Travel Guide To Marfa, Texas
Marfa is a small, eclectic, + artsy town in the middle of the high desert in West Texas. In many ways, Marfa feels “off the grid” + a step back in time... + I loved that! We visited Marfa for a few days on our way to Big Bend National Park. While I wouldn’t necessarily go to Marfa as a solo trip since regardless of where you are going from — it will be a journey to get to, I’m really glad I was able to see this special, + a bit creepy place.
Eat + Drink:
- Big Sandy Coffee: Coffee in an old school trailer
- The Sentinel: Cafe + boutique
- Marfa Burrito: “That is a serious burrito. No rice at all. This is the real deal.” — Anthony Bourdain
- Food Shark: Lunch-only Mediterranean food truck
- Convenience West: Amazing BBQ
- Planet Marfa: Quirky beer garden + pizza
- Lost Horse Saloon: Dive bar with live music
- House Bar (Casita Bar): Check instagram to see if/when it’s open
- The Get Go: Grocery store
Explore:
- Go to Big Bend! Big Bend is still 3 hours from Marfa… BUT, if you are already this far into West Texas, my vote is to go for it! We loved the hot springs + Santa Elena Canyon. I would definitely camp for at least 1 night!
- Star Gaze: The stars are magical here! Check out the mystery behind the “Marfa Lights.”
- Shop Vintage: There are a lot of vintage shops + other fun home decor/lifestyle shops around Marfa. Wander the downtown + pop into all the shops.
- Explore all the Art: Judd Foundation, Chinati Foundation, Ballroom Marfa… + more! This is a great list of all the art to explore. + of course, the instagramable Prada Marfa.
- Pool at Hotel St. George: You can buy a day pass for $30 to lounge at the pool
Stay:
El Cosmico! We loved staying at El Cosmico… it’s a wide open space filled with tents, trailers, yurts, tipi hotels, + a campground. It’s a vibe. There’s hot tubs, bike rentals, hammock grove, bath houses, + community lounge. We camped 1 night + stayed in a safari tent for 2 nights. Its a short walk from Marfa’s restaurants + art. I highly recommend staying here… you won’t regret it!
If you happen to be visiting in late September, El Cosmico hosts the Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love.
Pro Tips:
- Make sure to check the schedules of the shops + restaurants — hours are limited!
- Regardless of where you are coming from, it will be DRIVE to get to Marfa. We drove from Austin — which is 6.5 hours, + the closest major airport is 3 hours away (El Paso).
- Climate is high dessert… so in the summer, it’s very hot during the day, but still cool at night. We visited in March, which was perfect during the day + winter weather jacket at night ; ).
- Check out this website to see more about the happenings in Marfa when planning your trip!
Have you been to Marfa? Any of your fav spots that I missed?!
Love,
Elisabeth