The University of Texas McDonald Observatory high on Mt. Locke in the Davis Mountains is an internationally recognized center for astronomical research. It also invites the public to experience the wonders of looking into space.
To get to the observatory from Fort Davis, take Spur 118 north. The winding 15.5-mile two-lane highway is one of the most scenic roads in Texas. Near the summit of Mt. Locke at 6,791 feet it becomes the highest paved road in Texas.
The Frank N. Bash Visitors Center welcomes guests Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5pm. Along with access to the center’s galleries, the day pass comes with a self-guided tour map of the summits. Besides the panoramic views, on Mt. Locke you can enter the 107-inch telescope building. On Mt. Fowlkes you can see the 433-inch Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the largest telescope in North America and the second-largest in the world. This is one of the best $3 deals you’ll find anywhere.
Guided tours leave the visitors center daily at 2pm and cost $10. At the summit you’ll get a closer look and explanations of the telescopes.
September is one of the best times of the year to visit the observatory, and as a result the Star Parties are very popular. The evening gatherings happen on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. The tour of the constellations through a variety of telescopes costs $25, and reservations are recommended.
The endowment for the observatory came in 1926 from William McDonald, a banker in Paris, Texas. The 82-inch telescope was dedicated in 1939. The Hobby Eberly Telescope began scanning the skies in 1997.
The McDonald Observatory is about 450 miles and a world away from Austin. Lodging in Fort Davis, 20 minutes from the observatory, is plentiful, from the budget to the upscale Harvard Hotel. Marfa and Alpine are a little more than 40 minutes away.
1,771st in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere: Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/daily/travel.
This article appears in September 12 • 2025.