TX State ParksAn independent field guide

Franklin Mountains State Park

State park in El Paso County, in the Big Bend Country region. Established 1987. 27,356 acres by TPWD boundary data.

The entrance road to a section of Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas, United States.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Franklin Mountains State Park covers almost 27,000 acres of high-desert mountains in El Paso, about 15 minutes from the city. It has more than 100 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, plus designated rock climbing areas. Campsites have no water or electricity, and the desert terrain is rugged, so bring plenty of water.

Things to do

Hike or mountain bike

More than 100 miles of trails cross rugged desert terrain. TPWD advises carrying plenty of water and a cell phone, wearing good shoes, and hiking with a partner.

Rock climbing

Climb at the designated area in McKelligon Canyon or at Sneed's Cory in the Tom Mays Unit. Bring your own gear.

Prickly pear cactus at Franklin Mountains SP (Tom Mays unit)
Photo: Urban Versis 32, CC BY-SA 4.0
Franklin Mountains State Park. Spring wildflower bloom
Photo: Pamkelso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wyler Aerial Tramway
Photo: B575, CC BY-SA 3.0

Camping

Campsites are in the Tom Mays Unit: 14 walk-in tent sites and five drive-up RV sites, plus group camps. None have water or electricity, so bring enough for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

Site typeSitesSleepsPer night
Primitive Campsites (Drive-up)Primitive58$10
Primitive Campsites (Walk-in)Primitive148$10
Group Camps (20 Persons)Group220$20
Group Camp (30 Persons)Group30$30

Nightly rates are on top of the daily entrance fee. Book a site with Texas State Parks reservations, or call (512) 389-8900.

Visiting with dogs

Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Like every Texas state park, they can't go into park buildings or designated swimming areas.

Swimming

TPWD doesn't list swimming for this park.

Best time to go

Busy season
Spring, summer and fall We often reach capacity and highly recommend reservations for both camping and day use. To guarantee entry, reserve passes online or by calling the customer service center before you visit
Night sky
Bortle 6

Spring and fall are usually mild, with sunny days and cool nights. Summers run 68–95°F, and thunderstorms peak in July and August. The gate is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., opening at 6:30 a.m. on weekends from April to early September.

Averages and busy season from TPWD. The Bortle scale runs from 1 (darkest sky) to 9 (inner city).

Getting there

2900 Tom Mays Access Rd.
El Paso, TX 79911
(915) 444-9100

Open in OpenStreetMap (31.9105, -106.5182)

From the nearest cities in this guide
FromApprox. driveStraight line
El Paso24 min7 mi
Midland5 hr 26 min258 mi
Lubbock6 hr 32 min292 mi
Amarillo8 hr 12 min353 mi
San Antonio9 hr 12 min504 mi
Austin10 hr530 mi
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Nearby parks

  1. Wyler Aerial Tramway7 miles away. Free entry.
  2. Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site28 miles away. $7 per adult, kids 12 and under free.
  3. Balmorhea State Park174 miles away. $7 per adult, kids 12 and under free. Swimming allowed.
  4. Indian Lodge177 miles away. Free entry. Swimming allowed.
  5. Davis Mountains State Park178 miles away. $6 per adult, kids 12 and under free.

Straight-line distance. See every park in the Big Bend Country.

Questions people ask

How big is Franklin Mountains State Park?

Almost 27,000 acres (about 40 square miles), with more than 100 miles of trails.

Can you camp at Franklin Mountains State Park?

Yes, in the Tom Mays Unit: 14 walk-in tent sites and five RV sites, with no water or electricity.

Where can you rock climb in the Franklin Mountains?

At the designated area in McKelligon Canyon or at Sneed's Cory in the Tom Mays Unit.

Photo credits

Sources

Last checked October 14, 2026. Fees, hours and rules change; the official TPWD page for Franklin Mountains has current alerts and closures.

  1. TPWD: Franklin Mountains State Park, retrieved October 14, 2026
  2. TPWD state parks map (amenities, contact), retrieved October 14, 2026
  3. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Public Areas, retrieved October 14, 2026
  4. TPWD: Bortle ratings by region, retrieved October 14, 2026
  5. TPWD: Franklin Mountains State Park campsites, retrieved October 14, 2026
  6. TPWD: Franklin Mountains State Park history, retrieved October 14, 2026
  7. TPWD: state park rules (pets, swimming), retrieved October 14, 2026
  8. TPWD GIS: Texas State Parks Boundaries (area computed from boundary), retrieved October 14, 2026
  9. Wikipedia: List of Texas state parks, retrieved October 14, 2026
  10. OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (approximate drive times), retrieved October 14, 2026
  11. Wikimedia Commons (photos), retrieved October 14, 2026