Have just started a planning trip to Big Bend in March. Most of what I read makes it sound desolate and almost alien (I know about the Marfa lights).

Has anyone had any experience going there? We will drive from Dallas and are open to any suggestions on places to stay or see. We're learning people (museuems, observatory, historical spots, etc). We also like to engage others so like small hotels/pensiones or B&B's. We're more budget than 5-star hotel people. (Which is good from what I read of this area.)

Thanks in advance.

A whole different world, even if you're already in Texas. Wild & beautiful. Take the drive thru' Terlingua out to Presidio, said to be one of the most scenic in the whole country. The lodge in the crater run by Parks Service is OK but I think it may be booked up already - lots of birders etc go down there in the spring. I went there years ago & we stayed at the lodge and also Calvary Post in Lajitas as well as Best Westerns etc. Have a great trip, I'd love to go back there too.
http://www.traveltex.com
http://www.visitbigbend.com/

Make a stop in Del Rio and see the Whitehead Memorial Museum. It's a very eclectic collection of local lore, and definitely not run-of-the-mill!

Also, do the walking tour of the indian pictographs at Seminole Canyon national park. Wow!

Fort Clark Springs is also very historic, and has a nice B&B style hotel.

The Alamo movie set in Brackettville is OK. It's neat if they are actually filming something while you're there.

Thanks - have used the websites and found some lodgings in some great places. Hopefully they'll have some rooms.

ChristieP - did you drive from the Metroplex? If so, how long did it take you? I'm guessing it's a 600 mile trip so approx 10-12 hours.

Another question: Have you ever gone over into Mexico while there? Do I need a passport? I was reading the Latin American page and based on some postings it implied one did. My passport is being renewed so I don't have it in my possesion and not sure how long it will take.

tmh
TX DOT map says 559, so you're close enough ! Not sure what route that implies, maybe I20 to Monahans then south. If you go to Del Rio etc your're taking a longer route by 200 mi or so, but you'll see, as the song says "miles and miles of Texas", when I drove it one spring there were zillions of butterflies on the road from Laredo to Del Rio & gently rolling country with ranch "driveways" disappearing over the horizon. Regarding crossing to Mexico from the park itself, when I went people just walked(waded) across if possible or there was a rowboat etc, no formalities at all, river was only about 50 ft across (but there wasn't much on the other side either). At one parking area a couple of Mexicans had walked across & set up little stands to sell trinkets, stones etc, we were told they'd been doing it for years. I've read that a lot of this has stopped since 9/11.
A couple of essentials, carry some drinking water and keep your gas tank topped up.
Hope you post a trip summary when you return

Bring lots of sunscreen, a wide brin hat, and keep extra water in the car. It is beautiful but parts of the area can be somewhat remote. It can be nicely warm but w/intense sun in March.

I've never actually driven all the way to Big Bend, but my in-laws live in Del Rio, and we visit at least once a year. Dallas to Del Rio is about 7 hours, but it is a much more scneic drive than going through Midland and then South. We drive down to San Antonio and then head west on Hwy. 90. It's a good road. If you want to stay overnight in Del Rio, I recommend the Best Western la Siesta on Avenue F. We've stayed there a couple of times when the house was too full of other relatives!

We go to Cd. Acuna, Mexico all the time, and no, you do NOT need a pasport at this border town. DO NOT drive your car across the bridge! Park in one of the lots and take a taxi. It costs about $5 each way. You could walk, but it is a LONG bridge! We go over and buy liquor and the occasional souvenier. There are a couple of shops (Casa Uxmal is one) that sell nice, handcrafted items. I have a cool set of funky, handblown margarita glasses that I got in Mexico. My mother-in-law's house is FULL of things she's picked up!

Oh, if you are hungry in Del Rio or Uvalde, stop at any one of the Don Mercelino's restaurants. EVERYTHING is good, especially the tapatios with sour cream and cabbage!!