THOUGHT: An individual can arrive in a big city. That individual can then take a town car, an Uber, a Lift, a taxi, or a rental car to reach thier final destination. This page doesn't need to discuss those common transportation modes. Instead, this page describes using rail to reach that final destination.
WHERE is the Convention ?
The Dallas Fort Worth area is a big place to navigate into, around, and out of. So, here is a brief geography lesson that may help you.
The map shows that Grapevine "sits" toward the top center of a packed cluster of cities we call the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. The red dot is the location of our convention at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. The orange dot is the location of Grapevine TexRail Station. The blue dot is the location of a major hospital. The red outline below the Grapevine city name is DFW International Airport - and YES, it is that big! The tiny blue outline above and to the left of the word "Dallas" on the map is Love Field.
The yellow lines in the above map are a large network of freeways connecting all these cities. Generally, there are large pockets of construction on these freeways (that usually means making them bigger). At this time there is no major freeway construction in the immediate Grapevine area.
Tolls and How to Pay Them
Elements of these freeways contain toll ways. Some freeways offer both non-toll and toll lanes along the route. Some freeways will be free and signs will warn that tolls will soon begin. The toll system is automatic so if you choose to take a toll way without having a toll tag on your car, that is okay. You will be billed at the address in the state where your car license plate is registered. If your car is a rental, consult your rental agency.
Grapevine Visitors Shuttle
An important element in your convention arrival and your getting around the Grapevine area is the Grapevine Visitors Shuttle. This shuttle is a bus system dedicated to linking Grapevine's hotels, shopping, commuter rail station, and dining. The shuttle schedules change throughout the year based on visitor demand. Thus, the summer, fall, winter, and spring schedules and routes reflect the tourist changes. The shuttle does not get you to Dallas or Fort Worth; however, it connects our convention at the Gaylord Texan with the rail systems that get you to those two big cities and the DFW International Airport. Also, the Cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington have similar shuttles that support visitor and entertainment seasons.
Keep this phone number and link handy in you phone's contact list.
Grapevine Visitors Shuttle, call 817-410-3185.
Grapevine Visitors Shuttle Schedules & Routes .
Check the above link for fares and passes.
Grapevine Visitors Shuttle Bus
Gaylord Texan Parking and Transport Services
One more thing that needs to be presented is what the Gaylord Texan offers in parking and transport. The Gaylord Texan is not an airport area hotel. Thus, there is not a regular Gaylord Shuttle to/from DFW International Airport. You may schedule a van or limo for a pick up or drop off. Also, you may use the App based services like Uber or Lyft for pick up or drop off. The following information comes from the Gaylord Texan's web site and it may help you in your planning.
Limo or town car service available
Rental Car (Hertz on site)
Area shuttle, limo or van (surcharge)
Rail Transit - Grapevine Visitors Shuttle connects the Gaylord Texan to the Grapevine TexRail Station.
PARKING
Parking for convention attendees who are a registered guest staying at the Gaylord is $15 per day with In-N-Out privileges.
Parking for convention attendees who are NOT a registered guest of the Gaylord is $15 per day WITHOUT In-N-Out privileges. Those convention attendees must go to our convention office(1st Floor Vinyard Tower, Davis 2 Room) every day to get a sticker to put on their parking ticket that will give the discount to the $15.
If you have special parking needs such as valet, trailers or RVs, you must contact the Gaylord directly. The convention has no arrangements for these special needs.
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Commuter Rail
There are 3 commuter rail systems serving the DFW Metroplex.
DART - electric overhead line powered light rail system, multiple lines in the Dallas area, both ends are cab control. DART is owned by the City of Dallas.
Dart Schedules
TexRail - unitized diesel powered trains running between downtown Fort Worth and DFW International Airport, both ends are cab control. TexRail is owned by Trinity Metro which is owned by the City of Fort Worth. TexRail is the only commuter rail connection to Grapevine.
TexRail Schedules
TRE - push pull diesel locomotive commuter train having double deck cars with last being a cab car. TRE is owned by DART and Trinity Metro. With track rights, Amtrak uses the TRE line, a former Rock Island track. TRE does not operate on Sundays.
TRE Schedules
Tickets for DART, TexRail, and TRE may be purchased at all stations from a ticket kiosk with credit card. Or download, install, and use the GoPass APP on your smart phone. Transit Police ride the trains and trollies and do issue failure to pay violations. If you need to transfer between the commuter rail systems, plan carefully so that your ticket purchase covers the transfer as all commuter rail has different local government ownerships.
Grapevine Main Station
Grapevine Main Station is a complex that includes the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Depot and the TexRail Station. This station complex could well be your focal point for arriving or getting around the Metroplex.
ARRIVING IN DALLAS FORT WORTH
The Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex is spread out just like all of Texas. Thus, it takes some figuring to get where you want to go. You may be arriving by Amtrak, Airline, Greyhound, or automobile. So, here are some ideas that will help you plan your arrival at the 2023 Texas Express at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. The map below is a reduced route rail map of the Metroplex that concentrates only on the rail lines that are keys to getting to the Gaylord Texan and the 2023 Texas Express Convention. The red dot identifies DFW Internation Airport area and the Blue Dot identifies Love Field area.
Caution: The arrival times scheduled for the DART, TexRail, and TRE trains throughout the day vary with passenger load. You could be waiting 20 minutes or an hour for the next train. So, study before you leave home to know your times based upon your schedule transport arrival time by Amtrak, Airline, or Grayhound which could also vary.
Amtrak
Both the Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth are served daily by Amtrak's southbound and northbound Texas Eagle running between Chicago and San Antonio (with through service to/from Los Angelos). Also, the Amtrak Heartland Flyer provides daily service from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth and back.
If you arrive on Amtrak at Dallas' Union Station;
Take Dart's Red or Blue line to West End Station
Take Dart's Orange line to DFW Airport
Walk West a few feet to TexRail (Brown Line on map) and take it to Grapevine Station
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
If you arrive on Amtrak at Fort Worth's Central Station;
Take TexRail (Brown Line on map) to its Grapevine Station
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
Airlines
DFW International Airport is right in the middle between the two cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The airport is huge. It has 5 terminals spaced out on either side of a north/south controlled access freeway. The secure areas of the terminals are connected by Skylink, an overhead automated tracked system with orange colored trams. Outside the secure area, you may move between terminals by a Terminal Link orange colored bus system operating on the level where ticketing and baggage pick up are located.
After landing at DFW and if you have only carry-on baggage, stay in the secure area.
Follow the signs to Skylink (take escalator or elevator up) and take Skylink to Terminal B.
Follow the signs to "Rail to Fort Worth."
You will go down to the ground level via stairs or elevator.
A short walk will take you to the TexRail Station
Take TexRail to its Grapevine Station
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
After landing at DFW and getting your checked baggage, you will be outside the secure area.
Take the Orange Terminal Link bus to Terminal B.
Follow the signs to "Rail to Fort Worth."
You will go down to the ground level via stairs or elevator.
A short walk will take you to the TexRail Station
Take TexRail to its Grapevine Station
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
Love Field is northwest of Downtown Dallas. There is one terminal and it has no people moving system. There is no rail system at the terminal.
Exit the secure area, get your bags and follow signs for taxi ground transit.
Take a taxi for a 6 minute ride to Dart's Burbank Station (8851 Denton Dr., Dallas) which is on the west side of the airport.
From Burbank Station, take the Orange Line light rail to DFW Airport (be sure header sign says DFW).
Walk West a few feet to TexRail (Brown Line on map) and take it to Grapevine Station
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
Greyhound
If you arrive on Greyhound at Dallas Greyhound Station;
Walk 4 blocks north to the West End Dart Station
Take Dart's Orange line to DFW Airport,
Take TexRail to its Grapevine Station,
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
If you arrive on Greyhound at Fort Worth's Central Station (same as Amtrak station);
Take TexRail to its Grapevine Station
Take Grapevine Visitors Shuttle bus to Gaylord Texan.
TexRail Station, DFW Airport |
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DART Station, DFW Airport |
The above stations are parallel to each other between Terminals A & B.
Automobile
Whether in a personal auto or a rental car, your smart phone is your greatest tool. Set your Maps App for directions to:
. . . . . . . Gaylord Texan, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX 76051
Yes, there are taxi, van and limo services along with the App services of Uber and Lyft that can get you anywhere in the Metroplex and from your Amtrak, Airport, or Bus locations to the Gaylord Texan. These services will all be more expensive than the rail systems and in most cases will be faster depending on traffic. But thats just the same old stuff.
Getting Around the Metroplex
If you need to go to Dallas, Fort Worth, or any other Metroplex city, the Grapevine Visitors Shuttle can get you to the Grapevine TexRail Station and TexRail can get you to Dart Orange Line at DFW Airport. The Orange line will connect with the full Dart rail and bus network in Dallas. TexRail from Grapevine will stop at several points and the Fort Worth Central Station where you can connect to Trinity Metro buses and the TRE train to several locations along its route to Dallas. Decide what you want to do and make a plan. On the General Interest Activities page of this web site there are several self drive activities that you can do by just rail or rail & some city bus rides. Again, there are taxi, van and limo services along with the App services of Uber and Lyft that are options.
Medical Facilities in the Grapevine Area
For those forgotten, lost, or empty prescriptions or other pharmaceutical needs, these drug stores are close to our convention location:
Grapevine Drug RX, 1115 W Northwest Hwy, Ste h, Grapevine, TX · (817) 481-5780
Walgreens, 912 W Northwest Hwy, Grapevine, TX · (817) 310-3072
CVS Pharmacy, 1101 Ira E Woods Ave, Grapevine, TX, (817) 601-0350
These minor/urgent care facilities are close to our convention:
Care Now, 2751 E State Hwy 114 Southlake, TX, (817) 749-0155, Open 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Better Faster Urgent Care, 630 N Kimball Ave Ste 100 Southlake, TX, (817) 421-8777, Open 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
A Major Hospital & ER is very close to our convention:
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. 1650 W. College Street, Grapevine, Texas, (817) 481-1588
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Copyright © 2023, "2023 Texas Express," P.O. Box 131, Hurst, TX 76053 - 0131
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