6 Best Things To Do In Terlingua, Texas (Including Restaurants)

Looking for the best things to do in Terlingua, Texas? This remote, quirky ghost town in the Big Bend region is unlike any other base camp in the national park system.

A former mercury mining settlement turned living ghost town where 150 permanent residents, world-class BBQ, and some of the darkest skies in North America somehow coexist in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. It’s one of our favorite places we’ve ever stayed.

We spent several nights here as part of our Texas and New Mexico national parks road trip and came away wanting to go back.

Here are the 6 best things to do in Terlingua, including the restaurants you absolutely cannot skip. One practical note before we dive in: stop in Alpine on your way in to stock up on groceries and gas. Once you’re in Terlingua, options are limited to one gas station and a small general store.

A Brief History of Terlingua, Texas

Terlingua was a mining town at the turn of the century. Due to the discovery of quicksilver, the town was populated and thriving from the late 1890s to around 1940. Today, the town has a population of around 150-200 permanent residents.

One fun fact is that 10,000 people gather in Terlingua for two chili cookoffs each November!

The Terlingua International Chili Championship and the Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler Memorial Championship Chili Cookoff run on the first Saturday in November.

The rivalry between the two events began in 1983 and has never been resolved, so Terlingua now has two legendary cookoffs running side by side every year.

If you love chili, live music, cold beer, and thousands of people celebrating in the desert, put this on your bucket list immediately. Be sure to book your accommodations the moment registration opens. This is one of the more unique things to do in Terlingua!

Planning Your Visit to Terlingua

Terlingua rewards those who plan ahead. A few things to know before you arrive:

• Stock up in Alpine before you arrive. Alpine is about 80 miles north on Highway 118 and has a full grocery store, pharmacy, and multiple gas stations. Once you’re in Terlingua, you have one gas station and a small general store. Don’t arrive on empty in either sense of the word.
• Cash is king. Some establishments in Terlingua are cash-preferred or cash-only. Bring enough for meals, souvenirs, and tips.
• Put your name on the Starlite Theatre list immediately. Literally, the moment you arrive in town, before you do anything else, walk over and put your name on the waitlist. Seriously. We mean immediately. The wait fills up fast, and you don’t want to miss dinner there.
• Book accommodations early. Terlingua has a small number of places to stay, and the best options, especially the bubble rooms at Basecamp Terlingua, sell out months in advance for spring dates. Don’t leave this until the last minute.
• Cell service is limited, so download offline maps before you leave Alpine. Google Maps gets unreliable as you approach the Big Bend area, and you don’t want to be navigating desert highways without a signal or in the dark.
• November means chili cookoff crowds. If you’re visiting in November, know that the chili cookoffs draw enormous crowds to a very small town. Book everything months in advance or plan around those dates entirely.
• Plan your stargazing around the new moon. Terlingua is one of the top dark sky destinations in the country. A full moon will wash out the stars entirely. Check the lunar calendar before you book and aim for the new moon window for the best possible views of the night sky and Milky Way.

1. Terlingua Ghost Town

First, put your name on the list at the Starlite Theatre! More on that later. Then, take a walk around the ghost town and visit the old sites. Most of the buildings from long ago are still standing, including the Starlite Theatre, church, jail, Perry Mansion, and many more.

Pick up a map of the walking tour from the Terlingua Trading Company. This is a short, free self-guided tour and visits all of the locations above.

3. Starlite Theatre

Furthermore, the Starlite Theatre is a must-visit location! The Starlite Theatre is arguably one of the most popular restaurants in Terlingua to test out some great local cuisine. Sit on the porch, visit the old jail, or walk around town while you wait to be seated.

Make your reservations the day of, as soon as the restaurant opens, if you can. We may have just been very hungry, but this was an excellent dinner along with live entertainment on stage. Can’t go wrong with live music, food, and beer!

We really enjoyed the homemade salsa with chips. Additionally, the Texas Antelope burger and the Chicken Sandwich were awesome. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were friendly and attentive.

4. Terlingua Trading Company

Right next to the Starlite Theatre is the Terlingua Trading Company, where you’ll discover souvenirs that you didn’t know you needed. You might even make a few new friends if you decide to go porch sittin’! Friendly conversations, live music, and lots of laughs. This area really comes alive after sunset, so stick around and enjoy the fun.

5. Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park better be on your list of things to do in Terlingua. Let’s be real, it’s probably the reason you’re visiting Terlingua in the first place! Big Bend National Park has something for everyone. Short hikes, long hikes, desert hikes, soaring canyons, beautiful scenery, and even a quick trip to Mexico on foot await all who visit.

Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.

6. Watch the Sunset

Finally, end your day by watching a gorgeous sunset to close out an exciting day of exploration. As the sun sets and the sky turns vibrant, a sea of stars awaits those who can stay up long enough. Let’s be real, we didn’t make it that long! Even if we did, the bright full moon would have prevented most of our stargazing.

Terlingua is one of the top spots in the U.S. to see the stars and the Milky Way galaxy. Be sure to plan your trip here during a new moon and total darkness to experience the darkest of skies!

Terlingua sits in one of the darkest corners of the continental United States, far from any city light pollution, and on a moonless night, the Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon in a way that most people have simply never seen.

Best Restaurants in Terlingua, Texas

There are limited restaurants in Terlingua. However, during our trip to Big Bend, we were able to check out a total of 3 of them! In addition to The Starlite Theatre, here are the other 2 that we recommend:

Mexican: Taqueria el Milagro. Also, one of the best restaurants in Terlingua, this local joint serves up some of the best Mexican food in the area. They’ve got staples such as chips and salsa, guacamole, tacos, specials, and even have a kids’ menu. If you are looking for alcoholic drinks, you won’t find them here. However, do try the delicious Horchata! That being said, you can bring your own beer to enjoy on the patio! We had the chips and guac, prickly pear and chicken tacos, as well as the green chicken enchiladas. Delicious.

BBQ: You can’t skip out on BBQ when in Texas, right? Check out DB’s Rustic Iron BBQ for authentic Texas BBQ. They are professionals, cooking up the best smoked brisket, ribs, pork, chicken, and more. We both had pulled pork sandwiches with chips and a side of coleslaw. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a Mexican Coke. If you know, you know.

Where to Stay

🛏️ We recommend staying in nearby Terlingua. This is the perfect location for exploring Big Bend and taking a day trip to Boquillas. Check out the best places to stay in nearby Terlingua, TX. Here are a few top picks below.

• Have an entire place to yourselves in one of the awesome VRBOs around Terlingua.
• Terlingua Ranch Lodge – best seller.

Is Terlingua Worth Visiting?

We can’t stop raving about our visit to Terlingua, where we spent a few nights with the most gracious AirBnB hosts we could have asked for. Our hosts are permanent residents of the area and knew all of the best places to go, the tastiest food to eat, and had extensive knowledge of the area.

We learned a lot and felt like we had known them for years. If you plan on staying here, book your accommodations early, or they may be gone before you know it. The scenery, food, hospitality, and tranquility have us wanting to go back for more.

😎 After you watch the sunset, you’d better stay overnight! Stay in the top-rated Willow House!