Best places to fly drones in Texas
Texas has lots of open, uncontrolled airspace outside its big metros, but state parks are mostly off limits and every major city sits under Class B or C airspace. The best legal options near the cities are Travis County parks around Austin, Irving's designated drone parks near Dallas, and dozens of FAA-recognized club fields. State law also makes it a crime to capture images of people or private property with a drone in many situations.
Cities
Top spots in Texas
Alamo Radio Control Society Field
Arkansas Bend Park
Austin Radio Control Association Field
Dick Scobee Memorial Airfields (George Bush Park)
Bulverde Aero Modelers Field
Cedar Hill State Park
East Metropolitan Park
Golden Triangle RC Club Field
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Gulf Coast Radio Control Club Field
Hamilton Pool Preserve
Heart of Texas Soaring Society Field
Hermann Park
Hill Country Aeromodelers Field
McKinney Falls State Park
San Antonio Missions (Mission San José)
Mountain Creek Preserve
Pace Bend Park
Richardson Radio Control Club Field
Rowlett RC Club Field
Running Bear Park
Sam Houston Trail Park
San Antonio Radio Control Club Field
Schiveley RC Airfield
Sheldon Lake State Park
Space City RC Field
SPARKS Field (Kitzman Road)
Texas drone laws
- Fly under 400 feet and keep the drone within your visual line of sight.
- Recreational pilots must pass the FAA's free TRUST test. Drones over 250 grams must be registered with the FAA.
- Get LAANC authorization before flying in controlled airspace. Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio all have Class B or C airspace.
- Texas Government Code Chapter 423 restricts capturing images of people and private property with a drone, and bans flying over certain critical infrastructure, prisons and sports venues.
State parks
Texas Parks and Wildlife says drones are allowed in state parks in only two cases: in the designated area at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, or with a filming permit from the park you want to fly in.
No-fly areas
- Texas state parks, except Martin Dies, Jr. State Park's designated area or with a park filming permit.
- National Park Service units, including San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
- Harris County Precinct 4 parks outside designated areas, and Hermann Park in Houston.
- Hamilton Pool Preserve, Pogue Springs Park and Hippie Hollow in Travis County.
Texas drone FAQ
Can you fly a drone in Texas state parks?
Only in the designated area at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, or at another park with a filming permit from that park, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Where can you fly a drone in Austin?
Travis County allows drones in its parks if you follow FAA rules, fly between dawn and dusk and don't disturb other visitors. Pace Bend, Arkansas Bend and East Metro parks are good options. Hamilton Pool Preserve and Hippie Hollow ban drones.
Where can you fly a drone in Dallas?
Next door in Irving, the city allows drones in designated areas at Mountain Creek Preserve, Running Bear Park and Sam Houston Trail Park. They're under DFW's Class B airspace, so you need LAANC. FAA-recognized club fields around the metroplex are other options.