Community Forums

fiddleddd · 02-10-2025, 11:00 AM

Hi! A friend told us not to camp at Monahans Sandhills State Park in western Texas. They said sand got into every groove of their RV and even sandblasted it. Have you had that experience? I suppose if it were really windy that would be a problem. Just wondering if anyone has recommendations pro or con about whether to camp there. Thanks!

n0mad · 02-10-2025, 11:03 AM

Camped there many times. Not the worst for dust/sand but certainly not the best. We've stayed in many worse places.

My hot take is that if dust and sand bother you, RV/travel/outdoor life isn't for you.

Persistent · 02-10-2025, 12:36 PM

We have camped there several times. No sand storm. On the other hand that depends entirely on the weather. Sand dunes in high winds produce sand in the wind. Check the weather forecast.

South of Monahan's is the Permian Basin. The air there is toxic. Spend as little time there as possible.

andy29847 · 02-10-2025, 02:02 PM

Snow!

fiddleddd · 02-10-2025, 02:20 PM

Hi nOmad! I was just thinking the area might always be windy because there are no trees to block the wind. Sounds like we'll be fine, barring a sand storm and terrible winds. And BTW, I hate bugs too, but it does not keep us from camping. We love this lifestyle. We have a brand new fifth wheel, and I was just concerned about getting etching if the sand was blowing really badly. We'll just keep an eye on the weather. Thanks!

fiddleddd · 02-10-2025, 02:23 PM

Thanks! And I had never heard of the Permian Basin, so I looked it up. Is it north of Monahan Sandhills? We'll be plenty far enough away from it, I think.

fiddleddd · 02-10-2025, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like a cool place actually. We'll only be there for 1 night, so I think we'll be okay.

**Lt Dan** · 02-10-2025, 02:30 PM

We've stayed there a couple of times and unless you have 40-50mph winds you won't have a problem with sandblasting. It's definitely a unique place and a good stopover point.

Persistent · 02-11-2025, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiddleddd

Thanks! And I had never heard of the Permian Basin, so I looked it up. Is it north of Monahan Sandhills? We'll be plenty far enough away from it, I think.

We stop at Monahan on the way to Big Bend National Park. The park is on the Rio Grand. So, we make the long drive south from Monahan to the RioGrand as fast as we can.

The air for the first part of that drive is heavy with petroleum vapors. It is so bad lately, we have been going a longer way around.

OldBaldFat · 02-12-2025, 12:12 AM

I think I still have sand in some of my stuff, from camping on the beach at Mustang Island Corpus Christi in October 2013.

Or maybe from Monahan Sandhills - 2014, or near White Sands, or Valley of Fire SP near Las Vegas, or Key West, or Ocean City, WA or USFS Bay View CG outside Brimley, MI near Sault Ste Marie. Or Fourth Cliff Military Rec area just south of Boston, or near Cape Hatteras.

Yes, getting sand out of stuff is practically impossible.

Now personally, a little at Monahan Sandhills is acceptable for me. But I'm not going to camp there on a high wind day.

My mid-20's granddaughter sent me pictures from a visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado last week - a day trip for her and a friend from their home in Denver. She was complaining about the sand getting in her underwear.

Sand always gets everywhere.

andy29847 · 02-12-2025, 05:08 AM

Did somebody say, "Great Sand Dunes NP." the black dots are people playing on the dunes.

fiddleddd · 02-12-2025, 10:24 AM

Thanks! We'll keep an eye on the weather and probably move on if it's too windy. I hate wind anyway....sand or no sand! :-)

fiddleddd · 02-12-2025, 10:26 AM

Thanks for the heads up. I have a very acute sense of smell, so we would probably do the same.

fiddleddd · 02-12-2025, 10:30 AM

I read your response to my husband while he's driving. We both got a good laugh out of your post. You certainly have been to a lot of sandy areas. We've actually never had trouble camping at Great Sand Dunes National Park or White Sands, but then it wasn't real windy either. As I mentioned above, I really hate the wind, especially if we are in a wooded site......sand or no sand. Thanks for your help. We'll risk Monahan unless it's really windy when we arrive.