Find Us




General Location


The University of North Texas is located on the north edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex at the convergence of Interstates 35, 35E, and 35W. The Metroplex is a "Golden Triangle" with Denton to the north, Fort Worth to the southwest, and Dallas to the southeast. The university is 28 miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport via Interstate 35E and Highway 121. The Metroplex is the center of an area known for historical reasons as North Texas even though officially it is North Central Texas.


City Map


Both the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University are located in Denton. At the graduate level, they participate in the Federation of North Texas Area Universities, thereby expanding and enriching the variety of graduate programs available to residents of the North Texas area.

UNT is located to the east of Interstate 35E at the convergence of Interstates 35, 35E, and 35W. TWU is located at the intersection of Highways 380 (University) and 377 (Locust).

Denton is 37 miles from Dallas via Interstate 35E, 35 miles from Fort Worth via Interstate 35W, and 28 miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport via Interstate 35E and Highway 121.




Map Courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Tourism Department.


Directions & Parking at UNT


The university has two exits on Interstate 35E: North Texas Boulevard and McCormick. If you are coming from Fort Worth on Interstate 35W or from Oklahoma on Interstate 35, turn onto Interstate 35E and use the North Texas Boulevard exit. Cross over the interstate to reach the Information Booth at the Gateway Center (1). It is located on the right side of the street at the intersection of North Texas Boulevard and Eagle. Turn right on Eagle and left into the Gateway Center parking lot. The booth provides provides courtesy parking permits and directions.

If you are coming from Dallas via Interstate 35E, use the North Texas Boulevard exit, turn right off of the frontage road at the bridge across the highway, and follow along the road to the Information Booth at the Gateway Center (1). It is located on the right side of the street at the intersection of North Texas Boulevard and Eagle. Turn right on Eagle and left into the Gateway Center parking lot. The booth provides provides courtesy parking permits and directions.

The information booth (2) at the intersection of Chestnut and Avenue C also provides courtesy parking permits and directions.

The EESAT Building is on the northwest corner of Mulberry and Avenue C (3). The visitor parking lot is on the west side of (behind) the building.





Why North Texas is North Texas


The answer to this question is shrouded in mystery, confusion, and paradox and seems to go back so far into the history of Texas that it has been all but forgotten. It is confusing and paradoxical because common sense would seem to dictate that the most northern part of Texas would be called, or at least be included in, North Texas. The most northern area, however, is actually too far north to be called North Texas and is called the Panhandle instead because of its close proximity to the panhandle of Oklahoma.

Presumably the name goes back to the time when Texas was an independent country. In the beginning the region was referred to as the Red River/Trinity Forks area. After the Civil War this description was replaced gradually by the term North Texas. According to one theory, the change may have taken place because large numbers of northern sympathizers were believed to have lived there during the war. More likely, however, it was simply used to refer to the first population centers in the northern part of the country - Dallas and Fort Worth - to distinguish them from the cities of Austin and Houston to the south.

Although the Panhandle was always part of Texas, the name North Texas did not include it probably because few if any people lived there. Later when the Panhandle was settled, it was given the name Panhandle and the term North Texas continued to be used to refer to the original settlement areas in the north, but to the south and east of the Panhandle.

Technically, the region is now officially known as North Central Texas. Nevertheless, the original name continues to be commonly used to refer to the area and is the name of a multitude of businesses and institutions throughout the Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth area and beyond. Despite geographical considerations to the contrary, the people of North Texas believe that they are the only people who live in North Texas- and, as if to reward their audacity, the rest of the state incontestably agrees.


Other Useful Links