Monahans Sandhills State Park Campground offers a distinctive camping experience amid 3,840 acres of sand dunes rising up to 70 feet high. The park sits at an elevation of approximately 2,700 feet, creating significant temperature variations between day and night regardless of season. Located just off Interstate 20, the campground provides water and electric hookups at each site with a central dump station for RVs.
What to do
Sand disc rental and sledding: The park office rents plastic discs for $6 plus $1 for wax to enhance sliding down the dunes. "Loved this campsite! It was so cool to see all of the sand dunes. You can rent sand discs and sled down the mountains. Definitely recommended to check out for a night or two!" reports Nicole K. from Monahans Sandhills State Park Campground.
Sunrise hiking: Walking the dunes at dawn offers comfortable temperatures and dramatic lighting. "Hiking up the dunes and watching the sunrise was definitely a once in a lifetime time experience. Even though the weather was pretty bad whenever I went, I would recommend to visit here at least once," shares Ashley R.
Wildlife observation: Early morning provides opportunities to spot desert wildlife and their tracks in freshly blown sand. "I did see very small prints in the freshly blown sand. Watch out for rodents getting into your RV," notes Butch K., who camped at Monahans Sandhills for five nights.
What campers like
Unique landscape: The sand dune environment creates an otherworldly camping setting unlike typical Texas terrain. "When we pulled in to the campground from I-20 I was shocked by the beauty of it. I couldn't get over how unique the landscape was," writes one camper about their experience at Monahans Sandhills State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: The park maintains well-kept restrooms and showers despite the sandy environment. "Campsites were well taken care of with water and electric at all sites. Bathrooms were clean. The showers were great- free and hot water!" mentions Kara S. after staying two weeknights in November.
Quiet atmosphere: Despite proximity to I-20, noise rarely disturbs the campground. "It was very quiet with little noise from I-20. I did hear a train whistle, but then you can hear a train whistle just about everywhere in the entire state of Texas in the morning," explains one RVer who stayed five nights in January.
What you should know
Weather considerations: The desert environment brings dramatic temperature changes. "In January, 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," explains Butch K. from KOA Kampgrounds of America.
Optimal camping seasons: Spring and fall provide the most moderate temperatures. "We stayed 2 weekday nights in early November and there were only a few others that were camping so it was quiet and peaceful," notes Kara S. about her glamping close to Monahans, Texas.
Sand management: Sand inevitably gets into everything, requiring preparation. "My friends and I made a short stay at Monahans Sandhills State Park on our way to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. One can explore the sandhills freely, but I think that it might be a good idea to not venture too far from the main campground unless you are familiar with desert navigation or are equipped with a GPS," advises Troy W.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection: Choose sites with proximity to bathrooms for convenience with children. "The CG roads are paved, but narrow, as are the pull-through sites. The sites themselves all seemed mostly level," mentions Ray & Terri F., noting that the campground layout makes navigation manageable.
Pet considerations: Dogs enjoy the sand dunes but require protection from hazards. "Our dog loved frolicking in the sand dunes, but do watch out for goathead burrs, she found a few," cautions a camping family at Monahans Sandhills State Park Campground.
Scheduling activities: Plan dune activities for early morning or evening to avoid midday heat. "Stars and meteors epic. Close to the highway but secluded. Epically quiet - cool at night," reports Zoey T., highlighting the advantages of evening activities when glamping close to Monahans, Texas.
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Large rigs can access most sites but may face challenges with certain back-in spots. "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. We just had to park our tow vehicle weird," explains Christina H.
Utility connections: All sites offer water and electrical hookups with 50-amp service available. "All spots are blacktop. Park staff were very friendly at check in! Easy to make a reservation online," shares Mary G.
Internet connectivity: Cell service and satellite reception remain surprisingly good despite the remote location. "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," reports Ray & Terri F. about their glamping experience near Monahans, Texas.
