11 Best Things to Do in El Paso Texas

The Best Things to Do in El Paso

1. Scenic Drive Overlook

31.7826028,-106.4819329, map

The scenic drive overlook is a place to watch the sunset and see El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Starting a trip at viewpoints is a great way to help you visualize and understand the geography of a city.

Local Tip: Be careful if you walk on the slick rocks at the viewpoint! There’s limited parking at the overlook. We went on a Monday, and only a few spots were left. On weekends, it fills up quickly.

2. Franklin Mountains State Park

31.9117027,-106.5195613, map

This is the largest urban park in the US. In Franklin Mountains State Park, locals can escape the city to hike over 100 miles of trails, mountain bike, horseback ride, camp, and rock climb. It is the largest urban park in the United States, covering over 24,000 acres of mountainous terrain. You can also do a guided hiking tour of old mines (reservations required).

Entrance fees are $5 per person (13+) per day, or you can purchase a Texas State Parks Pass for $70 to save money if you go often.

Local Tip: They can reach capacity when the weather is nice and on weekends and holidays. To guarantee entry, reserve passes online.

See More: All the Best Things to Do in West Texas Road Trip Guide

3. Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site

6900 Hueco Tanks Road No. 1, El Paso, TX 79938, map

If you climb, you’ve probably heard of Hueco Tanks, a 40-minute drive from El Paso. It’s arguably the best bouldering spot in the US and the world.

Even if you don’t climb, Hueco Tanks is still worth visiting if you hike or want to experience a living museum. We would have never noticed it, but our guide, Dan, showed us 700-800-year-old pieces of pottery lying around and native American rock art as old as 6000 BCE, which can be found in over 200 locations.

Hueco Tanks is divided into four areas: North Mountain, East Mountain, East Spur, and West Mountain. Because of its archaeological significance, they have strict park access. The North Mountain is the only area you can explore without a guide, but it still requires reservations.

You will need a guide to climb or explore the latter three areas. We highly recommend Blue Lizard Climbing and Yoga, who our friends also went with years ago.

Entrance fees are $7 per person (13+) per day, or you can purchase a Texas State parks Pass for $70. In addition, you can add tours or guides.

Local Tip: It’s hot if you visit during the summer (May to September)! Although you can find some shaded spots for climbing, most people avoid this season. If you plan on hiking, go in the early morning or late afternoon.

See More: 17 Practical Gifts for Rock Climbers They’ll Love and Use

4. El Paso Museum of Art

1 Arts Festival Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901, map

The El Paso Museum of Art is a free museum in the heart of downtown with over 7,000 works of art in its permanent collection and various special exhibitions. They feature many El Paso and Juarez artists, plus Southwestern artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Fritz Scholder.

Local Tip: Even if you don’t stop by the museum, you should walk the area to see all the street art and murals.

5. See a Show at The Plaza Theatre →

125 Henry Trost Ct, El Paso, TX 79901, map

The Plaza Theatre looks like any typical historic theater from the outside, but once you step inside, you quickly realize how special it is. This beautiful theater was built in 1930 and designed in a Spanish Colonial style, and much of the original design remains intact. They even have some of the original furniture. The theater gives the illusion that you are seated outdoors in a Spanish courtyard, and when the lights dim, the ceiling lights up with stars reflecting the Southwestern sky in June.

We hope to be back during one of their shows. They also hold weekly tours open to the public on Tuesdays at 12:00 PM, which is what we did. See their upcoming show schedule here.

See More: Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Broadway Musicals and Shows

6. Explore the El Paso Mission Trail

Visitor Center: 9065 Alameda Ave, El Paso, TX 79907, map

The El Paso Mission Trail is a historical and cultural route in El Paso, Texas that follows the path of several Spanish missions established during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Missions were founded by Spanish Franciscan friars to convert the local Native American populations to Christianity and to establish a Spanish presence.

The trail includes three primary missions: Ysleta Mission, Socorro Mission, and San Elizario Chapel. Ysleta Mission, founded in 1682, is the oldest mission in Texas and the closest to the city center. Socorro Mission is the most photogenic and the second closest. It’s the one we went to. All three are still active churches.

Mission Addresses:

• Yselta Mission (131 S Zaragoza Rd, El Paso, TX 79907, map)
• Socorro Mission (328 S Nevarez Rd, Socorro, TX 79927, map)
• San Elizario Chapel (1556 San Elizario Rd, San Elizario, TX 79849, map)
• Guadalupe Mission / Misión de Guadalupe (32000 Cd Juárez, Chih., Mexico, map)

Local Tip: The Guadalupe Mission is also on this trail in the Juarez side. If you plan on crossing the border, it’s an easy stop.

7. Tour Rocketbusters Boots

115 Anthony St, El Paso, TX 79901, map

This was our favorite hidden gem in El Paso, and now I’m making it a life goal to get a pair of these boots. Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots has been crafting bespoke boots for 31 years and has a client list that includes Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, Paul McCartney, Johnny Depp, and Clint Eastwood, to name a few.

You can stop by for a tour of their workshop to learn more about the care and artistry that goes into each boot. It was inspiring to hear Nevena Christi’s story, and we also learned what to look for when shopping for quality vintage boots. There are cute photo ops, including one with the largest boots in the world. Drop-ins are welcome, although appointments are preferred (call ahead if you have a group larger than 4).

If you want to order a pair of custom boots, they start at $1000 and can run up to $16,000, depending on how intricate the design is.

8. Stroll THrough the COncordia Cemetery

3700 Yandell Dr, El Paso, TX 79903, map

The Concordia Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in Texas and has been the final resting place for many notable people from the American Southwest since 1842. It covers 52 acres and has over 60,000 graves.

Look for John Wesley Hardin’s gravesite, a notorious gunfighter and outlaw. There’s also an area dedicated to Buffalo Soldiers.

Local Tip: Check out one of the ghost tours if you want to hear cemetery stories. It’s also within walking distance from L&J Cafe, an El Paso staple.

9. Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens

500 W University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, map

The Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens is a great place to escape the heat and learn more about the region. It is free to the public and small enough, so you don’t need a full day.

The museum exhibits focus on the flora, fauna, geology, and human history of the Chihuahuan Desert. The gardens outside the building feature over 600 species of plants native to the desert. The best time to visit the gardens is April, when many plants bloom. Go during the FloraFest plant sale (April 1, 2023) to help support the museum and bring home some new plant babies.

While enjoying the museum and gardens, pay attention to the surrounding architecture. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) campus is modeled after Bhutanese architecture with massive sloping walls, overhanging roofs, and mosaic-tiled mandalas. You can even find a Bhutanese prayer wheel in the garden.

Local Tip: To get to the museum, you must go through a gated entrance at the UTEP. Just let them know you are headed to the Centennial Museum, and they will point you in the right direction.

10. Cross the Border and have lunch in Juarez

910 S Santa Fe St, El Paso, TX 79901, map

El Paso and Juarez are sister cities, and when you look at the two cities from the El Paso Overlook, you can see that they were once one city. You can even walk over the border to Ciudad Juarez to grab lunch.

Four bridges cross the border from El Paso, but if you’re walking, the one close to downtown is the best because you end up right in the heart of Juarez. To cross into Juarez, you need 50 cents. On the way back, you need 35 cents and your passport. It’s quicker if you bring exact change.

Once you make it to Juarez, you can walk the square, browse shops, see street performers, visit the market, see the Guadalupe Missions, and more. Also, check out the Kentucky Bar, where according to legend, the margarita was invented (a few other places also claim to have invented the margarita, so we’ll have to try them all).

Most established shops will take credit cards but bring cash for the market or street vendors. Most vendors will accept US dollars.

Local Tip: Walking across the border is typically faster than driving. Weekday traffic hours and weekends get busy at the border. There are a lot of people who cross the border for daily commutes and visit family over the weekend.

11. Visit a National Park

El Paso is a great home base for the outdoors and visiting National Parks. Four are within driving distance, and you can easily take day trips to three of them.

We’ve linked to our complete guides below (with a couple more coming soon) and how long we recommend visiting.

• White Sands National Park (19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310, map) – 1.5 hours away. Recommend a half day to a full day to see the park.
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park (727 Carlsbad Cavern Hwy, Carlsbad, NM 88220, map) – 2.5 hours away. We recommend a half day to see the caverns and a full day if you want also to hike surface trails (most were closed when we visited after a flash flood). Be sure to make reservations for the cave tours.
• Guadalupe Mountains National Park (400 Pine Canyon Dr, Salt Flat, TX 79847, map) – 1 hour 45 min away. Recommend two days to hike and explore the park.
• Big Bend National Park (310, Alstate Ave, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834, map) – 5 hours away. Recommend at least three days to see this park.

Local Tip: Pay attention to time zones. El Paso, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains are in Mountain Time. Big Bend is in Central Time.

See More: Complete List of National Parks by State