Explore the Permian Basin: A Family-Friendly Heritage Road Trip
When most people think of West Texas, they picture wide-open skies and endless horizons. But the Texas Pecos Trail Region offers much more than sweeping views. Families can explore presidential history, discover giant sand dunes, tour fascinating museums, hunt for jackalopes, and even cool off in one of the world's largest spring-fed swimming pools. This three-day road trip through Midland, Odessa, Monahans, and Pecos combines hands-on learning, outdoor adventure, and plenty of opportunities to make lasting family memories.
Day 1: Midland's Museums, History, and Family Favorites
Breakfast and Stop #1
Start your adventure in Midland with breakfast at Mulberry Café, a local favorite that has been serving generations of West Texas families. After fueling up, head to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, where interactive exhibits help visitors understand the industry that shaped the region. Car enthusiasts won't want to miss the famous Chaparral race cars, innovative machines that helped revolutionize motorsports.
Stop #2
Next, spend the morning at the Museum of the Southwest. Families can explore art galleries, regional history exhibits, a planetarium, and a children's museum designed to inspire curiosity and creativity in younger visitors.
Continue your journey through Texas history at the Bush Family Home State Historic Site. This modest Midland house was once home to two future presidents, two governors, and a future first lady. Touring the restored 1950s-era home offers a fascinating glimpse into everyday life before the family entered the national spotlight.
Lunch and Stop #3
For lunch, enjoy a relaxing meal at Café at the Gardens, where guests dine among the greenery of a local nursery.
Before returning to Midland, make a short side trip to Stanton. Stroll around the historic courthouse square, visit the Martin County Museum, and admire nearby historic landmarks that tell the story of one of West Texas's early county seats.
Evening and Dinner
Back in Midland, settle into your hotel before ending the day with dinner at Luigi's Italian Restaurant. With its classic checkered tablecloths, cozy atmosphere, and homemade Italian dishes, it's the kind of place families remember long after the trip is over.
Day 2: Odessa, Sand Dunes, and Small-Town Discoveries
Morning Activities
Start the morning in Odessa with breakfast at Press Café before setting out to explore some of the city's most unique attractions.
Visit the University of Texas Permian Basin campus to see Stonehenge II, a full-scale replica of England's famous prehistoric monument. It's one of the region's most unexpected photo opportunities and a fun stop for curious kids.
Football fans may recognize nearby Ratliff Stadium, made famous by the book and film Friday Night Lights. Then step even further back in time at the White-Pool House, the oldest surviving residence in Odessa and a window into life on the West Texas frontier during the 1880s.
Lunch
For lunch, grab a burger at Permian Basin Burger Company before embarking on one of Odessa's most entertaining scavenger hunts—searching for the city's famous jackalope statues scattered throughout town.
Afternoon and Evening Activities
In the afternoon, continue west to Monahans Sandhills State Park. Here, families can rent sand discs and slide down towering dunes that seem more at home in a desert adventure movie than in Texas. While exploring the park, keep an eye out for the unusual Harvard Oaks, hardy trees that grow only a few feet tall despite their age.
Before dinner, visit the Ward County Million Barrel Museum, where exhibits tell the story of the oil industry, local pioneer life, and even a World War II-era bomber training base.
Spend the night in Monahans and enjoy dinner at Bennigan's - one of the few still around - before resting up for the final day of your journey.
Day 3: Rodeo History and a Spring-Fed Oasis
Day 3 Activities
Begin your last day with breakfast at Main Street Cafe before heading to Pecos, a town proud of its claim as the home of the world's first rodeo.
Your first stop is the West of the Pecos Museum, housed inside the historic Orient Hotel. Families can wander through dozens of exhibits that bring frontier life to life, from ranching and transportation to local legends and lawmen. Be sure to peek inside the adjoining 1896 saloon for a glimpse of the Wild West.
Then it's time for one of the region's most memorable experiences: Balmorhea State Park. Home to one of the world's largest spring-fed swimming pools, Balmorhea offers crystal-clear water, abundant fish, and plenty of room to swim, snorkel, and relax. After several days of exploring West Texas history, it's the perfect place to cool off and celebrate the end of your adventure.
From presidential homes and frontier museums to giant sand dunes and spring-fed swimming holes, the Pecos Trail Region offers families a surprising mix of history and adventure. Whether you're discovering the stories that shaped West Texas or simply enjoying time together on the open road, this itinerary proves that some of Texas's most memorable experiences can be found far beyond the interstate. Pack your sense of adventure and hit the road. You never know what you'll discover around the next bend.