Visiting the Observatory
McDonald Observatory welcomes guests to its astronomical facilities, 6,791 feet above sea level atop Mt. Locke in the heart of the beautiful Davis Mountains of west Texas.

Hours and Directions

The Frank N. Bash Visitors Center is open 10:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. (additional hours on Star Party nights) every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Visitors traveling east on Interstate 10 from El Paso may take Highway 118 south at Kent for the 39-mile scenic drive to the observatory. Remember that the Observatory is on Central Time (El Paso is on Mountain Time - one hour earlier than the Observatory).

Visitors traveling west on Interstate 10 may take Highway 17 south at Balmorhea to Fort Davis, then Highway 118 north 16 miles to Mt. Locke.

If you're coming from the Big Bend National Park, take Highway 118 north through Alpine and Fort Davis to the Observatory.

Maps
County view | Regional view | Texas view 

 McDonald Observatory Geographic Position:
Latitude: 30 degrees, 40 minutes North
Longitude: 104 degrees, 01 minute West

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Area Attractions

Balmorhea State Park
Big Bend National Park
Bloys Cowboy Camp Meeting Grounds
Davis Mountain State Park
Fort Davis Courthouse
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Friends of Fort Davis.org
Fort Leaton State Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Lajitas Resort - Flights from Dallas and Austin now available
Madera Canyon
Monahans Sandhills State Park
Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine
Route 166 Scenic Loop

Other observatories in the Southwest

Lodging at the Astronomers Lodge on site at McDonald Observatory is available to members of the Friends of McDonald Observatory. For reservations, call (432) 426-3640, then press "0". To learn more about becoming a Friend, click here.

StarDate Café — in the new McDonald Observatory Visitors Center

Picnicking and camping facilities are located nearby on State Highway 118. The Davis Mountains State Park offers overnight accommodations, dining, and camping sites 13 miles south of the observatory. Gas, food, and lodging are also available in Fort Davis (17 miles), Alpine (40 miles), and Marfa (38 miles).

Many other lodging and dining possibilities exist in and around Fort Davis. Check out the official websites of Fort Davis, Alpine, and Marfa for information about visiting these Texas towns.

DRESS WARMLY!!! Temperatures vary quite a bit at our elevation (6,300-6,800 feet above sea level) and are usually much cooler than other areas of Texas. For summer make sure you bring a light jacket and long pants. For Fall, Winter, and early Spring programs, layer your attire and bring a warm coat, thermals, gloves, and something to keep your head warm.

Monthly Weather Averages, 1935-1997, are listed below. Please note that low and high temperatures are averages; therefore, the low temperature on a particular night can be much lower (20's or teens in winter for example):

Source: NOAA

If you're coming out soon, you may want to check out the current weather conditions here at the Observatory.

Taken from the catwalk of the Harlan J. Smith 107" Telescope, this image shows a view of the Davis Mountains area looking southeast. Depending on the current conditions, the image may include views of area peaks from 10 to 80 miles away or, if weather conditions are bad, nothing at all. Click on the image to see it at full resolution. The image is updated periodically.

While we wish we could forecast the weather at the time of your visit, it is just too unpredictable. However, here are several of our favorite weather related web sites that may help:

Real-Time Weather Data Satellite Page
Current visible, infrared, and water vapor satellite images.

COLA/IGES Weather & Climate Images
Current weather and forecasts for the United States, Europe and the tropics.