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Highway 118: Alpine to Fort Davis, Davis Mountains, Texas
Photo: Justin Cozart from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Drives Texas Big Bend and West Texas

Highway 118: Alpine to Fort Davis

TX 118, Fort Davis Highway · Alpine → Fort Davis

Leisurely22 mi25 min1,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 5,000 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 118 between Alpine and Fort Davis is the short, scenic way into the Davis Mountains. It leaves Alpine, home of Sul Ross State University, and heads north past the airport across high, open grassland, with the mountains rising ahead.

Partway along, the road drops into Musquiz Canyon and turns winding and steep for a few miles. There are picnic tables in the canyon by the ruins of a pioneer homestead. Past the canyon is the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, about four miles before Fort Davis, with a botanical garden, a cactus and succulent greenhouse and miles of hiking trails.

The drive ends entering Fort Davis, the highest town in Texas, where the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop begins. Highway 118 carries on through town past Fort Davis National Historic Site, a frontier army post.

Along the way

  1. Alpine
  2. Fort Davis
Elevation
1,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 5,000 ft
AlpineFort Davis
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
AlpineFort Davis
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • It's a two-lane highway the whole way.
  • The curves and grades are in Musquiz Canyon; the rest is open and gentle.
  • The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center is open Monday through Saturday and charges admission.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check TxDOT DriveTexas.

Questions about this drive

How long is the drive from Alpine to Fort Davis?

Highway 118 from Alpine to Fort Davis is 21.6 miles and takes about 25 minutes.

Is Highway 118 from Alpine to Fort Davis scenic?

Yes. It crosses high grassland with views of the Davis Mountains, then winds through Musquiz Canyon before reaching Fort Davis.

What is there to see between Alpine and Fort Davis?

The picnic area by the homestead ruins in Musquiz Canyon, and the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, with its botanical garden and cactus greenhouse, about four miles south of Fort Davis on Highway 118.

Is Highway 118 between Alpine and Fort Davis twisty?

Only in Musquiz Canyon, where it turns winding and steep for a few miles. The rest of the drive is open and gentle.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highway 118: Alpine to Fort Davis, from Alpine to Fort Davis