Arlington’s best choice for moderate rates is Quality Inn and Suites (1607 N. Watson Rd., 817/640-4444, www.qualityinn.com, $69 d). The hotel is within a few miles of Hurricane Harbor, Six Flags Over Texas, and Rangers Ballpark and features a complimentary breakfast, a pool, and rooms with fridges and microwaves.

A bit closer to Six Flags is the clean and comfortable Wingate Inn (1024 Brookhollow Plaza Dr., 817/640-8686, www.wingateinnarlington.com, $89 d), which offers complementary trolley passes to Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, Rangers Ballpark, and the airport. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and an indoor spa tub, offers free Wi-Fi, and features a complimentary continental breakfast.

The Hilton ink Arlington (2401 E. Lamar Blvd., 817/640-3322, www.hilton.com, $139 d) is slightly more expensive but offers a step up in the quality of amenities and service. The Hilton provides complimentary transportation to and from the airport and shuttle service within a three-mile radius of the hotel (covering all the major tourist attractions—Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, the Ballpark). The hotel’s outdoor pool includes a splash area for kids and an outdoor lap section for adults.