Midland and Odessa are twin cities in the heart of the Permian Basin, the engine of West Texas' oil industry. The landscape is flat and dry, and the towns are unapologetically working-class — but there are reasons to stop. The CAF Airpower Museum (formerly the Commemorative Air Force) in Midland houses an impressive collection of flyable World War II aircraft. The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum explains the geology and history of the oil boom in surprising depth. Odessa has the meteor crater — one of the largest in the US — and a Stonehenge replica, both off the interstate. Two US presidents (father and son Bush) have strong ties to Midland; the George W. Bush Childhood Home is open for tours.
For many visitors, Midland-Odessa serves as the nearest supply stop on the way to Big Bend National Park, about three hours to the south — one of the most dramatic and least crowded national parks in the country.