10 Hidden Gems in West Texas Worth Visiting
Take a tour through West Texas’ stunning scenery and hidden gems with this mini travel guide. Featuring 10 of West Texas must visit destinations.
West Texas, although far from Texas’ big cities, is filled with American history, unique art, Western charm, and incredible nature. From exploring canyons to sliding down sand dunes, there is no shortage of adventures to be had.
We spent 5 months living and working in the West Texas area and loved every minute of it. Whether you have just one day or a few days to spare West Texas is worth a visit!
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#1. MARFA
If you’re into art and you’re traveling through West Texas then you MUST stop in the cute town of Marfa. Marfa is a small desert town known for its minimalist art. The closest big city is El Paso which is 3 hours away. Popular spots to visit are the Chinati Foundation which has indoor and outdoor art installments on an old army base. And the Ballroom Marfa Arts center that hosts different exhibits, concerts, and the Marfa Myths Cultural Festival. Grab a coffee at Frama Coffee Shop and explore all that Marfa has to offer.
#2. “GIANT” MOVIE MURAL
Location: Marfa, Texas
Located just 2.0 miles outside Marfa is the art installment from the 1956 James Dean and Liz Taylor film “Giant”. This is a really cool stop to make as your driving through West Texas because there isn’t anything in the surrounding area. The cut outs are larger than you’d expect and there’s even a solar music box that plays country music.
#3. PRADA MARFA
Location: Valentine, Texas
A great road trip stop through West Texas is the infamous Prada store. This iconic art installment gathers tons of visitors to basically the middle of nowhere to take a picture at a fake Prada store. It’s actually a lot of fun and people leave all types of locks on the fence surrounding the store.
#4. FORT DAVIS HISTORIC SITE
Location: Fort Davis, Texas
If you’re into history then you will LOVE the Fort Davis National Historic Site. It was established in 1961 and is one of the best surviving examples of a U.S Army Fort in the southwestern U.S. It’s located right in the town of Fort Davis and is home to 24 restored historic buildings and over 100 ruins and foundations. Grab a map at the visitors center and take a self guided tour around this amazing park.
#5. DAVIS MOUNTAINS STATE PARK
Location: Fort Davis, Texas
Davis Mountains State Park is great stop when traveling through West Texas. In the park there is a campground and lodge to spend the night. The most popular thing to do is take the skyline drive to the top for amazing views of the Davis Mountains and the surrounding area.
#6. MONAHANS SANDHILLS STATE PARK
Location: Monahans, Texas
Monahans Sandhills State Park is a Texas size sandbox for all to enjoy. Rent a sled and slide down the natural sandhills, have a picnic or camp for the night. We discovered this place on our way back from Midland and it was such a surprise! Dunes as far as the eye can see that are constantly being reshaped by the environment. We ran around with our dogs for awhile and had a great time. I think I still have sand in my shoes.
#7. ALPINE STREET ART
Alpine is a small mountain town located at the base of Big Bend National Park. It’s downtown location makes it a great place to walk around and explore all the delightful art studios, restaurants, and shops Alpine has to offer. Grab a coffee at Cedar Coffee Supply and check out the popular street art.
#8. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
No West Texas trip would be complete without a visit to the beautiful Big Bend National Park. This park knows diversity from its 1,500 foot canyon walls, natural hot springs, ancient volcanic rock, and look over into Mexico at the Rio Grande River. A trip to Big Bend will leave you speechless.
See our Big Bend page to explore the top hikes & sights in Big Bend National Park.
#9. BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK
Location: Terlingua, Texas
Travel Guide | Texas Roadtrip: Visiting the Remote Big Bend Ranch State Park
Put Big Bend Ranch State Park on the top of your list. This is Texas’ largest state park and in our opinion one the best. From the stunning scenic drives along the Rio Grande River to the family friendly hiking trails, this park has it all.
#10. LAJITAS GOLF RESORT AND SPA
Location: Lajitas, Texas
Travel Guide | Living & Working in Big Bend National Park
This charming Western Themed 4 Star Golf Resort sits right on the border of Mexico over looking the Rio Grande River. Take a sunset horseback ride, zipline through canyons, enjoy a day at the spa, or play a game a golf at this amazing resort. If you need to get away and like the outdoors this is the place for you.
Let us know what are your favorite things in West Texas in the comments below!
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WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Take a tour through West Texas’ stunning scenery and hidden gems with this mini travel guide. Featuring 10 of West Texas must visit destinations.