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Odessa, TexasOdessa

Odessa, Texas.
Photo: Vasiliymeshko, CC BY 4.0

Give Odessa one night, two at most: the museums and the Globe are a half-day, and Midland holds most of the rest. Come for a Permian High football Friday or a concert, not as a base.

Odessa is an oil-and-gas town of about 100,000 on Interstate 20 in West Texas, 20 miles west of Midland and 350 miles west of Dallas. It is the birthplace of the Friday Night Lights story, and its sights — a presidential museum, an art museum, a Stonehenge replica, a Globe Theatre copy — are spread along University Boulevard and downtown. Almost everything needs a car. One night covers it; two if you add the meteor crater and Monahans.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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More ways in
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Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jun–Aug (100°F+ afternoons), late Dec–Jan (cold nights, ice risk)
Airport
Midland/Odessa (MAF)
Nights
1–2

About Odessa, Texas

Odessa is a West Texas city of 120,000 people (2018), sitting 20 mi (32 km) west of its sister city, Midland, at the junction of US Highway 385 and Interstate 20. Oil and gas dominate the local industry, and the Midland/Odessa area is informally called the petroplex. The city is the fountainhead of the Friday Night Lights media franchise, which started with a 1990 book on football at Permian High School, then a movie and a TV series. Many area attractions are in Midland, so the Midland guide is worth a look too. Sights include a Stonehenge replica, a Globe Theatre reproduction and a presidential museum.

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Odessa, Texas: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices

See

What is worth your time in Odessa, Texas.

  • Ratliff Stadium — School-district-owned football ground that is the wellspring of the Friday Night Lights franchise.
  • Stonehenge Odessa — A full-size replica of the neolithic Stonehenge site on the UT Permian Basin campus.
  • Globe of the Great Southwest — A full-sized reproduction of London's Globe Theatre with productions through the year and a replica Anne Hathaway Cottage.
  • Presidential Museum and Leadership Library — Holds memorabilia from each presidency and George W. Bush's childhood home on its grounds.
  • Jack Ben Rabbit — A 10-foot-tall statue billed as the world's largest jackrabbit and the region's unofficial mascot.

Do

  • Attend a production at the Globe of the Great Southwest.
  • See classic movies or live music at the Ector Theater.
  • View rotating exhibits on West Texas life at the White-Pool House.
  • Visit the Odessa Meteor Crater, a National Natural Landmark about 10 miles southwest of town.

Eat and drink

Specialities of this place.

  • Rosa's Cafe and Tortilla Factory — A local favorite that started in the area; fajitas and tortillas made on site, with a window into the kitchen.
  • Bush's Chicken — A chain with a strong local following, known for its Tender Rolls.
  • The Barn Door and Pecos Depot Steakhouse — Described as the town's most reputable high-class restaurant, serving typical steakhouse fare in the old Pecos Depot.
  • Mi Piaci — Italian restaurant run by owners from Albania; the pizza is singled out as the best from a locally owned place.

Customs

  • Oil and gas shape the area's identity, and Midland/Odessa is colloquially known as the petroplex.
  • High school football, especially at Permian High, is central to the city's story through the Friday Night Lights franchise.
  • Mexican and Tex-Mex food is common given the proximity to Mexico, with many restaurants off the beaten path.
Emergency numbers for Odessa, Texas911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Odessa, Texas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealTex-Mex plate at a sit-down restaurant$12–20
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast taco$2.50–5
  • BeerDraught beer at a bar$5–8
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM, about a week$10–25
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Presidential Museum)$8 adults, $5 students (check)
  • Budget bedBudget motel double, a night, per roomUS$65
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel double, a night, per roomUS$85
  • High-end bedBudget motel double, a night, per roomUS$120

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$95 · Mid US$165 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Friday Night Lights and Permian High footballPresidential Museum and Leadership LibraryGlobe of the Great SouthwestStonehenge replica at UT Permian BasinOil and gas (the Permian Basin)
Airports
MAF Midland/Odessa International Airport (About 10 miles east of Odessa, in Midland. Southwest, United Express and American Eagle serve it; no direct international flights beyond Mexico. Rental cars at the terminal.)

Map of Odessa, Texas

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

Midland, TexasMonahansBig SpringLamesaBig LakePecosFort StocktonHobbs

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Odessa, Texas
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  5. May

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid*

    14°C (57°F)

Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug, Dec–Jan. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F) low), wettest May (6 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Odessa, Texas: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

14°C (57°F)

0°C (32°F)

4 rd

Feb

17°C (63°F)

2°C (36°F)

4 rd

Mar

22°C (72°F)

6°C (43°F)

4 rd

Apr

27°C (81°F)

10°C (50°F)

4 rd

May

31°C (88°F)

15°C (59°F)

6 rd

Jun

34°C (93°F)

19°C (66°F)

5 rd

Jul

35°C (95°F)

21°C (70°F)

5 rd

Aug

34°C (93°F)

21°C (70°F)

5 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

17°C (63°F)

6 rd

Oct

26°C (79°F)

11°C (52°F)

5 rd

Nov

19°C (66°F)

4°C (39°F)

4 rd

Dec

14°C (57°F)

0°C (32°F)

4 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: sights sit 3–6 miles apart and sidewalks are patchy. EZRider runs the shared Odessa–Midland bus system, six routes in Odessa, roughly hourly, Monday–Saturday daytime only. Taxis and rideshare exist but wait times are long at night.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Odessa Meteor Crater

go

Door to door: About 30 min

I-20 exit 108, then about 3 miles south on signed ranch roads

Free, self-guided; a shallow 550-ft crater, not a canyon. Short stop, no shade.

Midland, Texasgo

Door to door: About 25 min

I-20 east, about 20 miles

Most of the region's museums and the better restaurant choice are here.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

go

Door to door: About 1 h

I-20 west to Monahans, then park entrance

Sand dunes you can walk or slide on; go early or late, not at midday.

Big Bend National Park

overnight

Door to door: 4–4.5 h

US 385 south via Fort Stockton and Marathon

Far too long for a day return; plan at least two nights there.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

JBS Parkway / Loop 338 (north Odessa)

Hotel strip near the airport road and Music City Mall; easiest for a car-based one-night stop.

Downtown Odessa

Ector Theater and the White-Pool House; few beds, so most visitors sleep on JBS Parkway instead.

Midland side

If your trip is mostly Midland, sleep there: 20–25 min drive each way.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$80–120 excl. bed
Mid
$130–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range chain hotel double1 × 1 night × US$140US$140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$165US$330
Compact rental car, one day1 × US$55 · checkUS$55
Fuel, about 60 miles of local driving1 × US$8 · checkUS$8
eSIM, about a week of US data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$56
Trip total≈ US$310 per person per day, bed includedUS$619

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Breakfast taco$2.50–5
Tex-Mex plate at a sit-down restaurant$12–20
Steakhouse dinner, main course$25–45
Draught beer at a bar$5–8
Museum entry (Presidential Museum)$8 adults, $5 students (check)
Gallon of petrol$2.80–3.40 (check)
eSIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Odessa is a normal West Texas city with a rough edge: property crime is above the US average, so lock the car and don't leave bags visible. The bigger practical risks are heat, long empty drives and alcohol after dark downtown.
  • Summer heat: 100°F/38°C (100°F) afternoons are normal Jun–Aug; carry water.
  • Distances are big — Dallas is about 350 miles, El Paso about 250 miles, Big Bend about 250 miles.
  • Some museums keep short or seasonal hours: check before driving out.
  • Oil-boom traffic on I-20 and Loop 338; dust storms cut visibility in spring.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Odessa Police non-emergency
432-333-3641
Poison control (US)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

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Odessa, TexasOdessa

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Odessa Police non-emergency432-333-3641
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Odessa; nearest consulates are in Houston or Dallas. US passport agencies: El Paso and Houston.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • EZRider single ride, adult: $1.25 (check)
  • Rideshare, downtown to JBS Parkway: $12–18 (check)
  • Rental car, one day, compact: $45–75 plus fuel (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the rental car desk? — Where is the rental car desk?
  • Is this the road to the meteor crater? — Is this the road to the meteor crater?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is Midland from here? — How far is Midland from here?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Odessa, Texas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (100°F+ afternoons), late Dec–Jan (cold nights, ice risk) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MAF: last Southwest arrival, rental-desk hours, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown (Ector Theater, White-Pool House), University Boulevard museums, UT Permian Basin campus.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Presidential Museum, Ellen Noel Art Museum, Globe Theatre, Ratliff Stadium) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Heat and dust fixtures so summer days can go green or amber.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Odessa, Texas

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