Camping near Monahans centers on a unique landscape where rolling sand dunes meet desert terrain at elevations around 2,600 feet. The region experiences wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F and winter nights dropping near freezing. Cell service varies throughout the area with Monahans Sandhills State Park offering 2-3 bars of LTE for most carriers, though speeds can be inconsistent during busy weekends.
What to do
Sand disc rentals and sledding: At Monahans Sandhills State Park Campground, plastic discs for sand sledding are available for a small fee. According to Nicole K., "You can rent sand discs and sled down the mountains. Definitely recommended to check out for a night or two!"
Sunrise and sunset photography: The dunes transform dramatically at dawn and dusk, creating opportunities for photographers. "Hiking up the dunes and watching the sunrise was definitely a once in a lifetime time experience," notes Ashley R. about Monahans Sandhills State Park Campground.
Dog-friendly dune exploration: The sand dunes are generally pet-friendly, though owners should watch for hazards. "Our dog loved frolicking in the sand dunes, but do watch out for goathead burrs, she found a few," warns Ray & Terri F. at Monahans Sandhills.
Stargazing: With minimal light pollution away from town centers, night skies are remarkable. Zoey T. describes the experience at Monahans Sandhills: "Stars and meteors epic. Close to the highway but secluded... Epically quiet - cool at night."
What campers like
Wide campsite spacing: Many sites at Tra-Park RV Park offer generous spacing compared to typical commercial parks. One camper noted, "The whole park is a typical high desert natural gravel parking lot with some trees, chain link fences and the pedestals demarcating the travel lanes which are plenty wide for the biggest RVs."
Budget-friendly options: Several parks in the area offer economical camping. Dave L. from Wickett City Campground shares, "Nice city park right off I-20. Easy to get to and full hook ups for $16.75 a day."
Easy highway access: Most campgrounds in the region provide convenient access to I-20 for travelers passing through. Ryan M. at Out West RV Resort appreciates the "Clean, secure location" with "full hook ups" and notes the "Big grassy area with gazebos."
Clean facilities: Many campers mention well-maintained grounds and facilities. Zoey T. notes about Monahans Sandhills: "Electric and water hook ups, trash, friendly staff, clean bathrooms."
What you should know
Sand management is essential: Fine sand gets everywhere and affects all camping equipment. No specific strategies are mentioned in reviews, but bringing tarps, brush brooms, and sealable containers helps manage sand infiltration.
Limited facilities in some locations: Some campgrounds remain under development. Ryan M. notes about Out West RV Resort: "No facilities yet."
Highway and train noise: Jal Lake Park experiences some traffic disruption. Christie C. notes: "Downside is it's off of a pretty busy road, so some noise from cars passing by."
Weather preparation: The region experiences extreme temperature variations and strong winds. During January at Monahans Sandhills, Butch K. reports: "It gets pretty cold at night around freezing, but warmed up nicely every day. One day was so windy. It was rocking my fifth wheel like it's never rocked before."
Limited natural shade: Most campgrounds feature minimal tree coverage. Ray & Terri F. observed at Monahans Sandhills: "There isn't any shade, but we had a decent breeze, which helped."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Park Place RV provides family-friendly amenities. Stephanie K. describes it as having an "Amazing playground and pool for families beautiful shower facilities, lots of washer and dryers. Full hook ups."
Cooling options for summer: When camping during hot months, arrive prepared with portable fans, sun shelters, and water activities. The temperatures regularly exceed 100°F during summer days.
Wildlife awareness: While limited, desert wildlife exists in the region. Butch K. advises at Monahans Sandhills: "I did see very small prints in the freshly blown sand. Watch out for rodents getting into your RV."
Plan activities around heat: Schedule outdoor activities for early morning or evening hours to avoid peak temperatures, especially when camping with children during summer months.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for larger rigs: At Monahans Sandhills, Christina H. notes: "Limited pull through sites that seem to book quickly, but plenty of open back in sites that are nicely spaced. We booked site 22, a back in site up against a large dune hill. It was not easy to back a 55ft long rig into, probably one of the worst sites for a big rig, but we still managed."
Access considerations: Most campgrounds feature paved roads, though some sites present challenges. Troy W. observes at Pecos Park: "Rough, but it works. Campsites are few and far between in this part of the world, and Pecos Park is a welcome option."
Internet connectivity: Cell service varies by location. At Monahans Sandhills, Ray & Terri F. report: "AT&T coverage was pretty good with 2 bars of LTE service and speeds up to 17 MB/s. We had a clear view to the N at the site, so Starlink was fine with speeds up to 20 MB/s."
Dump station availability: Not all parks offer full hookups. Christie C. notes about Jal Lake Park: "It has water, 20/30/50amp and a dump station. No sewer but dump station is pretty close by with clear signs."
