Marfa, Texas Travel Guide 2026: Best Things to Do, See, & Eat

Texas
Written By Anna Rooker

Last updated: December 2025

Marfa is a tiny high-desert, West Texas town with the perfect mix of artsy, quirky, and peaceful. Between the minimalist desert views, creative galleries and art installations, cool local shops, and the famous Marfa Lights, there’s always something fun (and a little unexpected) to check out.

This ultimate Marfa weekend getaway guide breaks down the best things to do, where to stay, where to eat, and how to make the most of your quick trip. Whether you’re tacking on a visit to Marfa on a larger West Texas road trip or in need of an escape from the city, Marfa will show you an incredible desert time.

 

Affiliate Disclaimer

Please note that some of the links on this website are affiliate links. This means that I may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I have personally used or thoroughly researched. Thank you for your support!

 
 

Following the Leave No Trace principles ensures that we minimize our impact on the environment, preserving nature's beauty and integrity for future generations. Review the 7 Principles here!

Photo by Mick Haupt of Unsplash

When to Visit Marfa & How Many Days

Marfa is a year-round destination, but spring (March to April) and Fall (October to November) are the best seasons to visit Marfa, thanks to its moderate weather, perfect for walking around downtown and getting outdoors on some nearby trails. We visited in March, and the temperature ranged from mid-to-high 70s during the day and in the high 40s at night. It was perfect!

I recommend spending at least 2 days in Marfa (not including travel time/days to get here). Most people who come all the way to Marfa are tacking on a visit here along a bigger trip into Big Bend National Park. If that is the case for you, I recommend staying in Terlingua for its proximity to the Western entrance of the park.

READ ALSO: Ultimate Terlingua, TX Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, & Mor

How to Get to Marfa

Fly then drive (rental car)

Marfa is remote. If you are traveling from a location that is not within a realistic driving distance of Marfa, the best option is to fly into one of the closest larger cities with an airport, rent a car, and drive the rest of the way. The closest commercial airports are:

Getting Around Marfa

Driving your own vehicle, walking, or renting a bike are the best ways to get around the town of Marfa.

Car Rental

A car is not entirely necessary to get around Marfa proper, but it is certainly a preference, especially on a hot day. This depends on where you stay and if you are ok with walking or renting a bike as alternatives! A rental car will be necessary to get to Marfa and to explore outside the town.

Walk

Marfa is walkable. Given its size, many Airbnbs and hotels are conveniently located in neighborhoods within walking distance to restaurants and shopping.

Remember that if you choose to walk around Marfa, be prepared with plenty of water and check the weather before heading out! This is the desert.

eBike Rental

Rent an ebike from Ebikemarfa to get around Marfa for a day! They also offer child seats and child trailers for rent so your kids can safely join in on the fun.

NOTE: While Uber operates in Marfa, it is unreliable. There is 1 bus stop in Marfa where FlixBus and Greyhound stop. The closest stop to Marfa where you can get a ride to and from is Alpine, TX.

Above: Casita 415 on Airbnb

Where to Stay in Marfa

Marfa has an excellent selection of Western eclectic, aesthetically stunning places to stay on Airbnb and VRBO.

Take your pick of guest houses, tiny homes, lofts, and unique desert escapes, some on acreage with a view, and others in town, walking distance to downtown attractions. We stayed at Casita 415 (pictured above) on Airbnb, a cozy guesthouse that was perfect for 2 people in a quiet neighborhood.

Here are also a few highly-rated hotel/motel options:

Left to Right: Angel’s Restaurant, Coyote Coffee, LaVenture, The Sentinel Marfa

Where to Eat in Marfa

Marfa offers a diverse mix of cuisine options, particularly a rise in Modern-American style establishments. These are some of the places I enjoyed eating at in Marfa, or were recommended:

  • (Mexican) Marfa Burritos - Iconic Marfa spot known for its burritos and notable celebrity visitors like Anthony Bourdain

  • (Tex-Mex) Angel’s Restaurant - Filling Tex-Mex plates in an intimate, laid-back dining setting

  • (Fish & Wine) Alta Marfa Restaurant & Wine Bar - Unique tinned fish menu, small plates, and an excellent wine selection

  • (Italian) Bordo: Fine Italian Goods - Known for their pasta, Italian sandwiches, and gelato

  • (Pizza) LaVenture - I can only speak for the fantastic wood-fired pizza here. Located in Hotel Saint George.

  • (New American Comfort) Margaret’s in Marfa - Home-cooking quality menu offering vegan alternatives

  • (Coffee + Brunch) The Sentinel Marfa - Good coffee, good brunch & lunch menu (breakfast tacos sell out!), and local shopping while you wait for your order

  • (Kolaches, Pastries & Coffee) Bitter Sugar - Cute coffee shop with baked goods

  • (Coffee) Coyote Coffee (formerly Big Sandy Coffee) - Self-proclaimed (by me) to have one of the best oat milk lattes in town

Grocery Shopping in Marfa

  • The Get Go

  • Lowe’s Market

Best Things to Do in Marfa

Left: Presidio County Courthouse; Right: The Hotel Paisano

Walk Around the Central Marfa Historic District

The Central Marfa Historic District encompasses and preserves the heart of downtown Marfa and its historic architecture, early commercial development, and heritage significance.

 

Visit the Marfa and Presidio County Museum

Only open for a few hours a day, Sunday-Saturday, the Marfa and Presidio County Museum, located in a quaint 1880s home, features permanent collections on local settlers and military history. You will find artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and more showcasing the different aspects that make up historical Marfa, including mining, ranching, railroad, geology, and more.

📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps

💰Cost: Free, donations accepted and encouraged

 

Left: STOP & READ BOOKS; Right: Raba Marfa

Shop the Local Boutiques

Marfa is a boutique-lover’s dream! So many locally owned shops, from apparel to bookstores, to souvenirs and home decor. You can browse the Marfa directory for a full list, but here are some of my favorites that I popped into:

Marfa Lights

The Marfa Lights are a phenomenon of floating orbs of dancing light visible over the desert horizon. There have been accounts of sightings of this mysterious event for over 100 years. Some predict it’s far-off car lights or campfires, but those theories have been debated. See for yourself at the official Marfa Lights Viewing Area and Visitor Center after dark!

BONUS: Every year, the Annual Marfa Lights Festival is held around the end of August with parades, live music, vendors, and events.

📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps

💰Cost: Free

 

Above: Setting up the telescope in Terlingua

Go Stargazing

Marfa lies within the boundaries of the Greater Big Bend International Sky Reserve, currently the world’s largest dark sky reserve. Step outside your accommodation late at night, take a drive a bit outside Marfa, or book tickets for a solar viewing or a star party at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory (~40 min drive from Marfa).

 

Browse Art Galleries

There are many art galleries in Marfa! Check out the directory on the Marfa website. Here are some of my favorites, though, that I popped into:

 

Tour the Blackwell School National Historic Site

An important American history site, the Blackwell School National Historic Site, was a school dedicated to segregated Mexican and Mexican-American students in Marfa, mandated by the state of Texas during the de facto segregation from 1889 to 1965. Today, you can tour the school with a ranger on weekends to learn about its significant history and stories.

📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps

💰Cost: Free - only open on Saturdays and Sundays, but you can contact the park to schedule a weekday tour

 

Pick up the local weekly newspaper from The Sentinel

The Big Bend Sentinel is a local newspaper publication that has been serving Marfa and the surrounding towns for almost 100 years. Local journalism is kept alive in an age where print coverage is dying by operating through The Sentinel, a cafe, to keep the newspaper’s revenue flowing.

You can pick up the week’s publication from The Sentinel cafe and select shops and hotels around Marfa. A cool souvenir from the week you visited!

📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps

 

Drive out to Prada Marfa

Technically located in Valentine, TX, about a 30-minute drive west of Marfa, is the Prada Marfa art installation. This iconic, out-of-place roadside art installation in the middle of the desert was established in 2005 by Berlin artists Elmgreen and Dragset to represent a Prada storefront with Fall 2005 Prada shoes and handbags inside. You can’t enter, but this installation has become a notable attraction in the area for its quirkiness.

Bring a lock to add to the fence of locks behind Prada Marfa!

📍Location: Get directions on Google Maps

💰Cost: Free

 

Right: Giant Marfa Mural; Left: Welcome to Marfa sign

More Marfa Art Installations & Roadside Attractions

Quirky art installations in the desert - Marfa has plenty of those! Hop around to view these picture-worthy attractions and historic sites, many of which are popular for photography and photoshoots. Click each link below to save the location on Google Maps!

From left to right: Alpine welcome sign, Terlingua, Big Bend National Park sign, Window Trail in BBNP

Other Things to Do on your Marfa Road Trip

If you are making the effort to come all this way to Marfa, stick around a bit to see more of what this incredible part of Texas has to offer! This region is fantastic for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Here is a list of some of the top things to do within a 1-hour drive from Marfa, Texas:

  • Big Bend National Park - Actually, about a 2-hour drive from Marfa, but it would be silly not to mention Big Bend in this list. Big Bend offers a plethora of desert hiking, scenic drives, canyons, and outdoor exploration opportunities by off-road, mountain biking, and river.

  • Terlingua, TX - Located right outside the West entrance of Big Bend National Park, this quaint and historic desert town has so much to offer, from outdoor excursions to landmark ruins, modern coffee shops, and epic glamping. It’s a must-visit West Texas town!

  • Davis Mountains State Park - Mountainous state park with camping, hiking, and a 75-mile scenic loop drive.

  • Fort Davis National Historic Site - Former frontier military post from 1854 to 1891. Visit the visitor center, take a self-guided tour of restored buildings, and explore the park’s miles of hiking trails.

  • University of Texas McDonald Observatory - Observatory in the Davis Mountains and the Dark Sky Reserve of West Texas. They offer daytime solar programs and nighttime star parties for breathtaking views of the sky and galaxies.

  • Alpine, TX - A larger, nearby town to Marfa that’s worth stopping in on your road trip. Visit some boutiques, the Museum of Big Bend, and hike the Hancock Hill Trail.

  • Balmorhea State Park - This state park is a spring-fed swimming pool, perfect for hot desert days. The water is always at a comfortable 72 to 76 degrees year-round.

  • Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center - This desert nature center has hiking trails, a botanical garden, and a cactus museum. Educational outdoor fun.

  • Marathon, TX - A small town (population - 400) about a 40-minute drive from the Persimmon Gap entrance to Big Bend National Park. Marathon is a popular little service town for visitors to the national park.

  • World’s Smallest Buccee’s - I wouldn’t go out of your way to see this, but if it happens to be along your drive on US-90, East of Marathon, TX, then take a stop at Tiny Buccee’s, the “World’s Smallest Buccee’s.” (Non-operational, but another fun and quirky West Texas installation).

Tips for Visiting Marfa

  • Pack layers! Marfa is located in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos at around 4,800 feet elevation, with a range of desert weather. Layers will allow you to remove and add throughout the day for your comfort.

  • Because this is the desert, wind and dust storms can occur that can be triggering to those with allergies, cause respiratory issues, and be difficult and even dangerous to drive through due to a lack of visibility.

    • Unfortunately, we experienced a dust storm, primarily affecting our time in Big Bend and Terlingua, that had luckily mostly subsided by the time we got to Marfa. We drove through dust with zero visibility at one point as we entered the Alpine area, and my partner reacted to it with his eyes swelling and becoming very congested. I did not have any allergic reaction to the dust, however. It really depends on the person!

  • Always have plenty of water with you, especially during the summer, on warm days, and for any outdoor activities you may be participating in.

  • Most establishments in Marfa accept cards, but some local shops and restaurants you venture into may not. It’s best to carry a little bit of extra cash just in case!

  • Some areas in and around Marfa may have spotty cell service for some cellphone carriers. Plan your day ahead of time and download offline maps on Google Maps to help navigate even without service. I have AT&T and had pretty consistent service throughout Marfa, and lost service in Big Bend National Park and while driving through the Davis Mountains.

  • Many shops and restaurants in Marfa are closed on Mondays through Wednesdays. Either plan your visit over the second half of the week into the weekend (recommended), or plan by researching the opening hours of establishments throughout the week so you know what to expect on a Monday-Wednesday visit.

  • Check the opening hours on the individual business’s website or, if they have one, on their social media. Opening hours, day to day or over holidays, could be incorrect on Google Maps.

  • Check if the activity you want to do requires a reservation! Places like the Chinati Foundation, the Blackwell School (if you wish to tour during the week), or the McDonald Observatory require reservations.

  • Marfa is a popular destination in the late Fall and early Spring. Plan and book as much in advance as you can for the best prices and availability of accommodations and activities that require reservations.

  • I can’t possibly cover everything that Marfa has to offer. An excellent resource (and the best) for your Marfa trip is the Visit Marfa website.

Map

↓ read more texas travel guides ↓

PIN FOR LATER!

Anna Rooker
Next

Ultimate Terlingua, TX Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, & More