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I’ve been driving out from Fort Worth and spending time in the Big Bend Region of West Texas (Alpine, Marfa and Fort Davis) since 1991.  This is my travel guide to the Big Bend which includes the best restaurants, hotels, bars and area attractions.  This travel guide it a pretty good itinerary if you are traveling to West Texas from the east, cities like Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston or Austin.  

• Head to Del Rio, it about 400 Miles from Fort Worth, the best place to stay is Hampton Inn.
• You can take Hwy 90 to Marathon, it’s about 150 miles.
• On the way you can see Lake Amistad and Seminole Canyon State Park.  Seminole Canyon has some great cave paintings.
• Staying and dining at the Gage Hotel in Marathon is an option.
  

  Gage Hotel

• From Marathon head south on 385 to Big Bend National Park, Make sure you go up the basin.  You can also go over to Boquillas but check the times to make sure the crossing is open.  
  

  Big Bend is rough country until you gain some elevation heading toward the basin.

  

  Watch for Bears and Mountain Lions!

  

  Robert Earl Keen’s song, Gringo Honeymoon is written about Boquillas!.

  

  This is a picture from up in the Basin!

• From Panther Junction in Big Bend take 118 to Study Butte.|
• From Study Butte you can either go up to Alpine or staying at Lajitas is an option.  Lajitas is nice in the winter.
• Go by the Starlight Theatre in Terlingua.  They have food and music.
  
  

  Starlight Theatre

• Lajitas is really nice in the fall and spring with the nicest Golf Course in the Big Bend.
  
  

  Lajitas Main Street!

• From Lajitas go to Presidio on the river road.
  
  
• From Presidio head toward Marfa.  Staying at Cibolo Creek is an option.
• Marfa
  • Things to do
    • Marfa Visitors Center
      
      

      Marfa’s Visitors Center

    • Judd Foundation
      
      

      Judd/Chinati Foundation

    • Ballroom Marfa
    • Marfa Lights
      
  • Places to Eat & Drink
    • Pizza Foundation
      
      

      Pizza Foundation in Marfa.

    • Cochineal
      
    • Hotel Saint George
  • Places to Stay
    • Paisano Hotel
      
    • Thunderbird Hotel
      
    • El Cosmico
    • Hotel Saint George
      

From Marfa head to Fort Davis and take the loop road (TX-166 to TX-118) prior to getting to Fort Davis.  Make sure you take a picture of Sawtooth and you’ll end up at the McDonald Observatory

Sawtooth

McDonald Observatory

From McDonald Observatory head to Fort Davis

• Fort Davis
  • Things to Do
    • McDonald Observatory
    • Davis Mountains State Park
      
      

      Fort Davis State Park

    • Fort Davis National Historic Site
  • Places to Eat & Drink
    • Fort Davis Drug Store
      
    • Cueva De Leon
    • Stone Village Market
    • Blue Mountain Bistro
  • Places to Stay
    • Hotel Limpia
      
    • Harvard Hotel and Lodge
      
      

From Fort Davis you can come to Alpine.

• Alpine
  • Things to do
    • Museum of the Big Bend
      
    • Big Bend Saddlery
      
    • Spradley Hats
    • Performance Cars Stable
      
  • Places to Eat and Drink
    • Reata
      
    • Alicia’s
    • La Casita
      
  • • Railroad Blues
  • Places to Stay
    • Holland Hotel
      
    • Maverick
    • Hampton Inn
    • Quarter Circle 7 Hotel
    • Best Western
    • Holiday Inn Express

Head up to Balmorea, you might want to go by the Balmorea State park/springs and head back to Fort Worth.

Here’s a link  http://g.co/maps/evfas

2021

July 29 – August 1 Viva Big Bend