3 Tourist Attractions in Driving Distance From Odessa, TX

Although not as famous as Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, or Houston, the small city of Odessa, TX offers local landmarks and tourist attractions worth visiting. If you are traveling around western Texas in your 2023 Kia Niro Wave and are searching for the best places to visit with your friends or family, here are three great spots you can reach in a short drive from the city.

3 Tourist Attractions in Driving Distance From Odessa, TX

1. Odessa Meteor Crater

One of the largest meteor impact craters in the United States is located just a few miles west of the Odessa city center and is an important local landmark. With a diameter of about 550 feet, this site was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1965 and is estimated to be more than 63,500 years old.

Located at 5599 Meteor Crater Road, the Odessa Meteor Crater is a site you can easily visit from the city. In 2002, a small museum opened its doors to the public right by the impact site, showcasing some of the meteorite pieces that have been recovered in the area throughout the years. Nowadays, the crater is home to several species of local wildlife including coyote, rabbit, bobcat, ground squirrel, and deer.
 

2. Ellen Noël Art Museum

A fine arts center featuring various permanent exhibits and a large sculpture garden, the Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin is another popular tourist attraction in the Odessa city center. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Thursdays between 12:00 pm and 8:00 pm, this place opened its doors to the public in 1985 and has since been known for hosting seasonal events, temporary exhibits, and educational programs.

The Ellen Noël Art Museum is located at 4919 E University Boulevard and is one of the few art museums in the state that has been recognized as an official Smithsonian Affiliate. The permanent collection of this museum features historical photographs and artifacts related to the history of art in the United States from the mid-19th century to the present day.
 

3. Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

Located at 1500 1-20 in the neighboring city of Midland, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum is a popular tourist attraction that showcases a series of exhibits related to the oil and gas industry of the region. A short drive from the Odessa city center, this complex was founded in the 1970s and features a recreation of a typical local town in the 1930s, as well as interactive exhibits on supplemental engines.

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