What to do when you drive from Alpine to Marfa Texas
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Driving from Alpine to Marfa is one of the things you most likely do when visiting Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park in southwest Texas. You are already in the region, so you must visit these two cities.
If you have time, you will probably stayed a night in Alpine or Marfa to explore the area, including a trip to Marathon. If you don’t, you will make a quick stop to see what the two cities have in town for their visitors. That’s what we did after we left Big Bend and traveled from Alpine to Marfa.
Alpine to Marfa: Best Things to Do
Both Alpine and Marfa are small cities, but they offer lots of things to do for their visitors. You must pick the right things to do for a short visit. Fortunately, I did the job for you. So here it is, things to do in Alpine and Marfa curated specially for you. For those visits when you only have a few hours in the city.
Things to do in Alpine Texas
Finding murals is the best thing to do during a quick visit to Alpine. Alpine is home to some impressive murals made by local artists. We spent about an hour and a half in the city, including lunch.
For the best experience, park near Kiowa Gallery & Custom Framing at 105 E Holland Ave. Right at the corner of Kiowa Street and 5th Street, you will see two murals.
One of the murals is Big Brewster, picturing Brewster County and famous locals. It is also the welcome sign for Alpine. On the other side, you’ll see a picturesque postcard mural that reads, “Greetings from Alpine, Texas,” which has become a popular location for Instagram shots.
On the other wall, there were three murals. One of them is Poco a Poquito with a traditional Mexican calendar and The Cattle Drive.
From here, cross the street to Alpine Alley Street. It runs east-west between Holland Ave and W Ave E, the block between 5th and 6th Streets. Lots of murals here, like Big Bend’s Dark Skies, desert nature scene, mountain landscape, and more. My favorite is Cruising Big Bend by Tom Curry, as it represents our family.
When you get to 6th Street, you can turn right to see two murals on W Ave E. Or, make a left and another left onto Holland Ave to see more murals across where you park the car. Then drive across the train tracks to Murphy St. for more murals.
As we arrived in Alpine in the afternoon, we didn’t get a chance to go to Murphy Street. I wish Alpine is not that far from Big Bend, though. It took about 2 hours to drive from Chisos Mountains inside Big Bend NP to Alpine. Also, we made a couple of stops along the way, including at the World’s Smallest Target in Marathon. Because of safety issues, this roadside attraction was demolished in December 2020.
The Alpine Downtown Association has created a walking tour of Alpine’s downtown murals. You will learn more about the murals in Alpine, and you can download a printable PDF file for the walking tour before your visit.
Also, you can combine the mural stroll with the Historic Walking Tour. But you won’t be able to see the historic buildings as their locations are more spread out in the city.
The next destination is Marfa, about 30 minutes drive to the west of Alpine.
Things to do in Marfa Texas
Everyone wants to see Prada Marfa, located in Valentine, about 30 minutes northwest of Marfa. So, before you go to Prada Marfa, turn to downtown Marfa for a quick stroll.
Marfa is an art city, so expect to see art galleries here. However, you will visit the galleries on your next visit.
Once you get into downtown Marfa, park by the beautiful Presidio County Courthouse, then take a tour inside. I read it’s pretty inside, but we visited in March 2020 when everything started to close for the public, including the courthouse. But, even from the outside, the courthouse looks pretty. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful courthouses in Texas.
Then take a quick stroll around the courthouse, and enjoy the beautiful historic architecture like The Hotel Paisano, Brite Building, and Judd Building. Don’t forget to take pictures by the pink Central Fire Station across the courthouse.
I wish we had more time to spend here, but it’s hard to make more stops when you only drive-thru from Alpine to Marfa. It would be nice to explore Marfa on a bicycle like the mother and a son duo we saw in the city.
Before you leave town, drive to Frama Coffee on 120 N Austin St. to take pictures by the Greetings from Marfa Texas mural. Of course, it will be nice to order something cold or hot from the cafe while you are there.
Back to US-90 W. After about 8 minutes drive in the northwest direction, you will arrive at the Giant Marfa Mural. It will be on your right side. Here you will see painted plywood artwork, a tribute to the 1956 James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor film “Giant.” They filmed part of the movie here. I wish my father were still around, so I could take him here.
Then continue northwest on US-90 W for about 30 miles, passing small towns Ryan, Quebec, and Valentine to Prada Marfa. The famous art installation you saw on social media feeds will be on the left side of the road. And expect to wait in line to take pictures here.
It is also your last stop before you continue onto I-10 towards El Paso or San Antonio or to I-20 towards Fort Worth and Dallas.
Prada Marfa Address: 14880 US-90, Valentine, TX 79854.
Giant Marfa Mural Address: US Hwy 90, Five Miles West of Marfa Wyatt Ranches – Little Reata Division, Marfa, TX 79843.
Presidio County Courthouse Address: 300 Highland Street, Marfa, TX 79843.
I think it’s great to explore some smaller things like this, especially these days! I’ve definitely seen photos of the Prada store and think it would be awesome to actually see it!
You are right! It’s time to explore your own backyard.
I want to go see the murals. I am a big fan of street art. It really adds personality to an area.
I wouldn’t have thought there would be so many interesting things to do in these tiny towns in Texas! I love the murals in Alpine, what cool artwork!
Some small towns full with surprises. That’s what special about these two towns.
The town Marfa looks very interesting and great fun. Hope the plywood art outlive the rain and wind or perhaps they just replace the.
That’s what I hope. They will replace them once the water and wind deteriorated them.
These two towns are so interesting and quirky! I would love to spend a night in each and really get to see as much as possible. The courthouse in Marfa is very eye-catching and I’d love to do the tour to see what the inside looks like. The Prada Marfa is so striking, and so is the Giant Marfa Mural. Was that house in the background there used as a set on the film?
It’s all cutouts made out of plywood. Aren’t they amazing?
Okay so I am not a fancy shopper ever but I think I have to visit the smallest Prada ever! haha, how cool is that! I think the mural hunting in Alpine would be my favorite. I love street art and we always love taking pictures with those post card looking murals. My wife, loves old westerns, so she would love seeing the statues of James Dean & Liz Taylor. Such a quirky area!
You must make a trip to the Big Bend Region one of this day.
What an amazing range of experiences. Marfa looks so vintage and has such an alluring old world charm. Reminds one of the romance of the Wild West. The art installation look really out of the world. Alpine promises a great experience to art connoisseurs. Loved reading this post which is so informative.
Thank you, Sandy. It is in the wild wild west. 🙂
I think I’ve read about roadside attractions in the US before. It’s so amazing that you have all these artwork and installations in the middle of nowhere, like you said. I have never heard of this region or the Prada Marfa though. Happy to learn something new every day!
I’m glad that you now knew about Prada Marfa. It’s been IG sensations for years and gained more popularity after Beyonce posed her picture there. Now everyone went there to copy her pose.
What an interesting drive! I love street art and those murals are wonderful. Some amazing architecture also, but I must admit, the highlight for me would be the Giant art installation. I would love to see this for real.
It’s one of a kind.
I would love to road trip more around Texas and your blog is filled with so many great little towns like this!
They are interesting to visit!
I love Alpine and Marfa! The hike in Alpine up Hancock Hill to “the desk” is pretty short and there’s some of fun installation art along the way to see like the bicycle tree!
I wish we had extra time to do the Hancock Hill. But I plan another trip to Big Bend as we didn’t get to do the hikes we planned because of the crowd. So, I will make sure also to explore more of Alpine and Marfa.
We are planning to road trip in Texas post-covid so I enjoyed reading about this. Looks like there is so many things to see and do. I remember reading about that Prada Marfa before. It is quite funny and interesting. I would like to stop there for couple of photos. Beautiful murals!
Do stop here when you go to Big Bend National Park. It’s a fun stop to make with your family.
I love to visit cities where you get the opportunity to see street art and probably that is the only reason I would love to visit Alpine. Love the Giant Marfa Mural. Art is always so fascinating and really at times I feel sad that I do not possess this skill. Loved this journey with you.
I feel you. I really wish I could paint.
Ah! So cool! I love seeing art installations and doing mural hunts but that James Dean and Elizabeth art installation would be extra fun to see in person.
I forgot to mention there’s a music at the art installation. Pretty cool.
Wow those murals look so gorgeous, reminds a bit of eastern europe actually! A road trip around the region sounds like an amazing idea. The architecture and scenery look quite diverse. I’ve actually heard of the Prada Marfa as a photography spot that I’ve seen on IG from film photographers. I didnt know it was within this route! That’s so cool.
When you drive here you just can’t believe what you see. I mean, it’s in a middle of nowhere. But artists can express their creativities wherever they think are the best places for it.
I love all the art and creatives that you were able to see while visiting both Alpine and Marfa. The murals in Alpine remind me of murals seen in St. Petersburg, FL, where a popular thing to do is walk downtown and discover them & the photo opportunities. I have never heard of Prada Marfa, but I find it so interesting and a great stop when making those longer road trips across the state.
I think murals is one way of cities all over the world do to attract visitors to stay longer. Which I think a smart think. Yeah. Prada Marfa is unique and they put the real Prada shoes and purses in there.
I have to admit after reading this, if it wasn’t for the art murals, I dont know if I would want to visit Alpine or Marfa. They look a bit bland in the middle of nowhere, but if I was in the area, I would defo check out the art murals. I take it, it was the town’s people way of getting some sort of tourism in? If so, they done a good job of it.
I’ve never heard people specifically came to this region for visiting these cities. They came for Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. These cities, together with three other cities, are the closest ones to the parks. Some people used these cities as their based when they visited the parks, although it still far from the parks. So, the cities used the opportunity to attract visitors who come to the Big Bend Region.
Love the idea of a road trip in this region especially around Big Bend. The tribute to “Giant” is fantastic and unexpected, whan an unusual mural. These cities look like such cool and quirky stops to make on a fantastic road trip.
Yeah. When you are already made a drive that far to the Big Bend region, you just have to stop in these cities.
It is great to know what Alpines and Marfa have to offer. I loved the murals you have taken pictures of. I was amazed to know there are murals in the downtown of Alpine too. Marfa is also no less than Alpines. The Giant Marfa Mural is intriguing.
Alpine is going to be another art city also, I guess. Yes, the Giant Marfa Mural is so intriguing. Not sure how long they can stand the wind, the rain, and the sun though.