El Paso is one of the best-value destinations in Texas. Many of its signature sights are free or inexpensive, food is generous and affordable and hotel rates compare well with larger cities. With a little planning you can fill several days without spending much beyond lodging and gas.
Free museums and sights
The El Paso Museum of Art, the Museum of Archaeology and the National Border Patrol Museum are generally free to enter, and Chamizal National Memorial is free as well. Concordia Cemetery, San Jacinto Plaza, the Plaza Theatre exterior and the downtown streets cost nothing to explore, and the Scenic Drive overlook is one of the best free views in Texas. The Mission Trail churches and the San Elizario plaza are also free to visit, though donations are welcome. Check opening days, since many city museums close on Mondays.
Low-cost outdoors
Franklin Mountains State Park charges a modest day-use fee, and the trails offer hours of hiking for the price of a coffee. Hueco Tanks has a state park entry fee and an extra charge for guided tours, which are worth the money for the rock art. Cerro de Cristo Rey is free to hike. Pack water, snacks and sun protection to avoid buying them on the road, and start early to enjoy the cooler hours.
Where to spend
Choose one or two paid experiences and skip the rest. A guided Hueco Tanks tour, a Chihuahuas game, an evening ghost walk or a self-guided scavenger hunt each cost far less than a typical city tour. A private Ciudad Juarez tour is a bigger expense, so consider it only if you value the guide and the logistics. A UTV adventure at Red Sands is a splurge, so reserve it for a special occasion or share the cost among a group.
Eating cheaply
Breakfast burritos, enchilada plates, tacos and daily lunch specials are filling and affordable. Family-run restaurants near the missions and in older neighborhoods are often the best value. Look for lunch specials, which can be half the price of dinner, and share large plates. Grocery stores sell fresh tortillas, fruit and local cheese for picnics, and a cooler in the car is the best friend of the budget traveler in summer.
Lodging strategy
Hotels downtown, near the airport and on the west side range from budget to mid-priced. The Holiday Inn Express downtown and the Econo Lodge on the west side are the most economical choices in this guide, while suite hotels with kitchens, such as Homewood Suites and TownePlace Suites, let you cook some meals and cut food costs. Prices vary with conventions, university events and school holidays, so compare a few dates if you are flexible, and look for weekend rates at business-oriented downtown hotels.
Getting around
A rental car is the most flexible way to see the region, and parking is usually free or cheap outside downtown. If you stay downtown, consider using the streetcar and rideshare for city-center outings and renting a car for just a day or two for Hueco Tanks and the Mission Trail. Fill up the tank before heading to remote areas, since stations can be sparse.
A sample budget day
Start with a breakfast burrito, hike a short trail in the Franklin Mountains, picnic in the shade and spend the afternoon in the Museum of Art and the Archaeology Museum. Finish with sunset on Scenic Drive and a taco dinner. The total cost, beyond lodging, can be very low. Add a Chihuahuas game or a ghost tour on another evening, and you have a rich, varied trip that proves El Paso's value.
Money-saving habits
Carry a refillable water bottle, bring your own snacks and sun protection and look for free community events such as outdoor concerts and festivals at Chamizal and downtown plazas. Check city and state websites for discount days, senior or military rates and family passes. Book tours directly in advance when a discount is offered, and ask whether kids are free. Avoid peak convention dates for lodging, and consider staying a night on the edge of town to cut costs. Small choices like these add up, and they leave more of your budget for the experiences you will remember.
