[1] Dallas operated on the United States East Coast, participating in exercises and maneuvers from her base at Charleston, South Carolina.

Until 1931, she cruised along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean, engaging in gunnery exercises, battle torpedo practice, fleet maneuvers, and fleet problems; participating in joint United States Army-U.S. Navy exercises; training members of the United States Naval Reserve; and serving as experimental ship at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island.

[1] On 9 January 1932, Dallas departed Charleston, South Carolina, bound for the United States West Coast, arriving at San Diego, California, on 21 March 1932.

[1] Dallas departed San Diego on 9 April 1934 for the Presidential Review of the Fleet in June 1934 at New York City and tactical exercises on the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean.

Between 11 July 1941 and 10 March 1942 she patrolled between Argentia and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and escorted convoys to Reykjavík, Iceland, and Derry, Northern Ireland.

[1] From 1 April 1942 to 3 October, Dallas escorted coastal shipping from New York and Norfolk, Virginia to Florida, Texas, Cuba, Bermuda, and ports in the Caribbean.

Dallas was to carry a U.S. Army Raider battalion, and land them up the narrow, shallow, obstructed Sebou River to take a strategic airfield near Port Lyautey, French Morocco.