Out on the frontier removed from the frustrations of civilization sits Balmorhea an artesian gem…read morehiding among the tumbleweeds. The springs themselves are astonishing. Crystalline water, a natural oasis. Wilderness as a touch of elegance. The water is cool, refreshing, and large enough you can swim without bumping into a flotilla of inflatable flamingos every ten seconds. It is serene. Now, the true pièce de résistance: tiny fish. Yes darling, little cousins of piranhas nibbling delicately at your skin. At first, it's mildly horrifying. Being lightly snacked upon by aquatic creatures isn't typically on the itinerary. It's nature's exfoliation service. Truly. These miniature aestheticians gather around and provide the most delightful, ticklish skin treatment imaginable. Think of it as a rustic version of spa fish pedicures, except this one is completely natural, wildly entertaining, and performed by creatures that actually live in the ecosystem instead of a questionable salon tank. The entire place has this fascinating ecological charm that sneaks up on you. You're floating in a massive spring-fed pool, mountains in the distance, dragonflies skimming the water, and tiny fish politely tend to your skincare needs. The magic of Balmorhea (I'll let you figure out how to pronounce it correctly) is that it's a living ecosystem, and being able to swim in the middle of it is special. It's frontier chic. Don't expect marble spas and cucumber water. Following an afternoon, my skin felt absurdly smooth, stress level plummeted, and it was imperative to recommend the remote desert destination without qualification. Five stars for the fish running the spa.

Fun time at this park…read more Enroute from San Antonio to El Paso, we were able to stop at this park to get the kids out of the car and into some refreshing spring water It was clean, not crowded and left us already planning a return on our next trip back or towards Big Bend National. There are cabins on the ground, picnic tables, barbecue pits. I saw a basketball court. They had a few nature areas to enjoy. I was certainly pleased with just getting my feet wet, but the water is clear and if you were interested in seeing more below the water, I recommend goggles or snorkeling gear. I hear companies teach scuba here too. There's not much else near the park, so bring all the amenities you need or want there. Good times with nature. We will return.

We were passing through & needed a last minute spot to stay at in our motor home & this place was…read moreperfect! It's October so the pool was closed for the season, kids were sad but understood so they played on the play ground for a while. We were able to park under a shade tree in a decent sized spot which also had TV, sewer, & electricity. Check in was easy & a sweet family helped us check in & even guided us to our spot. This place has clean bathrooms & showers & a place to do laundry & hang out to play games & more (which they provide). Pokemoners, there is a Pokespot near the Propane fill area. We stayed in #14 & played Pokémon as a family. Overall, highly recommend

We showed up without reservations on spring break. We got the RV car wash slab. Worked out great…read morefor us. Bathrooms were very clean. The camp area was also very clean. Sorry I didn't take photos. I would definitely return.

Davis Mountains State Park is a park that I've always wanted to come back to and I finally did…read moreafter 8 years. As one of two Texas state parks that provides mountain trail access, this place can offer some phenomenal views of nearby mountains both near and far. I came here for a two-night camp. I made all my reservations online and arrived before the office closed to check in. The campsite I reserved had both water and electric hookups, which I did occasionally use during my time here. There are many hiking trails to choose from, although some trail access was restricted due to recent flooding. But all the trails I hiked were well-maintained and clearly marked. My favorite trail, Skyline Drive Trail, took me up the side of the mountain via switchbacks up to the mountain ridge. The trail leads all the way to the famed CCC overlook that allowed me to see differently-shaped mountains in the distance. I thought it was cool that I could see the University of Texas McDonald's Observatory from the overlook, even though it requires a 13-mile drive to get there from the park. During my stay, I also had the opportunity to attend a ranger talk. The ranger came from the nearby Fort Davis National Historical Park with some relics of times past. The talk was informative and entertaining. I enjoyed the clean bathrooms near the campsite, though you'll have to bring your own shampoo and body soap to shower. The water provided at the campsite is potable and I thought it tasted better than the tap water I get at home! I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and would love a chance to come back in the future!

Stumbled upon this stunning state park during a short stay in Fort Davis. We did a scenic drive on…read morethe Skyline Trail, and did some short hikes to enjoy the absolutely stunning vistas o west Texas from various viewpoints. We also briefly visited the recently renovated Indian Lodge (open for breakfast and lunch), which we hope to stay at next time. This state park is a hidden gem and absolutely worth a visit!

if you are looking for long-term parking so you can work out of Alpine, this may be a good deal…read more The rates are extremely reasonable, way below average in the town area. There is an old adage, you get what you pay for. We love the owner, Georgiana, and pray she finds a buyer soon. So if you have an entrepreneurial spirit, this could be a phenomenal opportunity for you buy it make a resort and charge a nice fee and you will be in the chips.

Rolling G RV park is a little tiny park with only about 20 spaces. The owner is very wise and let's…read moreabout half the spaces out for monthly rentals. As she is just getting started, she has wonderful plans for the future. This was our second stay with Georgiana. She is so pleasant you just wanna hug this little granddaughter that we have found in Alpine. She recently leveled sites and put down gravel on the roads and parking places. She has a nice dog run for your big pooch. The view of Sul Ross University & surrounding mountains is amazing both during the day and at night. But if you're looking for fancy, it ain't there yet.

When we go to Marfa, we would walk the grounds here and always say "next time let's stay here"...we…read morefinally did! It was a toss-up between a teepee or yurt. Since it was a couple of days before Christmas and the desert can get cold, we opted for the yurt. The yurts offer heating and cooling while the teepee only offers a fireplace, which makes sense...it's a teepee and you have to do it the way it's meant to be. The yurt was roomy and the bed comfy. We stayed warm too! Loved sitting out on our little porch/deck to watch the stars. The main office area also has a shop and place to sit and eat, etc. They've got a bar and outdoor patio (all communal) as well. Showering outdoors (common bathrooms are a very basic outdoor shelter) definitely added to the primitive aspect of staying here. It was a wonderful experience and the best time we're doing a teepee!

Eclectic lodging along with camp ground amenities. The lobby has a good gift shop and drinks and…read moresnacks. We stopped in just to check it out coming back from the Judd exhibition down the road. We didn't stay here on our trip as we opted for something in the town square to walk everywhere but El Cosmico is a very short drive away.

Stayed one night on our way East. Nice big pull-thru spots, gravel base and level. Friendly staff…read more Quiet enough and a good rate. Would definitely stay again.

The Fort Stockton was conveniently located off the highway. It was a pull through which made it…read moreeasy to park our 42 ft fifth wheel. There was a bark park, showers, laundry, and plenty of places to walk our dog. I guess the only negative is you had to go in the bark park to throw away your dog bags or across the street from the office to the dumpster. It would be nice to have trash cans and bags located in other areas. We always carry our own bags, but clearly other people don't carry theirs. We walked our dogs and there was always dodo throughout the park.

If you like peace, solitude, dark skies, open space, and privacy, Tin Valley is the place for you…read more We spent 5 nights there and Ronda the owner was a wonderful host. There are only 8 sites and each site has electrical hooks up for both 50 amps and 30 amps. Ronda brought us water one evening and has a honey wagon as needed. A wonderful place to stay if you want to visit Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Terlingua, and see the darkest skies in the country. We'll have to return with the appropriate cameras and telescopes next time. It may be a little intimidating to get there, as it's 13 miles on a country road off US 118 and another 1.5 miles on narrow dirt road, but you will be rewarded for your perseverance. Tin Valley is a slice of paradise for those who seek it.

A wonderful place to stay, super friendly, amazing views, dead quiet at night, no city lights at…read moreall, more stars than you have ever seen. Plus a backroad into big bend, 20 miles of dirt then 22 miles down hwy 385, need to be smart in deep sand or have 4wd. 50amp electric, no sewer but dump station, also no water but they will bring it to you in a pump truck, they will also take way you grey water (with a different tank!) Located on a 100 acre ranch with its own mountain, lots of dirt trails, Old indian lookout at mountain top.

First visit, one night over Christmas 2022, so cold I never came outside. Returned Christmas 2023,…read moregave 5* and was "highly satisfied". Jan 2 2026 we come thru again. Arrived earlier so got to "experience" the mini amusement park that IS Hilltop RV. We had : 2 dogs (Great play area for them) , 1 grandma (lovely, well lit, well maintained walking path around perimeter of park) 2 kids under 7 yrs really nice little playground with seesaw & climbing/slide An area with picnic tables and each has a different oversized game set up. Cozy social area with comfy seating and outdoor TV Game room (rustic but functional) Yes, fitness gym, pool, showers etc. Its the Quirky decorative touches all around that are fun & charming. Actually told my husband we should Plan to stay an extra day here next year instead 0f using it as a sleep stopover !! His input: the pull thru spots are set up perfectly

Such a great little RV park. It is as the name implies, on…read moretop of the hill. You are able to see for miles in every direction which makes this spot great for watching the sunset. The sites here are ok, on the smaller side and close together. Mostly level but prepare to check. It is kept very clean and tidy. There is a great walking path around the park as well as a dog area, lots of games and a kid zone. There is also tons of artwork around the park that are great to look at. There is 1 bathroom & shower for men and 1 for women. You can hear the traffic on i10 but that's ok as it dies down in the evening. In fact the only thing I heard at night was the giant American flag waving in the wind above us. The staff is great and of those that looked like full timers or seasonal customers they were all nice and kept their areas clean. I would definitely stay here again and recommend it. Priced better than others in the area also.

This is such an amazing place, I highly recommend it to anyone!!! This place has everything you…read moreneed from showers to ice and firewood. It's very quiet, has great views and amazing stargazing!! The family that runs the campground is very nice and extremely helpful! I was in a bit of a situation with my vehicle while I was there. I didn't realize my car was low on oil, I started panicking and didn't know where I could get some or if my car could make it to town. Guy (the owner) kindly helped me out of this situation! Like I said, I highly recommend this place!! Amazing family and community!!! Thank you, guy, for such a wonderful experience and saving the day!!!

We found Rancho Topanga just googling tent campsites and are so happy we did. The property has…read moregorgeous views, lots of cacti (my favorite). All the sites had a picnic table, a faucet with running water, dumpsters and some had a canopy so bring your own if you're unsure if yours does. Also a ring for fire pit is included but bring your own firewood! Best of all their showers have hot water, we were here in January so it got chilly at sundown. Toilets have a heater inside and the sink to wash dishes or your hands also has hot water. Affordable and very quick drive to Big Bend!