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Monahans Sandhills State Park

4.4 (45 reviews)
Closed 6:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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Erin M.

We couldn't find a phone number that worked (the numbers we tried Just rang and never were answered or one was a robot that put us on hold till we hunt up) and we had to go to multiple websites to even find the hours for the visitor center. The state website says it's closed though (see screen shot taken 3/1/23) and doesn't have a date of when that was posted or when it will reopen, on another state page about the park it doesn't say it's closed....and again there was no one to answer a phone to even confirm if they were open or not. We got there and it didn't look like there was anything even inside the visitors center at least. At the visitors center there is a .27 mile gravel nature trail with information about wildlife and plants in the area. Because the visitors center was closed we drove to the end of the road and looked at the sand dunes for about one minute and left, we only stayed a minute because apparently you're supposed to pay $4 to drive on the state park road and other reviews said they got tickets for as much. It was pretty and would have been nice to see the visitors center and actually walk around the sand dunes, but the whole experience was just really stressful and frustrating to drive all that way to something that wasn't even open and then feel like we couldn't even look around.

Jake H.

Monahans Sandhills State Park outside Odessa is one of my favorite state parks now! I was there for sunset and sunrise and it was so relaxing! Camping here was great. I'd highly recommend spot 9, tucked in the corner and the best spot to access the dunes for sunrise. It felt secluded from others and I loved it. Watching the sunrise on top of the sand dune was refreshing for my soul. I will be back!!

Rv site number 1.
Michael C.

Very interesting place to visit and stay. I am here for two nights in the middle of July in my rv. I am the only camper here as it is 104 during the day and 80 at night. The hook ups are electric and water. I am at site number 1 which has plenty of space for my 28 ft rv. There is a covered picnic table and grill at my site as well. No grass but there are a few fire ants and lots of wasps. I had the hardest time unhooking and setting up outside as they kept buzzing by. Aside from the annoying wasps that stayed by my rv until dark this place is really pretty cool to explore. There were a few day visitors but once noon arrived it is pretty empty and hot. Thankfully my ac is new and working well. I went exploring the dunes and it is really a site to see. You walk up these huge dunes and get to the top and all you see is hills and mounds of sand for miles. It is pretty awesome. At night it is very quiet although you do hear an occasional 18 wheeler on the highway. My site is about a mile in from the entrance. Being the only camper or person here at night was kind of strange but I slept very well honestly. The price of $15 a night is well worth it.. why spend three times that price and stay in a packed in rv park when you can have scenery and adventures. It is 30 miles from Odessa. There is a big gas station just outside the park entrance with subway and pizza made to order. If you are out this way,, stop by and climb a dune. It is worth a visit. Bring water, hat, sunscreen and shade.

Geeta A.

Incredible park. Stopped with my dogs on a road trip and they LOVED it. We spent almost 2 hours here as a break on the way from Midland to El Paso, but I would absolutely make a special trip. Hundreds of acres of nothing but sand in every direction. We only saw a couple other people. Take water, sun protection, and maybe some food.

An old windmill and water tower at Monahans Sandhills State Park.
Judy P.

This was our first time at this Park and we had our usual week-long stay. I've got to admit, there's not a lot to do in Monahans, but the park is bursting with history. Many of the inactive dunes are covered in Harvard shin oaks ; the roots of this oak can extend 70 feet outward; rhizomes grow on these roots, sprouting more trees. The mature Harvard oak is only 3 to 4 feet at maturity; It is part of the largest shinnery forest in the world, early man ate the over-sized acorns as a major part of their diet, the Comanches hid from their enemies by digging "caves" in the sand dunes beneath the web of roots from the oaks, lined them with animal hides, and thus escaped detection by their enemies. And the sand in the dunes is eroded from the Rocky Mountains. About 20 miles away is the Roy Orbison museum. An unassuming little building in Wink, the town in which Roy spent his formative years, and chock-full of memorabilia. Add to that an enthusiastic volunteer who stopped what she was doing at home and came down to give us entry and some wonderful stories Pecos, half an hour or so away, lays claim to a great museum about the old west as well as an antique car museum. We've heard it is good, but the day we went by they were closed with no explanation. Odessa is about 30 minutes east of the park and has shopping: an H.E.B. Store to name a favorite. Add to that great personnel full of great historical tidbits, adequate restrooms and showers, 50 amp electric service and water hook-ups - what more do you need. To add to our enjoyment, we lucked into being around during the Park's first (annual?) kite festival. Kites of all sizes and shapes zoomed, ducked, and zipped around for hours. What fun!

Lisa T.

We detoured here for the afternoon and evening on our way back from Marfa to El Paso. The park is well maintained and the park staff were very friendly, especially the gal who checked us in (and told us about the amazing authentic Mexican food at L&J in El Paso), and Mr. T, who shared some stories of his years overseeing the dunes. We camped in spot #8 and enjoyed breezes all day and night despite the heat. Definitely lube up on the SPF and stay hydrated. We were not as successful sand sledding (rent them for $2 a pop for 2 hours) as the little kids but we gave it a go all the same! The shower and bathroom facilities were a welcome amenity and everything is service. The Sandhills are a lovely detour for a few hours or the night. A little oasis in the middle of the desert and a great way to break up a road trip. Plus the Texas sunsets atop the dunes are to die for! As for anyone complaining about the tall grasses and other flora fringing the dunes, it's important to note that the sand dunes are actually full of water. It's like a big underground river with the sand serving as a sponge and it's actually pretty incredible how the dunes can provide such a diverse habitat for the local wildlife. One of the dunes, dubbed "Mt. Everest" by the local Boy Scouts, can get as high as 80 feet. There are full grown trees buried beneath the shifting sands and the park is gorgeous even with the scrubby bushes and tall grasses and blankets of sunflowers. We saw a couple of road runners and the bees were busy pollinating and the sand beetles were very happily cruising the dunes so just remember that this is a diverse ecosystem and appreciate the beauty for what it is.

Scarlett E.

For 23 a night for water and electric & amazing views, you can't go wrong here. Very nice park!!! Come enjoy the sunsets and sunrises in an unforgettable landscape!

TJ R.

Stopped here to camp twice in the same week on a roadtrip out to Tucson. It's kinda like a desert that you see in movies: lotsa sand out to the horizon. It's sort of like a beach with no water. This part is nice because beach sand sticks to you while this sand does not. You can rent these plastic discs and sort of sled down the dunes. It's OK. As I've actually sled on actually snow, this wasn't quite as interesting as I was expecting. It's a decent workout climbing up the dunes, though! I slept in a tent. At night, in the fall anyway, it seemed to get pretty chilly and windy (just like the beach). Maybe the sand doesn't retain heat? It also kinda smelled like swamp gas both nights. There was water and power at each site. I could still hear the highway. There is absolutely no privacy whatsoever. I mean, you are right on top of the next site. I mean, you could actually chat with the next site and pass food to them if you really wanted to. There aren't firepits - only grills. It was also almost entirely people in RVs - I didn't see any other tent camping going on. There's also a neat little museum here and plenty of mugs and shirts to purchase.

Sun is about to set!
Taylor S.

This place is magical!!! I'm so sad that we didn't make the effort to go more often. I highly recommend watching the sunset here. We had an incredible time.

Sunset
Victoria N.

Monahans Sandhills State Park is worth the trip. It's in a nondescript area off I-20, east of Monahans, and you wouldn't guess how beautiful it is until you enter the park and see the sandhills. Camping is very affordable ($15/night) and there are paved pull-through and back-in spots right next to the dunes. Electrical and water hookups worked great. The bathrooms are simple, but functional. We didn't have hot water in the showers, and there were no shower curtains in the men's bathroom. The handicapped shower stall had a door for privacy. The park is open until 10:00, so you can see the amazing sunset even if you aren't camping.

Erin M.

What a fantastic park! We only visited but I sure wouldn't mind coming back to camp in our trailer! The trailer sites looked nice, I don't think it's very tent friendly. The sand is incredibly soft and cool! It's fun to run around in and sink your feet into, our dogs had a blast as well!

The park was beautiful and extremely clean. it was quiet and relatively small, you can do it in about 2 hours. there are several places to picnic. there are also designated campsites. the lady in the visitor center/ gift shopbwas so nice and helpful. the entrance feel was only $4, totally worth it.

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The kids loved sledding and stayed out all day. We camped for one night on our way home from Big Bend. Perfect for families!

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Awesome state park! I have family in West Texas so we will definitely be back! Who know we had this in West Texas!

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Review Highlights - Monahans Sandhills State Park

While driving back from West Texas, we decided to detour to Monahans and it was a worthwhile trip.

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Balmorhea State Park - Comfortable seating

Balmorhea State Park

4.4(87 reviews)
74.1 mi

Out on the frontier removed from the frustrations of civilization sits Balmorhea an artesian gem…read morehiding among the tumbleweeds. The springs themselves are astonishing. Crystalline water, a natural oasis. Wilderness as a touch of elegance. The water is cool, refreshing, and large enough you can swim without bumping into a flotilla of inflatable flamingos every ten seconds. It is serene. Now, the true pièce de résistance: tiny fish. Yes darling, little cousins of piranhas nibbling delicately at your skin. At first, it's mildly horrifying. Being lightly snacked upon by aquatic creatures isn't typically on the itinerary. It's nature's exfoliation service. Truly. These miniature aestheticians gather around and provide the most delightful, ticklish skin treatment imaginable. Think of it as a rustic version of spa fish pedicures, except this one is completely natural, wildly entertaining, and performed by creatures that actually live in the ecosystem instead of a questionable salon tank. The entire place has this fascinating ecological charm that sneaks up on you. You're floating in a massive spring-fed pool, mountains in the distance, dragonflies skimming the water, and tiny fish politely tend to your skincare needs. The magic of Balmorhea (I'll let you figure out how to pronounce it correctly) is that it's a living ecosystem, and being able to swim in the middle of it is special. It's frontier chic. Don't expect marble spas and cucumber water. Following an afternoon, my skin felt absurdly smooth, stress level plummeted, and it was imperative to recommend the remote desert destination without qualification. Five stars for the fish running the spa.

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City of Odessa

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2.4(7 reviews)
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Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park - Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

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4.7(61 reviews)
103.0 mi

I wanted a hiking and an outlook experience and this place did not disappoint. Meandering through…read morethe grounds, there are is an aviary, pond, creature cave, outdoor elk & sheep pen, gardens and more. Lots of panoramic views. Indoors, there are a bunch of displays, restrooms and a gift shop. An easy 1 hour exploration of the grounds. Lots of free parking.

*** mountain lions and a bobcat are here now! ***…read more My young daughters and I loved seeing black bear "Maggie" open her 20th birthday present on 1.18.2025. We had no idea this event was happening prior to our visit that Saturday, so it was a special treat. Adult admission is now $10. Kids ages 7-12 are $5. I will always be a fan of this park because of certain staff members and the animals... Chihuahuan desert animals are the absolute best! Note, this go around we did not see the bison or a single scorpion. In saying this, I would NOT plan a trip just for this state park. It's not where it should be. The map they handed us clarifies that a new Framework Plan is in the works, but its implementation has seemingly been prolonged. There needs to be certain renovations and maintenance done before I would ever recommend this as a key destination. Before you visit, check out their hours ahead of time and set aside at least an hour for a self-guided tour. The signage going to this place absolutely still sucks. I'll never understand why New Mexico is like this. How do non-natives of this area even find this place without a GPS? Seriously. Ample free parking for RVs, trucks, my Jeep, and the usual boring cars. Bring water, a hat, & comfy walking shoes.

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Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park - Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

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