During my senior year of high school, my parents moved our family down to Odessa, Texas. It didn’t take long for us to jokingly nickname it “Odessa-lation.” This dusty West Texas town felt desolate, a bit eerie, and honestly—just plain uninviting. So, when my husband and I eventually relocated to Colorado, I was more than happy to leave Odessa in the rearview mirror. I thought my days there were behind me for good—but God clearly had other plans.
When we found out we were moving back to this middle-of-nowhere oil town, I was heartbroken. But I made up my mind: if we were going back, I was going to make the most of it. So, I buckled the kids into the minivan and set off to explore every corner of Odessa in search of fun, adventure, and maybe even a little charm—and we found more than I ever expected!
Odessa may have a reputation for being a place where “there’s nothing to do,” but I’m here to prove that idea wrong.
Discover Odessa:
If you are looking for fun things to do in Odessa, Texas; than discoverodessa.org is the place to start! This is the official website of Odessa and it has a list of everything you need in Odessa to enjoy your stay.
Download the map and find the local Jackrabbits to get your stuffed bunny prize at the end. This website is your tourist guide to the best of Odessa’s museums, murals, BBQs, events, and attractions!
Some other great websites to help you find the best of Odessa, check out are the livingforthree.com and also odessaaf.com.
Kid-Approved Things To Do In Odessa, Texas:
Take A Walk Near Some Exotic Animals
The closest zoo to Odessa, Texas is in Abilene, but you do not have to drive 2 hours to go see exotic animals! A resident of Odessa has a farm of an assortment of exotic animals from camels, to antelopes, small deer, and more! While they are not open for the public to walk through their farm, you are allowed to walk around it.
This is like taking a walk to a next level! Please remember to be considerate and not feed the animals, but just enjoy looking at them! The camels are super friendly, we have never visited and not had to run to the fence to greet us!
Location: 11th, 16th, & Tripp Ave
Test Your Ninja Skills On A Ninja Course At 4Kidz Fun Park
One lesson everyone quickly learns when visiting Odessa, Texas—whether you’re moving in for a new oil job or just making a pit stop off the interstate—is that Odessa is HOT. The intense West Texas heat can make outdoor activities tough, so finding a fun, indoor escape for the kids is a major win.
Enter 4Kidz Fun Park, a giant indoor play gym designed for nonstop adventure. The massive play structure is packed with tunnels to climb through, trampolines to bounce on, nets to crawl over, and—everyone’s favorite—giant slides at the end of every tunnel.
But that’s just the beginning! There’s also a ninja course and ropes course that test strength, balance, and agility. The ninja course features ropes, ladders, and challenging obstacles, while above it all is a raised high ropes course where kids (and brave adults!) wear a harness to navigate safely at new heights.
For the tiniest adventurers, there’s a dedicated baby play area filled with ball pits, soft cushions, and space to jump, crawl, and explore—because even the littlest ones deserve to embrace their inner ninja.
If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly indoor activity to beat the brutal Texas sun, 4Kidz Fun Park is the perfect place to cool off and burn some energy!
Location: 1421 E 8th St, Odessa, TX 79761
Walk around the West Texas Version of Stonehenge
Who says you need to cross the ocean to see Stonehenge? Believe it or not, Odessa is home to its very own desert replica of the iconic monument! It’s easily one of the most photographed spots in town—and definitely one you won’t want to miss.
Located on the campus of the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB), this replica has been a must-see attraction in Odessa for years. Kids will have a blast climbing on the massive stone structures, while you can marvel (and maybe even wonder) if aliens really did have a hand in building the original.
Location:
Hunt Around Town For the Giant Painted Jackrabbits:
Fun Fact About Odessa, Texas: Once upon a time, Odessa was home to a rather wild rodeo event—cowboys on horseback would actually chase and rope jackrabbits! While that (thankfully) isn’t something you’ll see today, the city hasn’t forgotten its quirky history. In fact, Odessa now celebrates it with 32 giant, painted jackrabbit statues scattered all around town.
Each jackrabbit is uniquely decorated to reflect the business or landmark where it’s located—and one of them even holds the title of the World’s Largest Jackrabbit! Want to track them all down? I’ve got a full guide to every rabbit and where to find them—just [click here to check it out].
But let’s make it even more exciting: download the Jackrabbit Jamboree app (available on the Discover Odessa website). This handy app maps out all the jackrabbit locations, and you can “check in” each time you visit one. Find at least 15 jackrabbits, and then head over to the Odessa Chamber of Commerce to claim your prize—a free stuffed jackrabbit of your own!
Check Out Odessa’s Murals
While driving around town checking out the painted Jackrabbits, you might as well keep an eye out for the other local art spotting the town. Rarely will you find an open wall in Odessa that doesn’t have a beautiful depiction of Odessa culture. There are tons of murals around town and to help you find them I have created a map just to take you to the murals around town. Be sure to click here to find the list.
Hike The Comanche Trail
IIt’s pretty rare to find a hiking trail in this part of West Texas. Around here, we like to joke that you can watch your dog run away for three days—it’s that flat and open! So discovering a spot like Comanche Trail feels like striking gold.
Tucked right in the middle of town, this trail still manages to offer a peaceful escape into nature. It winds through a small patch of woods and leads to a quiet pond—an unexpected oasis in the desert. The path is fully paved and easy to navigate, which is a game-changer for families. Bring the stroller and enjoy a relaxing walk without the struggle—because let’s be honest, sometimes you need a “hiking” trail you can cheat a little on!
Trail Information: 3.5 miles
Get Splashed At An Oil Themed Splash Pad
If I could sum up West Texas into one splashpad, this would be the one! Snakes and Oil Dereks, can you get anymore West Texas!? This splash pad located at McKinney Park is such a fun thing to do in Odessa, Texas with kids! It is rarely very crowded, has a giant bucket that dumps water and lots of little Texas animals that squirt water. It is a great way to cool off in the intense West Texas heat!
Location: 625 W Pool Rd, Odessa, TX 79763
Walk Around A Meteor Crater
There is a meteor crater in Odessa, Texas, who woulda thought!? On the west side of Odessa, you will find a small one room museum with meteors and other fancy rocks to give you a little tour into the geologists world. Not gonna lie unless you are a geologist of astronomer, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference between crater and rock. Haha!
Oh well, it is still a nice little educational stop with a nature walk through the desert and a very small museum that teaches about planets and meteors. It is an educational sight with a short walking trail, and did I forget to mention that it is FREE!
Location: 5599 Meteor Crater Rd, Odessa, TX 79763
Feed Hundreds of Pigeons and Ducks
I know this sounds like a strange thing to put on a list of things to do, but you HAVE to try these duck ponds! I am telling you, stop by Academy, buy a bag of deer corn, fill up a bucket with the corn, and head to one of these duck ponds! You won’t regret it! The ducks practically swarm to you and will eat right out of your hand if you let them.
Feeding the ducks is one of my kids favorite things to do in Odessa, Texas. Not only do we get our exercise walking around these ponds, but we also get a chance to interact with animals and have fun!
Our Favorite Duck Ponds:
Memorial Garden Park is our number one favorite park for feeding the ducks. These ducks and geese will eat right out of your hands! Not to mention, there are hundreds of pigeons that swarm this park.
The main attraction of this park is the pond it is build around. There is a short trail that will take you around the pond where you can admire statues of art scattered around.
Location: 4730 E 42nd St, Odessa, TX 79762
Comanche Trail South Park
Along the Comanche Trail there is a small pond with tons of geese! I swear these geese are mini velociraptors with how the come at you hissing, but they too will eat right out of your hands!
Another popular thing to do at this pond is to go fishing! Be sure to check the City of Odessa website to known when they stock the ponds!
Jump On The Trampolines At Altitude Trampoline Park
This trampoline park is one of the best places to take kids in Odessa, Texas! Not only is it a blast for the little ones, but for us parents—it’s a secret weapon for wearing them out completely. With foam pits to dive into, swings to launch from, a dodgeball court, climbing zones, basketball hoops, and more, it’s the ultimate energy-burner for high-energy kiddos.
Since my kids are still little, we’re big fans of Toddler Time. Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the park is reserved just for the younger crowd—no big kids around, so it’s safe and stress-free. And for an extra dose of fun, on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, special character guests show up to jump with the kids! We’ve seen Elmo, a triceratops, and even Gekko from PJ Masks!
Price: socks $3 a pair, 60 min- $14, 90 min- $18, 120 min $22, Toddler Time: Adults $2, ages 6 and under $7
Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm
Location: 5161 E 42nd St, Odessa, TX 79762
Play Arcade Games At Cinergy
You really can’t talk about things to do in Odessa, Texas with kids without mentioning Cinergy. Sure, it’s a movie theater—but not just any movie theater. Let me just say, it’s a dang good one! Every seat reclines, the chairs are super comfy, and they’re spaced out so you’re not elbow-to-elbow with strangers. Plus, each seat comes with a tray table—so go ahead and order that popcorn… or a full meal! They’ll even bring your food right to your seat during the movie.
But Cinergy is way more than just a place to watch a film. It’s a full-on entertainment center! There’s an arcade packed with games, a restaurant, bowling alley, ropes course, laser tag, escape rooms, and even VR experiences. It’s the ultimate indoor hangout for families.
Just a heads-up—Cinergy is a hot spot, especially on weekends. Be prepared for a crowd, because chances are, half of Odessa will be there too!
Location: 8250 TX-191, Odessa, TX 79765
Walk around UTPB
Nothing captures the unique West Texas landscape quite like hiking the UTPB Outer Loop. Although this desert trail winds right through town, it still offers a surprising chance to spot Odessa’s local wildlife. Along this 3.6-mile loop around the University of Texas Permian Basin campus, we’ve seen prairie dogs, burrowing owls, and plenty of lizards scurrying across the path.
You’ll also pass by beautiful cacti, cross a few bridges, and even stumble upon a touch of history. On the south side of the loop, make sure to stop and check out George H.W. Bush’s childhood home—a fun little bonus on your hike.
It’s an easy, flat trail—definitely not a mountain climb—but for Odessa, it’s about as close as you’ll get to a real hike!
Trail Information: 3.6 miles
Swim With The Dinosaurs
Okay, maybe not swimming with dinosaurs—but definitely splashing with them! Since I just mentioned UTPB, it’s the perfect time to highlight their awesome dino-themed splash pad—one of the coolest (and busiest!) in all of West Texas.
The massive play structure is topped with a triceratops skeleton and features water spraying from every corner. A giant tipping bucket adds to the fun, dumping water on excited kids below every few minutes. But what really sets this splash pad apart is that it’s more than just water sprayers—there are multiple kid-friendly water slides built right into the structure!
Surrounding the main play area, you’ll find giant dinosaur bones that spray water, keeping the prehistoric theme alive and the little ones soaked and smiling. It’s a super fun and imaginative sprayground that’s perfect for beating the Texas heat!
Location: TX-191 &, TX-338 Loop, Odessa, TX 79762
Best Places To Eat With Kids In Odessa, Texas:
Eat Sliders From a Chopped Winner At Curbside Bistro
Instead of getting burgers that your kids will never finish, try getting sliders! Curbside Bistro serves a large variety of slider burgers and chicken sliders. These sliders are AMAZING and will fill you up quick, especially because they do not skimp on their fries portions! Here you are thinking you are getting a smaller burger, but golly these sliders are so filled with good stuff, you get full off of just one!
At the same time, you won’t be able to stop eating cause they are so good! These mini burgers are perfect for feeding those little kiddos! My favorite is definitely ‘The Homer Simpson,’ a slider filled with BBQ sauce and mac n’ cheese! Also Swine Fries, fries covered in pulled pork, you will thank me later!
Location: 3816 Andrews Hwy, Odessa, TX 79762
All You Can Eat At Buffet King
My kids would be so disappointed in me if I did not mention Buffet King. My kids love Asian buffets, and this one isn’t bad!
If you are like me and you have more than one kid, this is the place to go. One kid will want shrimp, another pizza, and another ice cream. No grumpy kids leaving here cause they will all get what they asked for at one restaurant! Some of the best Asian food in town!
Location: 4101 E 42nd St #101, Odessa, TX 79762
Best Breakfast In Town At Flipped
Breakfast isn’t just the most important meal of the day, it is my favorite meal of the day! If you are anything like me and love breakfast than this is the restaurant to go to! It is such an Instagram restaurant! It is decorated farmhouse themed with walls of eggs and bacon! So cute!
Not only is it super cute, the food is amazing! You have to try their breakfast sandwiches! Your taste buds will never be the same!
Location: 7270 TX-191 #125, Odessa, TX 79765
Final Thoughts On Odessa, Texas:
If I am being completely honest, this is not my favorite place on the planet. I would probably never choose to travel here just for fun, but if you happen to be driving through the town these items listed above are fun and your kids will love them!
There is beauty and adventure all around and sometimes it is harder to find it. Odessa is a place you have to search hard to find, but like I said if you give it a shot you will have so much fun and leave with good memories of this west Texas town!
If you are looking to hop over to Midland, Texas click here for a list of fun things to do in Midland, Texas with kids!
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