Every Detail On The Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive In North Texas

Looking For More Info On The Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive For Your Visit To This North Texas City?

As a Texas native and a 3+ year resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I’ve spent lots of time at the stockyards and watched the cattle drive multiple times (pretty much whenever family visited), so this is everything I think you should know before visiting this historic area.

📆 Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive Schedule

The stockyards keep a pretty consistent schedule, but it can depend on weather, holidays, and special events.

What Days Of The Week Is The Cattle Drive?

The schedule can be affected by holidays or bad weather.

The cattle drive takes place almost every single day in Fort Worth aside from a few holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas) and depending on the weather.

You never know about the weather in North Texas because the very last time I went to the Stockyards, I drove over in near tornadic weather but it cleared by the time the cattle drive was supposed to start so they went ahead with the scheduled drive.

What Time Is The Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive?

The Fort Worth cattle drive takes place twice every day in the Stockyards, with just a few holidays or inclement weather changing things.

On a regular schedule, the cattle drive takes places twice during the day at 11:30 am and again at 4:00 pm.

Last time I visited was on Christmas Eve (pictured above) when family was visiting and they only did one cattle drive at 11:30 am, so it can depend on holidays and again on inclement weather.

What Time To Get There

You'll want to get there early for parking and to find a good spot along Exchange Avenue to watch the herd.

Depending on the season you’re visiting (summer is usually the least crowded), you’ll want to get to the stockyards in enough time to find a parking spot and line up along the street to watch the herd (small post-storm crowd pictured above).

Arriving about 30 minutes early is typically suggested, or even earlier if you’re visiting during busy holiday seasons or other special events (like a rodeo or bull riding).

How Long Does The Fort Worth Cattle Drive Last?

The overall cattle drive only lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, with a brief history given just before the start. Since you’ll be standing still in one spot, you’ll only see the herd up close for a few minutes.

➡️ Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive Video

📍 Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive Location

The Fort Worth cattle drive takes place right in the middle of the Stockyards along Exchange Avenue.

Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive Route Map

The cattle drive goes right through the middle of the stockyards on Exchange Avenue.

The herd leaves the pens behind the Livestock Exchange building to drive down Exchange Avenue from east to west (see the route pictured above).

If you want to be close to the cowboy that talks just before the cattle drive, they usually stand about halfway down the street on the eastern side of the Livestock Exchange building.

Where To Park For The Fort Worth Cattle Drive

There are a number parking lots right off Exchange Avenue in the Stockyards that are paid (though you can sometimes get a free parking pass on the Stockyards website) and convenient, but they can fill up quickly during busy seasons.

Sometimes you can also find free street parking near the Stockyards to the south or the west.

🎟 Do You Need Tickets To The Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive

There are no tickets required for the Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive because it is entirely free.

Other events, museums, and live entertainment do have a charge, but the Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive is completely free (outside of parking) so there are no tickets, reservations, or spot saving on Exchange Avenue.

🐂 Where Else To See The Herd (outside of the cattle drive)

You can see the herd outside of the cattle drive, behind the Livestock Exchange building.

If you miss the cattle drive or just want to see more of the herd, you can walk behind the Stockyards Livestock Exchange building to see the cattle in their pens and even climb the stairs of the observation deck to get another view (a view of the pens with one longhorn pictured above).

🔁 Sum Up: Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive

The Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive is definitely worth seeing for first time visitors to the North Texas area, especially when combining your Stockyards trip with other cowboy themed activities like going to the rodeo, visiting the John Wayne museum, or dancing and watching a show at Billy Bob’s. Go in the summer for fewer crowds, or visit in the winter for cooler weather and more festive activities.