We stayed at Terlingua Ranch Lodge and while there were a few nice aspects, overall it wasnât the right fit for our trip. The lodge is about 45 minutes from Terlingua proper, which makes it too far for convenient access to Big Bend or Alpine. From the main road, itâs a 16-mile drive that feels endless and roughâabout 3 of those miles are gravel/dirt, and it was brutal on my poor RAV4. By the time we arrived, we were exhausted.
Once there, be aware there is no cell service at all, and while WiFi is available, it doesnât work at night in the lodges, so download everything you need ahead of time. The lodges sit on dirt roads that arenât well maintained and can feel a bit sketchy driving in the dark.
On the bright side, the saltwater pool is beautiful, though I wish it had been heated. The night sky views are absolutely stunningâyou can see the Milky Way and thousands of stars. That alone made the darkness around the property feel magical (just bring a flashlight!).
The rooms were clean but very small, and the beds, while comfortable, felt more like queen-sized cots. The blankets were thin and a little scratchy, so Iâd suggest bringing your own pillows and extra blankets if you want to be cozy.
Given how remote it is, it would have been nice to have a coffee maker, microwave, or at least free coffee in the office, as the mini fridge is tiny.
We had booked three nights but ended up leaving after twoâthe thought of driving that 16-mile road again was enough to make my eye twit