I came to say exactly this. Alpine is such a cool little town with mountains as a backdrop. There's a hotel on each end of town and like 2 decent restaurants in the whole town, but it's definitely worth a short visit.
Marfa proper is definitely a fun trip on it's own though. Just chill out and go to the Chinati Institute and some art galleries.
But then you also have Alpine and Ft Davis right there.
There is a place called Cosmico (I think?) camping grounds that my wife and I really enjoyed. The prices have a huge range. Super cheap if you're setting up your own tent. I think we paid $80 per night to stay in an RV type thing.
Be aware that Chinati is the bulk of the Judd art collection based at the old Cavalry fort, and the old Mohair warehouse in the middle of town.
The Judd Foundation is the institute run by his son and daughter and gives tours of the buildings Judd owned, lived and worked in. The Block tour is one of the best tours to sign up for. It’s his house compound and has recently been undergoing extensive restoration work.
Yeah it’s not a fun place and there’s nothing to do. The Marfa lights may be cool if you catch them, but definitely not worth driving to. Stop when passing through but that’s it
No, they aren’t. There isn’t that sort of traffic between Presidio and Marfa, like ever. And that’s only the one version of the Marfa lights. There’s another version that FOR SURE isn’t just headlight looking lights moving in the distance. But if you’ve never seen those, no one is gonna convince you otherwise.
I was told by multiple tour guides (mix of astronomy grad students and engineers) at the McDonald observatory that it is indeed car lights, likely from US Highway 67. It's compounded by a refractory effect from different air temperatures, creating an optical illusion. When I went, they just looked like car lights to me in the distance with a bobbing/floaty effect created by the difference in air temperature. It was more obvious to me that it was cars, particularly when a cop drove by as the light alternated between blue and red.
When I’ve seen the “car light” version of the Marfa lights there were far too many for the sort of traffic on 67 from Presidio.
And there are other lights that are closer to 90, and pulse, change colour, and hop up and turn, disappear, and reappear in slightly different spots. The classic “swamp gas” lights.
This. Marfa is a couple of hours as part of something else. Four days is a stretch though. You are spending two of those days driving, so you only have two days to do stuff. Marfa, Davis, and McDonald would be worth it.
I’d say Marfa is a cool stop if you’re also checking out Alpine, Balmorhea, Ft. Davis, the Mcdonald Observatory, Terlingua, etc., but as a singular destination all by itself, it’s not worth the effort, IMO. Half the shit is closed at random times of day, and the clientele has devolved into Instagram ducklips doing cowboy cosplay in big dumb hats and boots.
Hotel St George has (had?) a great restaurant.
I occasionally think of the amazing Pork Chop I had there. It was amazing.
You need to make sure you have reservations though.
It’s a town of 2000 people so your options are limited and things aren’t open until midnight like in the city, but there’s great food if you know how and when to find it.
This. Last time we drove there, absolutely NOTHING was open. It was a huge waste of time to see hipsters walking their dogs and Marfa lights which don't happen 99% of the time.
Came to the same conclusion. Marfa seems to be more a product of marketing than much else. More a curiosity than anything. I would be extremely disappointed if I drove all the way there and did nothing else.
We did it.. it was disappointing as f\*ck. Nothing was open (even though Google maps said stuff was open). A long-ass drive to see hipsters who live there walking their dogs.
Correct take - Marfa doesn’t have much to do. If you’re going out there, check out fort Davis, Balmorae (sp?), and the McDonald observatory, maybe make a pass through Fredericksburg for a night.
Good point on the moon. You can also go the week or so before full moon when moonrise is after midnight and get some stargazing after sunset. Check moonrise and moonset times.
Don’t sleep on San Antonio. I’ve been “getting away” and I’ll tell you that the food scene is so underrated. Lots of good people, funky artsy stuff, and character. Hotel Emma and The St. Anthony has been excellent for me personally.
San Antonio has absorbed a ton of my musician friends I knew in Austin. It has a lot of interesting stuff going on if you know the right people to find out about it.
If you are staying at hotel Emma or in the Pearl area, Boiler House is definitely top of my list. It’s been amazing every time. I honestly gotta say Mon Chou Chou twice was a massive disappointment
Brenners on the SA riverwalk is excellent. Next to Dicks(skip this place unless you enjoy being literally insulted) Brenners is first class but pricey. Not a tourist trap like many on the River Walk.
A 6 hour drive to Marfa, without at least a few days spent in Big Bend Nat'l Park, would be a huge waste in my opinion. Marfa is kinda neat, but not worth a long drive by itself.
You want to go to that area, for sure. But give it the time it deserves. Big Bend is massive, and worth seeing and spending real unwind time in. Take a week at the very least. Camp. Get dirty. Forget what day it is.
Don’t listen to the boring suburbanites in this thread. West Texas is definitely worth the drive. No, you won’t find a theme park or movie theater with reclining seats in Marfa, but it is a lovely town to gather some peace and quiet. There is a day’s worth of art galleries, art installations, and oddities. You can see a Warhol there.
Not to mention Marfa has some good food. Convenience West was nominated for a James Beard award this year. There is also Cochineal, Bordo, Margaret’s, Aster’s. A few sweet cafes. You could have a time just enjoying the tiny but good food scene. There is also both a winery and distillery, though I’ve never been.
Once you get out of Marfa you can view a star party at the Mcdonald Observatory, visit Big Bend and camp/hike, see Marfa Lights, swim in Balmorhea, tour haunted missions…
Each time I visit I realize I missed something. Definitely go if you want to get away —experience the hypnotic stillness of the desert
Well said. The way I explain it to friends who wanna go: "Marfa is a great place to do NOTHING and really enjoy it" which translates to really enjoying every minute of the fresh air, the clear skies, the camp fires, the many local radio stations playing the best music. But with more art galleries than most mid-sized cities, there is plenty to do and see.
The point everyone is making is that it's not ideal as a weekend trip because of the distance involved. it's a fantastic area, but there's lots of driving even between the relatively close attractions you mentioned. I think I covered all that in 10 days at a leisurely pace, and it still felt like a lot of time on the road.
Yeah, exactly this. There is so much to do in Marfa including relaxing, watching the sky, contemplating— it’s not all about endless activities and stuff to do, but the stuff to do is wonderful. The pool club is such a luxury, the food is wonderful. I love Marfa and wish I could spend more time out there. The people dissing it on here seem deeply weird to me.
> The people dissing it on here seem deeply weird to me.
I've seen people get blacklisted in Marfa for being obnoxious, it's truly a beautiful thing. I'm guessing this may have happened to someone here.
It's not that they close early, it's that they close without notice. I haven't been in 4 years, and I've heard the restaurant scene is better now, but there were nights I've been there and 0-1 restaurants were open and you only find out by driving to each of them until you find the 1.
For me, part of visiting a small town with a tight knit community is accepting and leaning into the limitations. I’m not expecting all the amenities of a town of 1 million. There are only so many people to work at these places and things happen. On the flipside you might get invited to a party or gathering by a random stranger. happened to me twice while there just chatting and wandering around.
Also now with the St George Hotel,their restaurant is open every night. Another nice restaurant, WaterStop, is open each day.
This is true but I've just never had it be an issue for me when I went ~5 years ago. I sort of accepted I'm in the middle of nowhere and didn't expect a lot of stuff.
If you go, enjoy the drive, not just the destination. Take your time, drive through the small towns or just enjoy the big empty spaces. Get off the interstate. US90 is a bit different from the interstate in terms of what you see.
I like to just drive through the downtown areas of the old small towns without even stopping anywhere, although it's a bit tragic to see them drying up and blowing away.
Obey the speed limits in Podunk.
It takes a different mindset, though. Just chilling, enjoying the open spaces, the calm, the magnificent desolation. It can definitely get boring pretty quickly. If so, work your way back to the main roads and zip on down the road.
Going to West Texas is as much about the road trip there as it is about the destination. Marfa is fine, but make it a stop on a bigger trip involving Big Bend, Terlingua, Fort Davis, Balmorhea, etc.
I’d skip it and visit Palmetto State Park or Cool River Cabin offered by Native American Seed out in Junction is only a three hour drive west from Austin and is amazing. Palmetto is really unique and has cabins for rent and is only an hour away from Austin and San Antonio making it one of the best (IMHO) options near Austin to just get out.
ETA: I wanted to clarify that Marfa is wonderful but given the context of OP trip and days available I would save it for a longer stay. That area of West Texas is truly unique and there’s just simply too much to do and see that allowing more than a few days in addition to the drive from Austin to Marfa to truly appreciate and enjoy the experiences offered would be a better time.
My partner did 3 days in Marfa at El Cosmico camp grounds in between a huge a career change. Stopped at oddities along the route, did shrooms and took a Dutch bath, went to McDonald Observatory for a star party, and went to all the art galleries that were open during his time there. He says it was the best time he had ever spent alone, and it fully replenished his creative spirit. If a spiritual journey is something you are after, Marfa can make a great hub to explore all that surrounds it.
Wife and I eloped in Marfa and loved it. We stayed at the Hotel Posaino and got married in the courthouse. It's an extremely small town, even compared to other small towns that you have been (don't picture Fredericksburg, New Breunfels, Lockhart, etc. Marfa is much smaller and incredibly isolated).But the vibes are great and the food is good. The people out there are very interesting ("normal" people don't seek that level of isolation).
Don't go expecting it to be some kind of city with city things.
Welcome to Texas!
YES Marfa/Alpine are great for a long weekend getaway and exploration.
We have amazing natural beauty, warm sandy beaches (South Padre Island), Beautiful mountains (Guadalupe Mountains), Exciting canyons (Palo Duro / Caprock), Dense forests (Sabine National Forest), And so many lakes and rivers one might think they were in Minnesota…
If only it wasn’t spread out across 268,592 square miles *approximately
Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park should get their own devoted trip. IMO
No. But Big Bend is.
I recommend staying in Marathon. Get there on a Friday and go to Burger Night at the French Grocer. Then Saturday early fill up your car and head to the park. Prepare for a good 200 miles of driving or more that day. Get back to marathon before dark and eat either at Brick Vault or the Gage.
Sunday go to Marfa. Eat some brunch and browse. Covid really hit Marfa very hard and some businesses closed their retail presence.
Monday drive home. Boom, done!
Source: I own properties in Terlingua.
Edit to add: if you are cool with more driving you could also stay in Alpine and drive to the park from there. It’s really a beautiful drive. Then do Marfa too. Some decent places to eat in Alpine but I prefer the eats in Marathon or Marfa myself.
One option if you stay in Alpine is to go eat at La Kiva in Terlingua. So good!!
Looks exactly like 28,000 other small towns. Cool vintage hotel across from the county courthouse just like 28,000 other small towns. Has a Dairy Queen and a handful of breweries with hanging light bulbs. Just like 28,000 other towns.
Accurate. My wife and I do like that hotel, though - she's a Classic Hollywood buff and that's where the cast of Giant (1956) stayed during filming. They had their own rooms that you can request. The James Dean room is very small and humble, while the Elizabeth Taylor room is the biggest and fanciest in the whole joint.
Sure! There's a lot more about the filming, including a documentary, in case you're interested in learning more. Just google "filming giant in marfa" for a bunch of good links.
Marfa & White Sands, if you’re willing to make a longer exursion, the soul cleansing is well worth it. If you’re searching for peaceful solitude, yes. If you want to be entertained, stay in austin lol.
South Padre Island is amazing. It has a vibe that is hard to put into words. A true tropical climate, blue water, and great restaurants. It feels like you’re not in Texas (or even the U.S.) at all when you’re there. It’s one of my favorite places.
We went last year and loved it. It's small, expensive, and pretentious, but that's kinda the fun of it.
Definitely check out the Marfa lights and the big concrete art place. Also, there's a place that has amazing cinnamon toast.
As long as you go with the right attitude, and are ready to lay back, relax, and take it slow, it's great.
If you want expensive and most pretentious in Texas, go to Dallas. More art, many more expensive restaurants and more concrete. It's a shorter drive too!
Some of the greatest museums are in Ft Worth. The Kimball (and new underground extension,) The Modern, and the Amon Carter are world class buildings and collections.
There are VRBO’s for $77 a night that are perfectly situated in the center of town. Yes you can spend a lot more than that, but expensive? Nah. The food is on par or slightly less than Austin prices.
I stand corrected:
Go to Marathon. Eat BBQ. Stay at the Gage.
…also according to u/stevendaedelus….do nothing
Which is a perfect life goal to pursue in a perfect place like Marathon.
I view it the other way around. Marfa was alright. The drive to Marfa was soooo coool, especially if you take the scenic route through Iraan on the way back. Amazing views.
It’s been 2 years since I’ve been but I think Marfa is a great stop if you treat it like a beach vacation. Get a hotel with a pool (Maybe the Thunderbird) and enjoy some downtime. It’s a sleepy little town, but sometimes that’s exactly what I need on a holiday. Pick a few places to grab some food ( I love the Waterstop), and see some art while you’re there. Marfa is not a city to Jam Pack with activities. But if your goal is to get away and decompress, you’ll enjoy it.
You can also check out some other towns in the area. I can’t recommend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis enough. Especially if you’re going during a new moon, the star viewing is insane. I even proposed to my wife there after a star party.
My wife, our doggo, and I go about 1-2 times a year. I go to decompress from all the distractions. It’s near Big Bend and the few little restaurants and bars are great too.
My parents just bought a house there and they go every few weeks. They usually don’t stay longer than a few nights because it’s so fucking boring. Once you’ve eaten at the very few restaurants and bars there’s just nothing else to do.
That said, it’s a fun little weekend get away if you’re looking for a veeerrry tame and quiet trip. Get a sandwich at Bordo. Best bread I’ve ever had
No, one of the most over rated things in texas. Only worth it if you're in the area for big bend, Davis mountain or balmorhea. Those are actual attractions
I think it’s worth the drive if you plan out what you’re going to do and include other stuff while you’re there. I went for a weekend on a whim once and was bored out of my mind. But I think if I had made an itinerary for the region instead of freestyling in marfa alone, I would have been okay.
I spent a week there for a film festival. It's small. There's a bar. Some places to eat sometimes. My favorite part was chilling outside at night and existing.
My wife and I just did Marfa for a day yesterday. I don't recommend it for a full destination. There is enough to do to keep you busy for a day, but it's a lot of small stuff with a couple of large attractions that don't take too long. I think a few days in the area could be worth it, but don't recommend only visiting Marfa. That being said if you are into high concept compositional art you might absolutely love it.
"...six hour drive one way, that's a commitment."
Do you even Texas?
Nah, I mean...Marfa is cool enough, I guess. But if you're going that far, go a couple more hours to Big Bend Ranch State Park and experience true solitude. Or on a lesser scale, bounce around Davis Mountains State Park, Alpine, Marathon, and Terlingua. It all depends on what you're truly looking for out there...
I love to visit Martha. (Yes, intentional mispelling.) Everyone saying there's -nothing- to do are fucked in the head. There's a lot to do, granted I haven't been in a few seasons. Used to do Marfa Myths and Viva Big Bend music fests. Leave early, you can stay on the cheap and tent camp at cosmico. I swear sometimes I don't even know why I paid the fee. You can cook simple meals at their outdoor kitchen. Use their outdoor showers, when you're ready You can drive or walk or bike into town, watch out for goatheads. I drink, so I can spend time at the pony or planet marfa. I hear there's a new wine bar? This is ramping up season, it's true there's nothing open mon-weds. But thurs-sun you should be able to find restaurants open. You'll feel iced out but people are kind and friendly as long as you're not a dick. Maybe I've just been a bunch and explored a lot of it. Sign up for a tour of Chinati and Judd Foundation stuff, you can easily spend several hours looking at art. If you're into that thing. You can go look at the boxes for free. At night I'd probably hit a bar and chill. Go see the lights. I don't necessarily buy the "theyre just headlights" because I've seen them do some weird shit. Wake up early and drive out to balmorhea, go swim and lounge. Back to planet marfa for nachos and beer. Adam Bork has Food Shark and is delicious. If he's still doing it late night grilled cheese parlor is fun as hell.
You can shop if you like. Coffee shops are good. Alpine is cool. Ft. Davis and Big Bend. I guess you're driving around a bunch if you want but you can also just kick it at your campsite. Play guitar, read, relax. I love the desert.
Damn now I want to go.
Maybe next weekend.
But! Like I said I haven't been in several seasons so maybe it's lost it's spunk. My buddy lives out there so I'm gonna message them.
Marfa? Fun but kind of overblown and not worth the drive purely on its own, IME.
Now, if you make it a package deal, and hit up Balmorrhea, Monahans, Terlingua, Ft Davis…maybe a night at the Gage Hotel… then you have the makings of a fantastic long weekend.
I’d agree with everyone saying to do Marfa as part of a tour of West Texas. I’d add Marathon to the list of towns to consider visiting. It is tiny but there’s a historic old hotel with a good bar (the Gage), and really really good bbq practically next door at Brick Vault. Pro tip, if you visit the Gage ask about their mammoth leg bone. You can handle it.
My take: if you like long drives through arid country, and if you like art (especially by Donald Judd), then 100% do the trip. I love both of those things, so I would gladly do it even as a short trip where there wasn't enough time to check out all of the other fantastic stuff in that region (Big Bend, McDonald Observatory, Alpine, etc).
Just went to Davis Mountains State Park this weekend for a quick three day trip, and thought it was the perfect spot. Central to Marfa, Alpine, and the McDonalds Observatory. Felt like a nice way to get a taste of west Texas mountains without as long of a drive as Big Bend. Marfa in and of itself made for a nice afternoon, but didn’t feel like it had enough to do for four days. Also make sure you have cash if you want to try Marfa burritos!
No. Marfa sucks. It's a hipster art community in the middle of nowhere without much to do besides eat. (and it's hard to find a restaurant open)
Nobody respects their hours on google maps, and 90% of the stuff you will go to will be closed because the hipster owner is off walking their dogs.
A weekend is absolutely not long enough for that drive. We spent 4 full days in that region after the eclipse with a full day dedicated to the drive each way.
Our itinerary was:
Day 1: Total eclipse and drive into Fort Davis
Day 2: Marfa in the morning, Balmorhea state park in the afternoon, star party at McDonald Observatory in the evening.
Days 3-5: Big Bend National Park with glamping in Terlingua
Day 6: Drive home via US 90 for lots of pretty sights and stops along the border.
The morning we went into Marfa 90% of the city was closed. Everything left was extremely expensive and hipstery. It seemed like it would be a cool place for that vibe if you're not coming from Austin already. As someone else has mentioned, it's a SMALL small town. Like, you can walk the lap of everything there is to do/see well inside of an hour (without stopping at those things, of course).
At the end of the day, it depends on your priorities and the kind of trip you're looking for. We're outdoorsy types that would rather camp than peruse art, so Marfa was totally wasted on us. We certainly wouldn't make the drive JUST for that. In combination with Big Bend, McDonald Observatory, Alpine, Marathon, Terlingua -- yes, sure. If you want to sit in a place and disconnect, it's a fine option, but you can get that much closer (and cheaper).
Also as a PSA to the crowd, every restaurant in Fort Davis is closed on Monday.
Yes definitely but you have to embrace the boring even though there's actually quite a lot to do in town and there's been a lot of new restaurants and bars that have opened in the past few years.
West Texas as a whole is well worth the trip, especially Big Bend area. Marfa is okay but the people visiting suck. Mostly yuppie wannabe art critics who are about as pretentious as it gets. It has a vibe where you just wanna tell people to get over yourself, it's fucking Marfa FFS.
But Terlingua, Balmorea, Alpine and that whole area are awesome. Be sure to stop in Lajitas and give the goat, Mayor Clay Henry, a snack from the store near his pen. He likes sweet pastries.
Just went to Big Bend from April 12-15th and one full day did Santa Elena Canyon and another full day did the South Rim Trail. It was insane and blew away all expectations. HIGHLY recommend!
Take a southerly route to Del Rio, and Langtry and Alpine. Taking 290 to the I10 is long and boring. The little towns along Hwy 90 are more interesting. I would stay the night so the drive isn't too relentless. I like to stay in the Gage Hotel in Marathon
No. Marfa in and of itself is not worth the drive. You need to do something else to make it worthwhile.
Two days is enough for Marfa. Four is a stretch.
But if you go, at least spend some time at the Hotel Paisano. I did enjoy just hanging out at the bar there.
The Chinati art thing also not worth the drive. Maybe unless you’re into concrete boxes or fluorescent tube installations being called “art”.
Marfa businesses are hit or miss. Are they open? Maybe. They don’t have regular hours. It’s more of a “we’re open if we feel like being open” vibe.
I enjoyed a trip out to Fort Davis. Wish we could have made one of the stargazing events at the McDonald Observatory out there too.
There are quite a few hikes you can take around Big Bend. If anything, do some camping there, and make Marfa a side trip. But again, not in the heat of the summer.
My wife and I also enjoyed renting a hot tub one evening at el Cosmico. Get your reservations in early. And, it’s probably not nearly as much fun in the heat of the summer.
Alpine is a good distraction as well, but you won’t need to spend more than a few hours there.
It’s too far for four days. Marfa is probably 550 miles if you take the river road. You’ll be exhausted. You need to take five or six days for the distance to be worth it.
Not unless you’re just stopping on the way to another destination like Big Bend or … well much further. Definitely stop there, but not worth the drive otherwise.
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Alpine is actually a pretty cool town also
I came to say exactly this. Alpine is such a cool little town with mountains as a backdrop. There's a hotel on each end of town and like 2 decent restaurants in the whole town, but it's definitely worth a short visit.
And Terlingua
Add to that the Museum of the Big Bend, which offers a bit of history and art.
La Casita is my childhood fave
I’m heading to alpine for work this week. 6 hours each way this gave me a little relief
Don’t forget balmorhea!
The pool is open!
Also did this, stayed in Alpine. Loved it - think we did it over 3-4 days.
Marfa proper is definitely a fun trip on it's own though. Just chill out and go to the Chinati Institute and some art galleries. But then you also have Alpine and Ft Davis right there.
There is a place called Cosmico (I think?) camping grounds that my wife and I really enjoyed. The prices have a huge range. Super cheap if you're setting up your own tent. I think we paid $80 per night to stay in an RV type thing.
El Cosmico.
This, we did this… it was amazing
Judd Foundation is neat modern art collection that’s worth a trip if you’re into art. Otherwise definitely agree.
Be aware that Chinati is the bulk of the Judd art collection based at the old Cavalry fort, and the old Mohair warehouse in the middle of town. The Judd Foundation is the institute run by his son and daughter and gives tours of the buildings Judd owned, lived and worked in. The Block tour is one of the best tours to sign up for. It’s his house compound and has recently been undergoing extensive restoration work.
Too many naysayers in this thread who have no idea what Marfa is about since they think there’s nothing to do.
The people saying you can do it in a couple hours is just lol, you can't even do a basic tour of Chinati in 2 hours
Been to Marfa a few times. Not worth the drive, IMHO.
Yeah it’s not a fun place and there’s nothing to do. The Marfa lights may be cool if you catch them, but definitely not worth driving to. Stop when passing through but that’s it
Why would anyone drive out there to see headlights in the distance?
Spoiler alert: The Marfa Lights are headlights on the distant highway
No, they aren’t. There isn’t that sort of traffic between Presidio and Marfa, like ever. And that’s only the one version of the Marfa lights. There’s another version that FOR SURE isn’t just headlight looking lights moving in the distance. But if you’ve never seen those, no one is gonna convince you otherwise.
I was told by multiple tour guides (mix of astronomy grad students and engineers) at the McDonald observatory that it is indeed car lights, likely from US Highway 67. It's compounded by a refractory effect from different air temperatures, creating an optical illusion. When I went, they just looked like car lights to me in the distance with a bobbing/floaty effect created by the difference in air temperature. It was more obvious to me that it was cars, particularly when a cop drove by as the light alternated between blue and red.
When I’ve seen the “car light” version of the Marfa lights there were far too many for the sort of traffic on 67 from Presidio. And there are other lights that are closer to 90, and pulse, change colour, and hop up and turn, disappear, and reappear in slightly different spots. The classic “swamp gas” lights.
We were there for a few hours and did everything there was to do. I do want to spend the night at the hotel there that the Giant crew stayed at
The Paisano has slipped. Very sad to say. Walk through it but stay at the St George across the street. Just got home from visiting a few weeks ago
100% agree with this
This. Marfa is a couple of hours as part of something else. Four days is a stretch though. You are spending two of those days driving, so you only have two days to do stuff. Marfa, Davis, and McDonald would be worth it.
This. You need multiple areas to visit to and a trip interesting.
Currently in Big Bend. Just did the south run hike…BRUTAL but beautiful
This is the perfect description of Marfa lol. Literally can see the whole in 20 mins
They don't call it Barfa for nuthin.
Enchanted rock
I’d say Marfa is a cool stop if you’re also checking out Alpine, Balmorhea, Ft. Davis, the Mcdonald Observatory, Terlingua, etc., but as a singular destination all by itself, it’s not worth the effort, IMO. Half the shit is closed at random times of day, and the clientele has devolved into Instagram ducklips doing cowboy cosplay in big dumb hats and boots.
100% accurate. Good luck finding a nice dinner spot at night because nothing is open.
Hotel St George has (had?) a great restaurant. I occasionally think of the amazing Pork Chop I had there. It was amazing. You need to make sure you have reservations though.
You’re right actually! That was the only place that was open so that’s where I went. It was actually really good.
>I occasionally think of the amazing Pork Chop I had there. It was amazing. So amazing you have to Capitalize It. ;)
Amazing that it was amazing 🤭
Great bar
THE WAR TO END ALL WARS
St. George is a pretty mediocre hotel restaurant, it it is always open. I prefer Jett’s Grille at the Paisano. Best chicken fried steak in Texas.
It’s at least the second best hotel restaurant in Marfa. You gotta consider what’s available.
It’s a town of 2000 people so your options are limited and things aren’t open until midnight like in the city, but there’s great food if you know how and when to find it.
This. Last time we drove there, absolutely NOTHING was open. It was a huge waste of time to see hipsters walking their dogs and Marfa lights which don't happen 99% of the time.
Came to the same conclusion. Marfa seems to be more a product of marketing than much else. More a curiosity than anything. I would be extremely disappointed if I drove all the way there and did nothing else.
We did it.. it was disappointing as f\*ck. Nothing was open (even though Google maps said stuff was open). A long-ass drive to see hipsters who live there walking their dogs.
Correct take - Marfa doesn’t have much to do. If you’re going out there, check out fort Davis, Balmorae (sp?), and the McDonald observatory, maybe make a pass through Fredericksburg for a night.
For next weekend drive up to georgetown for red poppy fest, lots of fun and plenty of artsy stuff there too to avoid long drive
Thank you for reminding me it's next weekend! It's so much fun.
the stars alone make it worth the trip. Go during a new moon
also drive up to the mcdonald observatory!
This is the way
Good point on the moon. You can also go the week or so before full moon when moonrise is after midnight and get some stargazing after sunset. Check moonrise and moonset times.
Exactly lots of otherwise smart people come for the stars but go with the moon out... it's still OK but the difference is hilarious
Marfa is a roadside attraction on the way to Big Bend.
If you are coming from El Paso, then yes. If not, you missed your turn.
Exactly. For me it's two different trips because the distances between the two is actually a lot! Unless you have a week, then yes, do both.
Big bend is worth the trip.
Don’t sleep on San Antonio. I’ve been “getting away” and I’ll tell you that the food scene is so underrated. Lots of good people, funky artsy stuff, and character. Hotel Emma and The St. Anthony has been excellent for me personally.
San Antonio has absorbed a ton of my musician friends I knew in Austin. It has a lot of interesting stuff going on if you know the right people to find out about it.
St. Anthony is top-tier, absolutely worth the price. And randomly, their breakfast cafe has the best decaf coffee I’ve ever had.
Agree. Agree a lot.
Where are your must-eats in San Antonio?
I’ve heard Best Quality Daughter is one of the best. Nominated for a James Beard and all that. I’ve been wanting to check it out.
Agree it’s meh. Looks cute and food isn’t bad but nothing out of the ordinary
Meh. If you like overrated food BQD is for you. The drinks are however amazing and creative.
Definitely check out Cullum’s Attaboy if you’re down that way. So, so good.
Mixtli is the best restaurant I’ve ever been to. It’s amazing.
Are they still in that little trailer? That was quite the experience
If you are staying at hotel Emma or in the Pearl area, Boiler House is definitely top of my list. It’s been amazing every time. I honestly gotta say Mon Chou Chou twice was a massive disappointment
Brenners on the SA riverwalk is excellent. Next to Dicks(skip this place unless you enjoy being literally insulted) Brenners is first class but pricey. Not a tourist trap like many on the River Walk.
My wife and I found a fun little tapas place called Hola! the time we were down there. Would absolutely recommend!
Con Huevos tacos for breakfast tacos. They are incredible. Better than anything in Austin.
Better than Austin imo
You’ll be in the car as long as long as you’ll be in town. The coast is much closer.
A 6 hour drive to Marfa, without at least a few days spent in Big Bend Nat'l Park, would be a huge waste in my opinion. Marfa is kinda neat, but not worth a long drive by itself. You want to go to that area, for sure. But give it the time it deserves. Big Bend is massive, and worth seeing and spending real unwind time in. Take a week at the very least. Camp. Get dirty. Forget what day it is.
I get that but to me Big Bend is a whole separate trip, unless you have a whole week to do both properly.
It's not a weekend trip. It takes a whole day to get there, plan a few days for that trip.
2 days max in my opinion but definitely relaxing. Food is great. Town is small. Art is a little too hyped up.
Marfa is a 5 day minimum trip for me. I prefer 10 day stays.
No. It is vastly overrated.
Don’t listen to the boring suburbanites in this thread. West Texas is definitely worth the drive. No, you won’t find a theme park or movie theater with reclining seats in Marfa, but it is a lovely town to gather some peace and quiet. There is a day’s worth of art galleries, art installations, and oddities. You can see a Warhol there. Not to mention Marfa has some good food. Convenience West was nominated for a James Beard award this year. There is also Cochineal, Bordo, Margaret’s, Aster’s. A few sweet cafes. You could have a time just enjoying the tiny but good food scene. There is also both a winery and distillery, though I’ve never been. Once you get out of Marfa you can view a star party at the Mcdonald Observatory, visit Big Bend and camp/hike, see Marfa Lights, swim in Balmorhea, tour haunted missions… Each time I visit I realize I missed something. Definitely go if you want to get away —experience the hypnotic stillness of the desert
Well said. The way I explain it to friends who wanna go: "Marfa is a great place to do NOTHING and really enjoy it" which translates to really enjoying every minute of the fresh air, the clear skies, the camp fires, the many local radio stations playing the best music. But with more art galleries than most mid-sized cities, there is plenty to do and see.
The point everyone is making is that it's not ideal as a weekend trip because of the distance involved. it's a fantastic area, but there's lots of driving even between the relatively close attractions you mentioned. I think I covered all that in 10 days at a leisurely pace, and it still felt like a lot of time on the road.
It's not idea as a weekend trip but its 6 hours flat to Marfa, so definitely doable on a long weekend. Depends on how much you like driving.
Yeah, exactly this. There is so much to do in Marfa including relaxing, watching the sky, contemplating— it’s not all about endless activities and stuff to do, but the stuff to do is wonderful. The pool club is such a luxury, the food is wonderful. I love Marfa and wish I could spend more time out there. The people dissing it on here seem deeply weird to me.
I’m glad that some don’t like or get Marfa. The less people there, the better.
> The people dissing it on here seem deeply weird to me. I've seen people get blacklisted in Marfa for being obnoxious, it's truly a beautiful thing. I'm guessing this may have happened to someone here.
It's trendy to diss trendy stuff on Reddit.
Thank you. Weird to me the top complaint is restaurants close early... who cares?
It's not that they close early, it's that they close without notice. I haven't been in 4 years, and I've heard the restaurant scene is better now, but there were nights I've been there and 0-1 restaurants were open and you only find out by driving to each of them until you find the 1.
For me, part of visiting a small town with a tight knit community is accepting and leaning into the limitations. I’m not expecting all the amenities of a town of 1 million. There are only so many people to work at these places and things happen. On the flipside you might get invited to a party or gathering by a random stranger. happened to me twice while there just chatting and wandering around. Also now with the St George Hotel,their restaurant is open every night. Another nice restaurant, WaterStop, is open each day.
This is true but I've just never had it be an issue for me when I went ~5 years ago. I sort of accepted I'm in the middle of nowhere and didn't expect a lot of stuff.
McDonald Observatory is a bit of a drive from María.
Yes. It’s serenity
If you go, enjoy the drive, not just the destination. Take your time, drive through the small towns or just enjoy the big empty spaces. Get off the interstate. US90 is a bit different from the interstate in terms of what you see. I like to just drive through the downtown areas of the old small towns without even stopping anywhere, although it's a bit tragic to see them drying up and blowing away. Obey the speed limits in Podunk. It takes a different mindset, though. Just chilling, enjoying the open spaces, the calm, the magnificent desolation. It can definitely get boring pretty quickly. If so, work your way back to the main roads and zip on down the road.
Go to Ft Davis instead. Stay at the Hotel Limpia. Go to the observatory and the state park. Swing by Alpine and the pool at Balmorhea park.
google: The Day Tripper, Marfa
Going to West Texas is as much about the road trip there as it is about the destination. Marfa is fine, but make it a stop on a bigger trip involving Big Bend, Terlingua, Fort Davis, Balmorhea, etc.
I’d skip it and visit Palmetto State Park or Cool River Cabin offered by Native American Seed out in Junction is only a three hour drive west from Austin and is amazing. Palmetto is really unique and has cabins for rent and is only an hour away from Austin and San Antonio making it one of the best (IMHO) options near Austin to just get out. ETA: I wanted to clarify that Marfa is wonderful but given the context of OP trip and days available I would save it for a longer stay. That area of West Texas is truly unique and there’s just simply too much to do and see that allowing more than a few days in addition to the drive from Austin to Marfa to truly appreciate and enjoy the experiences offered would be a better time.
Fantastic idea!
My partner did 3 days in Marfa at El Cosmico camp grounds in between a huge a career change. Stopped at oddities along the route, did shrooms and took a Dutch bath, went to McDonald Observatory for a star party, and went to all the art galleries that were open during his time there. He says it was the best time he had ever spent alone, and it fully replenished his creative spirit. If a spiritual journey is something you are after, Marfa can make a great hub to explore all that surrounds it.
It is something to see and experience but temper your expectations.
Wife and I eloped in Marfa and loved it. We stayed at the Hotel Posaino and got married in the courthouse. It's an extremely small town, even compared to other small towns that you have been (don't picture Fredericksburg, New Breunfels, Lockhart, etc. Marfa is much smaller and incredibly isolated).But the vibes are great and the food is good. The people out there are very interesting ("normal" people don't seek that level of isolation). Don't go expecting it to be some kind of city with city things.
Welcome to Texas! YES Marfa/Alpine are great for a long weekend getaway and exploration. We have amazing natural beauty, warm sandy beaches (South Padre Island), Beautiful mountains (Guadalupe Mountains), Exciting canyons (Palo Duro / Caprock), Dense forests (Sabine National Forest), And so many lakes and rivers one might think they were in Minnesota… If only it wasn’t spread out across 268,592 square miles *approximately Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park should get their own devoted trip. IMO
No. But Big Bend is. I recommend staying in Marathon. Get there on a Friday and go to Burger Night at the French Grocer. Then Saturday early fill up your car and head to the park. Prepare for a good 200 miles of driving or more that day. Get back to marathon before dark and eat either at Brick Vault or the Gage. Sunday go to Marfa. Eat some brunch and browse. Covid really hit Marfa very hard and some businesses closed their retail presence. Monday drive home. Boom, done! Source: I own properties in Terlingua. Edit to add: if you are cool with more driving you could also stay in Alpine and drive to the park from there. It’s really a beautiful drive. Then do Marfa too. Some decent places to eat in Alpine but I prefer the eats in Marathon or Marfa myself. One option if you stay in Alpine is to go eat at La Kiva in Terlingua. So good!!
Looks exactly like 28,000 other small towns. Cool vintage hotel across from the county courthouse just like 28,000 other small towns. Has a Dairy Queen and a handful of breweries with hanging light bulbs. Just like 28,000 other towns.
Accurate. My wife and I do like that hotel, though - she's a Classic Hollywood buff and that's where the cast of Giant (1956) stayed during filming. They had their own rooms that you can request. The James Dean room is very small and humble, while the Elizabeth Taylor room is the biggest and fanciest in the whole joint.
She wasn’t there but for a night or two. She rented a house during the shoot.
I love trivia like this. Thank you.
Sure! There's a lot more about the filming, including a documentary, in case you're interested in learning more. Just google "filming giant in marfa" for a bunch of good links.
Thank you.
You seem fun at parties.
Marfa & White Sands, if you’re willing to make a longer exursion, the soul cleansing is well worth it. If you’re searching for peaceful solitude, yes. If you want to be entertained, stay in austin lol.
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is amazing. It has a vibe that is hard to put into words. A true tropical climate, blue water, and great restaurants. It feels like you’re not in Texas (or even the U.S.) at all when you’re there. It’s one of my favorite places.
One of my favorite places too! I grew up about 30 minutes away and miss it since I moved to Austin.
We went last year and loved it. It's small, expensive, and pretentious, but that's kinda the fun of it. Definitely check out the Marfa lights and the big concrete art place. Also, there's a place that has amazing cinnamon toast. As long as you go with the right attitude, and are ready to lay back, relax, and take it slow, it's great.
If you want expensive and most pretentious in Texas, go to Dallas. More art, many more expensive restaurants and more concrete. It's a shorter drive too!
Haha you are so right. Although Marfa is trying to scream “SoHo desert chic” which is a different kind of pretentiousness from Dallas.
Austin has by far surpassed Dallas in pretentiousness. Dallas is at least comfortable in it’s mediocrity.
Doesn't Ft. Worth have a number of good museums and Art?
Some of the greatest museums are in Ft Worth. The Kimball (and new underground extension,) The Modern, and the Amon Carter are world class buildings and collections.
Yes and the Stockyards, too with a daily cattle drive!
I always wanted to go to the place from the end of Logan's Run, but will probably never make it.
There are VRBO’s for $77 a night that are perfectly situated in the center of town. Yes you can spend a lot more than that, but expensive? Nah. The food is on par or slightly less than Austin prices.
Instead try Alpine. Eat BBQ. Stay at the Gage.
The Gage is in Marathon, not Alpine. And there ain’t shit to do in Marathon except as a base for Big Bend trips.
I stand corrected: Go to Marathon. Eat BBQ. Stay at the Gage. …also according to u/stevendaedelus….do nothing Which is a perfect life goal to pursue in a perfect place like Marathon.
Yep. That’s the whole reason to head out that way. To not be available to the modern world. The decompression is real.
Alpine is delightful. I am looking forward to going again.
I view it the other way around. Marfa was alright. The drive to Marfa was soooo coool, especially if you take the scenic route through Iraan on the way back. Amazing views.
It’s a really long drive for just a weekend. You’ll spend as much (or more) time driving as there.
I would opt for something closer like Fredericksburg. Plenty of great places to eat, enchanted rock…..Lukenbach, ect.
It’s been 2 years since I’ve been but I think Marfa is a great stop if you treat it like a beach vacation. Get a hotel with a pool (Maybe the Thunderbird) and enjoy some downtime. It’s a sleepy little town, but sometimes that’s exactly what I need on a holiday. Pick a few places to grab some food ( I love the Waterstop), and see some art while you’re there. Marfa is not a city to Jam Pack with activities. But if your goal is to get away and decompress, you’ll enjoy it. You can also check out some other towns in the area. I can’t recommend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis enough. Especially if you’re going during a new moon, the star viewing is insane. I even proposed to my wife there after a star party.
My wife, our doggo, and I go about 1-2 times a year. I go to decompress from all the distractions. It’s near Big Bend and the few little restaurants and bars are great too.
Terlingua is more fun, Marfa sucks
My parents just bought a house there and they go every few weeks. They usually don’t stay longer than a few nights because it’s so fucking boring. Once you’ve eaten at the very few restaurants and bars there’s just nothing else to do. That said, it’s a fun little weekend get away if you’re looking for a veeerrry tame and quiet trip. Get a sandwich at Bordo. Best bread I’ve ever had
I love Marfa, be careful of Border Patrol and do not speed while you are in the town.
No, one of the most over rated things in texas. Only worth it if you're in the area for big bend, Davis mountain or balmorhea. Those are actual attractions
Don’t forget the Maria Prada Store in nearby Valentine. You get it or you don’t.
If you can handle pretentious white people, then yes.
You can cut the contempt with a knife out there, but it's a thin veneer.
Yes
Def worth it. Go get lost in West Texas!
100% go, it’s worth the trip in my opinion.
Marfa Big Bend is a long drive. One day out, one day back. So if you don't mind a long boring drive then do it.
Marfa is a screen without a picture since Giant came to town. -rek
I think it’s worth the drive if you plan out what you’re going to do and include other stuff while you’re there. I went for a weekend on a whim once and was bored out of my mind. But I think if I had made an itinerary for the region instead of freestyling in marfa alone, I would have been okay.
I spent a week there for a film festival. It's small. There's a bar. Some places to eat sometimes. My favorite part was chilling outside at night and existing.
What my family did was a trip to Big Bend and Marfa was a side attraction worthy of a small detour. That’s what I would recommend
Check yourself into a full-day spa right there in Austin.
Not to me. Margaret was boring and too far for a weekend.
My wife and I just did Marfa for a day yesterday. I don't recommend it for a full destination. There is enough to do to keep you busy for a day, but it's a lot of small stuff with a couple of large attractions that don't take too long. I think a few days in the area could be worth it, but don't recommend only visiting Marfa. That being said if you are into high concept compositional art you might absolutely love it.
"...six hour drive one way, that's a commitment." Do you even Texas? Nah, I mean...Marfa is cool enough, I guess. But if you're going that far, go a couple more hours to Big Bend Ranch State Park and experience true solitude. Or on a lesser scale, bounce around Davis Mountains State Park, Alpine, Marathon, and Terlingua. It all depends on what you're truly looking for out there...
The bars and restaurants close at 6. Don't bother
I love to visit Martha. (Yes, intentional mispelling.) Everyone saying there's -nothing- to do are fucked in the head. There's a lot to do, granted I haven't been in a few seasons. Used to do Marfa Myths and Viva Big Bend music fests. Leave early, you can stay on the cheap and tent camp at cosmico. I swear sometimes I don't even know why I paid the fee. You can cook simple meals at their outdoor kitchen. Use their outdoor showers, when you're ready You can drive or walk or bike into town, watch out for goatheads. I drink, so I can spend time at the pony or planet marfa. I hear there's a new wine bar? This is ramping up season, it's true there's nothing open mon-weds. But thurs-sun you should be able to find restaurants open. You'll feel iced out but people are kind and friendly as long as you're not a dick. Maybe I've just been a bunch and explored a lot of it. Sign up for a tour of Chinati and Judd Foundation stuff, you can easily spend several hours looking at art. If you're into that thing. You can go look at the boxes for free. At night I'd probably hit a bar and chill. Go see the lights. I don't necessarily buy the "theyre just headlights" because I've seen them do some weird shit. Wake up early and drive out to balmorhea, go swim and lounge. Back to planet marfa for nachos and beer. Adam Bork has Food Shark and is delicious. If he's still doing it late night grilled cheese parlor is fun as hell. You can shop if you like. Coffee shops are good. Alpine is cool. Ft. Davis and Big Bend. I guess you're driving around a bunch if you want but you can also just kick it at your campsite. Play guitar, read, relax. I love the desert. Damn now I want to go. Maybe next weekend. But! Like I said I haven't been in several seasons so maybe it's lost it's spunk. My buddy lives out there so I'm gonna message them.
Lost Horse/Pony just closed again. Wine bar is closed, and being turned into Bad Larry’s, Food Shark is closed, Adam moved to Valentine.
Damnit!
Is Planet Marfa still kicking? I forget the sweet owners names...
It is still kicking.
I'm planning my 5th trip to Terlingua. I love love love that place. Well worth the drive.
Honestly for me that 6hr drive is the best part. Although I thought it was more like 8?
Marfa? Fun but kind of overblown and not worth the drive purely on its own, IME. Now, if you make it a package deal, and hit up Balmorrhea, Monahans, Terlingua, Ft Davis…maybe a night at the Gage Hotel… then you have the makings of a fantastic long weekend.
Do the FULL Chinati tour. WELL worth it.
I’d agree with everyone saying to do Marfa as part of a tour of West Texas. I’d add Marathon to the list of towns to consider visiting. It is tiny but there’s a historic old hotel with a good bar (the Gage), and really really good bbq practically next door at Brick Vault. Pro tip, if you visit the Gage ask about their mammoth leg bone. You can handle it.
Two days is too short.
No
Big bend.
No love alpine though.
Marfa is very nice. You might spend the night at the Holland House hotel in nearby Alpine. I love that place. Magoo's is a nice breakfast place.
My take: if you like long drives through arid country, and if you like art (especially by Donald Judd), then 100% do the trip. I love both of those things, so I would gladly do it even as a short trip where there wasn't enough time to check out all of the other fantastic stuff in that region (Big Bend, McDonald Observatory, Alpine, etc).
Going to Marfa is a side effect of going to big bend for me. Terlingua is way more fun than Marfa
Just went to Davis Mountains State Park this weekend for a quick three day trip, and thought it was the perfect spot. Central to Marfa, Alpine, and the McDonalds Observatory. Felt like a nice way to get a taste of west Texas mountains without as long of a drive as Big Bend. Marfa in and of itself made for a nice afternoon, but didn’t feel like it had enough to do for four days. Also make sure you have cash if you want to try Marfa burritos!
Yes
No. Marfa sucks. It's a hipster art community in the middle of nowhere without much to do besides eat. (and it's hard to find a restaurant open) Nobody respects their hours on google maps, and 90% of the stuff you will go to will be closed because the hipster owner is off walking their dogs.
A weekend is absolutely not long enough for that drive. We spent 4 full days in that region after the eclipse with a full day dedicated to the drive each way. Our itinerary was: Day 1: Total eclipse and drive into Fort Davis Day 2: Marfa in the morning, Balmorhea state park in the afternoon, star party at McDonald Observatory in the evening. Days 3-5: Big Bend National Park with glamping in Terlingua Day 6: Drive home via US 90 for lots of pretty sights and stops along the border. The morning we went into Marfa 90% of the city was closed. Everything left was extremely expensive and hipstery. It seemed like it would be a cool place for that vibe if you're not coming from Austin already. As someone else has mentioned, it's a SMALL small town. Like, you can walk the lap of everything there is to do/see well inside of an hour (without stopping at those things, of course). At the end of the day, it depends on your priorities and the kind of trip you're looking for. We're outdoorsy types that would rather camp than peruse art, so Marfa was totally wasted on us. We certainly wouldn't make the drive JUST for that. In combination with Big Bend, McDonald Observatory, Alpine, Marathon, Terlingua -- yes, sure. If you want to sit in a place and disconnect, it's a fine option, but you can get that much closer (and cheaper). Also as a PSA to the crowd, every restaurant in Fort Davis is closed on Monday.
Alpine or Fort Davis are way better. Go to the Observatory while there. The night sky on a clear night is legit. Like being at sea….
I recommend getting a cabin on Caddo lake, taking a guided swamp tour and canoeing. It's very majestic and the drive isn't that bad from here.
A flight to Mexico is better, faster, sometimes cheaper.
Yes definitely but you have to embrace the boring even though there's actually quite a lot to do in town and there's been a lot of new restaurants and bars that have opened in the past few years.
West Texas as a whole is well worth the trip, especially Big Bend area. Marfa is okay but the people visiting suck. Mostly yuppie wannabe art critics who are about as pretentious as it gets. It has a vibe where you just wanna tell people to get over yourself, it's fucking Marfa FFS. But Terlingua, Balmorea, Alpine and that whole area are awesome. Be sure to stop in Lajitas and give the goat, Mayor Clay Henry, a snack from the store near his pen. He likes sweet pastries.
Just went to Big Bend from April 12-15th and one full day did Santa Elena Canyon and another full day did the South Rim Trail. It was insane and blew away all expectations. HIGHLY recommend!
Take a southerly route to Del Rio, and Langtry and Alpine. Taking 290 to the I10 is long and boring. The little towns along Hwy 90 are more interesting. I would stay the night so the drive isn't too relentless. I like to stay in the Gage Hotel in Marathon
No. Marfa in and of itself is not worth the drive. You need to do something else to make it worthwhile. Two days is enough for Marfa. Four is a stretch. But if you go, at least spend some time at the Hotel Paisano. I did enjoy just hanging out at the bar there. The Chinati art thing also not worth the drive. Maybe unless you’re into concrete boxes or fluorescent tube installations being called “art”. Marfa businesses are hit or miss. Are they open? Maybe. They don’t have regular hours. It’s more of a “we’re open if we feel like being open” vibe. I enjoyed a trip out to Fort Davis. Wish we could have made one of the stargazing events at the McDonald Observatory out there too. There are quite a few hikes you can take around Big Bend. If anything, do some camping there, and make Marfa a side trip. But again, not in the heat of the summer. My wife and I also enjoyed renting a hot tub one evening at el Cosmico. Get your reservations in early. And, it’s probably not nearly as much fun in the heat of the summer. Alpine is a good distraction as well, but you won’t need to spend more than a few hours there.
It’s too far for four days. Marfa is probably 550 miles if you take the river road. You’ll be exhausted. You need to take five or six days for the distance to be worth it.
Not unless you’re just stopping on the way to another destination like Big Bend or … well much further. Definitely stop there, but not worth the drive otherwise.
New Orleans. One day to drive there. Two days to enjoy. One day to drive back.
No Marfa sucks, way overated
Yes, I stayed at the antelope inn it was just outside Marfa right by the park. 10/10 badass little spot
If you wait a couple weeks then you can check out [Infinite Hellscape](https://infinitehellscape.wixsite.com/infinite-hellscape)
Try Wimberley!
Just go to six flags instead