The Traveling Vet Girl

I was born and raised in Texas. My Texas pride runs deep. Growing up and throughout college, however, I wasn’t able to fully experience all that this great state has to offer. Now that I’m a resident again after 6 years, I intend to fully explore the Lonestar State in all its glory. This is the Texas Series! Monahans Sandhills State Park is today’s pick.

Monahans Sandhills State Park is literally in the middle of nowhere. Located ~50 miles from Odessa on I-20, most people are likely to pass it en route to Big Bend National Park. This park is definitely worth a pit stop though. The Permian Basin park consists of sand dunes up to 70 feet in height; it feels like another country altogether!

A little park history: The park is actually only a small portion of a 200 mile dune field that extends up into New Mexico.  Native Americans found freshwater underneath the sands here thousands of years ago, long before Spanish explorers discovered the region.  Nowadays, its right smack dab in the middle of oil country.  Fox, coyote, hogs, rabbits and squirrels are among the animals to call the semi-arid region home.

Things To Do in Monahans Sandhills State Park

There are numerous activities at Monahans Sandhills for a fun filled day. Hiking, sand surfing, horseback riding, picnicking, and camping makes for the perfect 1-2 day trip. You can even bring the dogs!  Sit back, grab a book, and enjoy West Texas!

I spent ½ day at the park and had a really nice time. Hiking the dunes is a bit of a workout, but the views are great. I basically frolicked around and took pictures the whole time. I was tempted to do some sand surfing as many other people were, but a maxi-dress was a poor choice of outfit for that, ha! With the big skies of West Texas, standing atop a large sand dune felt like I could see for miles. This little park is definitely worth a quick stop on a road trip or a fun-filled day out with the family – fur kids included!

Essential Info

Entrance Fee: $4 per person (12 and under free)

Campsites: $15 per night

Sand saucers and toys available for purchase/rental

Drink lots of water – this is the desert after all!

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Let me know in the comments if you have any other Texas recommendations!

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