Marfa Lights Viewing Area

First time here and I saw several lights. I arrived at about 8:45 and stayed for an hour. Just a handful of people on a Friday night. I didn't take any photos or videos because I thought the lights in the mountains were from cars. After speaking to several locals, they said there are no roads in the mountains where the lights are , so what I did see was actually the lights.

Good stop. Thought the building was a visitor center with a small shop and information but it's just toilets. Camped overnight along with 6 other rvs. Road was noisy but not too bad.

Arrived too early for the lights, but a beautiful place. Great viewing area with telescopes, nice walking path with informational signs, and nice restrooms. Just didn't stay because I still had a long way to drive that day.

We arrived a little early so we had to wait for the sun to really start going down. At first it looked like car lights on a very far away hill then it became clear something else was happening. This is a great viewing location. Very few other people.

We saw many lights off in the distance but they looked more like car headlights, radio antenna, plane, etc. With all the lights in today’s world, there are thousands of explanations for what you see so it was hard to get excited about anything seen. However, the rest area was very nice and we stayed the night in our RV along with several others so from that perspective it was very nice.

I and a few other people were able to see the lights. Make sure to bring binoculars or a telescope! The lights were observed 3/14/2025 around 9 pm (local time) - a bit after sunset and right around when the moon was a few degrees above the horizon. There were at least 3 lights observed and each was about 1 degree above the horizon, very faint, blinking, and not changing color. The first one, and the one that reached the highest brightness, was about 30 or more degrees left from the shed. This one appeared blueish-white, a large halo from the dust, and it was the only one that reached a similar brightness to car headlights for a few seconds. Later in the night, we stabilized some binoculars on the railing and looked at this light, we discovered that it was actually 2 lights very close to each other. Other than when it got super bright for a few seconds, it was very faint to see with the naked eye (at its average, it was less bright than the visible stars. The other notable light was about <5-10 degrees from the right of the shed. This one appeared every once in a while and was red. There was nothing observable to the naked eye around 9:40 pm (which is when I left shortly after). The moon was too bright and lighting up the horizon, and the dust was too optically thick. My hypothesis is there are lights quite frequently, but they are generally hard to see because of the dust and moon light. It's strange that there is photon emissions at single points in the sky at inconsistent brightnesses and color. It could be neutrinos, other space particles, or radiation from space following Earth's magnetic field (Southish to Northish) and causing photons to emit. Or maybe satellite adjustments. Or maybe a mirage caused by a temperature gradient in the atmosphere. But idk. I wish I had a spectrometer so I can see if there are any peak wavelengths. I also wish I brought a telescope and observed for more than 1 night. Some notes. It was extremely high wind (45 to 60 mph wind) and it felt like a dust storm was forming on my drive. I swear there were other lights South West, but we couldn't confirm. The lights weren't moving and we think one light we saw in the westish direction was some kind of radio tower, but the other ones were in a direction where the maps said there was nothing over there.

ever since they shut off the lights around the walls of the viewing area, (which they were annoying to have in the back where everyone is seated, yes) people have been forced to use flashlights to navigate to the back of the viewing center at night coming from the parking lot. This leads to people walking INTO the back area with flashlights on completely ruining everyones ability to get their eyes dilated. whoever runs the viewing center should consider turning the wall lights back on at least before you get to the back of the viewing center, so people dont have to resort to using flashlights that end up ruining the ability to get dilated for everyone.

Sharing details for the future/first time travellers. This place is located on Marfa-Alpine highway (US 90) Detailed signs are kept on either sides before a mile and you can spot the same even during midnight. Based on research n experience, good time to visit is 10.30pm -1.30am, we stayed from 12.15am -1am and saw the mysterious lights multiple times but was difficult to capture in camera. (There were telescopes but was hard to focus at night). Lights appeared in once in 5-10mins intervals and multiple lights emerged in a time merging into one and disappearing as mentioned. This place is in middle of nowhere and was hard to understand the phenomenon. Limited parking space with details of the Marfa lights is located at entrance wheelchair accessible parking. Group of 20people consisting of 2families were also there on a Saturday night so didnt feel any safety concern. Have a good stay and visit. Wish you good experience to see the Marfa mysterious lights. #HappyVisiting

Stars Just a lot of beautiful stars Right off the highway and very easy to get to I didn't get a look at it in the daytime, though

This place is so cute! During the day you can read fun facts about the place and see the beautiful view (especially during a sunset). And at night you can see the mysterious lights moving and glowing around. There is a bathroom and a pretty little building. Also if you want a close up of the lights it does cost you to use the binoculars! Oh and you get a beautiful view of the stars at night because theres no excessive light around. Quality here is amazing I love it!

While we didn't see the mystery lights when we came by, we saw an incredible sky littered with stars. I've been to some magical dark sky areas in the past so it wasn't the first time but this sky still enthralled me. Maybe this whole mystery lights thing is gimmicky and meant to bring in tourists (although they've done scientific research on them) but I still appreciate it. Just another Marfa quirk. We had a hard time figuring things out in the dark (wished we had scouted it out in the daytime). We actually didn't know there was a building with a platform so we nearly missed it. The platform is legit (complete with bathrooms and all). Even if you don't get to see the lights or think it's just headlights, it may be worth a stop to experience this somewhat bizarre tourist attraction. Oh and to view the stunning night sky.

Visit the Marfa Lights! Where else in the world can you regularly see UFOs dancing across the horizon?! This is THE place to taken in some extraterrestrial activity. Nobody has ever been able to explain how or why these magical lights flicker on and off, change colors, move around and divide and re-emerge. This viewing platform was set up to replace what used to be just a sign in the middle of the desert. Now, it's a full fledged visitors center, with restrooms, binoculars, and parking! The whole building is shaped like an Indian lodge, with red lights around the exterior, which light the way, while not ruining your night vision. They have some plaques that display the history of the lights. These lights have been spotted since the 1800's, before the invention of car headlights, or incandescent lights were still a marvel. They used to think they were Cherokee Indians riding around, or gods descending from the heavens. Nobody knows what these lights are. Some say it's swamp gas, I say it's aliens. How many swamps are around Marfa?! I think you can camp here if you wanna. I've managed to get away with it! There's lots of parking, and nobody comes and bothers you during the nighttime hours, since that's when you're supposed to be there. You might bring some chairs and a blanket out here, it gets cold at night. But it feels safe, since there's a lot of people out there all marveling at the lights.

If you are kinda nuts, like me, and are willing to drive many hours to the middle of nowhere to see a unique phenomenon, this is the place! It's an amazing viewing area with spotless bathrooms, benches, viewing magnifying binocular thingies, and plenty of parking! It was a beautiful clear evening when we made it here. Well, I convinced my wife and sister in law to come with me and they are still speaking to me... so, life is good! I love traveling the road less traveled. This is definitely on the route! Don't miss it!

Seeing is believing and we saw unexplained lights. We are now believers. Awesome experience!

My experience was good. We arrived late after dinner, about 11:00 pm. It was a clear night with some moonlight directly overhead. We did observe several instances of light movement to the Southwest above the dark horizon. The viewing area facility was clean, the other people present were pleasant and having fun, parking was easy. It is similar to a well maintained and designed rest area, and is located just off the highway to the South between Marfa and Alpine. Everything was free. I'm glad we went and would go again to take friends who have never been there. This was a nice excursion and a wonderful part of a happy Big Bend weekend. Do it. Bring binoculars and a camp chair, but neither are essential. Go without expectations and you will not be disappointed.

I went many years ago. I remember the grounds being extremely clean, and we met some nice folks who'd RVd in from one of the Dakotas. I don't understand why people are so amazed by car head- and taillights on Highway 67 between Marfa and Presidio. Solve the mystery... put traffic roadblocks on 67 in Marfa and Presidio and see how many lights we get. If you're going to Marfa anyway, come watch cars on the horizon with strangers, but if this is your primary destination, choose one of our many National Parks, instead. Don't waste your precious time and money to watch cars through binoculars in the desert in the dark.

Viewing the Marfa Lights was quite the experience! We'd heard of this mysterious phenomenon for as long as we could remember. We couldn't wait to see what show those dancing little orbs of light were going to put on this evening! We arrived at the viewing platform @ 10:00PM. There were several pick-up trucks already there. Those folks were sitting in their lawn chairs in the bed of their trucks.....binoculars in hand. We walked up to the viewing area w/ our camp chairs & plopped down in front of one of the night telescope/binoculars that were there. It didn't take long......lights started popping up everywhere....some green, some tiny, some large, some yellow, some white, some high, some low....even some forming from one big one, into little tiny ones....what the hell? Then a group of Sul Ross students showed up....there were all sorts of theories being thrown out......it was interesting, yet pretty eerie! ! We had fun oooing & awwwing with all of 'em! The crazy thing is, these lights have been around since the time that the Native Americans lived here. After all these years, Scientists just can't figure it out ! What a Mystery. We then headed back up to the town of Marfa to hang out at Padre's, & all the way, there were lights......in the craziest places....VERY CLOSE to the town. Okay, are all the citizens of the town of Marfa, Aliens????? The thought did cross my mind. It was a cool experience & we look forward to bringing the rest of our family next time around! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZwUHFzMY-Q&feature=colike

The Marfa Lights Viewing area was quite fancy, is always open, and has nice bathrooms (if needed) - did not use them but Eric R. walked into the women's bathroom thinking it was the viewing platform - hehe! We drove in from Alpine (it was about 19 miles west of downtown) and turned in to the dark parking area. We walked into the viewing platform which was somewhat crowded for 10:30 PM. We stared for awhile, trying to figure out what to see exactly. We were whispering with a couple who drove in from Houston, and we were amazed at the stars - it was SO bright, the stars were twinkling!! and we could see constellations so clearly. They were almost amplified and seemed close. I could not even see the moon but it looked like we could see another galaxy! Then we chatted with others and figured out we might be seeing the Marfa lights dance around the horizon - and they were "low." They seemed to be white lights that flickered, faded, and moved around the horizon. It was really quite fascinating! This is a must-stop at least once in a lifetime.

We should all be sitting under a blanket for this one, with the flash light pointed up at my chin so I look creepy. No one knows what the Marfa Myster Lights really are. Native Americans have stories about them before there were roads. Old cowboys have stories about them before there were electric lights. Pilots have reported seeing them hovering above the mountains and moving in impossible patterns. Scientists have tried to solve the mystery but cannot. I saw them. I can't explain them. If you go...you WILL see them too. BOO! That totally beats the old bloody-hook-left-in-the-car-door-handle thing. They've set up a really nice little viewing area since I was last there. And yes...you will see something. Are they lights on drunk cowboy's pick-up trucks? Maybe lights put out in secret by the Marfa Chamber of Commerce? Or--more likely--cars on distant roads behind the mountains? No one really knows for sure except for the tight lipped Chamber folks from Marfa...but you will see Marfa's Mystery Lights almost every night. And now you will see them in a comfy setting. It was a hoot. Now, the last time I was there all you had was a parking lot with lots of cars. Now you have bathrooms...clean ones at that. You have places to sit and those little mounted binocular thingies which do NOT require a quarter to use. Nice! All the lights seemed to pop up in the same spots leading me to believe that they were car lights on ridges behind the mountains they have you looking at...but these lights have been reported since before there were cars...and the first time I was there I did see some "other" lights in weird places which were certainly NOT cars and I couldn't explain them. Kinda fun in a hokey way. And you wanna talk about some fun people watching. Some of the folks are totally serious about these things and some are just rolling with laughter. I ended up trading one liners with a UT Prof there on a fellowship, and a group of Odessa teens on a mission trip. I'll stop again next time it's handy.

Made a trip out west just to see the Marfa lights. My grandparents had been wanting to see them for years... I'm skeptical and pretty sure they are headlights or some other logical explanation. There were about fifty people the day we went and all of us did see random lights in the sky. To locate the lights, find the red, blinking, tower light and look slightly above and to the left of the light. We went at dusk the first week in April. I saw an average of about twenty orbs and about three or four at one time. Some very bright some dim... one red and the rest white. My grandfather used binoculars and said he noticed the orbs moving around in a bouncing way. Regardless of the reason behind the lights, at least I can say I have seen them! Still a mystery to me.... Take a light jacket or quilt. Even in April I was wrapped in my quilt sitting in my folding chair! All of the pictures I took and added to the review were taken with my iPhone...so.... they're not that great of pictures but at least you can see a few of the lights UPDATED REVIEW: One year later Sept. 24th 2018: We decided to make another trip to Marfa to see the lights. I'm feeling pretty silly about my first review! This year I brought binoculars and I'm confident that what I saw last year were headlights on 67. If you are looking to the right of the red, flashing tower light, those ARE headlights from cars on 67. We did not see any mysterious lights this trip. More than likely, this will be our last. Good luck to all you thrill seekers!

We could all use some "mystery", and The Marfa Mystery Lights provide just that. The viewing area outside of town is a beautiful structure with a nice sitting area, picnic area and even restrooms. The city has conveniently provided free viewing binoculars that are spread out for visitors to enjoy. Even if you arrive during daylight, the view of the mountains and desert are inspiring. On most clear nights you can see the mystery lights, a phenomenon yet to be explained by anyone. Think of shooting stars, but "upward" towards the sky! Truly amazing. The lights don't always appear, that adds to the mystery. But the views still won't disappoint, you'll feel like a kid again waiting for Santa to arrive. Add some mystery to your life and spice it up. Enjoy.

The Marfa lights, also known as the Marfa ghost lights, is one of the most amazing places in the US. Lost in the middle of nowhere, on the side of the road, a little observatory welcome poets, adventurers, lovers and curious people. Arriving there after parking your car at night, your eyes shine under a million stars sky. There, your voice is getting lost into an ocean of silence broken by the few cars passing by. Then, sat in the middle of this mount of stones, you just throw your soul to this no man's land. To a desert as far as the eye can see. To those lights that you will be waiting for. Minutes, hours or for ever. Some have ascribed them to paranormal phenomena such as ghosts, UFOs but scientific researches suggest that most, if not all, are atmospheric reflections of automobile headlights and campfires or a combination of the wind, a cold ground temperature and the heat of the air. I personally haven't seen them yet but the magic of this place exists, and if you have imagination or just enough space in your heart to believe... You will live the most beautiful night of your life. If not, you will have rested in a quiet and mysterious desert in the heart of Texas.

Update: We went back at night to see the lights. We indeed saw some peculiar lights off in the distance to the right of the viewing area. The lights would appear and disappear as well as move in the same general direction. We were pretty excited to see the lights our first time out. On our way "home" to our RV Park, we kept our eyes on the lights the entire ride. We eventually realized the lights were cars traveling Hwy 67 south of Marfa, driving northbound from Mexico. We even drove down Hwy 67 south of Marfa for a ways and determined that hills were leading to the headlights disappearing and reappearing. We had a fun and entertaining night playing extraterrestrial investigators, but sadly no legit Marfa lights.

We have been here several times over the years. Even before the observation place was built. Sometimes there is no one or only a few but other times it is packed. It was packed when we went this time. The lights from the cars pulling in and out took away from the experience as did so many people talking and not having common courtesy. It was windy and cold. The observation area offers a little bit of a wind break. If you are here, you should do it just to say you've done it! Bring a jacket!

Location location location! The viewing area is in a great location with very little light pollution and seemingly geared towards the marfa lights. We wouldn't know -- because they weren't happening. That's right. PSA: The Marfa Lights are a fickle friend and only show up sometimes. If that's the whole purpose of your trip... then you may want to reconsider. The viewing area itself is tiny with few accoutrements. It's more like a single structure with a wall. We didn't see any information about the lights or anything to help you zoom in on them. Overall, kind of a boring experience other than the fact it was pretty out there. Someone should develop an app or a website to let you know whether they are appearing or not.

What an exciting and active weekend~we enjoyed our stay! The Marfa Lights were out and about~amazing!! We will visit again !

Well, the mystery remains. I, sadly, spent several hours in a chilly night, without anything to see except a young couple making out. While nice, it wasn't enough to warrant a trip to this out building

Well. it was freezing cold and windy. We parked at nightfall and gathered in the building, looking out towards the desert. We didn't see anything. After a while of nothing, we asked another couple what exactly we were looking for. They pointed to 3 or four tiny blinking lights in the distance. We saw the lights, for sure, but they read more like car lights then UFO's. But regardless- we came, we saw, we froze. Worth it to say we did it :)

The lights weren't present and at best are very rare to appear, but the view doesn't disappoint especially for stargazing on a new moon night when its completely dark.