We visited Marfa and Big Bend at the end of December and it was perfect! Will travel for tacos, BBQ, & ice cream It has become more popular the last 5-10 years (or maybe it just became more known to us) with the rise of Instagram and as more celebrities, like Beyonce and Matthew McConaughey, visit the area. Required fields are marked *. You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we’re a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. It’s where the Texas mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert collide. Founded in 1926, it is the region's oldest news source. Next, head to Van Horn where you'll find the historic Hotel El Capitan, designed by acclaimed architect Henry Trost in 1929. Box S Marfa, TX 79843. But if you need more space, want a kitchen, or want a hotel experience, here are a few other options for you: PS: If it is your first time staying at an Airbnb, click this link to get $40 your first stay! If you use the links provided and make a purchase, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. But thankfully due to the park’s distance from major cities, it’s not as busy as some national parks. With highs in the 90’s (and likely in the 100s on the desert floor), it would be a bit brutal to visit Marfa and Big Bend during this time, as there is less tree coverage and you’ll be fully exposed to the sun. The Marfa Army Airfield served as a training facility for … Happy Holidays from our family to yours! living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. Nearby Fort Davis is a neighboring town full of history, hiking and science to discover. The VRBO was awesome! The wide open spaces, big blue skies, colorful sunsets, and rugged surroundings have … We only recommend products we truly love, actually use during our adventures, and think you can benefit from too! Within a few hours we arrived at … But don’t let the trek scare you, it’s worth the drive!If you’re not from Texas and you want to visit, we suggest flying into El Paso, which has a handful of major airlines and nonstop flights. Like El Cosmico, which has tipis, trailers, and glamping tents. Same scenarios from Marfa to Big Bend Ranch State Park, or from Alpine to Big Bend Ranch State Park? The trip meets in the artsy town of Marfa, before adventuring out to visit Big Bend National Park, Big Bend State Park, ghost towns, and more while staying at … “Marfa is like the gateway drug of West Texas,” she says. Visitors to the Big Bend Sector, formerly known as Marfa Sector, often describe it as "big country." From Marfa, head to Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park via the River Road, one of Texas' most scenic drives. This is the fastest route from Marfa, TX … 302 S. Highland Ave. After months in the works, Marfa now also has evidence that its contact tracing program is paying dividends. ! A couple things to note about Marfa is that things tend to move slower there, including the service, so be prepared to wait a bit. Big Bend National Park, with 801,000 acres of land, is a short drive away. Marfa and Big Bend – AFAR contest winner hits the road in West Texas Facebook 0 Tweet 0 Pin 0 LinkedIn 0 Last year All Roads North partnered with AFAR , the experiential travel magazine, to design a West Texas road trip as a competition prize for their readers. As we mentioned above, Marfa tends to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we’d suggest visiting later in the week to make sure that you can get the full experience! This 3 day itinerary for Marfa and Big Bend features all of our favorite spots from our trip to West Texas, including the top sights to see, where to eat, the best hikes, and more!If you’re looking for more ideas, make sure to check out our “if you have extra time” section at the end of this guide! The Big Bend region in Far West Texas is a majestic place. Other popular attractions that remain inaccessible include the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis and the famous art galleries in Marfa. Your email address will not be published. And you need water out here. Visit Marfa and explore the breathtaking Big Bend region in Far West Texas where you’ll find many state and national parks nearby to enjoy the Texas mountains. We’re excited to share this West Texas road trip itinerary, which is perfect if you have 3 days in Marfa and Big Bend and want to see the highlights. The Big Bend Sentinel is a weekly newspaper covering Presidio, Brewster and Jeff Davis counties. We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) The Marfa Army Airfield served as a training facility for several thousand pilots during World War II. Look for lizards, hummingbirds and cacti along the trails at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center. We stayed in Marfa, TX the entire time and drove the 2.5 hours to Big Bend and 2.5 hours back in one day, but if you plan to do two days in Big Bend like this guide suggests, we recommend staying even closer to Big Bend for part of the trip. Explore the well-preserved Fort Davis National Historic Site, a frontier military post during the Indian Wars. Drive northwest of Marfa, through Van Horn to Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Some friends and I hatched a plan: We’d spend a couple nights in Marfa and then camp for two more at Big Bend National Park.I treated myself by booking a yurt at El Cosmico, where in the past I had just paid to pitch my own tent. On our trip, we saw roadrunners, jackrabbits, cottontail bunnies, wild coyotes, javelinas, many birds and got to experience the incrediblesouth texas culture of Terlingua and Marfa. From $14.00. and it is home to 75 species of mammals, including bears (who knew Texas had bears?! Once you're all set up to ride in style, it's time to make the classic pilgrimage to one of Texas' most popular areas: Marfa, Terlingua, Big Bend National Park, and all points west. Big Blend of Texas. 5 Things to do at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, After stuffing your face with a burrito, go to. Marfa and Big Bend National Park are both located very close to the US and Mexico border and far from most major cities. Hike Davis Mountains State Park then go snorkeling or scuba diving at Balmorhea State Park. Physical Address 301 S. Highland Marfa, TX 79843. Box 787 Hi y’all! Monday-Friday:  8am to 5pm  Vienna Roast is characterized by a slightly deeper color than American Roast, with small spots of oil on the bean’s surface. Sign up to get travel updates, guides, vlogs, and other resources delivered straight to your inbox once a month! Great guide! We spent 3 days exploring West Texas and it completely exceeded our expectations! Throughout the years, not much has changed in the landscape of the Big Bend Region of West Texas. We have been back in T, ✨ NEW Guides! YouTube + Travel Guides. The Big Bend Map is your key to discovering three wide open Texas counties, some of the most unique small towns in Texas, and Big Bend National Park, known for its wild beauty and distant vistas. Saturday:  10am to 1pm, Marfa Visitor Center Than, Are there any cool holiday light displays where yo, The holidays may look a bit different this year, b, ✨ NEW Guides! Mailing Address P.O. We’re Adam, Kathryn, and Kona, an adventurous married couple (+ pup!) The nights are a bit chilly, but the daytime temperatures were in the 60s and we had tons of sunshine, which made it feel warmer. P. O. The city was founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop. ✨ Back in August we visited Sout. Marfa to Big Bend Road Trip Part 1: Marfa. Just go ahead and follow this board and please post me a message on my Facebook page so I can send you the invite! The Marfa National Bank. We had a couple of days to explore Marfa and the surrounding areas of Alpine and Marathon, Texas.I’ll explain why in today’s blog post. Don’t trust to luck, bank with us.” – Early 1900’s advertisement for The Marfa National Bank . Also, not everything is open everyday of the week. Your email address will not be published. Located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, it is also the county seat of Presidio County. But most areas of the park are vast and open, completely unshaded and exposed to the sun. Big Bend was unbelievable and Marfa was adorable! It’s where you can hike in the morning, river raft in the afternoon, and stargaze at night. The VBRO we stayed in in Marfa was awesome…spacious and clean! City leaders mulled the launch of a contact tracing program since the early days of the coronavirus crisis, as The Big Bend Sentinel previously reported, … In the early 1880s, the city was a railroad water stop. Marfa and Big Bend National Park are 3 hours 29 mins far apart, if you drive non-stop . See more ideas about Marfa, Marfa texas, Big bend. Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. Explore underground at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where magical cave formations await. While spring is also another great time to visit weather-wise, it is the busiest time of the year to visit Big Bend, especially Spring Break, so the crowds may be a bit larger. We know it will be HOT. living on the road in our. This West Texas road trip itinerary includes where to stay, what to do, and where you must eat when in and around Marfa and Big Bend National Park! Whether in the north where large farms surround small Texas towns or the rugged and vast area near the Rio Grande River, this is a great place to be. Marfa is a town in the high desert of far West Texas in the Southwestern United States. Lobby Hours. We found that most things are open Wednesday/Thursday-weekend, but Mondays and Tuesdays can be rough, making it more of a weekend destination. Where to stay: There are a few options for lodging in this area. Big Bend National Park is 801,163 acres and the 15th largest US National Park. There are 94.07 miles from Marfa to Big Bend National Park in southeast direction and 138 miles (222.09 kilometers) by car, following the Main Park Road route. ", Phone:  +1  (432) 729-4772 “A lot of people that visit the Marfa area or the Big Bend region don’t realize that we do have a small Medical Center in Alpine, Texas, which is 30 minutes away from Marfa…. Big Bend is beautiful; hauntingly silent, with majestic mountains and desert views and incredible sunsets and starry night skies. This oil, which comes from within the coffee bean, is brought to the surface by the prolonged roasting time. This website contains affiliate links from websites such as Amazon.com, Booking.com, and Rentalcars.com. Want to explore more of Texas? The perfect place for Kona to run around too! So glad we got to experience it all with you! There are several West Texas road trips to check out that include favorite state and national parks in Texas. Maybe high 70s/low 80s – nothing too hot by Texas standards. I’m back with my second installment about the Big Bend, Texas road trip. Big Bend National Park, Marfa, Terlingua Join us for this unique 6-day road cycling event as we head to the far west of Texas. Marfa Hardware was created in 2013 with the purchase of ABC Pump and Hardware Supply. The summertime is also when more storms and flash flooding happens, so keep that in mind if you decide to visit in the summer. It’s where the Texas mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert collide. Motor Bank Hours All Rights Reserved. Between Marfa and Alpine which town would you suggest we spend 1 night in on Dec 27? And you want to see this board on your page? The drive from Marfa is about a two hour stretch through open land that has poor cell reception, so it’s smart to stock up on gas or any last minute items you might need in Alpine, TX before continuing on. Just what you’ll want after a long hike, leisure bike ride, or photo safari. Marfa was founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop, and grew quickly through the 1920s. Mo-Th 9:00am-4:00pm Fr 9:00am-5:00pm. Visit Marfa and explore the breathtaking Big Bend region in Far West Texas where you’ll find many state and national parks nearby to enjoy the Texas mountains. Some good Airbnb options are: Pin this West Texas road trip guide to help plan your trip to Marfa and Big Bend! ABC Pump and Supply was primarily a family owned water well service company in business for 20 + years in this location. We’re including suggestions of where to stay under each day if you want to minimize the amount of driving each day! :-) We left Marfa after exploring and headed to Lajita’s near Big Bend National Park. We're going to Big Bend NP and have a booking at the Chisos Mountain Lodge for 2 nights (28-30 Dec). It’s Marfa. As you reach Big Bend you first pass through the gateway town of Terlingua, which has more services and is totally quirky! Website built with love by Gariele Wright. The closest large city to either destination is El Paso, which is 194 miles (3 hours) from Marfa and 290 miles (4.5 hours) from Big Bend National Park. See more ideas about Marfa, Big bend, West texas. Marfa, if you’ve never heard of it, is a tiny town in rural southwest Texas with roots tracing back to the late 1800s, when it served as a water stop for the railroad. I am so happy I got to experience West Texas with y’all! Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hi y’all! You could definitely spend more time in West Texas, but if you only have a long weekend or a few days to spare, we’ve gotcha covered! Last week I told you about The Local Chapter and how we spent most of the week glamping while exploring Terlingua and the Big Bend area. This is where the drive became absolutely beautiful! This magical place is Big Bend. The closest large city to either destination is El Paso, which is 194 miles (3 hours) from Marfa and 290 miles (4.5 hours) from Big Bend National Park. Go see the Marfa Lights, tour Marfa art galleries, and hike the many state and national parks in the Big Bend region. Not us!). As the name implies, Hot Springs National Park is, On our way back to Texas we made a quick stop at o. The landscape is unlike anywhere else in Texas and we were blown away by how beautiful it was. Howdy! ✨ One of the best surprises this, Howdy from Austin! Marfa, TX 79843. Aug 19, 2015 - ♥ ♥ Do you love the famous/infamous Marfa of far west Texas, Big Bend desert country? Mar 21, 2016 - Explore Ashlyn Utley's board "Marfa", followed by 184 people on Pinterest. With a population around 1,800, Marfa is a walkable Texas destination where the pace of life slows down and you find yourself appreciating the simple things in life. Here, you forget about the constraints of time, emails and to-dos, and instead are guided by the daily dance of the sun and moon over this large sky. Ready to explore West Texas? I wanted to spend my 30th birthday in West Texas, sipping tequila under dark skies and greeting the next decade in the desert. If you prefer a hotel, you can stay at the Chisos Mountain Lodge or La Posada Milagro (in Terlingua), but our top pick would be renting an Airbnb in Terlingua, a small town about 1 hour from the park. "There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple -like canyons in ancient limestone. Where to stay: There are so many cool places to stay in Marfa! We only spent half a day in the park and were able to see two of the top sights, but we had to rush a bit and didn’t get to see everything, so we thought two days would be more appropriate for this guide to include the spots we went to and the spots we want to visit next time. Currently: TX This website uses cookies to improve user experience. After landing, you will definitely need to rent a car to get around West Texas. We road tripped from Seattle to Texas for the holidays and during days 4-7 of the trip we spent time in Marfa and Big Bend National Park! We enjoyed a slower pace of travel, went on hikes, saw tons of stars at night, were in awe of the mountains, and enjoyed some cool local restaurants. Marfa and Big Bend National Park are both located very close to the US and Mexico border and far from most major cities. Like a lot of people, Werner came to West Texas to check out Marfa and Big Bend, finding unexpected gems like Terlingua along the way. Its population is about 2000. There are so many things that make this park awesome including the fact that it is on the US and Mexico Border (you can get within a stone’s throw of Mexico!) Leaving Marfa, we drove directly home to Dallas, stopping for a delightful lunch (including the best BLT I've had in ages) in Big Spring, at Settles Grill in the historic Hotel Settles. We are a family of three (dad, mom, and our teenage daughter), and we’re planning a trip to the area late May/early June 2021. Fort Davis , about 30 minutes north of Marfa on Route 67, is home to the McDonald Observatory [16] , which hosts terrific Star Parties after dark. See Fort Leaton State Historic Site near Presidio, learn about the Chihuahuan Desert at Barton Warnock Environmental Center in Lajitas, and grab souvenirs in Terlingua Ghost Town. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Big Bend Part 1. Marfa, TX 79843, Mailing Address: If you’d like to camp, you can camp at the Chisos Basin Campground. Similar to most of Texas, West Texas can get very hot in the summer! First stop is the iconic Prada Marfa. So it feels really hot really fast.For that reason, I woke up before dawn and was on my way into the park by the sun’s first rays. The mornings were chilly, but the afternoons were hot. Although we lived in Texas for 16 years (Kathryn) and 28 years (Adam), neither of us ever made it to Marfa and Big Bend National Park and after going there during our Christmas Road Trip in 2018 (you can see all of the vlogs from our trip here) we totally regret it! We’d highly recommend visiting in fall and winter months! Or walk its McKittrick Canyon for some of the best fall foliage in Texas. The population was 1,981 at the 2010 census. Adam, Kathryn, & Kona | Full time #vanlife in @brisketthevan Marfa Hardware is an independently owned and operated hardware store located in Marfa Texas serving the Big Bend Region. Consider Marfa your headquarters, where the beds are comfy, the salsa’s spicy, and the margaritas are cold. Its population is about 2000. Together, Marfa and Big Bend National Park make for one epic West Texas road trip! Marfa is located about 200 miles (321.87 kilometers) down the border from El Paso, where hospitalizations have fallen slightly after a grim November. You can often find us driving all around the US and Canada, scoping out the best coffee shops, eating tacos and ice cream (we’re a 5+ taco and 2+ scoop household), and enjoying nature. They say it can be tough to get to, but when you arrive in this peaceful desert … This art installation is the perfect spot to take photographs. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and diversity of species is the best in the country. The Big Bend region in Far West Texas is a majestic place. Glad to share the love! . The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive leads you to your next stop. You’ve heard of it, but have you been? It can cool things off a bit, but it could also make it more challenging to hike. Check out our Texas travel guides: Marfa is a very small town in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by a dry landscape and with a big arts scene and hip local shops. Experience a Solar Viewing and Tour or Star Party at McDonald Observatory (featuring one of the world's largest telescopes). If you want to camp at the park during the spring, make sure to book in advance! Hike to the tallest point in Texas (Guadalupe Peak) at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. © 2020 Adventures of A+K. Nearby Fort Davis is a neighboring town full of history, hiking and to! Board `` Marfa '', followed by 184 people on Pinterest the mornings were chilly, but it could make! 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