SMU graduation weekend 2027: things to do in Dallas

Saturday, 8 May 2027 · ExpectedDallas, United States

SMU Commencement brings parents, grandparents and siblings to Dallas for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in Dallas Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Moody Coliseum, University Park

DFW is 30 minutes from downtown by DART or car; Love Field (DAL) is 15 minutes.

DART Red/Orange lines to Mockingbird.

Public transport directions to Moody Coliseum, University Park

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Richardson and Plano	Chains near many fields.
Mid-range	Uptown	Walkable bars and restaurants.
Splurge	Downtown and Turtle Creek	Rosewood Mansion.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hampton Inn Dallas-Richardson
Mid-range: Canopy by Hilton Dallas Uptown
Splurge: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Links search the nights from 7 May to 9 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Saturday, 8 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Friday 7 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeKlyde Warren Park.
EatJoe T. Garcia's Tex-Mex in Fort Worth

Ceremony day

Saturday 8 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatKlyde Warren Park food trucks Downtown park
Easy outingSixth Floor Museum Half day · Indoor
JFK assassination history.

The day after

Sunday 9 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayFort Worth Stockyards Half day · Family
Cattle drive twice a day.
EatPecan Lodge BBQ in Deep Ellum

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickAT&T Stadium tour Half day · Family
Dallas Cowboys stadium.
Rain or heat backupDallas Museum of Art (free).

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family

Fort Worth Stockyards

Cattle drive twice a day.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

AT&T Stadium tour

Dallas Cowboys stadium.

See times and prices

Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
Dallas Zoo.

Evening and day-trip tours

After dark

Deep Ellum.

4 tours worth booking for SMU

Tour	Length	Good for
Sixth Floor Museum	Half day	Bad weather
Fort Worth Stockyards	Half day	Families
AT&T Stadium tour	Half day	Families
Dallas food tour	Half day	Food lovers

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Pecan Lodge BBQ in Deep Ellum
Joe T. Garcia's Tex-Mex in Fort Worth
Klyde Warren Park food trucks Downtown park

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Half day · Indoor

Sixth Floor Museum

JFK assassination history.

See times and prices

Dallas Museum of Art (free).
Perot Museum.

Getting around on event days

DART light rail; a car helps for spread-out fields.

Day trips from Dallas

Fort Worth: 45 minutes
Waco: 1.5 hours

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for SMU.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is SMU Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Saturday, 8 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Moody Coliseum, University Park?

DFW is 30 minutes from downtown by DART or car; Love Field (DAL) is 15 minutes. DART Red/Orange lines to Mockingbird.

Where should I stay for SMU Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Uptown: Walkable bars and restaurants.

What else can we do around SMU Commencement?

Good short outings in Dallas include Sixth Floor Museum, Fort Worth Stockyards, AT&T Stadium tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near SMU Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Fort Worth Stockyards, AT&T Stadium tour. Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

How far is Moody Coliseum, University Park from Dallas centre?

About 7 km in a straight line. DART Red/Orange lines to Mockingbird.

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