Camping near Marfa, Texas occurs at elevations around 4,500-5,000 feet in the high Chihuahuan Desert, creating dramatic temperature fluctuations between day and night. The area receives about 16 inches of rainfall annually, mostly during summer monsoon season. Winter temperatures commonly drop below freezing at night, while summer days can reach 95°F with low humidity.
What to do
Stargazing sessions at night: Davis Mountains State Park Campground offers exceptional dark sky viewing opportunities away from city light pollution. "You can sit and watch the deer wander. Town is only 5 miles down the road with grocery open til 8pm and a family dollar for those items you didnt realize you forgot until you got here," notes Christopher W., highlighting the park's convenient location for supply runs while enjoying nature.
Horseback riding on historic trails: Historic Prude Ranch offers guided horseback trips for all experience levels. "My son and I took two, two-hour trail rides with our Wrangler Andy who was a wealth of information," shares Christopher W., who found the experience memorable. The ranch maintains working stables and trails that showcase the region's landscape.
Visit Marfa Prada art installation: Located near several campsites, this famous desert art installation is easily accessible. "The sculpture installation which right on the edge of the campground. A must visit when in the area. Great to explore during the day, best to see at sunset when it lights up and the colors match the sunset," recommends Etana from Tumble In RV Park.
What campers like
Clear night skies for astronomy: The Davis Mountains region serves as one of the darkest sky areas in Texas. "Star gazing is amazing! You are driving distance for the McDonnell Observatory and several other fun places to go and see," notes Ruth P., highlighting the proximity to professional astronomy facilities from Tumble In.
Communal facilities for socializing: El Cosmico provides shared outdoor spaces that encourage interaction. "They have a really cool shop with clothing, books, etc, and the staff was very friendly with great recommendations with things to do and where to eat," reports Catherine C., who appreciated the social atmosphere.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The desert landscape supports diverse wildlife visible from campsites. "The deer come in at night and you can sit and watch them," shares a camper at Historic Prude Ranch, while another mentions, "This is a great place for birdwatching as there are a large variety of species that live there." Morning and evening hours prove best for wildlife observation.
What you should know
Temperature extremes require preparation: Desert conditions create significant temperature fluctuations. "It stayed around the upper 80's. Great baby hawk watching in the morning," shares Emily M. about Davis Mountains State Park, while Kelly M. notes at El Cosmico, "The communal bathrooms and kitchen area were impeccable, but they're outside so obviously get quite chilly in the winter. Gnarly icicles coming out of the faucets when I was there."
Highway and train noise affects some sites: Most campgrounds in the area experience some transportation noise. "Close to the road but kinda charming. Strong wifi and cell service, good laundry and bathrooms/showers," shares Will about Lost Alaskan RV Park, highlighting how amenities can offset noise issues.
Dusty conditions during wind events: The desert environment becomes dusty during windy periods. "Extremely open and spacious place which fits the feeling of Marfa," mentions Etana about the area's characteristic landscape, while another camper warns, "It is quite dusty and while we were out and about a huge dust storm came through and since we had our windows open everything was covered in dust!"
Tips for camping with families
Book sites at dog friendly campgrounds near Marfa in advance: Popular pet-welcoming campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "We had no luck reserving a tent site prior to our arrival date, so we decided to wing it. Arrived Marfa on Friday afternoon," reports Leesa about Tumble In RV Park, describing their last-minute strategy.
Consider campsites with added shade: The desert sun can be intense for children and pets. "Most tent campers are concentrated in the small shaded area since it provides protection from the desert sun," mentions a visitor at Marfa Yacht Club, where "the sites are thoughtfully laid out: even though they're close together, they're staggered so each site has unobstructed views."
Pack extra water for humans and pets: The dry climate requires additional hydration planning. "Would gladly pay $15 for these amenities again!" notes Ellie B. about Tumble In's facilities, which include kitchen access valuable for families. "It was very nice to wash my dishes in an actual kitchen, sit at a picnic table with wifi, wash my laundry ($3/load), and take a hot shower!"
Tips from RVers
Level your rig carefully at some campgrounds: Many sites require adjustment for proper leveling. "Our assigned site was #6, a horrible site that really only had grass behind the hookups so you would always be walking around the trailer to get to the grass area. We called and texted the two numbers available and then moved to a spot that was not reserved (#4) which had a small tree and a very old and damaged picnic table which cost us an extra $20," shares Karen B. about site selection at Tumble In.
Consider hookup availability when choosing sites: Full hookups aren't universal at all campgrounds. "The connections are all new and water pressure is excellent. Cell service is good - TMobile 3 bars 10 down/6 up, Verizon 4 bars 10 down/19 up," reports Jeff T. about Davis Mountain RV Park, noting both water and connectivity quality important to RVers.
Watch for length restrictions at premium sites: Some of the most scenic RV spots have vehicle limitations. "There are about two dozen spots with full hookup 30/50 in two separate camps (upper and lower)," explains a camper at Historic Prude Ranch, while Marfa Yacht Club specifies their covered RV pads have "a limit of 32' length. They were 'designed with the Airstream in mind' but they seem to be open to any type of trailers."
