Monahans Sandhills State Park

We spent two nights here in May 2026, on our spring 2026 loop through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. We were in site 22 in the Willow Draw loop and paid about $15 a night, with our Texas State Parks Pass. Our full field report is still being written, so here is what to know about the place itself.

The short version

Monahans Sandhills State Park protects 4,717 acres of sand dunes in Ward and Winkler counties in West Texas, about five miles from the town of Monahans and a half hour southwest of Odessa. Texas Parks and Wildlife calls it a Texas-sized sandbox, where the wind reshapes the dunes, sometimes overnight.

A little history

• Native Americans used the area as far back as 12,000 years ago. Apache and Comanche groups camped and met here, drawn by fresh water beneath the sand, game, acorns and mesquite beans.
• Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to report the sand hills, more than 400 years ago.
• In the 1880s the Texas and Pacific Railroad made Monahans a water stop.
• The park opened in 1957.

What it is known for

• Sand sledding. Sand discs are rented at park headquarters.
• Dunes up to 50 feet tall, part of a dune field that runs about 200 miles from south of Monahans west and north into New Mexico.
• Shin oak, which stabilizes the dunes and grows less than four feet tall when mature.
• No marked trails. Hikers and horseback riders are free to explore, and there is an 800-acre equestrian area.

Camping

• 25 sites with water and electric hookups, some sharing a shade shelter.
• Three equestrian campsites with potable water, plus group facilities.
• The park map shows a dump station.

Good to know

• September to March is the busy season, and reservations are recommended for camping and day use. There is an entrance fee.
• The dunes heat up quickly in summer. Note landmarks so you can find your way back.