Camping in Big Bend National Park is not to be missed! From the dark skies to the amazing bird watching that happens right in the campground. Big Bend National Park Camping includes three designated campgrounds and backcountry roadside campsites.
Big Bend National Park Camping
Big Bend NP is located in Southern Texas and can get quite HOT!!! Please make sure you are prepared for the heat and have plenty of water. We visited the park in May and it was 106 degrees near the Rio Grande River. There are Mexican Black Bears found in the park along with Javalenas.
All food and anything that smells need to be kept in a bear-proof container. Javelinas have been known to chew through the plastic to get to food so make sure it is well contained. We also heard that skunks have been known to pull open tents so make sure your zippers are fully shut and moved to the top of the tent.
Chisos Basin Campground
Location: Located in the Chisos Basin near the Chisos Mountain Lodge
Open: Year-round
Number of sites: 60
Cost per night: $14
$7 with lifetime interagency pass
Reservations?: 26 sites are reservable from November 15 - May 31st. Reservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 or on Reservation.Gov
Elevation: 5,401 Feet
Campground amenities: Flush toilets, dump station,
RVs allowed?: Trailers over 20 feet and RV' over 24 feet are not recommended due to the narrow, winding road to reach the campground.
Group Camping: 7 group campsites are available for advance reservation only. Total overnight occupancy for the Chisos Basin group campground is 118 persons. All group sites have a minimum occupancy of 9 persons.
Generator Hours: 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm
Cottonwood Campground
Location: Located between the Castolon Historic District and scenic Santa Elena Canyon.
Open: Year Round
Number of sites: 24
Cost per night: $14
$7 with lifetime interagency pass
Reservations?: There are no reservable campsites at Cottonwood Campground. All sites are first to come, first served.
Elevation: 2.169
Campground amenities: Pit toilets, running water, grills, picnic tables.
Group Camping: One group camp is available with an advance reservation. Maximum occupancy is 25 persons. Minimum occupancy is 9 persons. Group campground is walk-in tent camping only.
Generator Hours: No generators allowed
I have to admit that we do not have any photos of the Cottonwood Campground sites because we were so distracted by the amazing birdwatching in the campground. We saw so many amazing birds all over this campground.
A small picnic area is available across from campsite #23.
Please be aware there are Cottonwood Campgrounds at multiple National Park sites! Make sure you are reading the information on the right park.
Rio Grande Village Campground
Open: Year-round
Number of sites: 100
Cost per night: $14
$7 with lifetime interagency pass
Reservations?: 43 sites are reservable from November 15 to April 15th. You can make a reservation by calling 1-877-444-6777 or visiting Recreations.Gov
Elevation: 1,850 Feet
Campground amenities: Flush toilets, running water, picnic tables, grills, and some overhead shelters.
Group Camping: 4 group campsites are available by advance reservation only. Group campground is walk-in tent camping only. All sites have a minimum occupancy of 9 persons.
Generator Hours: 8 am to 8 pm
Rio Grande Village RV Campground
Open: Year-round
Number of sites: 25
Cost per night: $36 and up
Reservations?: 20 sites are available by reservation. 5 sites are held for first come first serve campers.
Register at the Rio Grande Village or by calling 877-386-4383 or 432-477-2293
Elevation: 1.850
Campground amenities: full hook-ups (water, sewer, and 3-inch sewer connection), with an additional $3 per person charge
Some sites may not fit a 40-foot RV due to parking in the campground.
Rio Grande Village RV Campground is run by Forever Resorts.
Campground Regulations
For your safety and enjoyment, and the protection of park resources, please abide by park campground regulations.
Campsite limit is eight people per site
There is a limit of one RV per site with a tow vehicle and one tent, or four tents plus two passenger vehicles; or four motorcycles.
"First-come, first-served" campsites may not be held or paid for prior to an occupant's arrival.
All wood and ground fires are prohibited including pressed wood logs or wood chips.
All food items should be stored inside your vehicle or in an animal-proof food storage container.
Dispose of all trash in animal-proof dumpsters.
Quiet hours from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Rattlesnakes may be prevalent anywhere in the park on warm to moderate evenings.
Primitive Roadside Campsites/Backcountry
Permits for primitive roadside campsites can be issued at Panther Junction and Chisos Basin Visitor Centers during operating hours.
Sites are cleared gravel with a place to park your car and set up your tent. There are NO Amenities at any backcountry campsite aside from bear boxes for your food.
Plan to bring everything you will need including water, share, chairs, and a shovel to bury human waste.
All roadside sites are along unpaved roads. Some sites require high clearance or 4-wheel drive to reach them.
Campfires are strictly prohibited!! All wood fires or ground fires are prohibited.
You can use a cook stove with extreme caution.
Generators are not allowed in backcountry sites.
Pets must be kept on a leash within the boundaries of the campsite.
Visit the backcountry use page for more information
Big Bend National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $30.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $15.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$30.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$25.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons)
$100.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Where to stay when visiting Big Bend National Park
There is one lodge located within Big Bend National Park the Chisos Mountain Lodge. Check out our post with photos and our experience staying at the Chisos Mountain Lodge!
Because Big Bend is such a huge park, going around takes a long time. Three major campsites, the Chisos Mountain Lodge, and backcountry camping are the only places to stay in the park.
The additional accommodation can be found in Marathon, a charming small town, or Lajitas, a vacation town. Marathon, on the east border of the park, is roughly 40 miles north. Lajitas is roughly 20 kilometers from the park's west gate.
Other nearby towns include the two side-by-side villages of Study Butte and Terlingua, as well as Terlingua Ghost Town.
Paisano Village RV Park & Inn - Paisano Village RV Park & Inn provides everything you need. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa - 4-star family-friendly resort by the river. Consider a stay at Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa and take advantage of 18 holes of golf, a grocery/convenience store, and a terrace.
Travelodge by Wyndham Alpine - You can look forward to laundry facilities, a 24-hour gym, and a restaurant at Travelodge by Wyndham Alpine. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Click on the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Big Bend NP
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
We hope you enjoyed this Big Bend National Park Camping Guide. Make sure to check out all of our articles on Big Bend National Park for more help in planning an epic trip to this great park.
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