Vacation In West Texas
Vacationing in West Texas can be cheap if you take advantage of several free attractions. Big Bend Ranch State Park, Gila National Forest, and the Davis Mountains are all among the top areas for nature-related activities. It’s possible to spend under $20 for a day’s outing. El Paso, Texas, is the closest large city with a variety of lodges and restaurants. Whether vacationing with the family or a long weekend with a friend, there are plenty of things to do in West Texas.
As we say at our office, “Waste In West Texas.” This area is just so beautiful that people want to just get away. The simplicity of the landscape is what makes vacationing in West Texas so enjoyable and relaxing.
West Texas has a lot to offer and is actually a beautiful place unlike what you would expect. People do say that it’s not all desert, so it tends to be a surprise to those who aren’t aware of the state’s landscape. The Big Bend area is a spectacular place and the Chihuahuan Desert is a very popular sight.
West Texas has a lot to offer. The people are friendly, the mountains are majestic, and the food is delicious. With so many things to do, it can be overwhelming to choose which vacation route to take. We’ve got you covered. Whether you want to explore Dallas and Fort Worth or experience the beauty of Big Bend National Park, this guide will give you everything you need for an unforgettable trip.
If your travels have you looking for great places to stay, I’ve got a few suggestions. If you are going to be in the area, and want to explore a little more of what there is to see in the vast open spaces and unique culture of the west side of Texas, just give me a call and let’s set up an appointment.
Vacation In West Texas
Easily one of the most special areas in the country, West Texas is brimming with exciting cultural attractions, quirky, timeworn towns, and an incredible abundance of natural beauty. In this fabled region of the Lone Star State, you’ll find an eclectic former ghost town, two stunningly beautiful national parks (and several state parks), natural hot springs, world-class art, and an altogether otherworldly landscape that, in many places, feels more akin to the moon than Planet Earth.
Welcome to your definitive list of what to do and see in West Texas.
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Chinati Hot Springs
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ADDRESS1 Hot Springs Rd, Presidio, TX 79845, USA
PHONE +1 432-229-4165
WEB Visit website
Quite possibly the most remote resort in the state, Chinati Hot Springs provides the perfect getaway when you need to soak up some desert scenery, sleep under a blanket of stars, and chill out (or heat up, rather) in natural hot springs backdropped by the majestic Chihuahuan Mountains. This rustic, comfy, and altogether obscure resort has seven cabins (some with private tubs or showers), in addition to the communal hot springs that fill a spacious outdoor tub. These bubbling waters come out of the earth at 109 degrees and are said to cure all kinds of ailments and aches.
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Starlight Theatre
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ADDRESS631 Ivey Rd, Terlingua, TX 79852, USA
PHONE +1 432-371-3400
WEB Visit website
The famed Starlight Theatre is the centerpiece of Terlingua, the quirky West Texas “ghost town” located 12 miles from the Mexican border. Terlingua is a former abandoned mining town (which is where the “ghost” part comes in). However, a small but vibrant community resides here today—just under 60 permanent residents, to be exact. What used to be the former Chisos Movie Theater, the Starlight is where everyone in town comes to have a beer, chow down on Tex-Mex food, and enjoy the sounds of live bluegrass and country tunes.
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El Paso Museum of Art
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ADDRESS1 Arts Festival Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901, USA
PHONE +1 915-212-0300
WEB Visit website
Although small, the El Paso Museum of Art is an utter delight. Located inside a former Greyhound station, the EPMA houses a permanent collection of over 7,000 works from the Byzantine era to the present, including Baroque and Renaissance masterpieces from Van Dyck, Botticelli, and Canaletto. Best of all, it’s always free.
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Marfa Mystery Lights Viewing Center
Though it may seem cheesy, trying to catch a glimpse of the Marfa Lights is a crucial part of the West Texas experience. For centuries, travelers have reported seeing these mysterious lights in the same spot just southeast of town—with no real explanation for where they come from. Today, there’s a sleek roadside viewing center where you can cozy up with a blanket and a hot toddy while keeping your eyes peeled for the strange, ghostly orbs that dance and shimmer on the horizon line.
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Big Bend Ranch State Park
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ADDRESS21800 FM170, Redford, TX 79846, USA
PHONE +1 432-358-4444
WEB Visit website
Hiking in Big Bend Ranch State Park is an outdoor lover’s dream come true. The park receives very few visitors, especially when compared to its flashier neighbor, Big Bend National Park—in fact, you’ll likely be one of just a handful of hikers during your time here. If you’re up for it, the Rancherias Canyon Trail is a challenging three-day hike that cuts through the Chihuahuan Desert, dipping into several small canyons and cresting the ridge of the Bofecillos Mountains. If you’d prefer to do a shorter hike, Closed Canyon and the Cinco Tinajas Loop can both be done in a day.
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Chinati Foundation
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ADDRESS1 Cavalry Row, Marfa, TX 79843, USA
PHONE +1 432-729-4362
WEB Visit website
You might say that the Chinati Foundation is the coolest art museum in Texas. Located on a 340-acre tract of desert land in Marfa that includes abandoned U.S. Army artillery sheds, Chinati was the creation of Donald Judd, an artist who essentially transformed many of Marfa’s downtown buildings with his permanent installations (along with those of his contemporaries, Dan Flavin and John Chamberlain). It’s a truly surreal sight, where large-scale minimalist art meets vast Texan skies and desert.
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River Road
Driving the legendary River Road at least once should be at the top of any Texas bucket list, not just a West Texas bucket list. This is one of the most beautiful drives in the entire country—skirting the southern border of West Texas, this stretch of FM-170 takes you through the splendor of Big Bend Ranch State Park, with the high point (literally) being the top of a pass with stomach-churning views of the Rio Grande spooling out below.