Fort Davis sits at 5,050 feet elevation in the Davis Mountains of West Texas, creating a climate that's cooler than surrounding desert areas. The region experiences wide temperature swings between day and night, with summer highs reaching 85-90°F and winter lows dropping below freezing. RV camping sites in this area typically offer basic amenities with varying levels of privacy and shade options.
What to do
Stargazing opportunities: Visit Marathon Motel & RV Park where they offer nightly star programs with telescopes. "What makes this campsite special is that it's also a stargazing park and they have star-specialists here every night with telescopes to answer any questions about the night sky!" notes camper Kera P.
Historical exploration: The Fort Davis National Historic Site is minutes from Davis Mountain RV Park. "Minutes from town and the Fort at Fort Davis and just down the road from the state park for some nice hiking," explains camper David N. The preserved frontier military post offers self-guided tours through restored buildings.
Local cuisine sampling: Try the regional restaurants near Lost Alaskan RV Park in Alpine. "Love Alpine with its street art, food trucks, quaint downtown and history. Hiking up to see the desk on the grounds surrounding the Sul Ross campus is just one fun excursion," recommends Susan L.
What campers like
Dark sky viewing: Marathon Motel & RV Park earns praise for its astronomy programs. "The stars were truly spectacular," reports Wanderlost R., while another camper adds, "Marathon is also the darkest city in the USA so you get to see tons of stars. If you're lucky some nights they pull out the telescope."
Outdoor shower facilities: Unique amenities stand out at some parks. "Perhaps the coolest thing we enjoyed was using their new private outdoor showers where you can look up and stargaze while soaking in warm water getting all clean," shares Brodie D. about Marathon Motel.
Level sites: Tumble In RV Park in Marfa gets positive mentions for site quality. "Level spots. Strong wifi and cell service, good laundry and bathrooms/showers," notes Will, making it convenient for campers needing reliable connections while camping.
What you should know
Cell service and connectivity: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds. "The T-Mobile cell service is amazing, but there aren't over-the-air TV channels," reports G.F. about Saddleback Mountain RV Park. Others note that Lost Alaskan has good Verizon reception while La Vista RV Park reports "Verizon cell service one bar and unreliable."
Noise considerations: Highway and train noise affects some parks. "You ARE next to a truck stop and a highway, but honestly, I didn't hear them really at all during the night unless I was listening for it," explains one reviewer about Saddleback Mountain RV Park. Marathon Motel campers mention train noise nearby.
Water quality issues: Some campers note mineral content problems. "The only thing that wasn't great is that the water is hard and has a very high mineral content. It's totally fine to drink, but if you're sensitive to that kinda thing, take that into consideration. It does leave a white crust on stuff," explains S.E.
Tips for camping with families
Pool availability: Fort Davis Inn & RV Park offers shaded sites for hot days. "On the bright side, the sites were shaded by big trees," notes Scott S., providing relief from the desert sun. Marathon Motel & RV Park also provides a courtyard area where "they let the guests start the fireplace and bonfires at will."
Budget-friendly options: Basic sites without hookups cost less. "We camped in the back corner camping area, it was $15 a night for two bikepackers with one tent. Very clean bathrooms and showers were included," shares Kera P. about Marathon Motel. Similarly, Tumble In RV Park offers tent sites at $15 with access to facilities.
Safety considerations: Some areas aren't ideal for tent camping. One camper at Desert View RV park warned, "Had 2 females staying here in a tent. Had a car pull over off the highway to offer us 'help' and one of the other RVs kept trying to talk to us, told us to 'lookout for pervert'. Overall just sketched out."
Tips from RVers
Arrival procedures: Many RV parks in Fort Davis use self-check-in systems. "We had paid online, and per the emailed instructions, we went and chose an empty site," explains MickandKarla W. about their experience at Saddleback Mountain RV Park. Similarly, at Tumble In RV Park, "The self check in trailer was straight forward...$15 for the night."
Site selection strategy: Position matters at Tumble In RV Park. "We had a site in the back so it was a little more spread out and away from the road. Might not have been so happy with the front sites," advises Mia D. This can significantly impact noise levels from nearby highways.
Hook-up variations: RV sites offer different amenities at different price points. "All sites have hook ups, some 30 amp others 50 amp priced accordingly," notes Lisa S. about La Vista RV Park. At Davis Mountain RV Park, "all the sites are level, pull thru with both 30 and 50 amp service."
