Visit Big Bend

Marathon Texas Chamber of Commerce

Where the Big Bend and Dark Skies Meets

Local Attractions

Marathon is an iconic part of the Big Bend experience. Bordering Big Bend National Park just 40 miles to the south, it is the closest town to the park's north entrance. This small town of 386 residents will surprise visitors. With amenities like a grocery store, two gas stations, half a dozen restaurants, cafes, and eateries, it has them covered.

Don't miss out on the variety of overnight lodging throughout the town in the form of casitas, cottages, and unique local architecture travelers only find here. Some of Texas's most eclectic lodging options are in Marathon. They are reflections of longtime residents whose personalities and hard work have made this a haven for creativity, art, and diversity. Western luxury can be found in the beautiful rooms at the historic Gage Hotel, as well as comfort in the updated but traditional rooms at Marathon Motel & RV Park.

The Marathon Motel and RV Park is also host to Marathon Sky Park, a premier astrophotography site with world-class astrophotographers gathering deep space data around the clock. See the beautiful night sky up close through a variety of telescopes including Newtonian, Dobsonian reflectors, a Cassegrain Equatorial Telescope, and more. The knowledgeable crew at Marathon Sky Park makes night sky viewing an enlightening experience.

Take the scenic five-mile drive south on Avenue D to Post Park. This county-operated park has public restrooms and dozens of picnic tables and hangout spots. It’s a popular place for locals to throw a line into the stocked pond, and the resident ducks provide free entertainment (if you want to feed the ducks, oats, birdseed, or frozen peas are recommended, as bread is bad for their health). Post Park is shaded by towering cottonwood trees in the summer and is the site of the Annual 4th of July Dance and other events.

Soak up the empty landscapes, slow down to an uncluttered pace of life, enjoy the grand scale of land and sky. Take note of the unique wildlife, abundant birds during migration season, glimpses of pronghorn, mule deer and elk, javelinas, jackrabbits, and more.

Visit Marathon

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Marathon

A former sea captain named Albion Shepard founded Marathon in 1882, declaring that the landscape reminded him of the plains he'd seen during travels around Marathon, Greece.

52 Weeks of Fun

Not Just Destination Finders, But Destination Storytellers

Marathon Texas Chamber of Commerce

Local Attractions

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Marathon

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