Big Bend, Texas

[akadeadeye]

We will be coming home to San Antonio from the West on an upcoming trip and we want to visit Ft. Davis and the Big Bend Park. Is it best to take Highway 118 from IH-10 or Highway 18 from Balmoreah into Ft. Davis? And, where do you suggest we headquarter in the area?

Don

[dons2346]

We suggest Ft Davis State Park as a base. Make sure you go to the star party at the McDonald observatory.

[RustyJC]

We always come in on TX18 from Balmorhea to Fort Davis. TX118 between Fort Davis and Kent goes through some pretty steep, tight stuff when you get north of the McDonald Observatory with free range cattle as well. Certainly not impossible, but TX18 is better, IMHO.

+1 on Davis Mountains State Park. If you can't get in at the State Park, a few years ago when we were there I noticed what looked like a new RV park just south of Fort Davis on the Marfa highway - it'll be on your left as you're heading toward Marfa. Don't know anything else about it, but it might be worth a look.

Rusty

[RustyJC]

I just read your post again and saw where you'll be coming FROM the west. OOPS!! My bad!!

Catch US90 at Van Horn and head south toward Marfa. To save quite a few miles, south of Valentine turn east on FM505 until it hits TX166, turn right and continue on TX166 until it intersects TX17 just south of Fort Davis. Take a left on TX17 and you'll be in Fort Davis in just a few miles. The alternate RV park I mentioned will be on your right on TX17 as you're heading into Fort Davis. Or, if you want to drive the extra miles, you can continue on US90 into Marfa where you'll take TX17 north to Fort Davis.

I just noticed that there was another error in my previous post; what I referred to as TX18 from Balmorhea to Fort Davis should have been TX17. This just isn't my day, I guess......

Rusty

[akadeadeye]

Thanks to both of you for your replies. And, Rusty, thanks for your detailed directions. They will come in handy for us. It has been a very long time since I was in that country off of IH-10 and I just don't remember how the roads are.

We will take your advice and directions.

Don

[RustyJC]

Generally, good roads with little traffic.

Rusty

[skigramp]

When we visited Big Bend NP we stayed in Terlinga / Study Butte ... there are two RV parks there ...

Couple of Reviews

I can't remember which one we stayed at ... neither are fancy ... but we were only there in the evenings because we were in the park all day ... so a quiet place to return to was all that we needed.

[Tex Guy]

I just got back from there. We've been there several times over the years. Since we come from the east, I'll pass on advise for that.

Regarding where to HQ... I like Alpine as a central location. We just stayed at The Lost Alaskan. Very nice park and friendly management. But my tribe wanted to be closer to the park (BBNP). So we spent most of our time in Lajitas, right on the river. The problem is that Big Bend is a HUGE area. From alpine it is about 80 miles to Presidio and 80 miles to Terlingua/Alpine are. If you want to get to Rio Grande Village I think it must be over 100 miles fro alpine. If you are in Ft Davis you need to add 20 or 30 miles to all that.

If there is one thing that should not be missed in your first trip to the area it is the river road between Lajitas and Presidio. But I absolutely would not advise taking your motorhome over that route.

Have fun! I'm ready to go back.