In West Texas, you are sure to find some of the best things to do in Odessa. With multiple outdoor and indoor options, you can plan exactly what your family needs for a fun day trip or weekend adventure in Odessa. In this guide, you’ll find places to stay, great food to eat, and fun activities for the whole family.
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How to get to Odessa, Texas?
Where is Odessa, TX?
Odessa, Texas is in West Texas, in the heart of the Permian Basin. It is the midpoint between El Paso and DFW. Being sparsely populated in the vast West Texas area, Odessa is a welcome spot of food, fun, and artistic features.
Getting to Odessa
There are multiple flights a day coming in and out of Odessa/Midland Airport. The airport is called Midland International Air and Space Port – Code MAF. American Airlines, Southwest and United all fly into Odessa from seven major airports (DAL, DEN, DFW, HOU, IAH, LAS, and PHX).
If driving, from DFW to Odessa is 5 1/2 hours and San Antonio to Odessa is five hours. Driving from El Paso to Midland takes 4 hours. From Houston to Odessa is 8 hours.
Where to Stay
Our family absolutely loved our time at the Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center located at 30305 E 5th St. It is convenient for food and fun in Odessa and walking distance to Torchy’s Tacos and Southern Maid Donuts!
The Odessa Marriot Hotel and Conference Center is honestly one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed in. From the moment you walk in you will be amazed by the decor and design. The garden event center is full of activity and an easy lounge area. You will want to spend time hanging out in the sparkling pool area or around the fireplace.
The Marriott Hotel and Conference center offers an on-site restaurant, Barrel and Derrick that looked incredible.
If you want to stay for free at the Odessa Marriot Hotel, it is only 17,500 points. With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card you can earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Book a Room at the Marriott Hotel
Other Hotels in Odessa
There are many other options for places to stay in Odessa. You will find most of the chain hotels you know and love. The rates are affordable, giving you more funds to use for entertainment or food around Odessa.
Booking.comBest Time to Visit
Odessa is in the middle of West Texas Permian Basin. It can get hot in the summers. The best time to visit to have great weather is in the late fall or early spring. However, many of the activities mentioned in this article are indoors and can be fun year-round.
Visitors Information
Discover Odessa is the center for travel to the city of Odessa. Check out the website for more information and event planning. Or stop into their office at 700 North Grant, Suite 200 to talk with an Odessa Expert about what your trip can be.
What to do in Odessa With Kids
When you travel with kids, its best to find places with wide open spaces, interactive movement and interesting outdoor adventures. Odessa has a variety of fun options for kids that parents will enjoy, too.
1. Rim Rock Raceway
This outdoor racing track will be an adventure to remember for the whole family. The go-carts go up to 60 miles per hour, giving you plenty of speed to whip around the laps in your 10 minute race time. Rim Rock Raceway offers single seater, double seaters and cadet go-carts (for kids under 14). The cadet go-carts only go 30 mph.
The staff is very helpful if your cart is having problems or your kid veers off the road a bit.
This isn’t like bumper cars, its a face paced race going around corners as fast as you feel comfortable. Everyone is outfitted with helmets with a wind shields. Keep all your pockets empty and keep phones and keys in the car so you don’t lose anything on the ride.
RimRock Raceways provides such a fun experience for every age in your family.
4Kidz Fun Park
Loacted in a strip mall spot in the middle of the main street, you will be surprised at all the fun behind the front doors of 4Kidz Fun Park.
The Fun Park has 2 ninja warrior type course, with an air pillow to catch you when you fall. Or grab a harness and hook your rope into the track for a walk in the clouds around the ropes course.
The play area has a variety of fun options to mix up the kids entertainment. Of course you will love the standard slides, climbs and swings. But you’ll also find a ball room with ball shooters on the second level. Throw the ball into the center machine and watch it spit them out high into the air.
Sit down on the inflatable tube for a ride down a steep slide. Or get a group of 4 friends to race together down the track.
If you have a baby, there is a section just for them with soft, climbable toys, balls and crawling areas.
You will also find arcades and a small carousel to play on. 4Kidsz Fun Park is sure to be a hit to get out energy for all the kids.
Ice Skating at Music City Mall
Inside the Music City Mall, you will find an ice skating rink. No matter the weather outside, you can cool off and feel the wind in your hair while you glide around the rink.
Its easy to rent skates perfect to your liking to get on the ice any time you want. They offer a small support to skate around with for the littlest skater or someone who need more help. My kids loved the stability these provided as they learned to move on the ice. As the parent, I loved being able to help them skate without getting my own feet tangled up in theirs.
I can honestly say that ice skating together as a family was one of my favorite memories. We all laughed and interacted with each other in such a fun way. I loved teaching my kids to spin, skate backward, stop and balance.
Ice skating isn’t always as simple to find or access as this rink is. You can grab some food in the food court as you watch other skaters going around. Just outside the rink, is a small play area for toddlers. You could make a whole day of skating and exploring all the mall has to offer.
Altitude Trampoline Park
Kids always love the chance to jump and run and use all their energy in a positive and exciting way. And you will love the chance to get moving with your kids. Altitude Trampoline park offers foam pits, basketball and plenty of trampolines, fun for all ages.
Odessa Crater
This free exhibit shows a spot where earth was hit by a meteorite. The meteorite was only the size of small car, but created a crater 600 feet wide. Walk along a paved trail all the way through the crater to view the second crater nearby.
The small museum located on-site has actual rocks from space as well as information about the local crater and others around the world. While this is a free sight, it doesn’t offer any rest rooms, so come prepared.
Monahans Sandhill State Park
Rent a sand disc for some sledding down the sandhills of the state park. Monahans is located 30 minutes West of Odessa. Outdoor fun and adventure is perfect for the kids. Kids under 12 get into the state park free.
Art for Photo Ops
Stonehenge Replica
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Stonehenge is an exact replica of Stonehenge in England. Located in an open space with plentiful close parking, you will love how simple it is to find a replica of Stonehenge.
My husband and I went to the real Stonehenge in England. It is in the middle of nowhere and after parking you have to take a shuttle or walk a mile to get close to the stones. The stones are actually very far away and of course, touching is forbidden. The Stonehenge Replica in Odessa is so much better for kids! You can walk in, around, and under the stones. The kids can interact and touch and even climb on a few. Looking at both of my experiences, the Stonehenge in Odessa is the perfect place to take kids!
Enjoy the Stonehenge Replica at sunset or lit up at night for a varied experience.
The Spire
As the largest outdoor lighted art work in Texas, the Odessa Spire will point you to the sky as you look up to its beauty.
Jack Ben Rabbit – JackRabbit Jamboree
There are 32 Jackrabbits located around the city of Odessa. Grab a map guide on their website to easy spot each Rabbit and learn their names. The biggest Jackrabbit is located at 802 N Houston, so grab selfie with Jack Ben Rabbit.
Chris Kyle Memorial
As an sniper and important military man, Chris Kyle is honored in Odessa. This statue as well as the surrounding area honors all veterans and military service. You will find quotes, plaque and information to give respect and revere those who sacrifice for our county. Take a moment to stop and give thanks to our service men.
Where to Eat in Odessa
Dumplins Y Amigos
With home cooking and large portions, you will love the food at Dumplins Y Amigos. Open for breakfast and lunch, you can order omelets or breakfast all day. But also can get burgers, Mexican food and the best chips and fresh salsa! Be prepared to leave feeling full as every meal comes with lots of extras.
41 10 Cocktails and Dining
You will love the design and ambiance in Forty One Ten Cocktails and dining. From the moment you walk in, you are met with quality decorations and all the finishing details. But that is only the beginning of your journey.
The appetizers are the best way to start your meal. Don’t miss the cheese fries and nachos. With multiple food options everyone in your party is sure to find excatly what fits them. The Hog pizza, artisan tacos and brisket sandwich is our family favorite, but we haven’t tried everything yet.
With half the menu being drinks and cocktails, this is the place to go for a relaxing evening. Choose to sit at the bar or dining area. You’ll love looking at a couple TV’s if you want entertainment, but they aren’t loud or demanding as there are plenty of places to have a quiet conversation with a group.
Torchy Tacos
Accross from the Odessa Marriot Hotel and Conference Center, you need to try this Texas favorite. Torchy’s Tacos offer a variety of unique combinations of tacos. We love the Democrat and Republican, but you can try both for a political debate in your mouth about which is best. You might even like the “roscoe” which is multiple breakfast (waffle, bacon, egg, etc) all stacked up in a taco.
Don’t miss the Chips and Queso-add choriso for even more flavor.
The kids menu at Torchy’s offers more than most, as well as a souvenir cup. Torchy’s taco is a great place to bring the kids with indoor and outdoor casual seating areas.
Southern Maid Donuts
With a little sugar craving we drove through the drive in for a donut. Much to our surprise, Southern Maid Donuts are the most melt-in-your-mouth delicious donut we have ever had. With a cheap price and incredible taste we went back for donuts ever day (or twice a day) while visiting Odessa. Southern Maid Donuts have some unique flavor varieties like Cherry or Orange Coconut (both of our favorites). But don’t miss out on your favorite classic like cream cheese filled or apple fritters. All the donuts are really delicious. Can’t recommend Southern Maid Donuts enough.
More Dining Options in Odessa
There are plenty of quick-eating options, we especially loved the southern fried chicken and authentic tacos. If you are looking for more restaurant dining options some of the highly recommended places that we haven’t tried yet are the Cork and Pig Tavern and Legendary Barn Door & Steakhouse. And if you are in Texas, you should definitely try authentic BBQ at a place like Wagon Wheel Bar-B-Que or Johnny’s BBQ.
Ideal Itinerary for Your Family in Odessa
Day 1
- Breakfast at Dumplin Y Amigos
- Morning activity at 4Kidz FunPark
- Stop for a selfie with Jack Ben Rabbit
- Grab a mid-morning snack at Southern Maid Donuts
- Lunch at Torchy Tacos
- Ice Skating at MCM
- Wander around the Stonehenge Replica
- Go-cart Racing at RimRock Raceways
- Dinner at Forty One Ten Odessa
- See the Spire in the Dark
Day 2
- Breakfast Donuts at Southern Maid
- Visit the Odessa Crater
- Sand Board at Monahans Sandhill State Park
- Lunch at Cork and Pig Tavern
- Honor Veterans with a visit to the Chris Kyle Memorial
- Jump around Altitude Trampoline Park
- Play at Progressive Park
- Jamboree Scavenger Hunt around town for Jack Rabbit Statues.
- Dinner at the Legendary Barn Door and Steak House
More activities near Odessa
Pair Odessa with a trip to Midland (only 30 mins away) and have a full weekend of fun in West Texas Permian Basin.
Odessa is 3.5 hours from Big Bend. Plan a few days in Texas’ largest National Park
If you are traveling around Texas, Don’t miss other destinations for family fun.
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