BIG BEND VACATION

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earl77

500+ Posts
Planning a Big Bend spring vacation We want to visit the McDonald's Observatory at Fort Davis at least one evening, and spend the rest of the time exploring Big Bend itself.

Does anyone have any tips on where to stay? I know that Fort Davis is at least 2 hours drive from the national park, so I guess it would be best to stay close to the park, since that's where we will be spending the majority of our time. We want to stay in a nice hotel, motel, or cabin, but everywher I have been calling is booked.


Any suggestions?
 
try the hotels in study butte. March is decent camping weather, of course. Ft Stockton is a drive, but the hotels are cheap and there is a 24 hour IHOP. Keep in mind that Big Bend like all national parks has a speed limit of 45. So the distances don't always seem to far after I-10, but it will still take takes nearly an hour to go from the entrance to Panther Junction. And don't speed. I was raised to think the rules at national parks are more important than the 10 commandments. Woe to the individual who runs a generator after 8pm! Woe to those who leave food out at the camp site! Woe to those who cut switch backs! And for the love of God, don't litter.
 
Stay at the Lodge in the Basin, which is operated by the N.P. service. It is the only choice in my book. Get one of the old stone cottages if possible, but you are probably too late for that.
 
There's plenty of camping space. I'm not saying that to be an *** either. It would completely ruin my trip if I had to stay in a nearby town and drive in every day.
 
If you go during spring break, the place is overrun with college students. Most of the rest of the year, there are more park rangers than visitors.
 
There's a Best Western in Alpine that is nice. You really ought to stay a night or two at the Gage Hotel in Marathon.
 
the paisano in marfa, the limpia in ft davis, the gage in marathon are all great hotel choices. there's probably a few in alpine. study butte is a nice location, you can enter big bend from santa elena side.
 
I'm going to west Tx in May. We booked all our hotels a year in advance.

Marathon (Gage)
Big Bend (Chisos)
Fort Davis (Indian Lodge)

good luck
 
I've got a reservation at the Hotel Limpia in Fort Davis for March 13, which is a Teusday night (a good night for the Observatory).

Our plans have changed, and we're now staying at the Holland Hotel in Alpine.

I'll be cancelling my Hotel Limpia reservation soon, so if there is some way I can transfer it to you I'll try.....just let me know.

I've got to do it before March 8.
 
Thanks for the tips, guys. I'm finding that almost everything is booked. I might have to wait until the summer.

What's the best way to see everything in the area? Move around and stay in a different place each night? Are the roads all really scenic? I've just never been out to West Texas. If anyone has a travel agenda that has worked for them in the past, please pass it along!

Thanks again.
 
If you are staying a night in Alpine or Marfa, don't miss your chance to go see the Marfa Lights at sundown. Be sure and take some binoculars.
 
Anyone ever stay in Lajitas? I have seen it and was curious on how it is.



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A lot has happened to Lajitas since you were there; a guy bought it and is attempting to create a Palm Springs there. Personally, I prefer the "dumps."
 
Made my reservations yesterday for mid-July:
4 nights in the stone cabins in the Basin at Big Bend
2 nights in the old section of the Indian Lodge at Davis Mountians State Park
2 nights in the motor lodge at Balmorhea State Park
We are going to take the kids for their first trip to Cattail Falls and the South Rim in the Bend, then going to hang at the pool at the beautiful Indian Lodge, then spend a few days swimming in the worlds largets spring fed pool at Balmorhea. Gonna teach my son to snorkel and feed the fish.
 
I'm going out to Big Bend Ranch SP for a week in April. I've been to the NP twice and am really looking forward to this trip. 4 nights at BB and 2 nights at Davis Mountains SP. Has anyone ever rented a canoe and done a day float of the Rio Grande? If so, what outfitter do you recommend.
 
Lots of good information from people with experience. Thanks!

I am getting conflicting advice from people I have been talking to about the weather there in the summmer. Some says it is miserably hot, 115 degrees in the shade, etc., and others say that after July begins, it cools off because a southwestern type of "monsoon" season begins then.

Anybody know best time to go in the summer if that's when you can go?
 
The temps vary within the park; at Panther Junction, the main ranger headquarters, it's not too bad, avg high mid-90s in July. In the Basin it'll be rather nice, mid-80s. But down toward the River, e.g. castolon, avg high temps in July around 103.
 
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