Marfa or Alpine for a 3 night home base?

[Jack Klompus]

Next year we will be spending 4 nights in BB itself at RG Village. On the way out we will spend a couple nights in Terlingua to take care of that area as we head back West.

My question is this: On the way in, I would like to spend three nights exploring the Marfa/Alpine/Ft Davis metroplex in a FHU environment before heading in to the park itself.

I am thinking Alpine might fit the bill. Easy enough for day trips to both Marfa and Ft. Davis, closer to our eventual spot in BB, and perhaps slightly more "reliable" services in case we want to grab a meal out or something.

Won't be doing any evening observatory activities at McDonald so I think we would prefer not to spend the 3 nights in Ft Davis, but we will visit the area on a day trip.

I know Marfa is "hip" ... but is there a reason not to pick Alpine instead of Marfa for this purpose?

[rk911]

Alpine would be more central to the others. Last time there we stayed at the Pecan Grove RV park but it's been...umm, a few years.

Marfa and then"lights" was a disappointment but the Star Party at the McDonald Observatory waa 5-stars!

[OldBaldFat]

Personally, I'd stop at Lost Alaskan RV in Alpine. The best RV park in the area, if the deer don't bother you much.

We spent a couple of months as Park Hosts at Fort Davis.

Personally, I enjoy the daytime tour of McDonald to the "Star Party".

Alpine is a small college town, and a bit more to do than Ft Davis or Marfa. Much better restaurants and shopping.

Not interested in seeing the 'Marfa Lights' which are the headlights on US-67 south of town.

We also spent four months at BB as campground hosts in the Chisos Basin. (I went back there for four nights last month - in a small tent. No way to get my RV into the Basin.)

[rk911]

Originally Posted by OldBaldFat

...Personally, I enjoy the daytime tour of McDonald to the "Star Party".

We did both. A day well spent.

[Jack Klompus]

Originally Posted by OldBaldFat

Personally, I'd stop at Lost Alaskan RV in Alpine. The best RV park in the area, if the deer don't bother you much.

This is exactly the place I was looking at.

[Scotialaddie]

Ditto on Lost Alaskan RV park. Stayed there recently.

[andy29847]

Just returning from the Big Bend area. I believe you can see everything in Marfa in 15 minutes. My wife and I also went to Fort Davis. The drug store and the hotel restaurant appear to be permanently closed. Davis Mountains State Park was a disappointment too. The lodge was closed. The hiking trails are open and the bird watching centers were operating, but the park was quiet and very dry. Alpine is a neat little town. We like to stop there to shop at the grocery store. There are murals painted on several of the building that we found interesting. We ate at the Spicerwood Restaurant and it was OK. If I were you, I’d spend more time near Terlingua. Eat at the Starlight one night. Visit Santa Elana Canyon. Ride down Texas 170 past Lajatis for one of the most scenic highways in the country. Big Bend Station in Study Butte is where we stay. They have a motel, RV park, gas station, restaurant, and convince store on the same piece of property. Things are expensive down there so stock up on provisions before hand if possible. There is a new Dollar General on TX 170 that sells for near normal prices.

[doc]

Let us know what you think of the Marfa Lights if you happen to see them.
I am not sure about them myself

[Jkjavelin]

In February 2023 and March 2025, we overnighted at the Marfa Lights observation area on the way to Lajitas, and the lights were there for us both times. It attracts many people and actually at first when I saw them in '23 it did look sort of like car lights, but highway 67 is not in that location and the movement of the lights is not like car lights. I was told that they are only seen 30+ nights a year. Sure, there are skeptics, but I'm pretty sure the spectators there were not all idiots. It's a fun thing!
JK