The Marfa Mystery Lights Reviews

Definitely the thing to do in Marfa. Saw some lights , they have a nice viewing area with clean bathrooms which make it comfortable

I've always wanted to go and now I have. The viewing are is in the middle of nowhere. A nice viewing area with restrooms is at the viewing site. There was about 15 people at the site when I went. We saw unexplainable lights and had an enjoyable time. It was cold. Bring chairs and dress warm.

Took family and the walk to the place is sooo dark. Only one saw lights - it’s star gazing. We had better views of stars at El Cosmico where we stayed. I would book Observatory and skip this. With no one working there, it’s meh.

I was there 12 years or so ago, well before the viewing center was built. The center is nice and beats standing by the highway to look at the lights. Civilization is catching up with this area and the Marfa lights are becoming more and more difficult to see.

Do your research before you go. Seems like the best time to view the lights is around dusk. We went too late. It was dark and we couldn't see anything. Stayed for like 20-30 minutes before giving up. Tried to go back subsequent days but other things we had scheduled got in the way.

We saw the famous lights, and I just can hardly explain how neat it was. The area is beautiful, surrounded by stunning scenery. We had a wonderful night there, quiet and peaceful. The rest we enjoyed, as well as the wonderful blessing of seeing the lights certainly made our stay here worthwhile. I heartily recommend this unique place!

Fun experience. 15 minutes from the edge of Alpine TX. There were lots of people there on a Saturday night, but everyone was friendly and it was fun.

The viewing area is just out of town so there is no light pollution. The stop is clean, has bathrooms and binoculars. Well done and so unusual to find a stop so clean and well cared for.

Don't expect a wild adventure. You may or may NOT see anything. A fun after dark activity. Bring a picnic, warm clothing and something to sit on.

Nice city funded facility....beautiful sky but really didn’t see any dancing lights except highway car lights.

If you go to Marfa, you have to try to see the lights. It is a mystery but as a spectacle seriously oversold. But it IS quick which is something.

I have been 11 times. I have seen the lights 8 of those times. I find that I see them when the weather is cooler. It is interesting to go and check it out!

We sat in a dark car bunched up with other cars wondering if this was a huge joke. It was an experience. But lasted an hour and never saw any lights except car lights coming and going.

We were on a bus tour that arrived in Marfa in the day time. Obviously, we could not see anything. Always arrive after dark and go to the location where the lights appear. They are not there every night, but, if you do see them, you are fortunate,

Let me start with this. My husband and I did get to see the lights. I know folks say it can all be explained but they do act strangely. It nice to just sit there and catch the show. Anyway, I enjoyed it and it has always been a bucket list thing for me as was Marfa in general. Now about Marfa, don't waste your time! There isn't much there. Very few places to eat at or to shop at. The art is ok at best. Expensive and I'm not entirely sure how they keep the doors open. Stay in Fort Davis or Alpine and you can just drive into Marfa for the 20 min tour of the town. Go in for a dinner and see the lights. Make sure you make reservations at one of the few restaurants that are only open for dinner. And for God Sake take a mask!!! These folks are hyper phobic about thier mask wearing. I am vaccinated and don't feel obligated to wear one anymore. Had an encounter with a shop keeper at Ocotillo Botanica that was positively hostile. I put one on after being asked to but the young lady was very rude and hysterical about it. We did not buy anything sadly and I certainly could have spent some money in that shop.

Heard about these all my life growing up in Texas since the seventies. Now I can mark this off the bucket list!!!!

The area to watch is about 8 miles east of Marfa on the road to Alpine. Get there before dusk and get a spot where ho can see the red blinking radio tower. Watch the mountain to the right of the tower!!!

We saw up to six different lights moving in all direction along the mountain.

We visited Marfa to see the mysterious Marfa Lights and were amazed. They are very real and they jump around the sky for maybe 30 seconds at a time. They are sometimes blue, or red, or green. We went right before dusk and waited and saw them right around dusk and just after. We did hear people that went later did not see them. So that maybe this best time.

I have done this twice and it is great! The observation facility is very nice. A fun, quick thing to do and easily accessible.

I highly recommend that everyone go to see the Marfa lights. It is a mystery.....read the history and enjoy seeing what folks have been seeing for over a hundred years! We took our binoculars and sat out for around an hour. The viewing area that the town built is excellent. You will enjoy this.

We did no see the Mystery Lights, but enjoyed the setting and the folks who came out. The star gazing was good that night. The viewing area is very elaborate and comfortable.

Being in Marfa, figured this was a must. It is pretty much a rest stop with a few telescopes. Came here at night. The night was super clear and you could see so many stars. There were quite a few folks there...maybe too crowded. What we did not see were the Marfa lights. Oh well, maybe next time.

The Marfa Lights viewing are between Marfa and Alpine won’t disappoint. You’ll see the lights low on the horizon and I suspect they’re always visible. Don’t get hung up on the Mystery Lights. Look up. Look around. On a clear night the stars are amazing. The sunset is tremendous. Very well done viewing area.

We all think it is headlights. Of course, it doesn’t explain about the original sighting. Maybe there was something then. Not now.

On our Big Bend trip we HAD to do the Marfa lights! I am not quite sure what I was seeing but I do know this...going back the next day during daylight hours made me wonder what it was because there were definitely lights and the terrain was open and bare!!
I gotta do this again!!

If you can take binoculars or a spotting scope, it is very useful to distinguish car headlights from mystery lights. There is one or two mounted scopes on the pavilion of suspect viewing quality. Also, and equally important, the experience is best if you can get there before dark to check out the lay of the land that you will be observing once it is dark so that you can see where Hwy 67 runs and whether or not there are any facilities (such as the Border Patrol check station on 67) that might produce light. This will help you understand if you are seeing lights where there shouldn't be any. The pavilion has nice bathrooms and plenty of parking space. When there is no moon, it is very dark out there with plenty of trip hazards.

I think we saw the lights. We saw 1-3 lights at a time far off in the distance across a field that seemed to blink, fade, and move in weird ways. We went around 10:30-11pm and I think it would've been better to go after 2am (or so I've heard).

Yes, we saw them. They were like strange orbs of light that would increase in brightness, merge together, and then suddenly disappear. We drove from our motel in Alpine, which took only about 10 minutes on a dark mountain highway ( 90). The observation building is on the left and free to enter. There are rest rooms too. Outside there are mounted telescopes, benches, and low red lighting. Take your own binoculars since the mounted ones didn't seem to work very well. You have to look between two blinking red lights in the distance to see anything. We visited in November and it was cold and moonlit, so take a warm sweater or jacket since it can be quite cold this time of year.

Unfortunately not much in the way of lights on my night. It's ok though. The sky was absolutely lovely but man was it cold! Would try to come back when it's warmer.

A great conversation starter. Excellent facility. You decide what you are seeing if you are lucky enough to witness the "lights". We always stop by when we are near Marfa.

It was an ok trip. We did see some mysterious lights in the dessert, but it wasn't as exciting as I had heard it would be.

I love how it is pitch dark and people are protecting the darkness needed and also keeping their voices down to a whisper. It helps make this experience more special!

I have heard of the mystery lights for a long time. We arrived as the sunset and it was pretty. We did see some lights/stars and we think we saw them, as someone said, “there they are.” So it is still a mystery!

A nice night out under the stars. Not sure if we saw the actual mystery lights (not sure what we were looking for!) but we did see many small lights appearing, disappearing and moving around and had a lovely night out I the desert, watching the sun set, Taking photos, watching the sun set and chatting to other visitors and locals. This facility is v impressive. Purpose built and clean toilets with free binoculars and bench seating.

I think it had to be done. It was a lovely night. Dont go out until its dark . Great viewing area. Lots of people. Many REALLY want to see lights. So, to answer the question did I see the Marfa lights? I can honestly say that yes, I saw white lights in the area directed to look. What those lights were, I cannot say. But I want to believe =)

Marfa has become a West Texas oasis for art. However, it first attraction was this strange phenomenon that can be seen on the horizon from a roadside stop. In a section of Chihuahuan desert, lights unexpectantly and unexplainedly appear to dance along the horizon.

Marfa has constructed a place to see lights and installed 2 red lights SW of the structure, between which these lights will appear. We visited on our first night of our vacation around 8:30, a little over an hour after sunset on a clear new moon night. At first we did not really know what to look for and were more impressed with the awesome view of the stars.

However, I walked into the dark near the fence and began to notice lights appearing and disappearing near the left red light. Once the group began to notice we all saw the lights dance across the horizon. At first it appeared to be headlights; however, the lights, while predominantly moving left to right, would oscillate back and forth, something cars would not do. We stayed and watched for 30-45 minutes on a cool night trying to figure out just what we were seeing. In the end, I don't really know what we saw, but it was a great way to spend 90 minutes. If you are in the area, don't miss this.

Side note, the viewing structure does have a Men's and Women's restroom as well as a view binoculars for adults and kids.

Very intriguing. Lots of theories as to what they may be but not one study to date has solved the enigma of the lights. Very interesting to see at least once and Marta is a cute little artsy town.

We visited Marfa Viewing Center twice in 2021, once mid week in Jan and once on a Sat in Apr. We viewed lights both times, but Jan was a significantly better experience mainly because few other people were present. Public service announcement: if you come to see lights, you want as little unnatural light. So come early, park, and relax beforehand. Turn off headlights! Shut off flashlights! There was so much unnatural ligjht during our Apr visit that we didnt see the Mystery lights until after 11 pm, when most people were already gone. For fellow RVs, great overnight stop. Easy in and out off of US 67/90.

This is a very nice rest stop during the day! Good stargazing place at night. There is a historical marker explaining the old Marfa Military Field that was there and another explaining the history of the lights. Interesting.

We did not see any of the famous lights, the location is beautiful, facing beautiful open area with mountains 180° in view, we stayed overnight in our RV beside the road, I wouldn’t recommend staying here in your RV, it’s extremely loud, cars are literally 20 feet from where you’re parked, and the train goes by all night long and honks the horn, we got very little sleep, I wish we had seen the mystery lights, it would have been worth it then

We definitely saw the lights. It’s 3 different small white lights that move and flicker. If you didn’t know otherwise you would think it was people in the distance with their cell phone. But they have been seeing these lights long before electricity.

No lights when we visited, but at least there were very interesting people. I had a nice conversation with an older man who had seen the lights on a previous visit. But my wife had an even more interesting conversation with another. He asked, " When do they turn on those lights?" We will be returning at the end of August when we will visit the McDonald Observatory nearby.

Not sure what we saw was actually the Mystery lights. A local pointed them out, but it was not what other locals had described.

If your in Marfa, go see.

The town itself has a super vibe and is worth a relaxed visit.

My friends and I went expecting to see more lights than we did. It honestly was so faint and distant for us that we had to ask some locals that we saw hanging out then they pointed out for us... it was still what seemed to be headlights but again not sure how it would be on a different night. Would suggest to lower expectations when visiting and just find peace and calm in landscape rather than viewing he lights!

A fun place to see the Mystery Lights and just enjoy the desert sky. Even if you aren't a fan of aliens, it's still a fun place to enjoy the desert.

Have always been fascinated with the mystery of the lights. Great viewing area and lots of information available if you venture out away from viewing facility. Walking paths to each display of information.

Three stars because we did not actually see any "Marfa Lights" on our recent visit - but it was a fun experience nonetheless, and the viewing platform is a great location to listen to the night-time desert sounds and peer into the dark skies above. It was worth it to visit this place, just to say we did it!

Didn't see the lights but something you have to try if in the area. The viewing spot was more developed than I expected and maybe even a little too much. Stayed for only 30 minutes as it was late. No lights. Maybe next time

We didn't see the lights, but it was a great experience and the way that the roadside park is set up is really cool! We hope to get to go back and maybe we will be one of the lucky ones the next time!

We went on a Friday night at around 8:30 pm. Many people were there looking towards the horizon to the right of this tower with a red light. I saw the lights appear then disappear followed by another set of lights & thought they were from cars. When I finally asked someone with a telescope where the lights were, he confirmed the lights I was seeing were the Marfa Lights. It was pretty cool. There were a lot of hipsters in Marfa, which I totally had not prepared myself for & being that I expected the town to have none it seemed like a novelty. They weren't the rude, angsty, snooty variety but instead the happy, artistic, eccentric type that are enjoyable.

I expected more, but still glad I went.
Go check it out, but don't expect anything like the Aurora Borealis.

This "attraction" seems to be a bit overrated. I understand that the lights have been around for 100+ years, but the lights that are visible are quite limited. It's basically just some lights appearing on the horizon in the distance. If you have nothing better to do, then go. Otherwise, this is not a must-see.

The facility is great, large and accommodation for people to wait and see the lights is well done. Unfortunately, we did not see any lights and I think it’s a rare thing to actually see the lights. If your close, try your luck, but don’t go out of way.

We didn't see the lights, but the viewing platform makes for a great spot to watch sunset. You can't really go wrong, unless you spend hours on end out there and don't see the mystery lights.

The popularity of this headlight viewing platform is endlessly amazing. We arrived just after sunset with dozens of people already staked out to view the lights. I don't officially know what constitutes a Marfa light vs a headlight, but I am pretty sure they are one in the same. There are a couple spots in the distance to see them flutter down the mountain. The building attached is mainly a restroom, with no lit signs about the origin of this place. So many people were fascinated by this that I was more enthralled with the people than the lights. It made me want to open up my one headlight viewing area where I live.

Went along to look for the lights as I was staying the night in Marfa. To me it was the Irish equivalent to searching for Leprechauns! More myth than reality but enjoyed how seriously some people took the whole thing!

The city of Marfa invested some money here. The facility, parking lot, and extra pullover lane make stopping safe and enjoyable. We arrived just at dusk and waited maybe ten minutes before the lights began. What a show! The lights were too large and too distant to be car headlights. Quite entertaining as one light split into two then four and back to two or three in no pattern. Other lights appeared along the ridge and split then became one, disappeared, reappeared. The most lights we ever saw at once was five. The beacon had patterned blinking and was clearly separate from the lights. Stop and give it a chance. It's free and you just might see the mysterious lights.

It's nice that they built this spot, but I have a feeling we'd have had a better chance of seeing the lights if we'd been farther from the highway. Or maybe if the weather had been different. There is a patio area with benches and telescopes, facing into what is presumably the right direction. There are restrooms, but when we were there the lights were on but the doors were locked, which was frustrating. Why have a place that is only used at night and then lock the restrooms at night? Anyway, we didn't see the lights.

While driving down the I-90 my friend and I (believe this or not) were followed by these mysterious lights for a good 30 min. After, we lost our $&@! we discovered this happens frequently and there is a place in TX that was built for people to view these mysterious lights. Why I suggest not to go 1000 miles out of your way like we did, well the town was eerie and I just felt strange while I was there. Just something with the energy, hard to explain. Before we made it to the viewing station, there was this massive cloud formation of darkness. An abandoned train with lights on and an out of nowhere sand storm. I’m big on energy and believe in the supernatural, there’s definitely something interesting and intriguing about Maria. There was a strange man looking in the bushes when we arrived to the viewing station. For over an hour he just kept looking and this one bush, walking around it like something was in there. Anyways, if you’re into stuff like this it’s worth the trip. I don’t think I would go back based off the dismal sinister feel of the town.

We went to check out a new telescope, but caught site of several unexpected and unexplained lights in the distance. Could those be the Marfa lights? If so, cool:)

I didn't see any Marfa Lights but the night sky above has lots of stars! Nice stopover place with restrooms and free binocular stands at the pavilion. Well maintained.

Having grown up in Texas, I've always heard about the Marfa lights, but had never gone out. Since we were staying right up the road in Alpine, we took the opportunity to go and look. What a surprise that they have this nice viewing area set up! We had fun looking for the lights, not that we saw any. My only complaint was that the car headlights on the highway mess up your night sky viewing. This could be improved by installing a nice adobe wall (perhaps decorated by local artists?) on either side of the viewing area high enough to block the headlights from the road. All in all, was really happy this place even existed as we had planned on just finding a parking lot.

The Marfa Mystery Lights viewing station is a fun spot to see the famous mystery lights. It was interesting to see how different people related to the shimmering lights off in the distance. There is a spot to park, so you can get off the highway, which in the dark is a very good thing.

On advice of friends, we made a visit to the viewing center after it was dark. The center is a very nice facility with seats and restrooms. Did we see the lights? Nope. We did see some car lights off to the west, which some people insisted were lights. Don’t be fooled. As for the lights, it was overcast, but we had no luck. We still enjoyed it as so many people came out.
Enjoy

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.

If my headline doesn't quite give it away; Ill add a bit more detail. No trip to Marfa is complete without a stop at the Mystery Lights viewing center. On a cool night, be sure to dress warmly (or bring a drink that will do the trick)
Although nothing resembling any mystery lights was seen in the hour or so we stuck around; and the sound of excited chatter by the somewhat inebriated guests likely sent any aliens among us back to their space ships; it was still fun and worth the 5 minute drive outside of Marfa.

What a beautiful set-up for people to gather and watch the mystery lights. Made even better, the night we were there, by an evening thunderstorm in the distance. Great fun to watch - and listen to others comment throughout the night. And the trains that went by, made it just about perfect. The lights are spooky and fun!

My sister and I saw the lights one evening when there were lots of visitors there. How do you explain seeing one light moving randomly, then branching off into two lights, sometimes even into three randomly moving lights?!
A couple of days later on our way home, in broad daylight, we decided to stop by the viewing station. There was no one there but us. We looked through the telescopes, and by gosh, there were some of the lights!!! We even looked through our binoculars to make sure it wasn't a mirage. There they were!
This is an excellent place to visit if you believe in or are just curious about this type of stuff.

Drove out to the spot ( only 10 minutes or so).

Terrific vibe with a wind blowing and clouds moving about blocking and unblocking the full moon. Kinda peaceful. It's really the vibe and the energy I take with me.

Mostly red lights ( to save night vision) except around restrooms.

Train noises with Highway noise combined with Dessert sounds creates the right atmosphere to see lights. Saw many lights. Not quite sure what I saw but certain,y not part of the other roads in the area.

This place was so gorgeous and the lights were insane!!!!! We thought it was fake until we got scared. We loved this and would love to go back for more star gazing! Some of the best stars we’ve ever seen

We were at the observation area tonight, April 18, 2019. We saw the lights,from dusk until total night. I can't explain what we saw, they are real, they're not headlights, probably gas or mirages. Either way, it was beautiful and fascinating.

We did not see the lights but saw lots of beautiful stars! It is a nice viewing station with restrooms. Go during the day to walk the trail around and read the historical plagues. Even if you don't see the lights it is worth it to look at the stars. Bring a chair and blankets. There is seating and benches but sometimes it is crowded. My suggestion would be for someone to sell some hot chocolate to warm you up!

There were some lights but pretty sure they were from cars going found a hill or mountain. At first though they seem mysterious. We did however see a beautiful sunset, wonderful moonlight, stars and then red lightening. Natural end to a long day of driving.

We spent an hour at the Marfa Lights viewing stand located about 9 miles east of Marfa on Highway 90. We arrived at 10 PM and left at 11 PM.

We definitely saw some odd lights that seemed to bob up and down and back and forth. Sometimes there was a single light, sometimes two and sometimes three. The lights were white, yellow, orange and red. They disappeared and then reappeared sometimes within seconds, sometimes within a few minutes.

They did not look or behave like headlights or tail lights of cars on a distant highway.

I don’t know what the lights were. I don’t believe in spooks, Big Foot, extraterrestrials visiting the Earth or the Holy Trinity, but it was fun sitting out there under the stars staring at something I for which could not come up with a ready explanation.

Try it. You will probably enjoy it (even without the use of psychotropic drugs).

We were staying in Alpine and made the short drive to see the lights. Can’t believe it, but we did see them. Lots of them. So very cool. I didn’t know what to expect but it was balls of light very far in the distance, jumping around. We saw up to five “balls” at the same time. It was a beautiful night. I’d do it again!

Always love the marfa mystery lights. Great pavilion to watch from. We saw tons of cool
Lights that night. Believe what you want but it’s a cool experience and fun. Will be back

Visiting the viewing location for the Marfa lights can be a mystical and fun evening event. We included it with a camping trip to Fort Davis. While there was better star gazing than anything at the viewing station, we did see a few mystery lights. We observed odd lights at the horizon blink to green, move and disappear and reappear in a erratic fashion. I wouldn't recommend this for families with small children. Ours lacked the attention span to watch for lights and it was quite cold for them in January.

When I was a young teen 13yrs old I went on a camping trip when I lived in a girls group home.We went to see the Marfa lights.That night I layed in my tent next to my friend from the girls home.Something woke me up I saw something glowing in my sleeping bag.It was a Marfa light!I was very scared it was moving.I told my friend help me but she told me to go to sleep.The light disappeared but i was scared I don't even know when I fell asleep.I knew if I told people they wouldn't believe me.People may not believe me even now but I thought Id share.

This was just odd. I’ve heard about these since I was a child but it’s so far out in the middle of nowhere I thought I’d never have to opportunity to go. I was wrong. I went, I saw them and I was fascinated! There is a blinking red light out in the distance. This is not a “Marfa light” but that’s where most of the ones I saw appeared. Just use it as a reference really really amazing and interesting.

We arrived at about nine in the evening on July, 12, 2019. They were there, clear as could be. I expected a little more searching, but within the first minute of parking, I spotted them. The weather was perfect, about 75 degrees. There were about 20-30 people in the viewing center, some with noisy kids running around, its not really fun for little ones. The best viewing was from the car in the parking lot. After seeing the lights, I immediately thought they looked and behaved like car lights. If I happened upon them by chance, that is what I would say they were. The mystery comes from stories of seeing lights before cars were common. , which, I am not sure are confirmed. Still a fun trip.

I was driving alone from Marfa to Alpine at sunset completely unaware of the phenomenon of the Marfa lights. All of a sudden, what appeared to be headlights started shining behind me and then change to the front of my car. This went on for quite some time. It made no sense how they would change to different locations around my car—first on one side, then the other; very close to my car and then far away. There were no other cars or headlights around me at all. I honestly thought I was being abducted by aliens!! What a way to go, huh? Pretty terrifying. It wasn’t until I got back to my brother’s house in the hill country and relayed this strange occurrence to my him did I hear about the Marfa lights.

Can’t explain it but I’ve been to this site three times in twenty years and seen the lights two out of three times. Use the location with the observation area and it’s a great people watching and conversation spot. Always a great group of folks there and it is fun to learn where everyone is from. Highly recommend you take chairs, jackets and blankets, it gets cool at night.

We saw this driving into Marfa and wanted to come back out at night to check it out. Parking can be a little tricky since people are coming in and out from both highway entries. Great place for viewing all kinds of lights; stars, planets and other(s). Bring a small flashlight or use your phone light to navigate - low light to help viewers eyes stay adjusted to night skies.

Went here to see the lights. It didn't happen, not to say that it doesn't, but??? I would recommend that when in the area give it a shot, however, If this is your only reason to visit Marfa, stay at the Riata and move on.

We saw the Marfa Lights! The facility and the surrounding area are very nice and well kept. We arrived before dark to read the plaques and view the landscape. Bundle up because it can get cold! At dusk, we could see the lights. There were several other people there and we all confirmed to each other what we were seeing. The lights were circular and would appear, disappear and reappear in the same locations. We watched 6-8 lights. I can't explain it. It was not scary. This is a must see if you are in the area.

Had no idea what we were going to see - just went on a whim during an extended road trip. I figured it would be cheezy and deserted. NOPE. Lots of people there on a cold, January Monday night and it was fascinating. And free. If you're in the area, go! What do you have to lose?

Beautiful starry sky and very nice restrooms, with no toilet paper
It was chilly and we hadn't thought to bring jackets. We were glad we remembered camp chairs because when we arrived and seating was taken.

We went on a cold night and stayed a while. We didn't see any mysterious lights, but we did get a great view of the stars and the Milky Way. It was worth a try.

beautiful scenery but don't count on catching a glimpse any lights. They're rarely seen, and there are lots of false alarms with traffic off in the distance.

The viewing area is right next to a major highway and the road noise is awful. The light from passing cars headlights makes seeing much pretty darn hard. Bathrooms filthy. Parking adequate. If you must go, wait until after 11 pm when the traffic dies down. We saw lights but as a retired pilot I felt anything we saw could be explained so we rate it a don't waste your time.

We spent about an hour after dark at the quite well done wayside area about ten miles east of Marfa on the south side of the highway. We watched car lights blink in and out to the SE and SE. It was fun to eavesdrop on different conversations about what visitors were seeing and what they may or may not have seen in the past. We are hoping the lights are real and we missed them.

We saw them! Along with all the amazing stars, galaxies and our own Milky Way. Good old fashioned fun

This is a most unusual place. You can not beat the dry camping freebie. Additionally, the spooky lights are a wonder of their own. Recommend this trip.

This facility is worth to visit even in full daylight. It is modern and comfortable with restrooms, viewing benches and picnic tables. Surrounding the building itself are park-like grounds with stations pointing out the various mountains in the distance, and giving interesting information on each. For those interested in nature, there are desert birds and animals to be seen (or heard). A great place just to stop for a break, or to have a picnic lunch.
However, beware the Speed Trap as you leave Marfa. I hadn't gotten a traffic ticket in well over 50 years, and I always try to obey speed limits when driving through towns and villages. But I was ticketed leaving Marfa. Be Careful!

After McDonald Observatory and Marathon we were very disappointed in the Marfa Lights. We stopped at the visitor's center, in Marfa, for directions and had a conversation with the lady, who said she was raised in the area, and she gave a glowing report of the phenomenon. We got there about 9:30 PM and stayed til about 2 AM and saw nothing of the mysterious lights. We heard later the best time to see them is April and May.

It is an unreal experience in which one finds no explanation.
Some people say they are gases coming out of the earth and other spirits of the ancestors. I personally don't understand what that could be. They are lights that turn on and move for various places without any pattern.
This is my third time visiting this place and I always see them. They always change color and directions. Very crazy place.

Well, we TRIED TO SEE THE Marfa Mystery Lights..... we tried. We stopped by the observatory to use the restrooms and check things out on our way to dinner, FULLY PLANNING on returning for what we were just POSITIVE was going to be the greatest supernatural light show Marfa has ever laid eyes on. HOWEVER, as the winds whipped over that Chihahuan Desert with their single digit wind chill factors paralyzing my fingers before the sun had even had a chance to set, I decided NOPE! We looked across the desert and there was the SUN, sinking behind the mountains, and it was at that moment I knew: MYSTERY SOLVED! It's the sun. And I'm warm and cozy in my hotel room! Brrrrrrr!!!!

If you are lucky enough to see the actual lights, the different colored ones that float, change colors, sometimes chase each other, then mysteriously fade away, consider yourself extremely lucky. It's something you'll NEVER forget.

My husband and I visited The Marfa Lights viewing center a few nights ago and were surprised at how nice the facility was! Seeing the Marfa Lights has been on my bucket list, so we decided to travel to West Texas to see them. We stayed in Marfa, had dinner in Alpine and stopped by the viewing center on the way back to the hotel. We researched when the best time to see the lights, which is right after dusk, and waited in the car until dusk. It was very chilly, so make sure to dress appropriately. After the sun went down, we went to the platform and waited. We saw several sets of lights throughout our stay.

No lights. Must have been the wrong day. We spent about 2 hours waiting and nothing happened except the wind. May try some other time.

There's lots of chatter about what they are. I still don't know! We went at night and then again the next day to make sense out of what we saw. Still don't get it!

Oh were to begin .... we visited TX from North Carolina for spring break. We went to Austin, Big Bend and Marfa. We love to travel and had read much about Marfa in travel magazines and were excited to visit. We knew it would be a long trek to get there but that did not bother us at all. West TX is beautiful.
We first went to Prada Marfa for the obligatory pictures - very fun.
Marfa is a fascinating town. Odd hours, lots of galleries by appointment can’t tell what is open or what it is. I get it the mystery adds to the quirkiness of the town. If we go again will do our research and go over a weekend when places are open ( we were there wed and Thursday). We had a couple good meals at the watering hole and squeeze. Great happy hour at the Saint George. Nothing much was open which was disappointing.
Some folks were nice then there are the locals who remind me of a character from the show Portlandia very pretentious and kind of annoyed you have come to Marfa. With that said I still appreciate the uniqueness and would visit again.
Oh the lights !!! Who knows what they are but they are cool so we watched for a while and the stars were simply amazing in the night sky 🌌

My wife, me and one of my granddaughters visited this place expecting to see the mystery lights. Nothing happened in a very cold night with too much cold air blowing. Kind of disappointed but this is part of the risk when visiting something that depends almost 100% in mother nature.

Decades ago, (college days) I visited the Marfa Lights and was in awe of what we saw that night. During my recent visit I was intrigued just as much. Older and wiser, I appreciated the phenomenon even more, but this time the parking and viewing opportunities are much more safe. Enjoy!

Not sure if we saw the right lights but we saw something. Even if you don't see the mysterious lights, the viewing area is perfect for star gazing.

My wife and I drove out there at dusk, sat in the car and drank a beer until dark, then put on our jackets and walked out to the viewing area. There were several folks doing the same, or who parked facing the lights and stayed in their cars. We saw, at what was the meeting of the horizon and the night sky, what appeared to be various flashes or bursts of white light at different locations left and right of the viewing area.... I'd heard of the "Marfa Lights" for years and it was fun to actually go there and see them.... Interesting---free--- nice parking and restrooms--- short drive from Marfa....

Look on YouTube first so you know what you're looking for. There were good bathrooms at the viewing site which are few and far between in the area! No "Marfa lights " the evening we went.

Maybe we left too early, it was a full moon, we saw no lights. The stars were great though and we enjoyed visiting with fellow watchers.

Very nice viewing center...the lights are kind of like Santa Claus...if you don’t believe you won’t see them.

The atmosphere at the light viewing station was nice. People were friendly and sharing their knowledge of the lights with each other. We saw the lights and it was strange. I don't have an explanation.

I was a skeptic about these lights, but I no longer am a non-believer. My wife and I saw many of the lights, multiple sizes, multiple colors, all dancing around the area. Who knows what they are. I can tell you, though--they are there.

The hype is better than the show. But— that said— it’s still just a blast to be a part of a mystery.

Although they're not spectacular, they are fascinating and, if you're in the area anyway, why not?! There are free telescopes (and bathrooms) at the official viewing spot.

City of Marfa has made a huge effort to provide a safe, good location to view the Marfa Lights. Good, paved parking is available adjacent to a pavilion with a deck and restrooms. Historical makers were present. Fun activity to visit in the evening. We were there for about 30 minutes, and did not see any lights. I suggest that time and patience are needed to view the lights. Consider bringing lawn chairs.

This is the official viewing platform to get the best view of the lights. The platform seems to be busiest right when the sun goes down and plan accordingly. Research where the lights are going to be (directly in front of the platform). Tourists will say the head and Taillights from the highway miles away are the marfa lights. They are not.

This is really a hit or miss and we were fortunate enough to indeed see something on the horizon but reading some info they were probably the ones attributed to car headlights....Don't know though, they were still pretty interesting and didn't really look like car headlights at all and they didn't show regularly as it took some time after we arrived before they showed up and then disappeared. That was around 7pmish and I imagine there would still be more cars out there. When we went back to the area during broad daylight it is surprising how you would see car headlights as the place just looks like a desolate field as far as the eyes can see....oh well, we talked to some folks there who have claimed seeing colored lights that moved around so that was much more exciting...We didn't get a chance to come back though

We stayed in Fort Davis for a night during our recent road trip. This was our second road trip through the area this year and attended the star party at the McDonald Observatory back in February (5 stars for that). Anyway, since we did the observatory and hadn't yet seen the lights we thought we would try our luck to see the lights. So glad we did! Luckily the lights came out early for us. Around 9pm. Was so cool to see and honestly a little freaky because 'they' still don't know what causes this phenomenon. Had a great time chatting with the others who came out to view them as well. I feel lucky that we got to see them so easily as I know that isn't the case for everyone. I will say, if I had my choice between the observatory and the lights I would choose the observatory because that is guaranteed entertainment but the lights were worth it too.

That's how I felt. Arriving at dusk to see a lightshow that wouldn't be. Kids lost interest after a couple hours. Left after everyone else left. Nothing seen. Not sure if this phenomenon is real or not but I won't take the fam back to see, or not see, the lights.

Not sure why these lights are considered mysterious. It’s pretty clear that they’re headlights. But the area is a nice place to view the sunset and stars and hang out with people. It’s worth a stop if you’re in the area, just don’t expect to see aliens.

I have been here twice now, and each time I have seen the lights. Arrive about 35 minutes before sunset, bring some wine and cheese and make a thing of it. There are always people there to awe and question the lights with you. They usually start off in the direct south/southwestern distance where the Chinati Mountain range is. You'll see them on the ground and on top of the mountains. They will appear, disappear, merge and split. This past time, they seemed to be traveling towards us in a set of 3 for a bit. It was out of sight! The colors range from red to greens.

It is quite a moment of mystery, and it will hold even the most sceptic's attention. I suggest YouTubing it after you go rather than before, because it just makes what you saw more valid. Even if you don't end up being a believer of the fact that you saw these strange lights, there are many stars to see. I always find myself looking up and using my SkySafari app to see what constellations I'm spying.

There is something to view them through there, but bring your own binoculars, a great camera if you can, and an open mind. Enjoy yourself!

The Marfa Lights are just one of those fun curious phenomena for anyone who loves the unknown and adventure!

We went, we relaxed in our chairs for two hours. We looked at the stars. No Marfa lights. It was a nice evening. There were about 30 people including children, grandmas and grandpas and couples. Oh well, we tried.

Was there shortly after sunset on 4-16-21. Second visit. Saw the lights. Not as many as 8 years ago. Just 2-3 at a time.

Lots of fun looking for the balls of light bouncing in the distance. Read up a little bit before you come out. It will help you know what to look for.

Silly but something to do in a town with no other options. Some of the locals are true believers.........................

Didn’t see the lights but the night sky was beautiful.
The toilets are the big holes in the ground, so come with an empty bladder, or be able to use them.
Well worth the stop.

Go during the day to read all of the super interesting placards in the area. This place has a lot of incredibly interesting military history. Go for that. Skip the lights. Except you can see a lot of stars. That’s nice.

I love it BUT it may be just a lot of hype to the non-believer. Bring a blanket and some snacks and plan to sit and wait for dark. If the weather is nice and warm you will have a crowd of mystery-watcher around you -- but on a chilly evening you will have some solitude. Regardless of whether you see the "lights" or not, you will experience the peace and beauty of a West Texas night only occasionally interrupted by someone saying, "is that it? do you see that? are those the lights?" Just go do it. But manage your expectations.

I guess we got lucky, because I've heard there's a one in ten chance. We came at dusk, saw a bunch of mangled, dead rabbits around in the brush (which added to the spookiness), watched a long freight train go by and read the plaques positioned around about the history of the Marfa lights. (Cute that the viewing station was the idea of some Marfa school kids.) Then, not long after it got dark we saw the flashing lights through the mountains. They were not spectacular - kind of subtle- but they were definitely there and all four of us saw them. We felt very lucky! Overall, not a stunning experience (and I guess there are grumbles that it's all fabricated/exaggerated for tourists) but nonetheless a singular one that we all enjoyed. And free! Definitely worth going to if you're in the area.

I didn’t see any lights but the building was new and nice. I took a chair (and my dog) and set up near one of the markers near the fence line they have. It was really convenient since I did not want to take my dog into the building. When it got dark, it was dark. I couldn’t see my dog, my hands in front of me... like really dark. Maneuvering my was way back to my car, even with the building having some lighting was very difficult. The viewing area is right off the two lane highway, so it was a little louder than I expected. Beautiful views.

There are definitely some mysterious lights. (a few obvious ones too... the amber colored ones are headlights on highway 87), but the red and green lights are actually kind of neat to watch.
Some old man (looking like santa claus on vacation) showed up and started randomly talking and 'downplaying' the lights....apparently he has lived there for years, and comes out to 'burst your bubble' when there's nothing good on TV that night.
Otherwise, it is kind of a neat novelty.

There’s the famous Marfa Lights that appear in the desert that cannot be explained (or know one really wants to😎).
There was an observation site with picnic tables, mounted binoculars for both standing and wheelchair levels. Historical markers all around the property with historical events and nice public restrooms. This was well thought through when constructed.
We left fairly early so we did not see any lights, UFOs or dancing ghosts but will come later another time.

The structure that was built to enjoy viewing is wonderful! Our children enjoyed star gazing while we waited to see the lights.

We ventured out at 9:45pm and were surprised by the number of people there on a Sunday night. Large groups of teens that kept using phones/flashes making it hard to see out. We stayed for about two hours saw a few orbs of light, but nothing too exciting. Beautiful night sky makes it nice too. Come with blankets/jackets if you get cold easily.

Not sure if there are actual Marfa Lights but it’s fun to listen to people’s ideas. The facility is very nice with a clean restroom. I think it’s worth the trip, even if you only enjoy the stars and the company.

Although it was exciting to wait in hopes of seeing the lights, the chances are slim. A friend says she saw them only twice in the 30 years she lived in the area. And be warned! It was extremely cold in middle March; 32F.

Maybe on another night there would be more to see, but at least we can say we have been. Perhaps the cold temps kept us from fully enjoying the lights.

It's crazy to hear how some people don't see them, because the night we went was clear as day, brighter than stars. There is a nice adobe viewing platform with an open field right off the road about 10 minutes east from Marfa.
We got there right at the beginning of sunset, which alone is a great viewing spot because the sun sets against the mountains. We began to see these mystery lights as the last bits of the sun began to fade, and it was truly spooky and wild. They were only white for us (some reports said different colors, also don't be fooled because there are cell towers with red flashing lights in the same area). As the night got darker the lights became more prevalent. They would appear up in the mountains and at the edge of the horizon, ours primarily moved from left to right, and would disappear for a bit then reappear in the same spot it disappeared. It is truly bizarre and fascinating.

Ok I'm a natural born skeptic, so I wasn't expecting much, maybe a silly light or two Or something created by some attention seeking human. I didn't know much about these light until after I saw them. 3 of us went, including my daughter who lives in Marfa, and they are real! They were not ordinary lights, they moved in a very interesting almost intelligent way, not repetitively but independently moving in many directions. At one point we were looking at about 6 of them, all in different colors and some even changed colors. One came at us REALLY fast, until it was about 20 feet away and it looked like it literally put on the breaks when it saw all the people watching. There were no lights from cars, which I later read was a theory. They were not reflections these were lights of different colors and very recognizable. I thought maybe a drone or something, but drones didn't exist 100 years ago. I've read a lot about them since I saw them and I'm still fascinated and curious. What are they, why do they occur? I'd definitely go again. I'd like to walk out to the field and see what's out there in the daylight.

I was very skeptical about these lights, but the night we went, right after sunset at about 9, the green lights started flashing in the desert. I don't believe that what I saw was caused by people.

We visited the viewing center 2 nights in a row. We saw the lights both nights. I even viewed the lights through magnified pair of binoculars. they were definitely not car lights. I can't say what they were but I can say they were very interesting and very intriguing to see. They changed colors, moved across the horizon, and even merged together.

I was disappointed in the local teenagers that showed up the 2nd night. They were dancing around with glow lights and being very distracting videoing each other. There was also a wrecker that was there from about 8:30 to10pm with the yellow wrecker lights on the top of the trucking on the whole time. The lights on his truck were illuminating the area on the left side of the viewing center. He wasn't even assisting customer, he was just there to see the lights. I felt really sorry for the people from NJ, NC, and various other states that had traveled so far to see the lights. They had to deal with the distractions and some only having one night to experience the lights.

I like to photograph the Milky Way and noticed this stop on the way into Marfa. It's 10 miles outside of Marfa, but a pretty good dark skies area. There are restrooms and field binoculars set up for use. Didn't see any of the famed Marfa lights, but if you want to place to see dark skies, it's wotrh the stop

The viewing area is nice. Bring chairs - and a blanket or jacket even in July! We went around 10:00 pm and stayed for a little less than an hour because we were not prepared for the cool evening. We were advised to go as late as possible - so we have may have been too early. Do they come every night?? The stars were gorgeous though.

We arrived in Marfa on a Sunday in January after the visitor center was already closed. So, we weren't able to gather information about what we might expect to see. We saw photos and videos posted on line that were very similar to what we viewed , but we don't believe that was the phenomenon that may sometimes appear in Marfa. We watched the night sky from the viewing area from before sunset until 10:00 pm and saw the twinkling lights of cars in the distance as they wound down a twisting road shining in and out of view. In the wee hours of the morning we enjoyed the dark night sky lit with thousands of twinkling stars. It was beautiful! If you want to enjoy a little mystery, a chance at seeing something unusual and a beautiful night sky give it a try, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't appear that night. Enjoy the experience. I gave it three stars for the enjoyable night and staging area and for the possibility of seeing the lights.

We went three nights and saw lights all three. Did a lot of reading and I am convinced what we saw were lights from hwy 67 on the way to Presidio. They were just to predictable in their paths. But I have read there are other truly mystery lights that only appear 12-30 nights a year that are the real mystery lights. We didn't see them. It was a fun experience just talking to the others who were there to see the lights too. Do it if you're in the area.

...But kind of wonder why we bothered. A more appealing
“ show “ was the visual variation and drama of the sky during sunset. Ranged from open blue to dark black rain clouds snd everything in between.

A easy ride outside Marfa. I guess it is worth going to, only because it is there. Almost like watching one color fireworks.

My wife and I took some time to see the lights on November 17, 2019. The viewing center provides a deck, restrooms, and open land. The deck is equipped with binoculars but they aren't great. The restrooms are typical highway public restrooms but they get the job done if you need them. The open land is there if the crowd is so big you can't find a viewing spot on the deck. I recommend bringing your camping chairs, blankets, hot chocolate, and camera. We had a blast! Check the weather first many people were not prepared for the cold November night. I also recommend visiting Marfa and speaking to the tourist center or locals about the best viewing experience. There were a lot of people on our night and some went away thinking the lights didn't show because they didn't do their homework.

I was skeptical visitor but was truly rewarded with the glimmering, shiny mysterious lights of Maria. We even saw them during the early day light part of the evening with our trusty binoculars. They became marvelous in the total darkness. Don't even think about skipping this attraction.

I wasn't able to see any mysterious lights when I went but there were quite a lot of hopeful people around me after 10pm.

I did set up my camera and capture a few gorgeous pictures of the milky way. I have never seen such a dark patch of sky - the contrast of the stars almost hurt your eyes. Breathtaking and indescribable.

Worth checking out at least once. The crowd was more interesting than the mystery lights. Nice facility with restrooms. Bring chairs if you plan to spend much time - there isn't much seating.

It's fun to imagine what is causing these mysterious lights, unfortunately they didn't show up on our night, but it was fun to be out in the desert looking for them. The viewing location is nice and has clean restrooms. It would be so much better if the viewing site was farther from the highway. The traffic and headlights were definite detractors of the experience. Look for the viewing site 8 miles east of Marfa.

We decided to give this a try... sadly we only saw one single light off in the distance for the two hours we were there. It jumped around a bit... if it hadn’t been for the erratic movements, it could have been a motorcycle headlight. It was interesting... would liked to have seen more lights, but that was no meant to be.

On the bright side, just a few miles up the road, there is a static display, a large diorama of the set of the movie, Giant, starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. There is a sound track... solar powered audio. Worth a quick stop and a few photos. So at least we got something out of the evening.

The Marfa Mystery Lights have been around for a long time. 10 miles out of town, so no city lights to interfere. Even if you do not see the mysterious lights, the stars on a clear night will make up for it.

We were in Alpine for a final night in the area after a very hot visit to Big Bend and decided to check out the lights. We stayed for about an hour and a half and didn't see the mysterious lights but enjoyed a lovely breezy and pleasant evening with about 25 other hopefuls. We also got to see a great sunset across the other side of the highway and an amazing full moon. Camp chairs that lean back would have made this perfect! The facility is truly wonderful with above average vaulted toilets, free mounted binoculars and benches.

We went to the official viewing station right off the highway between Marfa & Alpine (closer to Marfa). We went around 8pm on a day that was overcast & a little rainy. But....we saw the lights with no problem. I counted 6. Very strange that they get brighter & disappear only to reappear in the same spot. I'm clueless to what causes this phenomenon and was thrilled we saw them. I think this is an absolute "must" if you're in the area

It's a dark and busy highway as visitors flow into the Viewing Station. Geez, I missed the first turn and instead pointed by car down the wrong side of vehicles whose drivers were sitting there for 25 minutes adjusting to the darkness. I apologize for blinding them with my high beams.

Marfa Texas, it did not disappoint! We came for the great food (which was/is delicious) and we got added bonuses. We were about to enjoy the McDonald Observatory, Jim’s Marfa Garden Airbnb, and the cherry on top MARFA LIGHTS.

We visited during Winter Break and had no issue finding places to eat during Christmas Eve. We did plan ahead though, we purchased some food to make at the Airbnb. Several of the shops were closed but we didn’t go to shop.

The Marfa Lights observation area is very nice. It has built-in binoculars and nice rest rooms. There were about 30 people there waiting for sunset to view the mysterious lights, and there they were! Several people announced their sightings, and I had to ask "There? Those?" because I saw lights, but without a doubt they were highlights bobbing along a road across the prairie. As I said, silly fun!

I have been coming here for 30 years and the new setting and viewing station is so well done! We had a great night seeing the mysterious lights and everyone had theories for me to shoot down!

We didn't get to see the lights on the night we were here, but the west Texas sky is beautiful at night anyway! Had bathrooms and just enjoyed the cool weather in August.

It was the experience of trying to see the light will be trying again maybe this time we will have better weather as it was raining

We did not see the lights. However, we enjoyed the viewing area, the chance to just sit down after an active day, and the adventure of giving something new a try. We saw a lovely sunset. Give it a try-you just might see something. I am glad we did it.

We saw something, I have no idea if it can be explained as car lights or not but it's fun standing out in the cool night air talking to others, watching orbs of light up on a Mesa.
I'm a bit skeptical because I grew up in Anson, where we had the Anson lights and I'm pretty sure I can explain those.
Great viewing area!

I was so excited to see “the lights”I think the atmosphere was perfect ( extremely cold) The first night the lights were very active.We even saw the lights dance around.We also saw a bright red light.The second night the lights were not quite as bright but the red light was still there but in alittle different spot. Still a big mystery as why the lights appear sometimes???

We visited the Marfa Lights viewing station Halloween night (2019) and was treated to a spectacular show. The lights started appearing shortly before the sun had completely set in the west. I can't fully explain what we saw but it was a fun way to spend Halloween. If you are in the area plan on visiting this attraction. Visit with the other folks there waiting for the show. That's part of the fun.

They have a nice setup for viewers. You are not out far enough for good night viewing but we saw the lights. We have no idea where they originate but it was cool.

Thought we saw the lights, but the next day we saw a postcard depicting what they “supposed” to look like. But we’re sticking with our “we saw them” story!!

Was such a beautiful night during March Spring Break. Showed up about 10pm and looked at the amazing night sky full of constellations. Didn't see the "Marfa Lights" but so worth the experience. We didn't stay long b/c it was so cold - good to take jackets & blankets & binoculars.

We got there at 9pm and left at 11pm. During that time we saw the lights various times. They were yellow and shades of pink. It was amazing how some were very bright and got brighter, while others lingered and some showed up for just a bit. A very interesting phenomenon to witness.

Our children are 8 and 10 and saw them as well.

They were there on an overcast night. Just off in the horizon to the right. Blue and white and moving around a bit.

Cold and misty Jan night so probably not a good time. I’m a natural skeptic but I’ll give it another go when it’s a bit warmer.

The observation area is interesting and worth a run but you have to be very careful not to miss it. It is not very well light up - on purpose - so as not to spoil the night vision on visitors. It is worth the run to see it and try your luck. Bring warm clothes, it chilly in the desert at night and can be downright cold. Alas, my wife and I have tried three times and never seen the lights, but - maybe someday we will be lucky.

The Texas High Desert has a magic all its own. The night I went out, there were no lights, but it was beautiful and hushed and other-worldly just the same. Also, the full moon rose behind us (there were about 50+ people there) like a giant peach in the dark sky. The smell of the cool dry wind and the companionship of others seeking mystery wove its own spell. The facility is fantastic - new, clean, and restrooms, too! Don't miss a visit - whether you see the lights or not, you will be wowed.

I have gone to see the lights many a times. Sometimes, sober and sometimes not sober. Anyway, I am going to give you my version of what the lights are?

They are 2 or 3 group of family members, each with some sort of light apparatus which each individual can turn on and off upon command. Then there is a head CEO (hidden or in the darkness of the field) who instructs each family members when to turn their lights on and off.

When it gets dark, group 1 is told to turn theirs on and run around for a few seconds and then suddenly they are instructed to turn them off - then group 2 is told to turn theirs on and do the same thing group 1 did until they are told to turn theirs off - and the process is repeated.

NOT REALLY! Just kidding.

I have been out there when the lights are jumping and I do not have any idea what they are or where they originate. There for a time, I thought they may be the car lights of cars on their return trip from Presidio, but you can see those as well and distinguish them from the lights that are jumping from here to there.

If you have never seen them, you need to go out there at least once and hopefully you can see them - because you can not see them every time.

It is a mystery. That is why they are referred to as "The Marfa Mystery Lights".

We went late at night as a fluke and so glad we did. The lights did not disappoint and might even say it was the high light of our trip. It was a very easy spot to find late at night and felt safe. We could see the milky way and shooting stars as well. The Marfa lights were in full view.

The viewing Center for the Marfa lights is located 8.8 miles east on Marfa on US90/67. Check your odometer when you leave Marfa, or you may miss it because it has minimal lighting. When we were leaving the Viewing Center, we met two young ladies in the parking lot who had driven all the way to Alpine before they realized they missed it. Bring a small flash light to see where you are walking and lawn chairs. We arrived there about 9:30, and the night sky was black and covered with stars. The viewing area faces SW, and the lights will appear low on the horizon. Do not expect to see “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. The first light popped up about just above the horizon. After a few minutes, it disappeared. Ten minutes later two lights appeared in about the same spot. One would disappear and the reappear a little farther higher in the night sky. All of the lights were white, i.e., no red lights. These lights were first reported by a cowboy in 1883.

We were there in December so it was cold when it got dark. My kids did not love sitting in the cold staring into the darkness. Even bundled up in warm blankets they complained and we didn’t stay very long. The group next to us was discussing at length how cool the lights were when what they were pointing at were obviously headlights. So maybe this would be more exciting for others and maybe there are more exciting lights other tones, but we didn’t have a great time. The facilities are nice enough for looking for the mysterious lights.

This is a great facility to watch for the elusive Marfa Lights. Their are restrooms & picnic tables. The only way this could be made better would be if it was heated & air conditioned.

We stopped here in October of 2018 hoping to see the Marfa Lights. We didn't see anything, but I am glad we stopped. It's a nice platform in the middle of nowhere. There was plenty of parking - but it was super dark out there, so bring flashlights or headlamps to help you get from your car to the platform. There are bathrooms, but there was no toilet paper the night we were there. There are benches, but if there are a lot of people, there will be no place to sit. We saw that some people had brought chairs with them (smart). We will visit again when in the area and hopefully catch the elusive Marfa Lights.

OK if you want to stand outside in the elements with others to look for what you think might be a dim light this is your place. Be aware that Marfa PD will be looking and watching your speed as you drive to and from the viewing station. Expect to get stopped and ticketed for any speed violation. Avoid Marfa and go on to Alpine and Big Bend.

Wow! My wife and I saw them at the viewing park. Sometimes one or two or three popping up over the far horizon like a flash to maybe a 5 second shining star moving above the horizon. It peaked for us about 10:15 PM on April 25. By 10:30 it stopped, but the stars were so clear and bright with no moon or clouds.

there were no mystery lights to see. Lots of people outside freezing and had to park quite a distance from sight.

This is basically a glorified roadside rest stop. The lights happen all over and you don't have to go to this particular spot to see them.
That said I heard the lights are incredible

We spent a few days in the area near Marfa. In just two days we heard stories of Marfa lights, first-hand from residents in the area. These lights, according to them, are seen in areas near Marfa also. The pics I took were during the day, so one could see the Marfa lights viewing area well. We did not see any lights when we were there but all the same the experience was great. This whole area is wonderful.

We were in Marfa the Sunday night of memorial weekend. We stopped by the Marfa lights viewing area at about 10.15pm and stayed for a short while. There were lots of people - we didn’t see the lights though, unfortunately! Maybe we didn’t stay long enough, maybe it wasn’t a clear enough night. It was worth the short trip from our hotel, just to try though. Maybe next time...

BYOB and a snack and enjoy a little Mystique with your loved one. Chances are you will not see any lights but find what you came for.

Much like the submarine races or searching for the Lady of the Lake at White Rock in Dallas...the Marfa Lights are a longtime Texas tradition and worth at least one visit. The visitor center does have good restrooms in case you do see the Lights :-)

This was neat because you could wait for dusk into dark comfortably. There are binoculars to look at the lights. Weird lights, but definitely interesting.

We went, we sat and stared at the sky for so long that we may have been seeing things, because we wanted to. We did see what looked like the big power poles in the distance, mysteriously lighting up and shooting beams towards the sky. That happened a few times then the poles would turn to black again. Maybe we saw something, maybe not but it was a beautiful starry night, so glad we did some star gazing!

We actually did not leave Marfa to view the lights until a few minutes after sunset. It is a short drive out Highway 90 east of Marfa to the well- marked roadside viewing area. Parking was tight due to our late arrival but we found a spot and walked out into the desert a little ways looking where others pointed. Sure enough there were flashing brilliant specks of light visible miles in the distance to the south west. Certainly not an aurora borealis kind of light show but we saw the light- as touted. What causes this phenomenon? There are many theories, but we like the one describing natural gas emissions that are flashed by friction of moving tectonic plates well below the surface. Maybe?? In any case it is a good and free show. It didn’t take a long time to view and we actually experienced the lights. Timing is everything. Our timing seemed perfect. In short, “We came, We saw, We went back to town. It was a fun early evening diversion.

Other than being a little disappointing that we didn't see "the lights," we saw a beautiful sunset and spending time outdoors with my daughter and grandson. Definitely time well-spent. Maybe next time we'll see the lights!

We saw nothing on a very cold night. Glad we went but we’re disappointed we didn’t see anything. We stayed for a very short time.

These inexplicable lights are amazing to see. Not always visible on every trip but worth the trip when they are. My teenager went back and told her teacher about them.

I hear thats rare, and unfortunate for those who didn't see them on their trip. Its odd, not spooky. i figure rednecks off in the distance! People have been out in an attempt to explain this away and cannot. The 'crowd' is fun, the sky is trippy with all the stars amazing! Don't forget too that the Late 1950s movie Giant was filmed out this way with Rock Hudson, James Deen and Elizabeth Taylor; the hotel is still there in Marfa.

Had gone to the Cowboy Poetry at Alpine. Stopped by the Marfa Mystery Lights area about sundown. Although it was cold, about 30 other people stopped, as well. Got beautiful pictures of the sunset. Got to know some of the other travelers. Had fun with "is that the lights"? No that is that ranch house or autos going up a mountain in the distance. Didn't see them, but really enjoyed visiting. My Dad said he and my Mom had seen them before. Going to try again this year.

Just aside of town. Nice viewing area with restrooms and places to sit. We were fortunate to see the amazing lights! A must see.

This was our third visit to see the Marfa lights. They certainly are a mystery and quite entertaining. On this visit we saw several mystery lights, at one point, as many as seven. The lights vary in color from white, to yellow to red. They appear and disappear at random. At the time we were there, there was a huge thunder head coming in from the southeast. That in itself was a showstopper. Lots of lightening, lots of color. The new building is really nice. The tables are great for sitting, chatting and photographing the lights. A great place to visit.

Totally cool. I remember my mom talking about the lights when she was young visiting family out in Marfa during the 1940's... So during a recent visit, I decided to venture out to the viewing facility. Sure enough, there were the lights. Saw four different ones way off in the distance. Glowing in different intensities...from a faint glow to a full-on spotlight, one may think it's a car or house or something, but the changing intensity while never moving position rules out a house or car. Being that they were first noticed in the 1880's, this rules out anything electrical. To this day, no one seems to know what causes them...but speculation is gasses, heat, or aliens. However, gasses to not glow with that intensity unless they are burning, but then they would have been discovered, and heat is ruled out because I saw them in 25-degree weather...and certainly not with the intensity I saw them at...so......who knows? No one. A natural mystery! When at the facility, look slightly to the right off-center...past and behind the blinking red antenna light that you will see way off in the distance.

Yeah, all we saw were headlights and dome lights from all the other tourists who came to the advertised highway pull-out to experience the Marfa Lights. We gave up after about 15 minutes. I wish we would have asked someone in Marfa where we might go park that would be more secluded.

There is a viewing center a few miles east of Marfa on Hwy 90 - built by the state - first class facility.
From the description I read of what the Marfa lights are to look like - I saw them. Viewing from the benches provided at the viewing center, the lights appeared at about 1:00 - 2:00 on a dial. They were low in the horizon. We arrive slightly before it became dark and within about 15 - 20 minutes they appeared- they were still going when we left after about another half hour.

We arrived at the viewing area about dusk with our fold up chairs and blankets. We saw our first light about 10:15 and we watched with until 11:00. We saw many lights that evening! Crazy cool!

The town of Marfa was so cute but we were there on a day most stores were closed. We went to see the lights of Marfa observation spot but didn't see them .Met a bunch of nice folks there , one whose son had seen them previously. The sun set was beautiful.

Nice facility for viewing (Clayton Williams financed the construction). Quite a few people were there to view the lights. We were told that any lights to the left of the red light (which was southwest of the viewing area) would be potentially Marfa Lights. Lights near and above the red light were car lights.

This is a perfect place to come and watch the Marfa lights. Bring a folding chair and get there before sunset. The lights are not visible every night, so you may go and see nothing. I was very lucky because the night I went they were very active. I sat & stood there for over an hour watching the lights in the distance appear, move around and disappear.

I spent a few days in Alpine, Texas while touring Big Bend National Park. Having seen a couple of TV Shows about the Mysterious Marfa Lights, I drove up to the Marfa Lights Viewing Site three nights in a row. Each night the Parking lot began to come alive around sundown when other curious travelers showed up. The first night there was probably 10-15 cars with people who brought coolers and chairs to see if they could spot the mystery light. I spent about 3-hours each night leaving between 11 and mid-night and never saw anything resembling the mystery lights. Whether or not the Mystery Lights exist or not, the local area has embraced the mystery and there is a very nice pull off and viewing stations right along side U. S. Route 90. While I know this is not for everyone, I must say I enjoy visiting with other viewers and listening to their stories. It was relaxing and a unique way to spend the evening.

The lighting here does no one any good. The red lights around the viewing platform are useless for navigation and are in disrepair letting white light through. The lights in front of the building illuminate nothing. Parking is an issue leading people to drive around with lights on running the experience for everyone else. Road way light is very visible from the viewing platform. On the viewing platform and grassy area in front are so poorly illuminated people resort to using phone lights ruing the experience. May be 1000% better if you were the only one there, bit overall needs to be rethought. If you bring kids they need to be prepared to stare into the darkness for hours for a few seconds of excitement.

Only 2 stars are we saw nothing the one night we were in town. We were there at sunset (there is a area, like a highway rest stop, built about 8 miles outside of town for viewing) and I'd do it again just to see this magnificent sunset. Then we drank some wine and waited...and waited...and waited. After 2 hours, we called it quits and went back to hotel. We saw nothing. Wish we had.

We have been to see the lights 4 times. Twice on this trip. I might have seen one or two. I have not seen anything I could absolutely say were the "Marfa Lights" .

Took us a while to realize what to look at, but on a cold May night we couldn't help our excitement while watching the lights dance across the horizon. The moved together and apart, merging and separating - disappearing and reappearing. Whatever the origin, it was fun to experience!

Bring a blanket for the fall/winter months! Easy to find and lots of parking when I went. I would suggest parking at an angle to open up more parking.

If you get their late at night in the middle of the desert these bright lights come out and movie back and forth different directions. After a while they disappeared but they returned. Through I was told that taking pictures would not come out on camera I still tried and yes no pictures came out.

Well we made the 9 mile trip east on US 90, definitely saw some lights, but . . . The viewing area was great for star-gazing as well once the sunset was 100% complete.

I didn’t come all the way to Marfa to not look for the mystery lights, but I was worried I’d spend hours in chilly darkness looking in vain. But I arrived at the viewing area on a cloudless night and immediately saw several lights flickering off in the distance, and about a half dozen were visible for as long as I wanted to watch. The lights are not a great spectacle, but they are there and they remain a mystery, and that’s pretty cool.

When I grew up here there was a side of a road to sit on....now there is a visitor/viewing center!!!! Even though we did not see anything, we enjoyed the experience. However, the sheer number of people kinda took away from the mystery!

The roadside viewing stand is very comfortable (it has restrooms) and not very far from Marfa. Everyone should go and see the lights.

Maybe I saw. Something maybe. According to others who were there lights appeared. And the Marfa lights is what we saw. Who knows.
Will say I got some amazing sunset photos

First time to check this out and wow that is incredible. We saw as many as 7 lights at one time. Really cool experience.

The great mystery of the Marfa lights was intriguing and me and my fiancé had to stop and see what it was all about. Upon our arrival we browsed the night sky to try and see the “lights” took us a minute and some tourist help but we spotted the lights and were so curious as what the heck they were. There is a sign that shows the theories of what the light could be or to make it fun you draw your own conclusions!

We enjoyed the Marfa Mystery Lights even though we did not see them. There was a fun group of people gathered to watch and it is always nice to visit with other tourist in an area. The building is only 9 miles from town and has restrooms, take the drive...it's fun. My favorite part was it was so dark and the sky was full of stars....amazing!

Regardless of what these lights (that have been reported since the 1800's) are, I had a nice time at dusk looking at the glimmers of light in the distance. We saw the lights, despite the abundance of cloud cover. This was just a nice moment to get away from the world for a half hour and look at pretty lights.

This is a nice little rest stop type area. It's modern and updated easy to move around at. There are restrooms. Plenty of parking. There are plaques for you to read about the mystery lights. I went around 11 on a Friday night nice cloudless night. You could see some lights off in the distance and there are telescopes mounted there for you to use free of charge. The question remains what are the mystery lights.

Thinking about going...do it! I have never been to a darker spot with amazing star gazing. Couldn't have ever imagined this nighttime sky. Just advise you to dress for the cold desert air in the winter months. Did I see the Marfa lights....I think I did!

If you're from a big city - you'll be shock d when you gaze up at the night sky and easily see the Milky Way and some 10,000 stars. The Marfa Mystery Lights are also easily seen - pretty cool considering they have never figured out how the lights are generated. Makes you really appreciate your place in the universe... basically as a spec of dust - but very humbling to experience.

Is it paranormal? Aliens? Manmade? Who knows! But a trip provides the opportunity for some fun discussion and and a chance to do something cheesy. There was nothing else going on in Marfa on a Monday night (and there was nothing in Alpine on a Saturday so I suspect Money had nothing as well) so if you're in the area it's worth the stop. It was a great stop with my son.

I so totally loved the stop at the observation deck to watch for mystery lights as well as being awe struck by the vastness of the sky filled with millions of stars. I had never really though about light pollution before standing on the deck looking up and thinking, "this is amazing"! Now the mystery lights are something all together different than the stars at night so big and bright! The mystery lights are small non-blinking hovering lights. What they are, no clue but it was fun to think that I saw them but they are no comparison to the vast black sky with millions of stars. BEAUTIFUL!

We didn't see the mystery lights. But we did see lots of interesting characters. The attendees were young, old, skeptics, believers, white, black, brown and all interested. It was a box I had to check

It’s a fabulous place to watch the sunset, with the mountain range turning a gorgeous hue of orange and powder blue as night falls, whether or not you care to believe in the lights (they are there) as a man-made, natural, or unsolvable mysterious phenomenon.

This is a specific site next to the road with parking. I would just start to see the "lights" when another car came along the road and destroyed my night vision again, hence "go late at night": less traffic.

After reading reviews and listening to others who have been, we drove out to Marfa to experience the 'lights'. The reviewers and towns people said to be patient. We got out there around 9:00 pm and waited, along with about 50 other believers. We stayed until 11:00 pm, trying to be patient, but no lights appeared. It was a cool brisk evening, clear skies. We had an 1.5 hour drive back to Terlingua, so we left with only the memory of jokes and beautiful stars. The full moon was appearing about 9:25, so some people said that could have been the problem.

I'll admit, I thought the lights were probably wishful thinking, but we saw them. A lot. We were there about half an hour, and we lost track of how often we saw them. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area on a clear night.

Or not...this is a fun place on SR 90 between Marfa and Alpine, TX in wide open range land where "mysterious orb" lights appear on the southern horizon. Whether you get a laugh out of guessing their origin with the many other curious visitors who make stops here or you are a serious student of unexplained phenomena, this is worth a stop just for the magnificent stars in that big old Texas sky. I passed through here over 20 years ago before there was a "viewing station". Cars were just pulled off the road and folks sat on top of their cars watching the lights that cowboys reported first in 1883...before reflected car lights or air strip lights could be an answer. It was fun to see that "Marfians" have capitalized on this curiosity and built a viewing area with seating, parking and restrooms. The town is 9 miles away for food, gas, and lodging . Not a destination trip but check it out if you are nearby.

We arrived at the Observation area right at sunset.

It only took about 5 minutes or so for the lights to start appearing on the horizon.

There would be singles, triples and at one time up to five lights in the distance. We stayed over an hour watching them blink in and out.

There is plenty of space and a few of those binocular setups so you can scan the horizon.

There are bathroom facilities, too.

At this time of year, be careful when walking around the area after dark. There was a pretty good sized Rattlesnake on some of the trail areas.

The best piece of advice I can offer is to go with an open mind and no expectations that you will see anything. That way if you do, it'll be a pleasant surprise.

One of the strangest things to experience are the Marfa lights. There is much mystery around these random lights since no one knows what causes them. Head over to the viewing station and watch them for yourself. There are restrooms, seating, and telescopes.

there were lights but they were from the city lights . very hot very buggy. take chairs . but not anything to get excited about

It gets chilly after dark so take a coat or a blanket. The viewing area has a telescope, some chairs & bathroom facilities. Unfortunately for us it was somewhat cloudy so we didn't get to see the lights.

We went out to see the lights, froze our biffys off and did not observe anything. We were there for a little over 2 hours. The state has built a nice restroom facility and provided limited benches and some telescopes to view the lights in the distance. If you go, I suggest you bring your camp chairs, snacks and a drink.

Great ambiance and you might get lucky and see a funny sputnic phenomena,we waited for about 1hre but did not see anything special.

It makes you think about what's out there. But you need a few things for a better view of the area. For example a set of binoculars.

Film crew ruined our experience at the Marfa Lights viewing area.
They set up flood lights and cameras everywhere tonight. My daughter reported a camera in the girls bathroom!
We drove across the state to experience the Marfa Mystery Lights. Even if we didn’t see the lights we wanted to have the experience of trying to see them.
All we experienced was being blinded by the Hollywood wannabes and their lights everywhere. We could hardly see anything with all the lights shining in our faces like we were prisoners under interrogation. Terrible experience and such a disappointment.
Not sure how to check to see if they will be filming there during your visit but hopefully there is some way to avoid this National Lampoon disappointment.

I had no real expectations when I arrived at this sight. I had never heard much about these lights and had expected the lights to resemble a simplified version of "The Northern Lights". Instead they were odd round "headlight" style lights that went up, down, and sideways. One elderly lady I met there said she has come on and off over a 40 year period. She said the lights once came toward her very quickly and she was so scared she ran back to her car. For us on the night in November, they seemed to go up and down in and odd and unpredictable way along the distant horizon. I don't really know what to think... maybe an elaborate hoax?

I live in Marfa and have had the good fortune to see the lights a number of times. But not every night. When you see them you know they are not car lights but something otherworldly and amazing!

I decided that I needed to go out and see what all the fuss was about regarding the Marfa Lights. Maybe I was unimpressed because it was so cold, or maybe a bunch of jumping lights out in the distance didn't quite impress me. It is a great place to photograph stars due to being out of town, but the Marfa Lights - eeh...

Oh God. This has gotten a little bit out of control. Wanna see lights? Look up. The stars are incredible and you can see millions of them. I’ve been there many times and I’ve never really seen anything substantial.

This cool phenomenon is a must when in Marfa. We have visited numerous times over the past 25 years and have always seen the lights my great observation area with benches and toilets. Always meet people from around the world who have heard about the lights and have to see them for themselves.

We went to Marfa specifically to see the lights and they sure enough showed up. Not the terrific light show that so many see, but the blips of lights appeared for us. It was cold and after an hour, we headed on back to the hotel satisfied to have seen them.
We were surprised the town doesn't tout the lights more with better signage. They seem to be more focused on the art.

The Marfa lights are so curious. They move up and down, right to left, appear to approach you at high speed. Different colors. They are so interesting to watch. I’ve been fortunate to see them every time I’ve gone out to watch them. This is not always the case, if it’s the least bit cloudy you will not be able to see them. According to Marfa Chamber of Commerce imfo the first written record of Marfa lights was from Buffalo Soilders stationed at Ft Davis who thought they were seeing Indian fires. Of course when they went to check there was nothing. I’m not sure of the date sometime in 1870’s. It’s worth going to the viewing platform to see them although there are other places around Marfa they can be viewed.

A group of us went, all saw the same thing and it was pretty cool, stop by if you're in the area, it is worth it

Weather was finally clear enough on our weekend trip. Very nice viewing station with benches. We arrived a little before 10 and did see some lights. Not sure what they were, but it certainly wasn't a car.

Stopped run Marfa to see the lights. And we did. It was fun to watch the night sky and see the lights flickering off in the distance, and see the different colors. Super coo,.

Didn't know if we would see anything, but as promised, the mystery lights appeared, and disappeared, and reappeared and sub-divided and all of the mysterious things we went to see. Nice facility for viewing.

We spent a single night in Marfa and were lucky to see the lights! I could have stayed all night, marveling at the mystery. The viewing area is newly-built, well-lit (for a nighttime viewing area), safe-feeling, and has good restroom facilities. Would have appreciated more benches and fewer local partiers. (Perhaps the best local boozy hangout for young people? It is a small town...)

We saw the lights. We saw some kind of critter scurry across the patio. There was a full moon so we could not see the stars very well. Nice viewing area. We will return when there is no moon.

We were fortunate to get to see the “real” Marfa Lights back in 1992. Once you know where highway 67 is it really isn’t all that difficult to discern between the traffic on the Hwy and the real lights! That evening was great with some of the orbs even coming within a couple hundred yards of our roadside viewing spot. It’s was incredible and almost scary at times. Lol. The funny thing is that the best viewing was at 4am when we could see the lights starting at about a mile east of town and there where literally dozens of lights dancing around the desert floor. At the time I thought this was normal for out there but have since discovered that we were very blessed to get to experience the lights that way. Most people watch the highway traffic and think they are seeing the lights. If you can ever catch it on one of those perfect nights you will know how amazing and mysterious it really is out there!!

We did see lights out there! Some folks from our hotel said that they had been there the past three nights and hadn't seen anything.... However, at 8:00 PM on November 26th 2017, we all saw them!!
I am not a believer in anything mysterious.......and despite what Texas A & M said, I think the lights are due to something reflective out there.
Regardless, the viewing facility was super!

It is a great location to see the lights of Marfa! Definitely something off of the bucket list. Beautiful sky as well. Both nights had the stars in full glory... would highly recommend. Just watch out for the tons of rabbits by the road at night.

This is a unique and fun thing to do. While we didn't get to see the lights, it was still an amazing view and entertaining to watch and hope for them.

We stopped here after midnight on our way south from Ft. Davis. We did appreciate the mysterious aspects of the reported phenomenon but didn't witness anything more than car head and tail lights in the distance to the right side of the landmark radio tower.

Mystery is what the Marfa Lights are. Come out to Marfa and take a look at the mystery lights and wonder what is going on!!!

go and see for yourself- they're waiting for you out there, the viewing center makes it a great experience, by yourself, friends or family!

This venue was built on the side of the highway just to make the viewing of the lights easier for anyone wanting to stop. We really enjoyed the experience.

Marfa in general is a psychedelic WTAF place to visit. So hanging out on a platform in the desert looking for mystery lights fits the vibe.

If you happen to be passing this area at night, go ahead and stop, but the Marfa Lights are certainly not worth a special trip. The road to the Marfa Lights attracts snake hunters in the summer, which is, perhaps, a more interesting sight.

Nice viewing center that is safe and easily accessible, but the Marfa lights did not make an appearance.

Excellent facility to observe the sunset, night sky and the ocassional mysterious Marfa lights. Free to public.

Looking for the Marfa mystery lights is fun if you are patient and don’t mind searching the night sky. I only gave this 4 stars because we had better luck in our car and on the road than we did at the actual viewing center. They say go close to or shortly after dusk. We had luck looking to the far right near the red tower light. Also if you aren’t sure what to look for check on you tube before you go.

Close to observation tower. We didn't see the lights. It was a full moon and we we're early . The observation facilities were great though.

We were staying in an RV Camp in Alpine, so we drove to the viewing area to see the mystery lights. We weren’t disappointed because we saw 1, 2, and 3 white lights appear at at time and the sometimes moved around, appear and disappear.
My friend, who was with my husband and me, lived in Marfa in the late 50’s and he had seen a large bright light following their car one night.They thought it was a car following them, but it wasn’t and they were definitely scared.
Definitely take a flashlight and jacket or blanket. There are only a few benches with no backs, so a lawn chair would be a good thing to bring. I was wishing for my binoculars too!
This a beautiful place for star gazing!
Nice bathrooms.

We were in Marfa for a wedding, and the first night there we went out in the evening to see the lights. It was fairly crowded ~ not alot of room for all of us out there. Not much place for sitting, so we leaned against the wall and waited....waited....waited....did not see anything. It was a very nice evening and the stars were lovely, but alas no lights to see.....

Yeah, yeah. You’re going to see the mystery lights—how exciting. But the important thing to know here is that there is no, I repeat no, toilet paper in the restrooms. Plan accordingly.

Our family went here twice over spring break. The first night we went at 10:30pm and did not see any. We were told that it's best at dusk so the next night we went at 7:30pm and it was perfect and we saw the lights. It was a busy place but not crowded- really neat!

This is the 2nd time we have made this journey. One of those things that everyone should experience. Very interesting. Mara is a quaint and friendly town.

It was very cool to share the Marfa lights with my 10 year old. It's hard to get kids excited these days, but , seeing those lights did it.

First time in Marfa and got to see the lights! I was so thrilled. Arrived around 9:30 and instantly saw a large white orb followed by smaller red and amber lights. Definitely worth the trip!

this is a must see for me. i have heard about it for so long. it is just outside town. very short drive. very well maintained. (we also stopped in the daytime to look around). i felt safe here. of course we did not see any lights. but now i can see i have been there. it is free.

Absolutely MUST do! We went about 9:30-10:30 in July. It was dark enough and we immediately saw the lights. Watched them for an hour. So entertaining. No idea what they are? Visitor site is nice and has great historical information about the lights! No charge. Bring a chair and snacks, drinks and enjoy the amazing view of the Milky Way as well!

The architecture of the viewing site is great and having the desert as a backdrop is well worth the visit, but looking at the mystery lights were not at all what I was expecting. My teen and tween daughters loved it though, imagining the lights were aliens and such, they had a blast.
Sunset was also beautiful and the place itself is stunning, just the lights - so small, so distant, so out there... perhaps I had built up a moment in my mind that never happened. Go visit!

Oh...but Marfa itself? AWESOME!!
Prada Marfa!
McDonald’s Observatory!
El Paisano Hotel!! B&W pix of Liz and Rock & James!!
And...tour of Donald Judd’s compound!!
Sky all day/night!

Stopped here to check out the "Marfa Lights" that I had heard so much about. It looked like headlights but there was one light that clearly wasn't a headlight so who knows. Nice to look at but I definitely wouldn't make the pilgrimage to Marfa just for these lights.

Worth checking out. Hit and miss whether you actually see the lights, depending on Mother Nature and the weather, etc.

We stopped out here at the designated viewing platform located half way between Alpine and Marfa. This is a well designed, free viewing area, with clean restrooms and comfortable seating. There were maybe thirty there the night we visited, and we stayed for about 2 hours. Most of the people were first timers. We did see lights, though nothing spectacular like others have reported, but it was still a fun and mysterious gathering. It was somewhat dusty the night we visited and maybe that prevented a clearer viewing of the lights. You must look to the left of the flashing red light. To the right is a highway with oncoming auto lights, which many people mistook for the Marfa lights. One of the locals pointed this out. May be better with binoculars. I would go back again and try my luck.

If you’re in the area, you have to go. Make sure to wait until at least an hour past sunset for complete darkness, and it’s best on a clear night without a full moon. On the night I was there, there were a lot of people. It was fun but it was too hazy to see any lights. The viewing station is about half-way between Marfa and Alpine. There are bathrooms but no other services.

We stopped by a couple of nights while in alpine and the first night no lights but were treated to light show from a distant thunderstorm. Second night we saw the lights...

I had been wanting to see the Mystery Lights for YEARS. We stopped here on a road trip and never saw the lights. The area is beautiful and the star gazing is amazing, but the only thing we saw were definitely headlights and taillights from cars on the highway to the right of the viewing area. Not sure if that is what the lights are supposed to be, but it was definitely cars that we saw. We were definitely disappointed. But it was still fun waiting and we would come back to see if we can see them again in the future.

Ok, so this isn't really an exhibit. More or less, it's just an area for UFO citing. I have been like three times, and seen the lights once. Residents say that the lights exist, some anyway, and they might, but even seeing them, I found them very much anticlimactic, not unlike lights from a car reflection.

Interesting! Recommend everyone see them,no one knows what they are or how it happens. You get there by 9pm and when it gets dark they appear.

We went with a open mind but it was not our night to view the special lights. But instead we were amazed with the stars and all the satellites that pass overhead. The viewing location was very nice other than no TP but at least we had tissues..lol. But it was a night to remember for the billion on billion of stars.

Two signs in either direction give you a Mile warning that this comes up on the South side of the Highway. The viewing platform is really a rest stop. I didn't see the lights, but other friends have. Hope it is Metaphysical (Aliens?) rather than a Scientific explanation. Friends tell me that they have seen orbs floating in Yellow/Gold/White...Oh well, maybe one day? Good luck and enjoy.

Besides the amazing clear sky..some of the clearest in the nation, the lights came out bright and were active for an hour. We took night vision to see better and if you have it I would recommend it. It's not car lights, it's not camp fires, the lights jump up split and merge. If it's pranks then they have been doing it over a 100 years.

A phenomenon which is worth observing. However, you have to remember that the lights don't show every night. In fact, the sightings are relatively rare, so be prepared not to see anything (we didn't). Better observed after sunset (not during), we were told.

Like a little kid at the circus, I can't (won't) stop pointing out to my friends every time a light flares into existence and then giving a blow-by-blow narration of what it does until it winks out of existence. Last weekend, they were very active, and I was surprised, because it had rained earlier in the day and was still slightly overcast. But the Master Lights didn't care. At one point there were 5 strung out in a row, bobbing up and down, subtly changing colors, splitting and rejoining. There was a tour group there as well, and at one point I laid down on the cool concrete and got lost in the vast reaches of our galaxy, mesmerized by the constellations, shooting starts, and satellites. The Stars at Night, y'all! This little trip is definitely worth your time.

Recommended... There is plenty of conversation and perspective that express that the "Lights" are not real.... Wrong.

Always a nice starry view in the cold as weary strangers gather on the viewing deck sharing their thoughts on what they see. I personally am still waiting to see the lights.

Away from the big city lights of Marfa and Alpine with good bathrooms and an upper deck. You can certainly see a long way but can you see the Marfa lights? Go and find out it's about 12 miles East of Marfa.

Oct 7, 2017 we arrived around 10:45 pm and we immediately saw the lights. The lights we saw were white, red and green. Most of the lights were triangular in shape but the most exciting ones were a bright orb that would move fast like a worm and then poof be gone. Take binoculars! We stayed for approx 30 minutes and saw lights the entire time.

Settling in to wait for lights to appear, we were wrapped in blankets trying to stay warm. Sitting on the patio of the Marfa Lights Viewing Area, the views were expansive. The night was clear,and the temperature was in the thirties. Lights were visible to the west in the mountains which could easily have been vehicles on a road there. However, along the horizon to the south, faint white lights would appear off and on. Not real sure if these were the "Marfa Lights", but interesting anyway. The new moon and Venus in the western sky made for a beautiful evening.

We arrived on a cool, clear September night not really knowing what to expect. We kinda wondered around until we got to the back part of the viewing area. Off in the horizon, by the radio tower beacon, these bright white/yellow lights would appear for about 15 seconds and then fade away. Then 30 seconds later they would reappear in a different spot, only to do the same thing again and again. I'm told they don't always appear so we were lucky. Cool story and even cooler to see.

Perhaps I didn’t wait long enough but so nothing other than more tourists walking around. The visitor across from me was very annoying as he insisted on keeping the interior lights on in his car.

No one can guarantee you to see a phenomenon. That should be your first clue. You are guaranteed to see the lights if you go to the free visitor center just outside Marfa. Yes if you time the lights and the cars coming up hwy 67 it becomes apparent that you are seeing car lights.
Texas Monthly even did an investigation on this a few months ago. But it’s fun to pretend that you are seeing them.
The visitors center is clean and safe and has stocked restrooms.

I didn't see no mystery lights but then I wasn't seriously expecting to. From what I've read the lights appear less than one night in ten. The viewing area is well-executed and has eco-friendly restrooms. It's far enough out of town that the night sky is incredibly dark and the stars are fabulous. Bring binoculars and look at the stars. Be advised that this is a very popular attraction - I was there at 10 PM on a weeknight and there were about 100 people there.

If you are in the area it’s a fun evening at the Marfa Lights Viewing Area. Restrooms are available and a viewing area to see if you can see the mysterious lights. We were there on a very cold night so we couldn’t stay too long but it was fun to watch the sunset and visit with the other tourist who were there.