Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Big Bend National Park
There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and species diversity is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend...
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
Rio Grande Village Campground ↗
Set in a grove of cottonwoods and acacia trees, the Rio Grande Village Campground is located near the Rio Grande. Elevation: 1,850 feet. Paved roads connect each campsite, and grassy areas separate each site. Flush toilets, running water, picnic tables, grills, and some overhead shelters. Dump station nearby. Campers enjoy birdwatching, hiking, exploring. A camp store with showers and a park visitor center are nearby.
Reservations: Please plan ahead. Reservations are required for this campground. There are no first come, first served campsites. This campground is open year-round, but only a limited number of campsites are available in the summer months due to the extreme heat (110+ degrees). May 1 - October 31, 2021: 17 campsites reservable 6 months in advance and 7 sites reservable up to 14 days in advance. November through April: 60 sites reservable up to 6 months in advance and 33 sites reservable up to 14 days in advance Reservations for Rio Grande Village Campground are made at: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234035
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: The campground accommodates large vehicles and RVs Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: No wood fires. Charcoal grill only.
Site rules: Visitors may stay in the park up to 14 consecutive nights, with a limit of 28 nights in a calendar year. During the busiest time of the year, January 1 through April 15, visitors are limited to 14 total nights in the park. Pets are permitted in the campground, but must be leashed at all times. Leashes must be six feet (1.8 m) or less in length. Pets may not be left unattended for their safety and for the safety of other visitors and wildlife. Pets are NOT allowed on trails, in the backcountry, or on the river. Wood and ground fires are prohibited. All food items must be stored inside a…
Cottonwood Campground ↗
Cottonwood Campground is a quiet oasis in the western corner of Big Bend National Park. Reservations are required. Conveniently located between the Castolon Historic District, the scenic Santa Elena Canyon and the tail end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, this small, 22-site campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 21 individual sites. This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted.
Reservations: Plan Ahead: there are NO first come, first served campsites Reservations required. All campsites are reservation only, up to 14 days in advance. Campground is operated at a reduced capacity during the heat of summer (May 1- October 31) Reservations for Cottonwood Campground are made at: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234078
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Sites can accommodate all but the largest RVs and trailers. No generators allowed. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: No wood or ground fires. Charcoal grills provided.
Site rules: Generators are not allowed in Cottonwood Campground. This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted. Visitors may stay in the park up to 14 consecutive nights, with a limit of 28 nights in a calendar year. During the busiest time of the year, January 1 through April 15, visitors are limited to 14 total nights in the park. Pets are permitted in the campground, but must be leashed at all times. Leashes must be six feet (1.8 m) or less in length. Pets may not be left unattended for their safety and for the safety of other visitors…
Chisos Basin Campground ↗
The Chisos Basin Campground is nestled in an open woodland within a scenic mountain basin. Campers enjoy the iconic views of Casa Grande and Emory Peak. The sunset through the nearby "Window" is a Big Bend highlight. Some of the park's most popular trails begin nearby. Elevation is 5,400 feet. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Trailers over 20 feet and RV's over 24 feet are not recommended due to the narrow, winding road to the Basin and small campsites.
Reservations: Reservations are required. No first-come, first-serve camping. The Chisos Basin Campground is open year-round. -- 2/3 of campsites are reservable up to 6 months in advance. -- 1/3 of campsites are reservable up to 14 days in advance. Reservations for Chisos Basin Campground are made at: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234038
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: RVs and Trailers over 24' are NOT recommended. NPS lists an RV maximum of 24 feet. Trailer maximum: 20 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: No fires. Charcoal grills only.
Site rules: Visitors may stay in the park up to 14 consecutive nights, with a limit of 28 nights in a calendar year. During the busiest time of the year, January 1 through April 15, visitors are limited to 14 total nights in the park. Pets are permitted in the campground, but must be leashed at all times. Leashes must be six feet (1.8 m) or less in length. Pets may not be left unattended for their safety and for the safety of other visitors and wildlife. Pets are NOT allowed on trails. Wood and ground fires are prohibited. All food items must be stored inside a vehicle or animal-proof food storage…
Rio Grande Village RV ↗
Open, paved lot with grassy, tree-lined edges. Adjacent to the Rio Grande Village camp store. This campground, operated by Aramark, has the only full hook-ups in the park. 25-site RV park (full hook-ups—water, electrical, and 3-inch sewer connection). All sites are back-in only. Tents are NOT permitted. Operated by the park's concessioner, Aramark. Periodically, a few sites may not be available for a 38' or longer RVs due to the size of the parking lot and orientation of the spaces.
Reservations: Please Plan Ahead: Reservations are required. You MUST call 855.765.1324 to prearrange camping at this facility.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: The Rio Grande Village RV Campground provides the only full hookup camping in Big Bend National Park. The campground can accommodate large RVs. NPS lists an RV maximum of 38 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: No fires. Charcoal grills provided.
Site rules: All sites are back-in only. Tents are NOT permitted. Pets allowed on property but must remain on a leash at all times. Pets are not allowed on any park trails, the backcountry, or on the river. Wood and ground fires are prohibited.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
NPS lists RV access at Rio Grande Village Campground. The campground accommodates large vehicles and RVs
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Hiking, Backcountry Hiking, Front-Country Hiking. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, Astronomy, Stargazing, Biking, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Food, Guided Tours, Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Self-Guided Tours - Auto, Hiking, Backcountry Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Paddling, Canoeing, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Kayaking, Junior Ranger Program, Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching, Park Film, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
Several highways lead to Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio to Study Butte (then 26 miles east to park headquarters) or US 90 or US 385 to Marathon (then 70 miles south to park headquarters). Distances between towns and services are considerable. Be sure you have plenty of gas, food, water, and supplies for your trip. There are no electric vehicle charging stations in Big Bend National Park. The closest EV charging station is 130 miles away in Fort Stockton. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
Big Bend is in the Chihuahuan Desert. Sunshine is abundant year-round. Spring (March) is typically warm and pleasant and is the park's busiest season. Summer heat begins in May. It is extremely HOT. Temperatures vary greatly between the desert which is usually well above 100 degrees F by late morning, and the Chisos Mountains, which can be 10-15 degrees cooler. May - August are the hottest months. Fall and Winter (Nov-Feb) are mild and pleasant, but some freezing does occur. Snow is rare.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Blooming Cenizo
Cenizo, or Big Bend Silverleaf blossoms after summer rains.
Credit: NPS. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Century Plant Agave
Century Plants bloom only once in their long lives.
Credit: NPS / C. Negele. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.