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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Big Lake
Skip unless you have a specific reason (oilfield history, a quiet night on US 67). Half an hour at the Santa Rita No. 1 well and the Hickman Museum, then move on.
Big Lake is a small West Texas town on US 67, halfway between San Angelo and Fort Stockton. Its two sights — the Santa Rita No. 1 oil derrick and the Hickman Museum — can be seen in under an hour. Most travellers pass through without stopping.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heat)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–120 excl. bed · High $120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Lunch plate (chicken fried steak) | $10–15 |
| Beer (bottle) | $3–5 |
| Motel room (double) | $60–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SJT · San Angelo Regional Airport (Mathis Field)
- About 60 miles north; limited flights from Dallas/Fort Worth.
- MAF · Midland International Air & Space Port
- About 70 miles west; more connections.
Typical fares
- San Angelo → Big Lake (car)
- about 1 h, 60 miles
- Midland → Big Lake (car)
- about 1 h 10 min, 70 miles
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. The town is small enough to walk between the museum and a couple of eateries, but the Santa Rita well is 4 miles west on US 67.
See and do
Known for
- Santa Rita No. 1 oil well (1923 gusher)
- Hickman Museum
- Quiet stop on US 67
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ozona | US 67 south, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Sonora, Texas | US 67 south then I-10 east, about 1 h | 1 h |
| Brady, Texas | US 87 north, about 1 h 15 min | 1 h 15 min |
| Eldorado, Texas | TX 137 south, about 30 min | 30 min |
Sleep
- Along US 67 / TX 137
- Motels near the highway junction; Derrick Inn and OYO Hotel are the main options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Howdy |
| Thank you | Thanks |
| How much is it? | How much? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Where's the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Hickman Museum is by appointment only: call ahead (+1 325-884-2511).
- No gas station on the highway west of town for about 30 miles; fill up in Big Lake.
- Summer temperatures exceed 38°C (100°F); carry water.
Very low crime. The main risk is heat exhaustion in summer and wildlife (deer) on the highway at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Big Lake yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Santa Rita No. 1 oil well (1923 gusher)
- Hickman Museum
- Quiet stop on US 67
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Big Lake, revision 5068411 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5068411
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/big-lake). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.