Marathon Motel & RV Park

We left here early -- the train noise was out of hand, and it was just a parking lot at the hotel, so we left and headed to Marfa. There are a few places to eat and some bars in town, but no laundromat and you need to get gas way before you get there!

It's a short walk to a great town full of wild transplants with even wilder stories...

As for the park itself, I spent almost every night at the fire pit (where we were given free wood nightly) in the adobe courtyard. Met bikers and families and other travelers many nights, others locals would come over and we'd all exchange stories as to how we arrived at this middle-of-nowhereland.

While the RV park itself isn't much, there is a little cafe that is randomly open on the property, and a pirate radio station. While there, we were given access to program the station however we'd like, which was pretty much the coolest thing ever.

Marathon itself is a constantly changing town. We've visited on several occasions. Sometimes there was a cute little coffee shop open, other times the owners had sold it and moved on. Same for various bars and other restaurants. The Gauge hotel offers a free driving range complete with putting green to anyone who wants to stop by (not at the hotel itself, but on the other side of town from the RV Park).

The owner, Danny, at the RV Park treated us literally like family, especially my son.

And while the train is very loud, and I could see how that could DEFINITELY annoy people, we got used to it and had fun leaving pennies on the tracks to get flattened...

Definitely not for everyone, but I am in love with Marathon. I don't remember what the nightly rate is, but our monthly rate was $300 and some change.

This campground is now for sale and the amenities and staff seem to reflect the focus on milking it for all they can get. Showers are $5. There is 1 working washer and dryer. Wifi doesn't work at site 13 -- it is way up by the 50 amp service lot.

Sites for 30 amp users are a gravel parking lot. Sewer connections are uphill and raised by 6-8" above the ground. No shade. Just a picnic table.

This park is a launching point for those heading to Big Bend early the next morning or a return/dump spot for those in Chisos Basin or Cottonwood (no dump station).

As of January 2015, there is gas and diesel in town and French's grocery store has some goods available. Do not plan to stock up in Marathon for a trip to Big Bend.

Johnny B's is a great stop for Breakfast.

We were happy with our site, but we were put on the hill at the far back of the campground and motel. We were put there presumably because we have a motorhome, but the sign said 36' and over and we told them we're under 30. Not sure if their length includes the toad, but since we were overnighting I guess that's what they were thinking. The front lot was mostly empty except for a few small trailers, so I guess there's some segregation going on? The woman at the desk was very kind, helpful, and seemed genuinely excited to work there.

We had a pull-thru with a nice view of the town and even the mountains from our back windows, and it was pretty quiet. Wi-fi was decent back there and cell service fantastic with no booster needed.

Electric hookups were at the very back of the site so our power cord barely reached with our car still attached, and our sewer hose wouldn't reach at all. We didn't feel like unhooking the car, so we just decided to dump at the next place we go.

They're doing some paving and construction around the front area, so maybe they're fixing it up further? The restaurant was closed and things seemed to be in a state of flux, but for $23 after the Good Sam discount I wasn't complaining. We were just here to work for a few hours and rest for the next day's drive to Marfa.

The short version: ask for one of the back sites if they aren't full of motorhomes. That seems to make a difference between a bad experience and a good one. We wished it hadn't been raining because we wanted to ride our bikes into downtown Marathon and try the coffee shop and a couple of the cute little bars and restaurants, but hopefully next time.

We stayed based on reviews here and the fact that we could use Passport America (half off the price shown above) before moving on to a more expensive park in Alpine. If we didn't have reservations and packages coming to the next park, we might have stayed longer. We were able to walk or ride our bikes into town and it was a quiet place to get some work finished. We did hear the train a few times, but maybe we've become immune to them because it didn't bother us.

On the couple of clear nights, Danny, the owner, brought out his large telescope and gave us star tours. He also told us what time we would be able to see and get a photo of the Milky Way.

The sites are gravel and area is scrubby, but that's west Texas. The grass in the courtyard is some of the most lush we've ever seen, though, and our dog just wanted to roll around forever. The wildflowers were also blooming while we were there in April.

We didn't use the restrooms, but they looked like single large rooms decorated in Southwestern tile. The laundry room was out of commission. We had a spot on the hill in the back.

We stopped for two nights at Marathon Motel and RV Park before entering the Verizon dead zone in Big Bend National Park. Its proximity to the National Park and amenities made it a worthwhile stop for us. The park has a lovely courtyard area with a fountain and fireplace open to both motel and RV guests.

The park has two areas for RVs – the 50amp loop towards the back has some trees and seems to have nicer sites. The 30amp area is just a large flat gravel parking area with hookups. There is not much separation between sites, just enough room for a picnic table, and no privacy. The 30amp sites are also right next to the road, with the train tracks just a little further away – so not particularly quiet. We arrived on a Wednesday without reservations and snagged the last available spot in the 30 amp area. I’d recommend reservations if you can make them – we never had any luck with the park’s website nor could we get anyone to answer the phone.

Marathon is a small town without much in the way of services, although the Gage Hotel has a very nice restaurant and bar for those so inclined. The RV park’s laundry facility was not open/working when we visited, so we made the 30 mile drive to Alpine for a laundromat and grocery store, neither is available in Marathon. Alpine is a nice little college town and worth a visit if you have the time.

Note: $35 is the regular daily rate, the park offers a Passport America 50% discount ($17.50/night) for two nights.

We had 3 bars of Verizon 4G unboosted. The park also offers free wifi, but it was marginal.

We stayed here for 3 nights in February 2018. We paid an average of $24. a night with our Passport America membership. We honestly weren't expecting much when we booked this campground but after we arrived we found it to be a small oasis in the desert. We felt it had a very old west charm. The staff was friendly and accommodating, the grounds were well kept. We stayed in the front area of the campground which is basically a dirt lot with hookups. They have a dump station for those in need, a laundry(honestly wasn't the greatest), showers, they offer boondocking spots, a beautiful courtyard area with green grass, tables and chairs an outdoor fireplace and although the clouds didn't co-operate while we were there we were told they are a big star watching location equipped with there own mini observatory. Great place for photography buffs.There is not much to do in the town of Marathon, we had appetizers, drinks and dessert at the White Buffalo Bar in the Gage Hotel, I HIGHLY recommend the oyster nachos! Alpine is the closest larger town @ 30 minutes away if in need of supplies. If you have a low riding rig there is a slight hill at the entrance/exit so take it slow, we didn't have any issue with our 30' Airstream but witnessed a few others bottoming out upon exiting. If you're a light sleeper there are train tracks across the street, the earliest train was @ 5-5:30, wasn't an issue for us, kind of added to the charm.

Doll and I stayed here for about 2 months. The place is beautiful and the people that work here are fantastic. My favorite spots in the Park are the courtyard and the garden, with their herbs and fruit trees.

The high school held their prom in the courtyard while we were here. The kids had a great time.

The RV spots are maintained well, and the motel rooms are impeccably clean. Danny, who owns the place, is a blast and he obviously takes great pride in the Park.

Each evening there are "Star Parties" hosted by Bill who is the resident expert on all things Astronomy. There are high powered telescopes onsite that Bill will help you use.

The tent areas are on raised above-ground "platforms" with a mixture of shredded tires and sand. Much more comfortable than the hard ground.

There isn't much shade in the RV areas and when we were here in June 2018, it routinely hit 105-107 degrees F.

Alpine is where most people go to shop that stay here. There are a couple of stores in town but they tend to be a bit pricey.

Bring some ear plugs though because the trains are pretty close and have there typical LONG-LONG-SHORT-LONG whistle blowing schemes going throughout the night.

Oh, and you can get propane delivered right to your rig without leaving the park! Check at the office for more info on that.

Shouts out to: Danny, Chelo, Mary, Ben, Daniel,Carmen, Sam and the others. You guys rock. See ya next year!!

We stayed here under Passport America, so got the 50% rate. With PA you're never sure what you're going to get, as many of the campgrounds are very run down. Marathon was beautiful. The sites are pretty level, almost all of them have 30/50 service now. The work they have done to the courtyard, motel, and sitting areas make this a very comfortable place to relax. The staff is extremely friendly, and at night they have star watching sessions through some of the large telescopes they have on-site. Marathon is a designated dark-sky city so the views are not obstructed by the glow of lights. Easy in and out, laundry on-site, and the views of the surrounding landscapes are wonderful. We will absolutely be staying here again when we are in the area.

Marathon is in a remote area of Southwest Texas - not much to do without slowing down and enjoying the quirkiness of small town and remote life.

We had the end site so our desert views were wonderful. The nearby train whistle adds such character :-)

Level, gravel sites with decent spacing. 50 amp FHUs and open skies. WiFi didn't work for us. Beautiful community courtyard with fire pit is nicer than most parks in more popular areas.

The Gage Hotel and Gardens are beautiful. We enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner. Don't miss the BBQ place either! Load up on groceries before you get here, the local store is pretty sparce - but again, better than many small towns.