Host: Gwen Sullivan, gwensullivan111@gmail.com, 432-386-3703 (text or call)

Location: Davis Mountains State Park (DMSP), TX17/TX118, Fort Davis, Texas. Park entrance is 2.5 miles from Ft. Davis.

Park Phone: 432-426-3337.

Elevation: 5,000ft. Big Bend Region is rugged, remote, and beautiful. Typical May weather: sun and wind, low 80s during the day, mid 50s to 60s at night.

Directions to Davis Mountains State Park (enter park name in online maps):

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
30.59972, -103.92593
30°35’59″N, 103°55’33″W

From San Antonio: Take I-10 West to Balmorhea. Go South on Hwy 17 for 37 miles, right at junction with Hwy 118 in Fort Davis. Go Northwest on Hwy 118 for 3 1/2 miles to the park entrance.

From El Paso: Take I-10 East120 miles to Van Horn. Go South on Hwy 90 through Valentine, then left on FM Hwy 505. Go right at intersection with Hwy166, then left at Hwy 17 and proceed through Fort Davis. Keep left at intersection of Hwy 17 and Hwy118, continue 2.5 miles northwest on Hwy 118 to the park entrance on left.

Fuel and services are infrequent, so top off as available. Fort Davis, Balmorhea, Alpine, Marfa, Marathon, Study Butte/Terlingua and Presidio have fuel, grocery stores, and restaurants. No services between towns.

Cell service: some in area; limited inside park

Conveniences in Park: Black Bear Restaurant (breakfast & lunch buffet); Park Store at Indian Lodge.

Conveniences in Fort Davis: One gas station, Lowes Market grocery store, Family Dollar, Stone Village Market/deli, a few cafes, a coffee house, bank with ATM.

Park Sites: Reservations are required. Use website: Davis Mountains State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Reservations open five months in advance. Up to 5 sites can be reserved. Phone reservations can be made by calling 512-389-8900.

Park discounts using Texas Parklands Passport, Passport is free and offers free or discounted day use fees (not discounted overnight fees) to qualified people. Texas Parklands Passports — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.  Vehicle license plate number required. Federal Golden Age is not honored. See website for discount details.

     Site Information: 2 vehicles per site (a motorcycle counts as 1 vehicle) with overflow parking around the park. Maximum 8 people per site with multiple tents (typically 2 to 4 tents) allowed on a site if they fit within the site. Grills. Potable water, electric or full hook ups. Flush toilets and showers. Paved roads inside park. Park on pavement only. No hammocks strapped to trees.

      Water only sites:  $15.00 per night plus day use fee $6.00 per person plus tax. These are site numbers 62 to 94. Sites 62, 63, 77 – 85 are closest to the group bathroom with flush toilets and showers. Sites 63 and 64 are ADA.  Sites 92 – 94 are by ADA bathroom with flush toilet (no shower).

      Electric and water sites $20.00 per night plus day use fee $6.00 per person plus tax. Group bathrooms with flush toilets and showers are by sites 26 and 27.

     Full hookup RV sites: $25.00 per night plus day use fee $6.00 per person plus tax.  Sites 1 to 27 have covered picnic tables. Most sites (maybe all) are pull through.

     Indian Lodge approximately $115 plus hotel occupancy taxes per night; no day use fees for lodge guests. Website: Indian Lodge — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Attractions from park entrance:

-This is a Dark Skies community with great stargazing.

-Skyline Drive (in park boundaries) – paved switchback to incredible views, but not motorcycle friendly.

– Davis Mountains Scenic Loop is approximately 75 miles.

– Fort Davis National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service) is a 1-mile hike from park boundary or short drive.

–McDonald Observatory is approximately 16 miles. Day programs, evening star parties (reservations required) visitor center, gift shop.

–Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute, Nature Center and Botanical Gardens (plus hiking trails) is approximately 9 miles. Your permit to stay at Davis Mountains State Park gets ½ off admission. 432-364-2499, Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 12:30pm to 5pm.

–Balmorhea State Park, Swimming/snorkeling at 1.3-acre spring fed deep pool is approximately 36 miles.

–Big Bend Museum in Alpine is approximately 32 miles. Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, $10 per person. and gift shop.

–Rider Magazine Big Bend River Road Loop is approximately a 280 mile loop around entire region.

–Big Bend National Park (U.S. National Park Service) entrance is approximately 109 miles. Long rides once   inside park. Fuel available in Study Butte before park entrance. Fuel and food inside park. For info see: Current Fuel, Food, Services in Park

–Big Bend Ranch State Park is approximately 117 miles. Fuel available in Study Butte.

–Brick Vault Brewery & BBQ  in Marathon, is approximately 57 miles, and nearby Post Park: Thursday, Friday 5pm to 8:30 pm; Saturday noon to 8:30 pm, Sunday noon to 3pm; 432-385-7538.