The combination of art, people, and small town vibe makes Marfa, Texas totally worth the 430 mile drive from Austin. It’s funky, quaint, and makes life feel sweet and simple. No to mention the gorgeous mountain views and starry nights of the West Texas sky are unlike any other place on Earth. This was my first trip to Marfa with the kids, so today I’m sharing a kid friendly guide to 10 of the best things to do in Marfa Texas.
Where to Stay in Marfa
I always find staying in a house the easiest route with kids. I typically use Airbnb or Vrbo to rent a house. The Marfa Stone House was the perfect home away from home for our family of four. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and an open living room/ kitchen layout. The backyard is complete with a chiminea and a large picnic table for outdoor dining. The house is in a great location for exploring Marfa via bike or foot. We really loved that it was 1 block away from the local elementary school so we made multiple trips to the playground in the evenings. The house also comes with 2 adult bikes, and I would highly recommend bringing bikes for the kids.
Pro tip: Don’t let kids ride their bikes in the yard, sticker burs will pop tires.
Another fun and quirky spot to stay in Marfa with kids (if you enjoy camping) is El Cosmico. I always recommend stopping by El Cosmico to see the unique property, enjoy the hammocks and don’t miss the gift shop.
Things to do in Marfa Texas
When I say things to do in Marfa Texas, I really mean things to do in and near Marfa Texas. Marfa, Texas has a population of 1,641 people, so it’s a truly a tiny Texas town.
1. Bike ride
The Stone House Marfa comes with 2 adult bikes and I recommend bringing bikes or scooters for the kids. Frama coffee is a fun destination for a bike ride anytime of day in Marfa. Frama is part of a laundry mat, but offers a take out window with delicious coffee and muffins in the morning and homemade ice cream in the afternoon. *Sad news: Frama closed.
Other don’t miss bike stops and murals in Marfa include:
- Marfa Courthouse
- The pink fire station ( 110 E Lincoln St, Marfa, TX 79843)
- Marfa Elemnentrary school playground (400 W Columbia St, Marfa, TX 79843)
- Godbold Feed mill (Pictured below)
- Mural- “I’d rather be in Marfa”- Martin Field (400 W Lincoln St, Marfa, TX 79843)
- Mural- “Mystery Lights”- Thunderbird Hotel (601 W San Antonio St, Marfa, TX 79843)
- Mural- “Greetings from Marfa Texas”- Frama ( 120 N Austin St, Marfa, TX 79843)
- Mural- “Marfa Shorthorns”- On bus barn, across from Martin Field
2. Marfa Mystery Lights
The distant glowing orbs known as the Marfa Lights are a must see on your stop in Marfa. The official Marfa Lights viewing area is located 9 miles east of town on Highway 90, towards Alpine. There is an adobe viewing platform and a large paved circular driveway that you can park on to view the mystery lights from right outside your car. We went right at dusk and watched the end of the sunset turn into flickering yellow mystery orbs!
Pro tip: It gets chilly at night, bring jackets.
3. Chinati
Chinati is open from 9-5pm Wednesday- Sunday. Guided tours are the only way to see the majority of Chinati’s collection. Tours are by reservation only. Children 17 and under and active military get free admission.
4. Ballroom Marfa
Ballroom Marfa is a contemporary art and performance space housed in a 1920s ballroom. There are rotating exhibits and performances. It is open from 11am-6pm Wednesday- Saturday and admission is free.
Things to do in Fort Davis
At 5,050 feet, Fort Davis is the highest town in Texas! Fort Davis has cooler temperatures and gorgeous mountain scenery, and it is only 30 minutes west of Marfa.
5. Davis Mountain State Park
The Davis Mountain State Park is 30 minutes west of Marfa, and is a don’t miss spot for gorgeous hikes with the kids. We did the 2.5 mile Indian Lodge Loop trail with our 4 and 6 year old. The trail is rated as challenging and does have rocky steep inclines and declines, but we had no problem completing the trail. The breathtaking mountain views are totally worth the trek. You can also see the McDonald Observatory from the Indian Lodge Loop trail. After the hike, we ordered hamburgers to go from the Black Bear Restaurant and ate at a picnic table at the bottom of the trail head. Entry to the park is $6 per person 13 years and older.
6. Visit Fort Davis
Fort Davis is considered one of the best remaining examples of a frontier military post in the American Southwest. Fort Davis’s primary role was safeguarding the west Texas frontier against the Comanches and Apaches until 1881. The fort was abandoned in 1891, and in 1960 it was was made as a national historic site. I recommend printing the Junior Ranger Program for Fort Davis or you can get one at the visitors Center! Entry is $20 per vehicle.
7. Tour the McDonald Observatory
Update: We attended a star party in March 2023, and it was fabulous!
The McDonald Observatory visitors center is open to the public Tuesday- Saturday from 9-5pm. The observatory offers daytime and nighttime programs. I highly recommend a star party! It’s chilly at night, bring a sweater.
Pro tip: Bring quarters to use the paid telescopes on the top of each peak. An older man on our tour saved the day by giving the kids quarters.
8. Scenic Loop Drive
If you make it out to McDonalds Observatory, I highly recommend completing the scenic loop drive around Fort Davis. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the breathtaking views of Mt. Livermore, Sawtooth Mountain, and the Sierra Viejo Mountains. We pulled over at the Madera Canyon Trail for a picnic. The full scenic loop is 75 miles, but it passes right by McDonald Observatory so I recommend doing these on the same day to break up the drive for the kids.
9. Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
The Chihuahan Desert Center includes hiking trails with gorgeous views, a cactus museum collection, and a replica of a 19th Century silver mine. Don’t miss Clayton’s Overlook fr a 360 degree view of the area. The visitors center, gift shop, and bathrooms are not currently open to the public. Entry is $6.50 for adults and kids 12 and under are free.
Things to do near Marfa Texas
The following things to do are not in Marfa proper, but are fun things to do and see while you’re in the area.
10. Prada Marfa
Prada Marfa is a permanent installation 26 miles northwest of Marfa that popped up on October 1, 2005. To be honest, my kids were not impressed, ha!
11. Hancock Hill Hike
We hiked Hancock Hill on our way back to Austin to ensure the kids got a good dose of the outdoors before we were stuck in the car for 6 hour trek home. The Hancock Hill hike starts in the Sul Ross University parking lot and ends with gorgeous views of Alpine, a bike tree, and an old desk full of notebooks. The trail to the desk is not super well marked, but even with a few wrong turns the hike took about 1.5 hours round trip. Check All Trails for the details on how to get to the desk.
Pro tip: Pick up baked goods at Judy’s Bread and Breakfast and enjoy them at the desk on Hancock Hill. Don’t miss the cinnamon roll!
12. Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park is an oasis in the high desert and a most stop while visiting Marfa. Balmorehea is home to largest spring fed swimming pool in the world covering 1.3 acres. Balmorehea State Park is 30 miles north of Fort Davis which makes it about a 50 minute drive from Marfa. The water temperature is at a constant 72- 76 degrees, much like Barton Springs here in Austin!
13. Big Bend National Park
West Texas is big, so expect a lot of driving. Big Bend National Park is amazing and I highly recommend going there, but it is 1.5 hours from Marfa and there is a lot of driving involved once inside the park. Big Bend is an incredible place and I’d recommend spending at least a few days here to fully embrace all it has to offer. My family spent 5 nights in Big Bend and we could have done more!
The Best Marfa Restaurants
Like I said above, we did a combination of cooking at home, picnics, and take out from Marfa restaurants. Here were some of our favorites:
- Pizza Foundation
- LaVenture at Hotel Saint George (Don’t miss the shishito peppers.)
- Jett’s Grill at the Hotel Paisano (The chicken caesar salad and kids meals were delicious.)
- Cochineal
- Food Shark
Have you ever been to Marfa or West Texas? It’s gorgeous out there! Looking for more fun Texas road trip ideas? Don’t miss:
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