Nearest desert? (Austin, El Paso, Spring: live, parks, areas)

[oitani]

where is the nearest desert from Austin? it doesn't have to be a big area or anything. Just somewhere where there is cactus and stuff.

[centralaustinite]

umm . . . there are plenty of cactus, prickly pears, and succulent plants in Austin!

No reason to travel to see that! Otherwise, head out I-10 west, stop where ever you feel it is desert-y enough for you (west of Austin to LA)

[jdevelop2]

I would like to know the answer to this to. With all due respect to the above answer, no one is going to look around Austin and call what they see desert. Anyone would look around Palm Springs and call it desert. So where exactly heading west does the shift happen? In other words, where would most people describe what they see as more desert than anything else? Thanks!

[drshdw]

Google Maps?

[BevoLJ]

I would recommend going out towards Junction. You could probably find some good areas here or there in the hill country closer but I doubt what you are really looking for. If you are looking for dunes then you will need to go down to Padre Islands and they have some great ones. Either way to really find a good desert if you are looking for a filming spot or something then it will be a couple hour drive from Austin and 5 hours for the really good dunes down in South Texas.

[centralaustinite]

Technically, deserts are defined by annual rainfall. The Chihuahua desert is the only North American desert that covers part of Texas. Here is a helpful map!

File:Chihuahua desert.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[debzkidz]

Monahans Sandhills State Park in Monahans Texas. Great Sand Dunes. Most all of West Texas is a desert.

[CptnRn]

Add to that the Davis Mountains State Park.

TPWD: Davis Mountains State Park

[tstone]

Originally Posted by jdevelop2

I would like to know the answer to this to. With all due respect to the above answer, no one is going to look around Austin and call what they see desert. Anyone would look around Palm Springs and call it desert. So where exactly heading west does the shift happen? In other words, where would most people describe what they see as more desert than anything else? Thanks!

The shift happens roughly west of the Pecos River. Another shift happens at El Paso and again at exit zero around Anthony TX/NM. I enjoyed the drive through far southern AZ on I-8 through the stovepipe cactus patches.

BTW prickly pear (Opuntia) is native to several US regions. And I agree, there is really nothing desert-y about Austin. Post Oaks, Live Oaks, Cedars, Maples, and the Lost Pines in Bastrop are all Southern with a crunchy Texas twist. Unless you get a massive flood in the spring, then it gets as green or even greener than East Texas.

[oitani]

Thanks for all the replies! but okay so can someone give me the nearest city? Like what city west of the Pecos River?
BTW its for a film scene. thanks.