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Palestine, Texas is a small town in East Texas, about 110 miles southeast of Dallas. It’s the county seat of Anderson county, it’s pronounced PAL-uh-steen, and about 19,500 people live there. It was named after Palestine, Illinois, not after the Middle East. The main things to see are the Texas State Railroad, the Dogwood Trails Celebration in the spring, and NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility. The closest airport is Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR) at 41 miles, but Dallas Love Field (DAL) and DFW are both under two hours away.
This small Texas town with a famous name holds its own, with lots to do and see on your visit. Founded in 1846, it sits at the center of Anderson county. The town was named after Palestine, Illinois, which is where the Parker family came from before they settled here.
Welcome to Palestine, Texas
It is also home to the springtime Dogwood Trails Celebration, which usually lasts for three weekends, and it’s the western terminus of the Texas State Railroad. Today, you can visit the Railroad and take rides.
Read more about the city’s history…
Quick Palestine, Texas Facts
- Established – 1846
- County – Anderson (Palestine is the county seat)
- Pronounced – PAL-uh-steen
- Population – 19,555 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025); 18,544 in the 2020 Census
- ZIP Codes – 75801, 75802, 75803
- Named after – Palestine, Illinois
- Nearest larger city – Dallas, Texas (110 miles/177.02 kilometers)
- Nearest airport – Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR), 41 miles/65.98 kilometers
Palestine, Texas Post Office
How Do You Pronounce Palestine, Texas?
Say PAL-uh-steen, with the accent on the first part. It’s not said the same way as the Middle East one, and the locals will let you know if you get it wrong. Texas has a few of these — Mexia is muh-HAY-uh and Bexar is BAY-er — so you’re in good company.
Episcopal Church, Palestine Texas
Is Palestine, Texas Named After The Country?
No. Palestine, Texas shares its name with Palestine in the Middle East, but it wasn’t named after it. It was named after Palestine, Illinois, the town the Parker family lived in before they came to Texas. Daniel Parker was a Primitive Baptist preacher who settled in the area, and when the Texas legislature created Anderson county in 1846, there was no town at the spot they’d picked for the county seat — so they built one and gave it the Parkers’ old hometown name.
You can find more information about Palestine in the Middle East from their Tourism Board at visitpalestine.ps.
Where Is Palestine, Texas?
Palestine is at the intersection of U.S. highways 79 and 287, at the center of Anderson county. It’s northeast of Austin and Waco, south of Tyler, and southeast of Dallas and Fort Worth.
What Are The Nearest Airports To Palestine, Texas?
- Pounds Regional Airport, Tyler Texas (TYR) – 41 miles/65.98 kilometers
- Easterwood Field (College Station) (CLL) – 92 miles/148.06 kilometers
- Waco Regional Airport (ACT) – 96 miles/152.89 kilometers
- Dallas-Love Field Airport (DAL) – 104 miles/167.37 kilometers
- Dallas-Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport (DFW) – 114 miles/183.47 kilometers
- Houston-George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) – about a 2½ hour drive
You can also use this app to find nearest airports to anywhere you are located.
Which Airport Should You Use As A Non-Rev?
TYR is the closest, but it’s a small airport with only a handful of flights a day. That’s not many seats to work with, and not much of a backup if the one you want goes full. DFW, DAL and IAH all have a lot more flights and a lot more recovery options, so the extra hour of driving usually buys you better odds than the 41-mile airport does.
What I’d do: list for DFW or DAL first, keep IAH as the backup if you’re coming up from the south or the Caribbean, and only look at TYR if the loads happen to be good that day. You’ll want a rental car either way — there’s no public transport out to Palestine, so you’re driving no matter which airport you pick.
Tyler Pounds Airport Tyler, Texas (TYR)
What Are The Things To Do In Palestine, Texas?
The Tourism Board has a list of things to do at visitpalestine.com. The building is actually the old train station.
Here are some itineraries they’ve set up for you at visitpalestine.com/p/about/itinerary-ideas. And here’s a video done just for you by the Tourism Board.
Ride The Texas State Railroad
Be sure and see the Texas State Railroad. I did take a trip there, but it was closed that day. Palestine is the western end of the line, and the train runs 25 miles through the Piney Woods to Rusk and back — about four hours and 50 miles round trip. It runs on a seasonal calendar and it sells out around the holidays and during Dogwood, so check the excursion calendar and book ahead instead of just showing up like I did.
Texas State Railroad
Go For The Dogwood Trails Celebration
The Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration has been going since 1938 and it runs over three weekends every spring, usually the last two weekends in March and the first one in April. The 88th one ran March 20 to April 5, 2026. There are driving trails through the blooming dogwoods, plus an arts and music festival, a parade, home and church tours, the Old Time Music & Dulcimer Festival, and railroad excursions. It’s the busiest time of year in town, so book your room early.
See NASA’s Balloon Facility
A lot of people don’t know this one. NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility is right here in Palestine. They launch unmanned research balloons up to 400 feet across, to about 120,000 feet, carrying experiments for NASA centers and universities all over the world. It’s a working site and not a museum, so check ahead on what you can see — but if you’re into aviation, it’s worth knowing it’s here.
Where Are The Places To Eat?
There are plenty of places to eat in Palestine; there really is no shortage. You can get a complete list at visitpalestine.com.
The most famous place here is the Bakery — Eilenberger’s, at 512 N. John Street. They’re open Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm, but small-town bakery hours move around, so call ahead if you’re driving in just for it. And if you watch the video in the Things To Do section above, you will find some additional places where you can even get some homemade pies.
Eilenberger’s Bakery
Where Are The Places To Stay In Palestine, Texas?
There are plenty of accommodations in the city. Some are large brands and others are local places. The Redlands Hotel downtown is the one with the most character — it’s a restored 1915 building on Main Street. You can see a list at visitpalestine.com and/or do a search below.
One thing to know: during the Dogwood Trails weekends in late March and early April, rooms go early and rates go up. If you’re booking late, look at Tyler or Athens and drive in.
The Redlands Hotel in Palestine, Texas
When Is The Best Time To Visit Palestine, Texas?
Late March into early April, when the dogwoods are out and the Dogwood Trails Celebration is on. That’s also the most crowded and the most expensive time to go.
If you’d rather have it quiet, October and November are good. The weather is mild, you get the fall color in the Piney Woods, there’s the Hot Pepper Festival and the Veterans Day parade, and you won’t be fighting for a room. Summer is hot and humid.
Tourism Bureau/Chamber of Commerce Information
You can find out more about what’s going on in Palestine, Texas by visiting the Palestine Tourist Board’s website. The Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce runs the Dogwood Festival, and the City of Palestine site has the municipal information.
Palestine, Texas Questions People Ask
How do you pronounce Palestine, Texas?
PAL-uh-steen, with the accent on the first part. Not the same way you’d say the Middle East one.
Why is Palestine, Texas called Palestine?
It was named after Palestine, Illinois, where the Parker family came from, when the town was founded in 1846 as the seat of the new Anderson county.
What is the population of Palestine, Texas?
About 19,555 as of the Census Bureau’s July 1, 2025 estimate. The 2020 Census counted 18,544.
What is the closest airport to Palestine, Texas?
Tyler Pounds Regional (TYR) at 41 miles is the closest, but Dallas Love Field (DAL, 104 miles) and DFW (114 miles) have a lot more flights — which matters if you’re flying standby.
What is Palestine, Texas known for?
The Texas State Railroad, the Dogwood Trails Celebration in the spring, NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Eilenberger’s Bakery, and over 1,800 historic sites.
How far is Palestine, Texas from Dallas?
About 110 miles/177.02 kilometers southeast of Dallas, so roughly a two hour drive.
Is Palestine, Texas worth visiting?
Yes, especially for a night or two. The railroad ride alone is four hours, and between the downtown, the bakery and the dogwoods in the spring, you can fill a weekend.
When is the Dogwood Trails Celebration?
Three weekends every spring, usually the last two in March and the first in April. The 88th one ran March 20 to April 5, 2026.
More Texas Towns With International Names
Palestine is one stop in the series on Texas towns that share their names with places around the world. Here are the rest: