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Picnic Area

Picnic Area from directly overhead

Picnic Area is a rest area in Texas, at a modelled elevation of 1,229 m. Torrey Peak stands 1,118 m to the north, 16 miles off. Historic Route 66 passes 31 miles off. 34 named places lie within 25 miles, 4 of them named summits.

To meet the needs of travelers for places where they could stop for rest and eat their lunches, Texas began creating roadside parks in the l930s. Built in typically shady areas, the parks offered drivers and their passengers some respite on hot summer day

What to expect

Operated by
Texas Department of Transportation

How to reach it

Coordinates35.25746, -102.49663

34 named places within 25 miles

Rest areas: 4
Attractions: 4
  • DOTS Mini Museum Route 66: 3.7 mi
  • Magnolia Gas Station: 3.9 mi
  • Magnolia Gas Station: 4.2 mi
  • Route 66 Mid Point: 10.0 mi
Peaks: 4
  • The Cedar Brakes: 11.3 mi
  • Torrey Peak: 15.7 mi
  • Five Fingers: 18.1 mi
  • Rotten Hill: 19.2 mi
Ghost towns: 4
Museums: 3
Parks: 2
  • City Park: 4.4 mi
  • Bushland Village Park: 24.9 mi
Artworks: 1
  • Marshall Cator: 23.0 mi

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 25 miles of Picnic Area. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
Torrey PeakN 3°1,118 m15.7 mi
The Cedar BrakesNNE 22°1,089 m11.3 mi
Rotten HillENE 68°1,035 m19.2 mi
Five FingersENE 69°1,030 m18.1 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:5419:2920:02
June solstice06:3620:3121:09
September equinox07:3919:1519:48
December solstice07:5617:0317:42

Local time (America/Chicago).

Climate normals

Months averaging 5080 °F: Apr–Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °F374149576777807871594637
Precip in0.60.41.11.31.82.72.73.31.62.10.60.7

1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Boys RCH, 23 mi away.

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap element way/966903380

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