Alpine (Texas)

Alpine is a city of 6,000 people (2019) in Texas. It has an historic downtown, and is a good base for exploring Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and Davis Mountains State Park.

Climate
In the winters, ample sunshine usually warms the days, though the nights can be chilly due to the 4,475 feet (1,360 m) elevation. In the summer, the fierce sun causes hot days, pleasantly relieved in the evening by the same high elevation.

Get in
Alpine has a small general aviation airport, the closest major airports are Midland International, 3 hours 15 minutes away, and El Paso International, about 3½ hours away

By car
Alpine sits at the intersection of US Hwy 67 and 90 and Texas Hwy 118.


 * US 90.svg & US 67.svg Ave E & Holland Ave Coming from the east, US Hwy 90 makes for an interesting, scenic drive to Alpine. Plan your fuel stops wisely, as it's possible to go almost 200 miles between cities. US Hwy 90 takes in a couple of all-but-ghost towns along the way, as well as the Trans-Pecos crossing and some breathtaking scenery. US Hwy 67 runs concurrently on US Hwy 90 from Marfa, through Alpine, to its turn-off (at Brewster County Rest Stop) east of town.  US Hwy 67 than continues north towards I-10,  west of Ft Stockton.


 * Texas_118.svg to Texas_17.svg N 5th St goes northwesterly to TX-17 in Fort Davis. One can continue north on TX-17 to I-10 in Saragosa, from Ft Davis, if going west on I-10. Going south TX-118 goes to Big Bend National Park from Alpine.


 * I-10.svg Travelers in more of a hurry may prefer to take Interstate 10 to US Hwy 67 (Exit 248) from Ft Stockton or anywhere east or US Hwy 90 (Exit 140A) from Van Horn (or anywhere further west) straight into Marfa. Likewise one can also exit off at TX-17 from Exit 209 of I-10 to Ft Davis and go southeast/east of from Ft Davis on TX-118 into Alpine (as 5th St).

By train
The tri-weekly Sunset Limited, running between Los Angeles and New Orleans, and the Texas Eagle from Chicago provided by Amtrak serves Alpine via El Paso, Sanderson, Del Rio and San Antonio. The station is at 102 West Holland Avenue, just south of downtown.

See

 * Historic Downtown Alpine includes many historic buildings constructed in the late 1800s. An informative brochure that describes a walking tour is available from the visitor's center at 106 N 3rd St.

Do

 * Hancock Hill, behind Sul Ross State University, has hiking trails on university and private property. Theere are views of the town and a path to “The Desk”. To find the trailhead: turn left at the end of Avenue B (SRSU Entrance 4). is at the far edge of the old Mountainside dormitory parking lot.
 * Hancock Hill, behind Sul Ross State University, has hiking trails on university and private property. Theere are views of the town and a path to “The Desk”. To find the trailhead: turn left at the end of Avenue B (SRSU Entrance 4). is at the far edge of the old Mountainside dormitory parking lot.
 * Hancock Hill, behind Sul Ross State University, has hiking trails on university and private property. Theere are views of the town and a path to “The Desk”. To find the trailhead: turn left at the end of Avenue B (SRSU Entrance 4). is at the far edge of the old Mountainside dormitory parking lot.
 * Hancock Hill, behind Sul Ross State University, has hiking trails on university and private property. Theere are views of the town and a path to “The Desk”. To find the trailhead: turn left at the end of Avenue B (SRSU Entrance 4). is at the far edge of the old Mountainside dormitory parking lot.

Go next

 * Big Bend National Park