Mexican Restaurants
Savor Tex-Mex classics and enjoy a cheap, flavorful family meal.
El Fenix is an iconic chain of Mexican restaurants that have been around for more than 100 years and are credited for inventing what we know today as Tex-Mex cuisine. Their Mesqite location is large, beautiful hacienda-style restaurant with massive carved Mexican furniture, cozy private banquettes and lot of traditional Mexican art and textiles. The menu is traditional Tex-Mex, Mexican food adapted to American taste, today a cuisine in itself and the kind of food Texans cannot live without. Enjoy their famous tortilla soup, a combo plate of your favorites, or even a good old steak.
6122, 3904 Towne Crossing Blvd, Mesquite, TX 75150, Phone: 972-279-8900
⮕ Bull's Pen Cafe
Grab hearty comfort food and relax during an easy, affordable lunch stop.
Bull’s Pen Café is a spacious restaurant in Mesquite, Texas, with comfortable, unpretentious décor. Bull’s Pen is family-owned and operated and it serves traditional American cuisine as well as their family version of Tex-Mex, with a menu of everyone’s favorites such as fried chicken and pork chops. All dishes are freshly prepared for each guest and the restaurant prides itself on its exceptional service. It is a popular place to bring a family for a nice meal. The portions are generous and the beers are cold. Bull’s Pen is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It also provides catering.
717 N Bryan Belt Line Rd, Mesquite, TX 75149, Phone: 972-203-9150
If you are interested in local events:
- Mesquite Championship Rodeo (summer) – Weekly rodeo shows with live music, food, and fun for all ages.
- Downtown Farmers Market (spring–fall) – Shop local produce, crafts, and baked goods on Saturdays.
- Real. Texas. Festival. (April) – Celebration of Mesquite’s culture with rides, rodeo events, and live entertainment.
If you are looking for unique day trips within 30 Minutes to 2 Hours of Mesquite, TX:
- Dallas (20–30 min) – Visit the Dallas Arboretum, museums, and vibrant food scene downtown.
- White Rock Lake (20 min) – Ideal for biking, kayaking, and relaxing at the Dallas Arboretum nearby.
- Plano (30 min) – Enjoy shopping at Legacy West or explore the Heritage Farmstead Museum.
- Terrell (35 min) – Explore charming shops, historic buildings, and the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum.
- Canton (1 hr) – Come for First Monday Trade Days, one of the biggest flea markets in the U.S.
- Lake Ray Hubbard (15–20 min) – Go boating, fishing, or enjoy lakeside dining in nearby Rockwall.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Where is Mesquite located?
- Mesquite is a suburban city east of Dallas, Texas, mostly in Dallas County.
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What is Mesquite known for?
- Mesquite is called the "Rodeo Capital of Texas" and is designated as a Tree City USA.
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What historical attractions are in Mesquite?
- The Opal Lawrence Historical Park is a 13-acre park that celebrates the farming communities of central Texas.
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What aviation experiences does Mesquite offer?
- Mesquite Aviation offers tours of the city skies and pilot training programs.
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What cultural attractions can be found in Mesquite?
- The Mesquite Arts Center features a Freedom Park exhibit, which includes a 15-foot beam recovered from the remains of Ground Zero.
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What outdoor activities are available in Mesquite?
- The city has 76 parks and 4.25 miles of hiking and biking trails.
Plan Your Trip