Our final NPS site on our Labor Day roadtrip was Fort Davis National Historic Site. Fort Davis was yet another frontier Army post protecting the expansion of white settlement in the mid-1800s. In one of those weird historical contrasts, it was named for Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (it was built during his tenure in that office) and is famously associated with the Buffalo Soldiers. It also served as a stopping point along the San Antonio – El Paso Road. Fort Davis is really well preserved, and the grounds make for an nice walk. It was a good way to stretch our legs between Big Bend National Park and El Paso.
Address and Location
You will find Fort Davis National Historic Site at 101 Lt Flipper Drive in Fort Davis, Texas. It’s about a three hour drive from El Paso and two and a half hours from Big Bend.
Cost
Exploring Fort Davis National Historic Site costs $10 per person, $15 for a motorcycle, or $20 per vehicle. All passes are good for seven days. Children under 15 can enter for free. You can also purchase an annual pass for $35. As always, America the Beautiful pass holders get in for free.
What to Do
Fort Davis is a bit unusual in that the Visitor’s Center doesn’t house all of the information for the site. The exhibits are spread out through the buildings across the site. Grab your passport stamp and turn right out of the Visitor’s Center. You will walk the buildings in order and learn about the Army’s role in Texas before the Civil War. One half of the parade field hosts the different work buildings, including the stables and the armory. You’ll also see the enlisted barracks. Across from that, you can stroll through Officers’ Row, the commissioned officer housing. Both areas have recreations of how soldiers lived and served at this post. If you’re looking for more adventure, you can access a handful of trails from the main park grounds and explore Fort Davis from different vantage points and elevations.
Bonus stop: since you’re already in the area, take US 90 and stop at the Prada Marfa. This legendary art installation isn’t actually a Prada store, and it actually sits in the buzzing metropolis of Valentine, Texas (population 290). It’s right off the highway, so you can add it to your route coming or going to Fort Davis. A stop will take you about five minutes, and you can snap all of your influencer shots.
Texas National Park Service Sites: Guadalupe Mountains National Park | Amistad National Recreation Area | Big Bend National Park | Fort Davis National Historic Site
