Directions for McDonald Observatory

Directions

The Frank N. Bash Visitors Center is open 12:00 to 4:30 p.m. (additional hours on evening program nights) Tuesdays - Saturdays.

Visitors traveling east on I10 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).

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

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