Monahans Sandhills State Park

Monahans Sandhills State Park sits off Interstate 20 just east of Monahans, in Ward and Winkler counties, about 35 minutes southwest of Odessa. Its 4,717 acres of open sand dunes are free to roam, climb and sled with rented sand discs. Summer sand gets too hot to walk on by midday, so plan dune time for morning or evening.

On This Page

• Sand Sledding on the Dunes
• Hiking the Dunes
• Horseback Riding
• Dunagan Visitor Center and Wildlife
• Camping
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Sand Sledding on the Dunes

Sand sledding is the main event at Monahans Sandhills State Park. Visitors rent plastic sand discs at headquarters or bring their own sled or board, then pick any open dune and slide. There’s no assigned sledding hill.

• Rentals: sand discs rent at headquarters from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and none are handed out after hours. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) lists no price; visitors in 2025 and 2026 report $6 a disc, plus about $1.25 to $1.50 for a block of wax
• Returns: bring discs back to headquarters, or leave them in the after-hours return box at the picnic pavilion
• Own gear: snowboards, sandboards and plastic sleds are common. Several visitors say a snowboard or a sturdier sled slides better than the rental discs
• Dune height: TPWD says some dunes reach 50 feet. Many are still active, so the shapes shift with the wind

Tips for Sliding

Sliding is the most mixed topic in reviews. About 9 visitors in the last two years say the discs barely moved, even waxed, while others had a great run once they got the hang of it.

• Wax heavily: rub the whole bottom of the disc, and re-wax often
• Pick a steep face: gentle slopes barely move. Lean back and lift the front edge
• Reuse a track: riding the same line again and again packs it and adds speed
• Timing: visitors find the sand slides best early and late in the day, and slow after rain
• The climb: walking back up soft sand is a real workout. Carry water, even in cool weather

Hiking the Dunes

Monahans Sandhills State Park has no marked hiking trails. TPWD invites visitors to wander the dunes freely, so a hike here means picking a ridge and walking. One short nature trail starts at the visitor center.

Trail Tips

• Landmarks: the dunes look alike and footprints blow away. TPWD advises keeping track of the way back to the starting point
• Heat: TPWD warns that the dunes heat up quickly in summer. Visitors report sand too hot to touch on summer afternoons
• Footing: soft sand is tiring. Closed shoes help in heat; many go barefoot in cool weather
• Stickers: goatheads and sand burs grow along the dune edges and hurt bare feet and paws
• Vehicles: all vehicles stay on pavement, and off-highway vehicles (ATVs, dirt bikes) are banned

Horseback Riding

Riders have an 800-acre equestrian area at Monahans Sandhills State Park, with heavy sand, brush, a few mesquite trees and no marked trails. It lies west of Park Road 41, north of the nature trail. All horses must stay inside it.

• Coggins test: every horse needs proof of a negative Coggins test from the past 12 months (form VS 10-11), shown on entry
• Fee: $2 per horse per day
• Facilities: trailer parking, potable water and three equestrian campsites with shaded horse pens
• Yield: TPWD asks hikers to yield to people on horses

No visitor in two years of Google, Tripadvisor and campground reviews mentions riding, so call the park at (432) 943-2092 for current conditions.

Dunagan Visitor Center and Wildlife

The Dunagan Visitor Center is also the park headquarters, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Exhibits cover how the dunes formed, the plants and animals, and the area’s human history, and a viewing deck overlooks a wildlife watering area.

• Park store: T-shirts, caps, gifts, sand disc rentals and wax. Visitors report Wi-Fi inside
• Kids: the Junior Ranger program, a borrowable Explorer Pack and a free activity journal
• History: people have used the area for as long as 12,000 years, according to TPWD. The park opened in 1957, and an old pump jack recalls the Permian Basin oil boom

Shin Oak and Wildflowers

Much of the park is covered by Havard shin oak, a shrub that usually stands under 4 feet tall and helps hold the dunes in place. TPWD notes it isn’t a stunted tree; its acorns are large for its size.

• Wildflowers: sandhill sunflower, penstemon, heliotrope and yucca bloom in spring and summer
• Wildlife TPWD lists: mule deer, javelinas, feral hogs, badgers, kangaroo rats and the dunes sagebrush lizard, a species found in only a few places
• Birds: the park checklist names 74 species, including scaled quail, Harris’s hawk, cactus wren, pyrrhuloxia and Chihuahuan raven
• Best viewing: sit quietly near the seeps between dunes at dawn or dusk

Camping

Camping at Monahans Sandhills State Park means water-and-electric sites on one loop, Willow Draw, plus three equestrian sites. There are no primitive sites (campsites with no water or restrooms, reached on foot) and no cabins.

Campsite Types

Prices are per night, plus the daily entry fee.

• Water and electric (25 sites, $15): 50-amp service, a picnic table and a grill, with restrooms and showers nearby. Up to 8 people. TPWD lists 25 sites; the reservation site lists 23 bookable ones
• Pull-through or back-in: 10 sites are pull-throughs. Pads are paved and take rigs of 25 to 60 feet; tents are allowed at all but sites 1 and 11
• Shade: some sites share a shade shelter, and there are no trees
• Equestrian (3 sites, $15 plus $2 per horse): water only, one shared paved lot for back-in trailers up to 55 feet, shaded horse pens. No tents
• Section House group hall ($50 a day): a 1903 railroad section house with a full kitchen, for up to 30 people. Book by calling the park

Reservations and Camp Rules

• Check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is noon. Late arrivals register at headquarters by 9 a.m.
• The gate locks at 10 p.m., and there is no after-hours entry
• Two vehicles per site. Ground fires and firewood gathering are banned; use the grills
• No sewer hookups; a dump station is on the park map

Campers praise the clean bathhouse and the sunset views, but warn about wind. One camper woke to 8 inches of drifted sand on part of a site, another logged 40 to 50 mph gusts overnight, and a tent-camping family rode out a sandstorm. Tie everything down, and bring long stakes or sand anchors.

Best Time to Visit

Fall, winter and spring are the best time to visit Monahans Sandhills State Park, when the sand is cool enough to walk on all day. TPWD calls September through March the busy season.

• Spring (March to May): mild days and one of the busiest stretches. Reviews mention strong wind and sandstorms, especially in March
• Summer (June to August): July highs average 96 degrees. Climb early or near sunset, and expect fewer people
• Fall (September to November): warm days, cooler nights and sunflowers on the dunes in October
• Winter (December to February): January lows average 29 degrees. Cold sand and empty dunes; snow is rare but happens

What Visitors Say

Monahans Sandhills State Park averages 4.8 stars across 479 Google reviews from November 2024 to October 2026, and 4.6 lifetime from about 2,100. Most visitors love the dunes; the complaints are about heat, wind and the rental discs.

• Surprise: many had no idea Texas had dunes like these. Several compare it to a smaller White Sands
• Easy access: the dunes start right beside the parking areas, with no long walk
• Sunrise and sunset: climbing a dune for either is the most repeated tip
• Bathrooms: mostly called very clean, with hot showers. One 2026 review says a restroom has been closed for repairs for a long time
• Staff: rangers get frequent praise for help with route planning and lost items
• Downsides: summer heat, sandstorms, little shade and slow discs. Many treat it as a one- to two-hour stop

Getting There

Monahans Sandhills State Park is at 101 Park Road 41, Monahans. From Interstate 20, take exit 86 and follow Park Road 41 north to headquarters. From El Paso, drive east on I-20 through Monahans and continue about 6 miles to the exit.

Drive times to the park:

• Odessa: about 35 minutes
• Midland: about 1 hour
• El Paso: about 4 hours
• San Antonio: about 6 hours 10 minutes
• Dallas: about 6 hours 40 minutes
• Austin: about 6 hours 55 minutes
• Houston: about 9 hours 35 minutes

A few things to know before driving out:

• Food and fuel: Monahans, 5 miles west, has gas and groceries. Visitors mention a truck stop across I-20
• Gate: the gate locks at 10 p.m. Self-pay stations sit across from headquarters and by the restrooms 1.4 miles into the park
• On the road: the park road has a 20 mph limit, and wind can drift sand across it. Stay on the pavement

Know Before You Go

Monahans Sandhills State Park is easy to visit, but the desert sets the rules. These fees, rules and tips matter most.

• Fees and passes: $4 a day for adults 13 and older; children 12 and under get in free. The Texas State Parks Pass ($70 a year) covers entry and gives rental discounts. Confirm current fees on the TPWD fees page
• Booking: TPWD says the park often reaches capacity and suggests reserving day passes, which go on sale 1 month ahead. Reviewers rarely describe crowds
• Hours: TPWD’s website says the gate opens at 7 a.m.; the May 2026 park map says 6 a.m. Both close it at 10 p.m. Headquarters and disc rentals run 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Water and shade: carry plenty of water onto the dunes. Shade is limited to the picnic and campsite shelters
• Wind and sun: sunglasses help in blowing sand, and the pale sand reflects sun. Sand gets into everything
• Dogs: allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet, but not in buildings or the group hall. Hot sand and goatheads are hard on paws. TPWD asks owners to check pets for screwworm (alert)
• Alcohol: public drinking is banned
• Wildlife: visitors report rattlesnake tracks and feral hogs. Leave plants, animals and artifacts where they are
• What to bring: water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, closed shoes for hot days, charcoal for the grills and a sled or board

Nearby Parks

Monahans Sandhills is a common stop on the way to the parks of far West Texas. These TrekTexas guides cover the closest.

• Balmorhea State Park: about 86 miles southwest, with a 1.3-acre spring-fed swimming pool
• Davis Mountains State Park: about 120 miles southwest, with mountain camping and Indian Lodge near Fort Davis
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park: about 144 miles west, home to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas
• Big Bend National Park: about 179 miles south to Panther Junction
• More West Texas parks: Parks Near El Paso

FAQ

How tall are the Monahans sand dunes?

TPWD says some dunes reach 50 feet. Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine articles from 2009 and 2014 gave 70 feet, and the active dunes change height and shape with the wind.

Can visitors drive ATVs on the dunes?

No. Off-highway vehicles are banned, and every vehicle must stay on the paved roads.

How much does it cost to rent a sand disc?

TPWD doesn’t publish a price. Visitors in 2025 and 2026 report $6 a disc, with wax sold separately. Rentals are at headquarters, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Are there cabins at Monahans Sandhills State Park?

No. The park has water-and-electric campsites, three equestrian sites and the Section House group hall.

How big is Monahans Sandhills State Park?

The park covers 4,717 acres. It is a small part of a dune field that runs about 200 miles into New Mexico, according to TPWD.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Monahans Sandhills State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees (TPWD)
• Campsites with water and electricity and equestrian campsites (TPWD)
• Section House group hall (TPWD)
• Nature and history (TPWD)
• Park map (PDF) and interpretive guide (PDF) (TPWD)
• Screwworm alert (TPWD)
• Texas State Parks reservations

Featured photo: Wing-Chi Poon, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), March 2008