west texas state parks

Abilene would be the best. Lake Colorado City would be fine but the lake is low and no sites on the water from our long drought not fracing. Been to Abilene 1 time and liked it for our 5 day stay. Balmorhea would be my next pick but it is still over 200 miles from Abilene. Big Spring as told by someone else has no camping. No idea what your plans are but the DFW area has lots of state and COE parks to stay at too.

Sharon

Definitely Palo Duro Canyon.

Best Texas SP on I-20 is Monahans Sandhills.

Best Texas SP in west Texas on I-10 is Balmorhea.

Of the three you mentioned, Abklene is best because it is not dependent on the lake to enjoy.

Texas lakes won't recover unless they get several straight years of double or triple rainfall. Water usage due to population and industry growth from Texas lakes has increased greatly in the past decades. That along with draw down from the aquifers for ncreased agriculture means Texas uses more water than nature can replace.

Then add the massive usages of water by the oil and natural gas fracking industry, and we can pretty much forget Texas as a land of lakes for the future.

Not on your list. Those might be OK, but since I've not been there, can't offer opinions.

1. Davis Mountains State Park. In a remote area for dark skies, low mountain setting, kind of close to the Big Bend region.

2. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, in the Amarillo area, not too far away from I-40 and the city. Number 2 canyon in the U.S. for length.

3. Copper Breaks SP, on the highway from Dallas through Wichita Falls to Amarillo. Remote location, dark skies, small fishing lake, longhorn herd.

But your choices suggest you might be traveling I-20, my choices are not on that route.

Drought conditions curtailed all water activities at Abilene SP last season. I don't think this past winter's precipitation has improved lake levels that much, we've had way lower than normal snowfall and winter rain this far south on the plains.

Abilene State Park is a beautiful campground in the hills with shade trees right below Lake Abilene. Really a hidden gem.

3rd vote for Palo Duro State Park. Very nice with great camp grounds.

Another vote for Palo Duro.

If you really want to go west, Davis Mountains State Park.KB
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Palo Duro is the one to go to!!

We've been to Lake Colorado City state park many times. It is ok, but not really a destination park for us. The lake has been severely low for several years. We stop there for one night only as it is halfway between home and a common destination. The park facilities and people are nice, it's just that the environment is not pretty. Never been to Abilene state park.

Not to far away are Palo Duro State Park or Caprock Canyon state park. Those two parks are in an interesting geological area - lots of hiking- and could occupy someone for three or four days. Of the two, I like Palo Duro better, but both are nice. Maybe three days at each?