Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

About

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a 66-acre public garden in East Dallas at 8525 Garland Road, on the shore of White Rock Lake. The grounds hold more than twenty themed gardens, the historic DeGolyer House, and the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden, along with A Tasteful Place culinary garden and a rotating calendar of seasonal plantings and festivals. The DeGolyer House also runs a seated tea service, and the grounds host recurring programs such as the Cool Thursdays concert series and the fall Autumn at the Arboretum event.

Most visitors walk the paved paths through the main garden rooms, stopping at the lake overlooks, the Palmer Fern Dell, and A Woman's Garden. A loop through the core gardens takes most people two to three hours; adding the Children's Adventure Garden or a DeGolyer House tour turns the visit into a half day. A narrated tram runs four times a day between the Main Entrance and the Children's Garden stop, covering the central gardens and the DeGolyer House in about 40 minutes, though it does not carry wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers.

As of 2026 the garden is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $15 per vehicle plus tax and fees at any of the three entrances (the Main Entrance and DeGolyer House area, the Children's Garden entrance, and the parking garage), and members can register up to two vehicles for free parking.

The garden sits a short drive from downtown Dallas, across Garland Road from White Rock Lake Park, which has its own lakeside trail for anyone who wants to extend the day outdoors after visiting the gardens.

Accessibility

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is accessible for wheelchair users on its main paved paths, though the Arboretum's own accessibility page warns that the garden's varied, hilly terrain leaves some parts of the historic landscape out of reach for wheelchairs and scooters.

Parking and arrival: three entrances serve the garden, the Main Entrance and DeGolyer House area at 8525 Garland Road, the Children's Adventure Garden entrance at 8657 Garland Road, and a parking garage at 8720 Garland Road. The garage connects to the garden through what the Arboretum describes as a secure, accessible underground walkway, a useful step-free route if the surface lot near the Main Entrance is full. Parking runs $15 per vehicle plus tax and fees, and members can register up to two vehicles for free parking.

Getting around: the Arboretum lends complimentary wheelchairs at the Ticket Booth, first come first served, and rents mobility scooters for $20 to $30. Neither can be reserved ahead of time, so arrive early on busy days. A narrated tram runs four times a day, at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m., between the Main Entrance and the Children's Garden stop, covering the central gardens and DeGolyer House in about 40 minutes. The tram gives boarding priority to guests with mobility impairments but does not carry wheelchairs, strollers, or walkers, so it suits guests who can transfer into a tram seat rather than travel in their own mobility device.

Restrooms, elevators, and sensory accommodations: the Arboretum's accessibility and FAQ pages do not publish specifics on restroom locations, elevator access, door widths, or hearing and sensory accommodations, so call (214) 515-6615 ahead of a visit to confirm these for the areas you plan to see.

Service animals: only licensed service animals are permitted in the garden.

Practical tips: ask at the Ticket Booth about same-day wheelchair availability before buying tickets, since loaners are first come, first served. If the surface lot fills up, the parking garage's underground walkway is a step-free way into the garden.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in Texas

• The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Dallas)
• Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas)
• Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas)
• NorthPark Center (Dallas)
• Houston Museum of Natural Science (Houston)
• Morgan's Wonderland (San Antonio)

Photo credits

• Colorful tulip beds and manicured lawns welcome visitors at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.: Loadmaster (David R. Tribble) This image was made by Loadmaster (David R. Tribble). Email the author: David R. Tribble A, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)
• Curved beds of colorful tulips and daffodils spread across manicured lawns at the Arboretum.: Loadmaster (David R. Tribble) This image was made by Loadmaster (David R. Tribble). Email the author: David R. Tribble A, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)
• A wide paved path lined with flower beds and pumpkins leads through the Dallas Arboretum grounds.: Bibiscal, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)
• A wide paved path lined with flower beds and pumpkins offers a flat, wheelchair-friendly route.: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• The historic stone DeGolyer House stands amid gardens at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.: Loadmaster (David R. Tribble) This image was made by Loadmaster (David R. Tribble). Email the author: David R. Tribble A, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)
• Colorful glass art sculptures float in the Arboretum reflecting pool beside bare winter trees.: Gardenlady59, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)