Davis Mountains

We spent two nights here at the end of October 2025, on our first big trip in the Brinkley, Colorado to Austin (Episode 4). On a clear night we pointed a camera at the stars over the trailer. We were in site 58 in Electric Area 2 and paid $64.00 for two nights, entrance fees included. Our full field report is still being written, so here is what to know about the park itself.

The short version

Davis Mountains State Park sits about a mile above sea level outside Fort Davis in far West Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife says it has some of the darkest skies in the state, and McDonald Observatory and Fort Davis National Historic Site are both close by.

A little history

• The park was established in 1933 on 560 acres, much of it donated by local landowners during the Depression.
• The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of its facilities between 1933 and 1935, including the five-mile scenic Skyline Drive and the adobe Indian Lodge, finished in 1935.
• The mountains and the nearby fort are named for Jefferson Davis, who was Secretary of War when the fort was built.

What it is known for

• Dark skies and stargazing.
• Skyline Drive and its overlooks, plus hiking on the Skyline Drive Trail and the old CCC Trail, and horse trails in Limpia Canyon.
• Wildlife including Montezuma quail, mule deer and canyon treefrogs.

Camping

• 26 full-hookup sites with 30 and 50 amp service.
• 34 sites with water and electric, 33 water-only sites, and hike-in primitive sites.
• There is a dump station.

Good to know

• Reservations are highly recommended. It is busiest from March through Labor Day.
• Bring a jacket in any season. Winter nights often drop below freezing, with occasional snow, and summer nights cool off fast.
• Cell service is limited, and there is an entry fee.