SP Campground Review – Davis Mountains State Park, Fort Davis, TX
A simply outstanding campground in the stunning Davis Mountains in SW Texas!
Note/ Unfortunately we had to evacuate this area because of fire and the campground is currently still closed. I’m not clear when it will open again or how quickly the area will recover, but will rate from point of view of when we first arrived.
Link to campground here: Davis Mountains State Park, TX
Link to map location here: Davis Mountains State Park, TX
- Site Quality = 5/5
Extremely nice sites here. There’s a selection of primitive, water/electric and even full hook-up sites (with cable!). The full hook-up sites are all decently flat paved pull-throughs with lean-to shelters, fire-pit and nice views of the hills (best views from sites # 18, 20 & 21, but I’d say all have lovely surroundings). Only very minor ding is limited to no shade and no dedicated privacy. Other sites are mostly back-ins with a small selection of shaded sites (around sites #46-61). Back-ins vary a bit in separation and size. Almost all sites have pretty views of the hills. - Facilities = 4/5
Good facilities here. Large bathrooms and showers, kept nicely clean. Only negative was old shower-heads combined with high water-pressure made the showers feel a bit like a truck pressure-wash! Also showers have combined bench area, rather than individual area to hang your stuff. - Location = 5/5
This park is a simply fabulous location. Located at 5,200 feet in the beautiful Davis Mountains and only ~3 miles from town. There’s miles of hiking in the surrounding area, plus the attraction of nearby Fort Davis, and the McDonald Observatory. On-site Indian Lodge has restaurant and town has shopping, cafe’s, museum and eateries. - Pet Friendliness = 5/5
Great park for doggie. There’s no end of hiking in the hills, plus ample space to hang out in camp.
Overall Rating = 4.75
BONUS ALERT = Stunning mountains, hiking, nature and star-gazing all-in-one!
Summary: Can’t really say enough good about this park. From a nature point of view it’s stunning. The campground is set beautifully in a small valley at 5,200 feet in the Davis Mountains surrounded by hills and miles of hiking. There’s a large selection of sites all the way from primitive to full-hook-up (with cable!), all of which have paved surfaces, decent separation and pretty views. Lots of activities to do in the area from hiking and biking the hills, to sight-seeing only ~3 miles away in cute and quirky Fort Davis (check out the Broom Shop, Stone Village Market (health food), the Rattlesnake Museum and Fort Davis Historic Site) to star-gazing at the McDonald Observatory (I highly recommend attending a night-time “Star Party“) to gardens and scenic drives. Unfortunately our time here was cut far too short by the fires, but there’s no doubt we’d love to come back and stay for an extended time. A gem of a place!
Extra Info: Verizon network “iffy” here. Our smartphone had small bursts of 3G, but also periods of no connectivity at all. Aircard had no connectivity, but we were able to get online reliably with external antenna/amp. Sites cost $10/night for water, $15/night for 30Amp/water and $20/night for full hook-up (50Amp/water/sewer and cable!). FHU are reservable online and book-up fast. Additional $5/day/person entry fee (waived if you have Texas State Park Pass). On-site dump station.
Note/ Unfortunately, due to the fire and our premature evacuation I only have a select few shots of the campground. Sorry!
Excellent rating, I can’t wait to check it out this fall 🙂
Hope you are all safe
It’s a lovely park! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it! Nina
Even though the fire did some damage to the park, much of it was saved and it has recovered very well considering they still have not had much rainfall. The park is a wonderful paradise and I try to get out there about 3 times a year for a at least a week at a time. I hope you can come back sometime.
I am SO happy to hear that! We loved our stay there and were so bummed it was cut short by the fire. It’s top of my list for an extended stay if we come back that way. Can’t say enough good about both the campground and the area. Nina
Thank for this excellent review. We are here right now and the park is wonderful. Hardly any signs of the fire.
Thanks for the regular updates, always appreciate your reviews:)
So happy to hear it. It’s such a pretty place.
Nina
This is where the wildlife out number the humans. Everything is pretty. Most of the people that come to visit the area, leave it just as pretty. There are a few people that feel if they do not damage something they have wasted the day.
The observatory is also something to see. At night to see the stars and the universe is beautiful.
The observatory was definitely one of the highlights of our time there. Too bad we got driven out by the fire. I could easily have spent several weeks in the area.
Nina
I agree this is a wonderful area! I 1st explored it while attending the 2001 Texas star Party (held at Prude ranch. That year while visiting the McDonald observatory I learned that they were going to do an all night observing run (room for about 20 people) with the historic 82″ Otto Struve telescope! Back then it was only $100 a person so I jumped at the opportunity along with some fellow amatuer astronomers that were also attending TSP. I have a big scope, a 30″ dobsonian but we were all totally unprepared for the awesome views through the eyepiece of the monster scope! Several views of galaxies and nebulae were like a photograph! Once we sell our ranch and go mobile with our scopes we will be coming back to this area again!