Major city · United States
Midland, TexasMidland
Give Midland one night, two if you add the Petroleum Museum and the CAF air museum: it is an oil-town stop on I-20, not a destination in itself.
Midland is the administrative hub of the Permian Basin, a flat west Texas oil city founded as a railroad stop in 1885 and rebuilt by petroleum money in the 1920s. Downtown high-rises, two good museums and a minor-league ballpark fill a day; Odessa is 20 minutes west and shares the airport. Almost everyone arrives by car on I-20 and leaves the same way.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jun–Aug (35 °C (95 °F)+ afternoons), late May–Jun storm seasonavoid Jun–Aug (95 °F (35 °C)+ afternoons), late May–Jun storm season
- Airport
- MAF
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Midland, Texas911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Midland, Texas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyViolent crime is rare and pickpocketing is unusual; the real risks are flash flooding on streets after heavy rain and summer heat.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMAF Midland International Air and Space Port (About 10 mi west of downtown, shared with Odessa; rental cars on site.).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical choice: the city is a grid inside Loop 250 and I-20, traffic is light and parking is free or cheap.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down Mexican plate$14–22
- Street or quick mealBreakfast tacos$3–5 each
- BeerDraught beer at a bar$6–9
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshare$12–20
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Petroleum Museum)about $8 adult (check)
- Budget bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$70
- Mid-range bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$95
- High-end bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$130
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$150 · High US$260
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MAF Midland International Air and Space Port (About 10 mi west of downtown, shared with Odessa; rental cars on site.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Feb
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
Care*
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jul
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Aug
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Best: Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov. Mixed: May. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest May (6 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Midland, Texas: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
4 rd
Feb
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
4 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
4 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6 rd
Jun
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5 rd
Jul
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
5 rd
Aug
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6 rd
Oct
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
5 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
4 rd
Dec
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical choice: the city is a grid inside Loop 250 and I-20, traffic is light and parking is free or cheap. EZRider buses cover most shopping and hotel strips for about $1, but run limited hours — check the current timetable before relying on them.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Odessa
goDoor to door: About 30 min
I-20 west, about 20 min by car
Presidential museum and the meteor crater site; pair it with your MAF flight day.
Monahans Sandhills State Park
goDoor to door: About 1 h
I-20 west past Odessa, about 45 min by car
Sand sledding and dunes; go early or late, midday sand is hot.
Big Bend National Park
overnightDoor to door: 4–5 h
I-20 west to Fort Stockton, then US-385 south
Too far for a day return; sleep in the park or in Terlingua.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown
Walk to the Yucca Theater, Centennial Plaza and Wall Street bars; free 2-hour street parking.
Loop 250 / Garfield St
Chain hotels, easy I-20 access and free parking; you need a car for everything.
West side near the airport
One-night stop before an early MAF departure; nothing to walk to.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 excl. bed
- Mid
- $110–190 excl. bed
- High
- $190+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$160 | US$160 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150 | US$300 |
| Compact rental car, one day1 × US$60 · check | US$60 |
| Fuel, about 100 km of local driving1 × US$10 · check | US$10 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$57 |
| Trip total≈ US$314 per person per day, bed included | US$627 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Breakfast tacos | $3–5 each |
| Sit-down Mexican plate | $14–22 |
| Steak dinner | $30–60 |
| Draught beer at a bar | $6–9 |
| Museum entry (Petroleum Museum) | about $8 adult (check) |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare | $12–20 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Heavy rain floods streets fast; never drive across a flooded road.
- Summer afternoons regularly pass 35 °C (95 °F) — carry water.Summer afternoons regularly pass 95 °F (35 °C) — carry water.
- Distances between sights are long; without a car you are limited to downtown.
- Odessa is a separate city 20 min west: do not book a hotel there for a Midland-only trip.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Midland, TexasMidland
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No consulates in Midland; most countries keep consulates in Houston or Dallas and embassies in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- MAF airport to downtown: about 10 mi, 15–20 min by car or taxi (check)
- EZRider bus fare: about $1 (check)
- Downtown street parking: free for 2 hours
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- The check, please — The check, please
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Midland, Texas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (35 °C+ afternoons), late May–Jun storm season · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MAF: last rental-car desk hours, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters: downtown (Yucca, Centennial Plaza, Wall Street), museum district on W Missouri, I-20 museum strip.
- Place pages with verified hours and prices for the Petroleum Museum, the CAF museum and the Bush Childhood Home.
- Storm and heat fixtures so the page can flag flood and 35 °C days.
Sources
- officialCity of Midland
- officialVisit Midland
- officialMidland International Air and Space Port
- officialPermian Basin Petroleum Museum
- officialMuseum of the Southwest
- officialI-20 Wildlife Preserve
- secondaryWikivoyage: Midland (Texas), revision 5237056 (CC BY-SA 4.0)