Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Park Closure Tall Grass Loop and Scenic Overlook Trails closed

For your safety, the Tall Grass Loop Trail and Scenic Overlook Switchback Trail are closed due to severe weather damage to Historic Building 15. A fenced area around the building is blocking access to these trails.

Overview

Fort Davis is one of the best surviving examples of an Indian Wars' frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854 to 1891, Fort Davis was strategically located to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the Trans-Pecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso Road and on the Chihuahua Trail.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Craft Demonstrations
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Living History
  • Historic Weapons Demonstration
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Regular Hours: Daily Hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Holiday Closures: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Fees and passes

  • Entrance - Per Person — $10.00
  • Entrance - Motorcycle — $15.00
  • Entrance - Private Vehicle — $20.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Sedan — $20.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Van — $40.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus — $40.00
  • Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach — $100.00
  • Annual Entrance - Park — $35.00

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.

Getting there

We are approximately 2.5 hours south of Midland/Odessa starting on I-20 to HWY 17, 3.5 hours North West of Del Rio starting on HWY 90 to HWY 118, 4 hours east of El Paso starting on I-10 to HWY 118 and 7 hours west of San Antonio starting on I-10 to HWY 17.

Visitor centers

Weather

Summer Temperatures average a High of 95 and low of 65. Winter Temperatures average a High of 60 and a low of 20. Wind is very common and heavy rainfall is very sporadic.

Phone: 1-432-426-3224

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Artillery Crew stands at the ready
Artillery Crew · NPS Photo / Max Kandler
Two ladies working in the kitchen
Kitchen · NPS Photo / Dana Jones
Soldier mounted on his horse
Cavalry · NPS Photo / Max Kandler
Building and trees at Fort Davis during the fall with yellow leaves.
Fall Colors · NPS photo

Pair it with