Waxahachie isn't a golf resort town, and we won't pretend it is. What it has is better for a lot of people: a 24-hour TrackMan simulator, free lighted pickleball courts, a free 21-hole disc golf course, four paved miles of creek trail, and well-rated public golf courses within about 40 minutes.
We host a tiny home about 8 minutes from downtown Waxahachie. This guide covers every tee time, court, basket, and trail we'd send a guest to, with honest ratings, hours, prices where we could confirm them, and drive times from the house. We feature places rated 4.3 stars or higher on Google when we checked, and we tell you plainly about the ones that fall short.
At a glance
- Golf at any hour
- The Golf Lounge, 24-hour TrackMan bays, about 15 minutes
- Best public courses
- Tangle Ridge, Cedar Crest, and Prairie Lakes, 35 to 40 minutes
- Free pickleball
- Three lighted city courts on Farley Street, about 7 minutes
- Disc golf
- Brown-Singleton Park, 21 holes, free, about 6 minutes
- Walk or run
- About 4 paved miles on the Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail
- Mountain biking
- The DORBA trail at Cedar Hill State Park, about 40 minutes
From the City of Waxahachie, Visit Cedar Hill, course and club websites, GolfNow, and Google listings, checked October 16, 2026.
Golf courses worth the drive
The best-rated public golf near us is northwest, in Grand Prairie and south Dallas. All three of these are 35 to 40 minutes from the house.
Tangle Ridge Golf Course
A 1995 Jeff Brauer design with rolling hills and real elevation changes, plus a range, a short-game area, and the 19th Hole Grille for a burger after. Reviewers love the layout and the value; a few mention bumpy greens after aeration, so ask about conditions when you book. Tee times are on GolfNow.
Cedar Crest Golf Course
A City of Dallas course that A.W. Tillinghast designed and that opened in 1919. Walter Hagen won the 1927 PGA Championship here, and it hosted the USGA Public Links in 1954. Reviewers mention elevation changes, friendly staff, and narrow fairways that can slow the pace.
Prairie Lakes Golf Course
Three nines, Red, White, and Blue, so a second round doesn't feel like a repeat. The Blue and White date to 1963 and the Red was added in 2005. There's a range with eight target greens, a chipping green with a bunker, and Eddlemon's BBQ in the clubhouse. Reviewers call it one of the more affordable rounds around.
The courses closer to home
Waxahachie Golf Club, at 1920 US-287 Business about 10 minutes from the house, is the course in town. It's rated 3.2 by about 150 reviewers: they like the low prices and the people behind the counter, and they describe greens that range from fine to rough depending on the season. Call (972) 937-3521 and ask how the course is playing before you go.
The other courses within about 30 minutes were all rated under our 4.3 bar when we checked, with reviewers split on conditions: Mansfield National (4.1), Thorntree in DeSoto (4.0), Country View in Lancaster (4.0), and Old Brickyard in Ferris (3.7). Reviewers do like Mansfield National's range and short-game area.
Simulators and driving ranges
For a rainy day, a 105-degree afternoon, or golf at midnight, these beat a tee sheet.
The Golf Lounge
Two TrackMan simulator bays, self-service around the clock. Book online and a one-time door code arrives before your time slot. The cost for open play is $35 to $50 an hour plus $15 for each extra guest, with up to 4 players in a bay. It's BYOB-friendly, clubs are available to rent, and reviewers mention a putting area.
The Golf House
Simulator bays with a clubhouse feel, and games beyond golf, like soccer and baseball, so non-golfers can play too. Groups can reserve the whole building. One reviewer paid $55 an hour.
Golf Ranch Grand Prairie
A covered driving range with shot tracking at every bay, priced by the bucket instead of by the hour, and no reservations needed. Reviewers compare it to Topgolf with better tech and lower prices, and mention a big putting and chipping green and a patio with games. First-time visitors get a free bucket through October 30, 2026; check the eligibility on the site.
More on these: The Golf Lounge booking page and Golf Ranch.
Golf and sports gear
Forgot your glove, or want to try a new driver? Academy Sports + Outdoors at 1650 N. Hwy 77, about 9 minutes away, is the closest stop for balls, tees, and gloves (rated 4.2; Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 9 to 9). For more than the basics:
PGA TOUR Superstore Arlington
A big golf store with club fittings and regripping that reviewers single out by name.
Play It Again Sports
Used golf clubs and sports gear at resale prices, plus regripping, and they'll install grips you bring.
Pickleball
Free outdoor courts in town, a well-loved club 15 minutes away, and indoor courts in Mansfield and Cedar Hill when it's too hot, too cold, or too wet. The Waxahachie YMCA lists pickleball as an amenity too, so ask about a guest pass.
City of Waxahachie pickleball courts
Three dedicated outdoor concrete courts, lit for evening play and free to use. Bring your own paddles and balls.
Pickleball Paradise
Four lighted outdoor concrete courts out between Waxahachie and Midlothian, with a pro shop, paddle and ball rentals, restrooms, and a shaded pavilion. Members mention open play about four times a week, and the owner coaches lessons and clinics. Non-members can play; call or text for member and non-member rates and to reserve a court.
B&B Pickleball
Pickleball courts at the B&B Theatres entertainment center, which also has bowling, an arcade, a bar, and movies, so the people who don't play stay busy.
Pikla Pickleball
Six lighted indoor courts with permanent nets, a pro shop, and food and drinks. Non-members can reserve a court for $40 an hour on CourtReserve, and drop-in open play usually runs 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Smash Sports
Reviewers call it clean, well designed, and beginner-friendly, with court colors that make the ball easy to see; one paid $15 for a good stretch of play.
Alan Sims Recreation Center
Cedar Hill's recreation center, where a 2024 reviewer counted six indoor wood-floor pickleball courts. Call about a nonresident day pass and open play times before you drive.
Chicken N Pickle in Grand Prairie, about 45 minutes away, is the best known, with courts, a restaurant, and games. It was rated 4.2 when we checked: reviewers enjoy the pickleball and the atmosphere more than the food. The city's page for the Farley Street courts is here, and the city doesn't list public tennis courts among its athletic facilities, so pack paddles rather than rackets.
Disc golf
Free, with shade in spots, and 6 minutes from the porch.
Brown-Singleton Park
A free 21-hole course that opened in 2013, with concrete tee pads and permanent baskets, winding through trees and open field, plus a practice basket near the main lot. The park also has a paved walking loop and two playgrounds, but only a portable restroom.
Parking is near hole 1 and the east entrance, and in the main lot; details are on the city's disc golf page. Two more courses are about 20 minutes away, both rated 3.9: Cherry Creek in Red Oak, a basic 9-hole field course that reviewers say can get overgrown between mowings, and the course at South Lake Clark Park in Ennis, where regulars say the course sits below the lake's waterline and needs four or five days to dry after a rain.
Walking, running, and hiking
The best hiking near Waxahachie starts paved and flat by the house, then heads into the hills and woods 35 to 40 minutes northwest in Cedar Hill and southwest Dallas.
Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail
The city's main trail is about 4 miles long: paved, multi-use path for walking, running, and riding, with creekside and wooded stretches, bridges, and shaded rest spots. Start at Getzendaner if you want real restrooms and a playground.
Mockingbird Nature Park
A quiet nature park tucked into a Midlothian neighborhood, with trails through native plants and wildflowers, benches, signs, and a pond. Spring wildflowers are the draw, and reviewers warn about cactus if you leave the path.
Kachina Prairie Park
A small piece of Blackland Prairie next to a lake, with a walking loop under a mile, distance markers, and signs about the prairie. A portable restroom is the only one.
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center
Shaded, rocky trails with slopes and creek crossings on small bridges, about 3.5 miles in all, with hills you don't expect this close to Dallas. It's free with a donation box, and you sign in at the visitor center before you head out. Reviewers say dogs aren't allowed on the trails.
Cedar Ridge Preserve
The most-reviewed hike near us: well-marked, mostly shaded loops with real climbs and a pond. The free lot fills fast on weekends, so go early.
Already at the Waxahachie Sports Complex for a game? The city says it has its own two-mile hike and bike trail. Bringing the dog? Our pet-friendly guide covers leash rules on every one of these trails. More about the creek trail is on the city's trail page.
Races and games you can join
- Monster Madness, Saturday, October 24, 2026: the Waxahachie Soccer Association's 4v4 tournament at the Sports Complex has divisions up to adult, with games into the night. Details are in our Sports Complex guide.
- Ellis County Turkey Trot, Thanksgiving morning, November 26: an 8-miler, a 10K, and a 5K from Getzendaner Park, starting from 6:45 a.m.
- YMCA Santa Run, Saturday, December 12: a 5K and a 1-mile fun run from Railyard Park, with a Santa suit in the registration.
Start times, prices, and sign-up links for both races are on our events this month page, along with everything else happening this weekend.
Mountain biking and bike shops
Cedar Hill State Park
Home of the DORBA trail, built with the Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association: three loops, Short (3 miles), Middle (8), and Outer (12), of twisty, mostly dry hardpack with roots and some rocks. Riders go clockwise and hikers go counterclockwise, stepping aside for bikes. The trail erodes easily and closes after even light rain, so call the park or check its Facebook page before you load the bikes. Day use is $7 for adults, kids 12 and under free.
B & B Bicycles
Sales and service on FM 1382, the same road as the state park; one reviewer rented a road bike here and ended up buying it. Some reviewers are frustrated by stock and wait times, so call first.
The Shop
A small repair shop that reviewers praise for fair prices and honest advice over the phone.
Read the DORBA trail rules from Visit Cedar Hill before your first ride. Local riders also mapped beginner singletrack starting at Getzendaner Park on Singletracks, but that listing is user-submitted and was last updated in 2020, so ask around before you count on it.
Gyms and pools
Keeping your routine on the road? These are the closest well-rated options. Day-pass rules change, so call before you go.
G.O. Fit
Reviewers describe clean, modern equipment, women's group classes, and owners who make visitors feel at home. Ask about a gym day pass or a week pass.
FXB Fitness
A roomy gym with classes and personal training. One reviewer notes the cardio section is the weak spot. Call about short-term access.
Waxahachie Family YMCA
A weight room, cardio, group classes, a basketball court, pickleball, volleyball, and an outdoor pool. Ask about the guest pass on the Y's Waxahachie page.
Lee Penn Park & Pool
A free public pool run by the city, with a splash pad, a water slide (kids pass a quick swim test first), a top depth of 4 feet 6 inches, and attentive lifeguards. Staff cap the crowd, so you may wait a few minutes on a hot day.
Two easy weekends
A golf weekend
- Friday nightTrackMan after darkBook a bay at The Golf Lounge, bring your own drinks, and play a famous course before bed.
- Saturday earlyA real roundTee off at Tangle Ridge or Cedar Crest before the heat.
- LunchThe 19th holeA burger at Tangle Ridge's 19th Hole Grille, or barbecue at Eddlemon's if you played Prairie Lakes.
- AfternoonThe porchBack to the house for a nap, a shower, and a cold drink looking out over the farmland.
- EveningDowntownDinner on the courthouse square. Picks are in our where to eat guide.
- SundayOne more bucketHit balls at Golf Ranch Grand Prairie on the way back to Dallas or Fort Worth.
A pickleball and trails weekend
- Saturday morningOpen playCall Pickleball Paradise ahead and join a session, or rent paddles and book a court.
- Late morningThe creek trailWalk or jog a stretch of the Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail from Getzendaner Park.
- AfternoonDisc golfPlay the 21 holes at Brown-Singleton Park, and bring water.
- After darkUnder the lightsThe free city courts on Farley Street are lit until the parks close at 10.
- SundayA real hikeCedar Ridge Preserve or Dogwood Canyon on the way home, with an early start to beat the crowds.
Good to know: our tips before you play
When to play
- Spring and fall are the sweet spots for comfortable rounds and the best trail days.
- Summer means early. July and August are the hottest months, with average highs around 96 degrees. Book the first tee times, do your hiking before 10 a.m., and save the afternoons for the simulator or the pool.
- Rain closes dirt. The DORBA trail closes after even a sprinkle, and the Ennis disc golf course needs days to dry. The paved creek trail and the simulators don't care.
- Lightning means off the course. North Texas storms build fast in spring. The Golf Ranch bays are covered, and The Golf Lounge is indoors.
- Winter has golf days too, between cold fronts. Courses can push back early tee times for frost, so call ahead on cold mornings.
Before you go
- Book weekend tee times and simulator bays a few days ahead. Saturday mornings go first.
- Reserve a Cedar Hill State Park day pass online for spring and summer weekends. The park fills up.
- Carry more water than you think, especially from May to September, on the course, the courts, and the trail.
- Call before you drive to any club or rec center for open play times and drop-in rates. They change by season.
Where to stay
The Waxahachie Tiny Home
Tee times, court time, and a porch to come back to.
Built for active weekends
- Close to all of it: everything on this page is 6 to 45 minutes from the porch.
- Early starts are fine: quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and that's about noise, not alarms. Head out before sunrise for the first tee time.
- A washer and dryer: sweaty golf shirts and muddy trail socks are clean by Sunday.
- A full kitchen: breakfast before the round and a cooler packed for the course.
- Room for a foursome: a queen bed on the main floor, two queen air mattresses in the loft, and a sofa that sleeps one. There's one bathroom, so stagger the showers.
- Hauling bikes on a trailer? Trucks and trailers are welcome with prior approval. Send us the length and width first.
- The dog can come: pets are welcome with approval and a small pet fee, and the creek trail is a great dog walk.
It's a quiet house, not a clubhouse: up to 7 overnight, with no parties or outside visitors. Ask about booking direct, or check our dates on VRBO.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
Every card above shows its own drive time. These are the spots without a card.
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Waxahachie Sports Complex (two-mile trail) | 2.7 mi | About 7 min |
| Downtown Waxahachie | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| Getzendaner Park (creek trail) | 5.2 mi | About 10 min |
| Waxahachie Golf Club | 5.8 mi | About 10 min |
| Lions Park (creek trail) | 6.1 mi | About 15 min |
| Downtown Dallas | 31 mi | About 35 min |
| Dallas Love Field | 36.8 mi | About 50 min |
Estimated drive times from the tiny home without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
Is there a golf course in Waxahachie?
Yes. Waxahachie Golf Club is at 1920 US-287 Business, about 10 minutes from our tiny home. It was rated 3.2 on Google when we checked, with reviewers praising the prices and mixed on the greens, so call (972) 937-3521 about conditions. The Golf Lounge in Waxahachie has 24-hour TrackMan simulator bays.
What are the best public golf courses near Waxahachie?
Tangle Ridge in Grand Prairie (rated 4.4, about 35 minutes), Cedar Crest in Dallas (4.4, about 35 minutes), and Prairie Lakes in Grand Prairie (4.3, 27 holes, about 40 minutes).
Where can I play golf at night near Waxahachie?
The Golf Lounge on N. Hwy 77 is open 24 hours by reservation, with a door code sent before your time. Golf Ranch Grand Prairie is open until 11 p.m., and The Golf House in Midlothian until 10 p.m.
Where can I play pickleball in Waxahachie?
The city has three free, lighted outdoor courts at 620 Farley St., near the Salvation Army, about 7 minutes from our tiny home. The Waxahachie YMCA lists pickleball, and Pickleball Paradise, a club with four lighted courts, is about 15 minutes away.
Is there indoor pickleball near Waxahachie?
Pikla Pickleball in Mansfield has six indoor courts, about 30 minutes away; non-members can reserve a court for $40 an hour. Cedar Hill's Alan Sims Recreation Center also has indoor courts, so call about a day pass.
Is there disc golf in Waxahachie?
Yes. Brown-Singleton Park at 847 Farley St. has a free 21-hole course with concrete tee pads and permanent baskets. It's about 6 minutes from our tiny home.
Where can I mountain bike near Waxahachie?
The DORBA trail at Cedar Hill State Park, about 40 minutes away, has loops of about 3, 8, and 12 miles. Bikes ride clockwise, and the trail closes after rain, so call (972) 291-3900 before you go. Park entry is $7 for adults.
Is the tiny home good for a golf weekend?
Yes. It's about 15 minutes from The Golf Lounge and 35 to 40 minutes from Tangle Ridge, Cedar Crest, and Prairie Lakes. It sleeps up to 7, with a washer and dryer and a full kitchen, and early departures are no problem.
About this guide
Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 17, 2026
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