This Region of Texas Is One of the Most Underrated Travel Destinations in the Country

High Desert of Big Bend National Park, Texas. Patrick Murphy/Dreamstime/TNS

By Ella Gonzales From Fort Worth Star-Telegram

If you need a quick trip to get away, West Texas is an overlooked destination.

CNN compiled a report of the 25 most underrated U.S. destinations that included several in Texas.

“The vast region is still sparsely populated, home to wide open spaces and a couple of the nation’s wildest national parks: Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains,” CNN said about West Texas.

Tourism in Texas is great for the economy. According to the Texas Travel Alliance, travel earnings had an impact of $72.9 billion on the economy. U.S. World and Report ranked Dallas as the most popular tourist destination, with Big Bend National Park and Fredricksberg trailing behind, respectively.

West Texas is a large region that covers Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains and UFO towns. You can roadtrip to multiple destinations with plenty of camping opportunities.

Here’s a few different West Texas towns worth visiting:

Marfa

• Distance from Fort Worth: 489 miles
• Known for: art, Marfa Mystery Lights (unexplained phenomenon where red, white or blue lights appear in the sky)
• Town population: 1,725
• Stay options: Carmen Boutique Hotel, Cibolo Creek Hotel, El Cosmico, Marfa Yacht Club

A larger-than-life, standing mural of the movie actor Elizabeth Taylor is part of the "'Giant' Marfa Mural" seen along U.S. Highway 90 near Marfa, Texas, March 21, 2023. Artist John Cerney created the murals of "Giant" movie actors James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and scenes on the Wyatt Ranches-Little Reata Division, where part of the movie was filmed in the 1950s north of Marfa, Texas. Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

Terlingua

• Distance from Fort Worth: 546 miles
• Known for: Chisos Mountains, ghost town, Chili Cookoff (first Saturday every November)
• Town population: 154
• Stay options: RV and tent camping

Big Bend National Park

• Distance from Fort Worth: 540 miles
• Known for: Chisos mountain range, Chihuahuan Desert, Rio Grande River
• Visitors: 463,832
• Stay options: Chisos Mountain Lodge, Rio Grande Village Campground, Chisos Basin Campground, Cottonwood Campground
  Fort Davis
• Distance from Fort Worth: 469 miles
• Known for: U.S. Army Fort, Davis Mountains State Park, Indian Lodge, Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, Botanical Gardens, McDonald Observatory
• Town population: 924
• Stay options: Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis Inn and RV Park, Davis Mountain RV Park, Mountain View Lodge, Harvard Hotel, Prude Ranch

Alpine

• Distance from Fort Worth: 464 miles
• Known for: Scenic beauty, murals, walking tours, star gazing
• Town population: 5,927
• Stay options: Antelope Lodge, Holland Hotel, The Maverick Inn, Hotel Parker, Alpine Bed and Breakfast

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