El Paso makes an ideal launchpad for discovering the natural beauty, quirky oddities, and open skies of West Texas and southern New Mexico. The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park is a comfortable, historic place to return to, offering rich culture, exceptional dining, and warm hospitality right at your door. Whether you’re here for a brief stop or a longer stay, we make it easy to explore the region on your terms.

Discover the Dunes of White Sands National Park

1.5 hours away

One of the most stunning sights in the American Southwest, White Sands National Park stretches across 275 square miles of the Tularosa Basin in New Mexico. These snow-white gypsum dunes shimmer under the sun and shift with the wind, forming otherworldly patterns across the landscape. The area is home to unique plant and animal life that has adapted to this rare environment, and it’s a peaceful, surreal place to hike, picnic, or just take in the view.

Escape to the Desert in Big Bend

4.5 hours away

Big Bend Country showcases the full range of West Texas’s rugged beauty. This region includes part of the Chihuahuan Desert and some of the only mountains in the state, including the Chisos, Davis, Franklin, and Guadalupe ranges. Whether you’re climbing peaks, kayaking the Rio Grande, or stargazing from a quiet trail, Big Bend offers vast space to reconnect with nature. Hike the forested slopes, explore desert trails, or just take in the silence and scale of the landscape. Each direction offers something a little different, ranging from dry canyons to snow-dusted ridges.

Connect With Nature at Hueco Tanks

45 minutes away

A quick drive from The Plaza, Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site is one of the most geologically and culturally significant places in Texas. For thousands of years, natural rock basins called huecos have collected rainwater, supporting microhabitats in the desert and drawing travelers and settlers alike.

Visitors today can hike, climb, and take guided tours of the site’s well-preserved pictographs, including an extraordinary collection of face designs painted by the Jornada Mogollon people. Hueco Tanks is a worthy stop just outside the city for those interested in history, nature, and outdoor adventures.

Embrace Your Artistic Side in Marfa

3 hours away

Small, strange, and full of surprises, Marfa is unlike anywhere else. This tiny desert town draws artists, creatives, and curious travelers from around the world. What started with Donald Judd’s move from New York in the 1970s has grown into a hub for modern art and unconventional living.

Today, Marfa is home to art installations, architecture tours, boutique hotels, galleries, independent coffee shops, and restaurants. The Chinati and Judd Foundations preserve the original vision, but there’s also a rotating cast of contemporary artists who add their own influence to this unlikely creative outpost. Spend a day (or a weekend) wandering between minimalist art, wide-open spaces, and thoughtful local spots.

From gypsum dunes to mountain trails, ancient rock art to contemporary installations, El Paso is surrounded by natural and cultural landmarks worth the drive. The Plaza gives you the convenience of a city stay with easy access to the quiet, open beauty of the Southwest. Our Five Years a Legend package is the perfect way to elevate your El Paso road trip even further, ensuring that it’s one you’ll cherish for years to come. Make our city your one-of-a-kind destination, and let us be your home base while you explore what’s waiting just down the road.