West Texas Trip

Hello Charlie, haven't seen your name up there in a while. You probably know everything about from your house to SA. From there do US90W on over to Langtry,Marfa, Alpine and Marathon. Do the trip S. to Big Bend, it'll be hot if not fall or spring. Do all the things you mentioned but other than the Davis Mts. West Texas all looks pretty much the same. When you go to Palo Duro visit the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum at the University in Canyon. Well worth the time to spend a very cool afternoon. The show "Texas" in the Canyon is excellent. Only thing is when we went a couple of yrs. ago and it rained, yes I said rained and they had to stop the show. While in that area head on over to New Mexico to Cimmaron, Eagle Nest, Red River or Taos. Lots cooler at 7000'.
Enjoy

Dave

Heading from east Texas if on Hwy 90 you can stop at Seminole Canyon State Park and see the pictographs, visit Judge Roy Bean's at Langtry, Texas. As mentioned Marathon Gage for food. At Alpine, Texas Sul Ross has a great little museum on west Texas History and it is free. Head south on 118 to Study Butt which has a good RV park, food and fuel just 2 mile from the Big Bend entrance. The risk is driving down into Big Bend and not getting a site. Good central spot to satellite out and see the surrounding region. We always drop the RV at Study Butte and hit all the back roads and surrounding towns in the Big Bend area. From there you can back track to Alpine and stay on 118 to Ft. Davis State Park and see all the sights in the region there. Marfa is only around 22 miles south on Hwy 17, McDonald Observatory 12 miles from the State Park, do take the scenic drive around the mountains. From Ft Davis you can head northwest to Van Horn, Texas and Hwy 54 north to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, camp and take a few hikes, east on Hwy 62/180 see Carlsbad Caverns and across the corner of New Mexico (become Enchanted) to Seminole, Tx to Hwy 385 north to Lubbock, Tx where you can head north on Hwy 87 to Canyon, TX were you will turn east to Palo Duro Canyon State Park and or Caprock Canyons State Park and see the buffalo herd.

You will be in scenery overload by this time.

Charlie, You might check out TexasCampgrounds.com. There is also a free print copy you can probably pick up. I got mine at an RV dealer in DFW area.

I would also stop at Caprock Canyon state park in Quitaque. Nice park with wonderful hiking, and biking trails.

What I have on the Big Bend Area. We really enjoyed Balmorhea State Park & checking out Fort Davis Nat'l Historic Site.

Not stopped here, but if your in the area, Monahans Sandhills State Park. Near Pecos & Midland/Odessa on I-20.

Likewise off I-10, I have never stopped here, but have been tempted to do so, Caverns of Sonora, they say is a National Natural Landmark, a unique cave located 8 miles west of the town of Sonora, Texas, and a world-class cave. It does have camping as well.
http://www.cavernsofsonora.com/

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway would make a neat place to check out. One I would like to see.

Ditto, Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah sounds pretty cool.

Seems many of the small towns in West Texas have city RV parks, such as: Littlefield city park near Lubbock. Likewise, near Clovis, NM, Muleshoe city park. Other Such Parks

We spend an overnight at a Walmart Supercenter - 702 West Loop 289, Lubbock 806-793-9686. There are more as well: Walmarts.

In the Marfa area don't forget a trip to the Davis Mountains. They have a very nice park...a great place to relax.

For Big Bend, try Maverick RV Park in Lajitas, a few extra miles from BB entrance but worth it, plus it is a Passport America park.

for the observatory, Davis Mountains State Park is only a few miles away. They have elec, water and dumping station. Make a reservation if you can. They're pretty popular.
at Marfa, don't pass up the chance to see the Marfa Lights...about 7 miles east of town on 90. They have a nice big rest area there and you can spend the night...dry camping...if you want..
At Big Bend, the only full hookup places are at Big Bend RV in Terlingua or the rv park down at Rio Grande Village campground...but the latter is just a small parking lot and can be very crowded with big rigs. The campground next door is shady and nicer and they have water and a dump station, too I think.
If you want to splurge, have dinner or lunch at the Gage Hotel in Marathon on your way out of Big Bend. A bit pricey, but it's a nice old hotel and the food is good.

When going to Colorado, Wyoming we take 287 out of Fort Worth to Amarillo. Sorry can't help down south.

For Palo Duro Canyon, we stayed at The Oasis RV Park in Amarillo and drove to Palo Duro. They do have campgrounds in the canyon but they were pretty remote for our liking.
For the observatory, try Balmorhea State Park.
Can't help with Big Bend. That's on our list. Enjoy! keep us posted.