Davis Mountains State Park Campground

This is another Texas favorite.  We have camped here 3 times this year. It’s a large camping area near the town of Fort Davis Texas.  The campground is next to the Indian Lodge which is a must see.  The adobe lodge was built in the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps.  The campground has excellent facilities including showers, water, and a dump station.  The sites tend to be close together and crowded during peak season.  If you have an RV or van you will need levelers.  Many of the sites are uneven or angled.   Lots of wildlife including the javelinas and mule deer.  



West Texas Classic Favorite  

Beautiful location, most sites have shade and/or trees.  Elevation is around 5000', so temps are nice and cool (for West Texas).  Some nice hiking in the park, including primitive areas & Ft. Davis overlook.  Excellent birding/butterfly opportunities - there are two bird feeding stations with blinds in the campground.  Great staging location for riding Ft. Davis scenic loop, McDonald Observatory hill climb, etc.  One or two decent MTB trails in the park, Prude Ranch trail system about 5mi away.  Sites can be reserved at TX Parks/Wildlife website.  Full services a few miles away in Ft. Davis.

Good sites, lots of shade trees, nice high elevation

Even as remote as this place is, it is still very popular. We stayed two nights hoping to see the stars, but the weather did not cooperate. I hope to go another time. Also, despite having metal fire rings, we were unable to have a campfire, so the cold mornings and nights were not as comfortable as they could have been. We did make it up to the summit and got to take in the miles of views from up there. Definitely one of my favorite parks.

Amazing remote park

This little park was very nice. Nothing fancy about it at all- but the spots are pretty spacious and the views are gorgeous. It was a great place to rest our head for the night. We did some great sunset and sunrise hikes-- just make sure you pack plenty of water and get your hiking done early in the day- it was very hot here! Also-- there are scorpions, so keep your eye out!

Great hiking around

Spent the entire Christmas Week in the Mountains.  had a great time.  The Sites on the side of the hill were not ideal.  Very hard to level and the sewer was up hill.  other than that the park was great!  there are some sites that are flat and would be better for RV camping.

Perfect Winter Vacation

Went for the 4th of July celebration and fireworks. People drive up the hill at the park to watch the fireworks at a distance from town. The mountains here are called sky islands. Even in July I didn't need to use my trailer's air conditioning. It stayed around the upper 80's. Great baby hawk watching in the morning. You can walk down to the fort. I recommend that as a shuttle hike. It can be difficult coming back after going down to it. Extensive hiking across the highway too.

4th of July

The Davis Mountains State Park is an excellent park to visit for the whole family. The park and campsites are family friendly with bathrooms with toilets, sinks and showers. If tent camping is not your thing, there is a historic hotel within the park called the Indian Lodge. There are a number of campsites that run along a dry ravine that is lined with trees. The trees are great for shade and to hang hammocks. Be sure to bring 2" tree hunger straps because it is now required in all Texas State Parks. There is a little interpretive information and education center with displays about the local flora and fauna. There are a number of trails that start from the campground. If you arrive late in the day, but before the sun goes down, drive up the road to the top of the Skyline Drive Trail to catch the sunset. In the morning, hike up the Montezuma Qual Trail to see the sunrise over the nearby mountains. The Fort Davis Historic Site is close by the park and one can actually hike about 6 miles from the park to the historic site over a small mountain. Not far from the park is the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. They have Star Parties regularly which includes talks by astronomers and viewing of stars through large and powerful telescopes. The town of Ft Davis is nearby in case you need to resupply with food, drinks or other items. The town of Ft. Davis has a wonderful Fourth of July parade and celebration.

Davis Mountains State Park + Historic Fort Davis + McDonald Observatory

Nice sites with enough room between sites so you are not on top of other campers. Plenty of trees for shade, picnic tables and the bathrooms were clean, well kept and well stocked.

We didn't spend long here but would have enjoyed checking out a few of the trails they offered or checking out the stream a bit more to see if it was fishable.

Comfy enough

Closest campgrounds to El Paso Texas in Texas with a forest

Short drive

Lots of diverse trails so you don’t get bored being there for a few days. Lots to explore both in and around the park. Dog-friendly, spacious campsites, incredible stargazing. Showers close to campsites, an added bonus when camping for 5+ days.

Spacious, gorgeous landscape 

I did not spend too much time here, as it was a stop to camp in the final stretch of a drive from New Mexico to Houston. I was pleasantly surprised to see clean bathroom facilities, less heat, wild deer, etc.

A peaceful west Texas escape with relatively cooler summer temps

Oh were to start...this place has everything! Let's start with accommodations. They have primitive, primitive equestrian, water only, water and electric, full-hookups, Indian lodge and a historic motel on site. We went with my in-laws and they have an RV and my husband and I chose to tent camp at a water-only site. My in-laws brought their little dogs and it was very dog friendly here. The camp facilities were very nice. Bathrooms and showers clean and easily accessible from camp sites. Sited weren't overly crowded and there was a lot of shade and nice views.

Wonderful hiking trails! Every trail had a different view and variety of difficulty. Most trails no longer than 2 miles, but the views over the mountains were exceptional. I think my husband and I walked every trail we could find in the short time we were there and not a single one was disappointing. The wildlife and nature was exotic and something very rare within the Texas borders. Bird watching is a big thing here, not my thing, but it was still awesome to see! It is also a very equestrian friendly park as well. We saw a lot of people horseback riding the trails.

Fort Davis historic site is an awesome piece of history. They have so much education on the Fort Davis military post and it is a really cool experience. While we were there they were putting on shows in the amphitheater. Lots to learn about american history.

12 miles down the road is the McDonald Observatory which is a must see! I am a space girl. I studied astrophysics in college and it is a huge passion of mine. The McDonald observatory is one of the most education, breathtaking places. Perfect for everyone to learn about the skies and see things you've never seen before. Please take your kids here for an experience of a lifetime and check ahead for events going on.

My favorite moment at this park was just laying in the hammock under the stars with my hubby listening to the beautiful music nature delivers. I hope to go back again to enjoy more wonderful moments!

Everything I wanted and more!

Have stopped here several times on winter road trips through West Texas. Not too far off the highway, but feels like your in another world. Sites are well maintained and the showers are warm.

Great spot

When we camped here (last June) we stayed at Dog Canyon, which is the less visited end of the park. To get to this entrance you actually have to cut into New Mexico and come back into Texas north of the main entrance where the visitor’s center is. The campground is nestled into Dog Canyon with mountains all around you and it was COMPLETELY empty when we arrived. It isn’t a small campground, but it apparently doesn’t get much traffic. There is one small ranger’s station with a few maps and a hummingbird feeder I could’ve watched all day, and usually a ranger who can answer any questions you have regarding the trails or wildlife. From the canyon you can do sections of a 14 mile loop or you can hike all the way back to the main visitor’s center (one way), although that is a bit much for a day. There are several primitive sites along the 14 mile loop as well as a couple of geocaches. I recommend being extremely careful with timing if you do the whole loop, as we got caught in a sudden afternoon storm about 3/4 of the way through. We saw tons of beautiful birds, some Barbary sheep, and lots of mule deer. The loop was a gorgeous hike and the campground overall was simplistic but perfect. There are no showers, only a bathroom and water fountain, and the nearest town is a bit of a drive back out of the mountains. A lot of the roads here flood and/or are rough dirt roads, so be prepared for that and make sure you have the right vehicle and maybe call ahead to see how bad the flooding has been. I highly recommend this park and campground to all adventure lovers!

Hidden Gem on the Outskirts of Texas

We had a blast staying at this campground!! We biked and hiked and enjoyed a sunset picnic from the overlook. It's convenient to visit Fort Davis and the McDonald Observatory. If your plans take you near this State Park - definitely check it out!!

Gorgeous park with lots to do!

My husband and I are on a three week camping trip from Dallas TX to various parts of California, and needed a stopping point so we choose Davis Mountains state park and it was perfect! The park is well maintained, bathrooms clean, nice hiking trails and beautiful fauna and flora. Bird watchers will love this place. We tent camped and three deer greeted us at our creek side campsite. If tent camping is not your thing, there are plenty of RV sites, and a great lodge. While in the area, we attended a star gazing party at McDonald Observatory, if you have never been, it’s a MUST SEE! They have parties on Tuesday and Saturday evenings, reservations needed, and remember, it gets chilly in the mountains at night. Caution, there is no cell service for miles around.

Davis Mountains state park, May, 2019

My family and I enjoyed the park. I have 3 boys, 4 month old, 5 &amp; 6 year old, they had a blast. The weather was perfect, high 90s and low 60s. The park and views are just breath taking. Love that the restroom are very clean. We stayed in campsite 70. FYI very little shade, no water spout on site, and restroom are a little far. We went during the 4th of July, and went to the top of the mountain to watch the fire works.  Very nice park, we will definitely be back.
  

Best Texas state park

We stayed here for 4 nights and couldn’t have asked for a better stay! A lot of wildlife come within feet of your campsite; we saw mule deer and skunks and a bull snake during our stay. We didn’t have cell service at our campsite but did when we went up the scenic road. The park isn’t but a few miles outside of Fort Davis and you can get cell service there if needed. Also, there’s fuel/gas, a grocery store and a few restaurants in Fort Davis. Balmorhea is approx 45 minutes away and Marfa is only about 30 away and you can’t not go to the McDonald Observatory that’s only 13 miles away. Lots of fun places to explore here!

Off the Grid!

We only stayed here one night passing through west Texas on our way home, but I’m glad we discovered this place. The camping was pretty close together, so I’d probably want to find dispersed camping when we go back, but the campground had full hookups, bathrooms, and showers. The campground was also about 5 minutes from town, and Fort Davis is pretty adorable. The stars are amaaazing out there, though. So pretty! We definitely had some critters who visited us during the night because our dog’s water bowl was chewed up! Will go back. 

Beauty in W Texas!

We only stopped here for a night- it’s a bit far off the main road for a quick stop but it’s a beautiful place. Sites weren’t that close but it’s also not “tree-y” enough to provide privacy on the loop we were on. Saw deer walk near the grounds. Electric and water hookups worked perfectly. Weather was a nice break from the usual Texas sun. Would return! 

Loved this place! 

April 9-12, 2019 Very memorable park. Lots of talks and lectures. Water, electric, dump station, showers, flush toilets, and some sites with sewer. No Verizon cell service unless we went up to the Skyline Drive Scenic Overlook. Elevation 5,050. Had WiFi but we could only get if we used the booster. Had State Park pass and received a discount (1/2 off third  night). The Black Bear Restaurant had a GREAT/FRESH salad bar. 

Davis Mountains State Park, TX 

After staying in exclusively free, dispersed camping for some time, the $20 felt like a lot, but there are amenities and services, and was worth it- especially in TX where there is little free camping. 

I called day of because online reservations can only be made 2 days in advance. The staff person was extremely friendly and helpful and booked me a site immediately over the phone, with a credit card to hold the reservation. I was so pleased to have a spot to call home for the night when I arrived some hours later. 

If you’re camping in your car, ask for a tent site with a flat parking area. My site had a slanted parking area, so I parked sideways which ended up working out. 

Bathrooms are very clean, and I saw no one in or around them when I used the facilities. My site had a water spigot as well. In the morning, someone came by to give me a day pass in case I needed to come and go. Alas, I had to head on- I wish I could have hiked here! It’s beautiful!

It felt very safe. 

No service for ATT. Google got me there just fine, but be sure to put in the address ahead of time so when you lose service you can still get there!

Helpful staff

Attractive, well maintained large sites, good privacy if no hook ups needed. Site 81 was my favorite. Water, picnic table, fire ring. I’d give it a 5 star review but no cell service, or WiFi. 

Lovely State Park

We spent a few nights at Davis Mountains and it was gorgeous....for southwest Texas, haha. The hiking is great and the spots, we stayed in our NoBo 19.3. We took our 7 year old, 9 year old and 2 dogs on the Skyline Trail hike. It’s one of the longer trails and we had to catch the CCC trail to head back to our site. The wildlife was active and we had a pack of 6 Javelina walk through our site, and a skunk.....The only couple things that I’d warn people about is that the site has been in a burn ban sense 11-19, and they’re hardcore about it, as they should be. We had a propane fire pit and had a park host and park ranger come by to make sure we weren’t burning wood. There’s not a ton of “kid stuff” to do. There was a dry creek bed behind our site that helped, but I didn’t see any playgrounds or stuff like that for kids. The last thing to be aware of, if you’re in a camper, is the waste hookups aren’t level and takes some “leveling” to make for an continual flow of waste water. 

Great place, but a quick heads up

“The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!” 

  

Tucked within the heart of the West Texas mountains and one of the darkest skies in the contiguous 48, lies this stunning State Park, built by the CCC in the 1930’s. The beautiful campsites offer privacy, space, and full hook-up amenities or rustic primitive tent sites. The bathrooms were clean, and the showers hot! 

  

During the COVID restrictions, it seemed that they were stepping up to keep their facilities safe, and open to the public. The efforts were appreciated and noticed. Though the park is somewhat small by Texas standards, the hiking and mountain biking options are challenging and varied. The views from the summits are worth the effort. 

  

As another State Park that offers birding locations, this area is a birder’s paradise with a gorgeous bird blind. Many migrating species include stops to this mountain range during their fly-overs, and we added a few new species to our life list.   

  

One gem inside this park is the historic, adobe inn, built by the CCC. While the name of the place, “Indian Lodge” comes from a time when that was considered honoring the first inhabitants of the area, the architecture remains a classic. It is simply beautiful and made us think about honeymoons, and anniversary getaways.  While we didn't stay, we got a tip that breakfast was great, so walked up there and got breakfast burritos to go.  They did not disappoint!

  

While many state parks won't allow vans and small campers in the primitive section of the campground, this one did...so bring your solar panel and save some money on your campsite.

  

One thing about Texas State Parks, we’ve met a huge number of Rangers who simply love their job. It’s clear that they are doing something right by the way the folks show pride in their work. I don’t know about you, but I draw inspiration from folks who really seem to love their job and their park.

  

Fort Davis is the closest town with groceries and gas, but don't miss out on funky Marfa, just a bit farther down the road.  And, the McDonald Observatory to the north is definitely worth a visit!

Nice Park with a Gem of a Historic Lodge

Between the elevation and the dark skies, the nights are spectacular. We have stayed in August 2 years in a row and we loved the cool evenings to sit out and watch the stars. They have a lot of great trails, and you never know what wildlife you will see. We have seen Mule deer, Javalenas, Audad, as well as numerous birds I had never seen before. The McDonald Observatory is close by and the drive around to Marfa is Beautiful. We always go into Fort Davis at least once to eat at the old store. The Indian Lodge at the park also has a very good restaurant. It is only open for Breakfast and Lunch, and it is closed Sunday and Mondays.

Beautiful Night Skies

The Davis Mountains and the state park offer an opportunity for Texans to experience all the Trans-Pecos has to offer. 

With close proximity to McDonald Observatory, Balmorhea, Alpine, Marathon, Marfa, and even close enough for a day trip to Big Bend &amp; Terlingua, this campground is tough to beat.

The sites themselves are well cared for, with clean bathrooms and attentive hosts. The trails are modest but still offer some stunning views. The on-site, CCC built Indian Lodge is a beautiful work of architecture and history.

It’s hard to imagine this site being set up any better than it is. 



Great spot for Trans-Pecos camping

We stayed here one night in April 2021 and could have gladly stayed longer. Nice campground, with privacy between sites and some shade.  There are good hikes right from the campground , which is nice.  It’s much cooler here than other nearby parts of Texas and locals told us that this is generally true (not just when we were there).  Some javalinas visited our campsite at night and ate our dog’s food (our fault for leaving it out).  Nice spot, we would return here again. 

Very nice State park and Campground

Stayed in early May. Warm days, cool night. First of all. tons of decent hiking, especially if you're the explore-off-the-trail type. Apparently there is a wonderful, full-service lodge, which I saw from above (on a trail) but didn't visit. So if camp food is getting old, mosey over to their restaurant.   
  

As for the camping, most sites have decent shade... except mine. Mine was also one of the smaller sites. So any site that is NOT #89 may offer better coverage and space, but even my spot was pretty groovy. Midweek in May, you have a lot of choices.

  

Internet? Not a thing. Maybe at the lodge, but I wasn't getting any signal on my phone of any kind. More impetus to go hike. 

  

The bathrooms are decent, but spread out a bit. The staff is quite friendly. There are a ton of birds, who serenade you in the morning. The night was pleasantly full of animal sounds. What I thought might be the call of young coyotes really close by might have been the small, wild pigs that are the ugliest/cutest things ever. 

  

State Route 118 is a fascinating, beautiful, and very empty stretch of road. watch out for aforementioned pigs. They cross regularly.

On The Loneliest Road in Texas

Great campground offering tent sites to FHUs for RVs. Great wildlife viewing areas and some awesome hiking trails.

Classic C.C.C. park

This State Park in the Big Bend area is remote and for me this is part of the wonder. Just getting here is an adventure and worth every mile driving into the park. It’s amazing that the CCC were able to build such an amazing lodge in this isolated and beautiful part of Texas. 

  

Site 47 has water and electric and was mostly level with wonderful shade, which is a rare commodity in this campground.  This site has a grand old cottonwood I was able to fit my RV under. 

  

I had no cell service (Verizon) even with a booster and when I needed to make contact (due to an RV mechanical issue) I had to hike the Lodge. Others who had ATT were able to get service when near the shower houses/restrooms. Not a big deal if you don’t need it. 

  

Lots to see and do in this area. Make sure to see the hoodoos and visit Ft. Davis and the Davis Mountain Observatory. Also nearby Alpine and Marfa.

Wilderness wonder!

My grandson, my dog and I set up our tents in a fully equipped (electricity, water and a table) and fairly level site.  The site was convenient to everything if you don't mind walking.  Why should you as this park is made for hiking.  Numerous trails.  Some short. Some long. Some easy.  Some not so easy.  The park is also a place for great views of the area and a great place to hang out waiting for the Star Party at the McDonald Observatory.  You will also like the dark sky at night if you brought your telescope.

Only drawback I would say is the lack of a gift shop for souvenirs, snacks, and toiletries you forgot to pack.  The backup is a drive to the nearest town Fort Davis.

Also cell phone and wifi services are only available by driving up to one of the vistas. Easiest is the vista about half-way up Skyline Drive

The Place for Challenging Hikers

This is my second review of Davis Mountains State Park.  So many great trails to explore. Campsites are well spaced and fully equipped.  Not far away is Fort Davis if you need to re-supply.  Not far away is McDonald Observatory with really great tours and Star Parties.

An Oasis for Campers

We stayed here two nights in Nov 2021, and it was amazing, can't wait to go back this summer!  The RV loop had full hookups, including sewer, and was a pull through site long enough for our 27' rig.  The campground was within walking distance of a couple of hiking trails, and a short drive up the mountain to more hiking trails up top.  We also checked out the Indian Lodge hotel down the road, which is a pretty cool historic building with lots of historical pieces and photos from its construction during the Great Depression.

  

A real highlight during our stay in the Davis Mtns was touring the McDonnel Observatory and attending a Star Party where we got to look through a number of telescopes at the planets and nebulas visible in the very dark and very clear West Texas sky.

  

Overall a very cool place to check out!

Beautiful Park with great hiking!

Great scenery

I had an awesome campsite by a dry creek bed. I was close to a restroom that was clean and had hot showers with good pressure. The view from Davis Mountain is amazing. 

Nice Campground With Milky Way Views

In west Texas lots of site variety- tents, trailers, rvs. Full hookup, water/electric, or just water. Found a good site for short trailer

Nice Park

Used this campground as we left Big Bend . Ft Davis is a quaint little town . Getting food at a restaurant is a task . Nice grocery though and hardware store . The park is fairly clean , the lodge and hotel were very minimally supplied but they were about to renovate it . Clean showers except my wife got locked in the bathroom .. 

Easy Place to ge to 

Davis Mpuntains is truly amazing. A great blend of high desert mountains, endless night skies, and incredibly friendly people. I stayed in a tent site (#69) on the end of the loop, as I thought the park would be crowded. But, to my surprise, in early March, it was not! There are sites with full hookups, hot showers, many many hiking trails, and even free Wi-Fi at the headquarters/park entrance! There is little to no cell signal (Verizon) anywhere in the park, except along the Skyline Drive, so be prepared with a booster, or, for a great escape! Excellent park :).

Tent sites are $15 a night, and, if you are a TX parks pass holder, you get half off your second night, and free admission to the park (admission is also charged in addition to camping fee if not a pass holder).