Big Bend National Park - Camping
Chisos Basin Campground
Open
Open All Year
Details
63 campsites. Flush toilets, running water, grills, and picnic tables are available. NO HOOK-UPS.
Elevation 5,400'.
Due to the narrow, winding road to the Basin, and small campsites, trailers over 20' and RV's over 24' are not recommended at this campground.
RESERVABLE CAMPSITES: Reservations available for 26 sites November 15 to April 15. Contact www.reserveusa.com or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
GROUP CAMPING: The Chisos Basin Campground has six group camp sites that are available only by advance reservation. The total overnight occupancy for the Chisos Basin group campground is 118 persons. All sites in this campground have a minimum occupancy of 10 persons. Sites L, P, Q, and R hold a maximum of 20 persons each. Sites N and O hold a maximum occupancy of 14 persons each. Site M has a maximum occupancy of 10 persons. Tents larger than 8' X 8' are not recommended because of site layout; however, sites P, Q, and R can accommodate larger tents if necessary. Sites P, Q, and R have shade ramadas.
To reserve a group campsite, contact www.reserveusa.com or call 1-877-444-6777.
Cottonwood Campground
Open
Open All Year
Details
31 campsites. Pit toilets, picnic tables, grills, and water are available. No Hook-ups. No dump station. NO GENERATORS ALLOWED. Elevation 1,900'.
GROUP CAMPING The Cottonwood Campground has one group camp site that is available only by advance reservation. Maximum occupancy for this group campground is 25 persons. Minimum capacity is 10 persons. This group campground is walk-in tent camping only. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area.
To reserve the group campsite, contact www.reserveusa.com or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
Rio Grande Village Campground
Open
Open All Year
Details
This 100 site campground has flush toilets, running water, picnic tables, grills, and some overhead shelters. Dump Station nearby; NO HOOK-UPS. Elevation 1,850'.
RESERVABLE CAMPSITES: Reservations for 43 sites may be made November 15 to April 15. www.reserveusa.com or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
GROUP CAMPING: The Rio Grande Village Campground has four group camp sites that are available only by advance reservation. The total overnight occupancy for the Rio Grande Village group campground is 120 persons. All sites in this campground have a minimum occupancy of 10 persons. Sites A and B comprise the area on the east side of the comfort station. Maximum occupancy for each site is 20 persons. Sites C and D comprise the area on the west side of the comfort station. Maximum occupancy for each site is 40 persons. This group campground is walk-in tent camping only. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area.
To reserve a group campsite, contact www.reserveusa.com or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
Rio Grande Village RV Park
Open
Open All Year
Phone
432-477-2293
Details
25 sites. This is the ONLY campground with hookups in the park. It is a concession-operated trailer park, and sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at the Rio Grande Village Store/Service Station. Full hookup capability is required.
Campgrounds you can reserve online
Chisos Basin Campground
Mileage:8 mi
Description: One of the most sought-after campgrounds in Big Bend National Park is the Chisos Basin Campground, situated high in the rugged Chisos Mountains. At an altitude of 5,400' and surrounded on all sides by high, rocky cliffs, this campground is conveniently located near some of the park's most spectacular and popular trails - the Lost Mine Trail, the Window Trail, the South Rim Trail, and the Pinnacles Trail, with its access to the park's highest point, Emory Peak (elev. 7,825'). Campers can find the trailheads for most of these trails in the main Chisos Basin area a mile or so further down the Basin road from the campground. Also to be found in the Basin area is the Chisos Basin Visitor Center, the Camper Store, and the Chisos Basin Lodge, which houses the only restaurant in Big Bend National Park. The Chisos Basin Campground boasts 60 individual campsites of a size more suitable to tent camping than to recreational vehicles or trailers, although they are by no means excluded. The road leading up into the Basin, however, does keep the size of such vehicles to a minimum, as it is steep and winding with two fairly sharp and blind hairpin turns to negotiate. Due to these adverse conditions, the park has set a restriction of 24 feet for motor homes and 20 feet for travel trailers, to avoid drivers having to cross over into oncoming traffic to make the turns. Each of the 60 campsites come with a picnic table, a charcoal grill (wood fires are NOT permitted in the park at any time), and a bear-proof food storage container, and some sites even come with shade structures called ramadas, which make these sites very popular. All campsites are within easy walking distance to water spigots and restrooms, and a dump station is provided for RVs and t railers. Campsites are $14 per night. While the 60 individual sites at the Chisos Basin Campground are available on a first-come, first-served basis for most of the year, 26 of these sites may be reserved for dates between November 15 and April 15 by contacting recreation.gov online, or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
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Rio Grande Village Campground
Mileage:18 mi
Description: Located within a large grove of cottonwood trees on the banks of the famous Rio Grande River, the Rio Grande Village Campground is by far one of the most popular campgrounds in Big Bend National Park, especially for those traveling in large recreational vehicles. Another factor is the campground's popularity is its location to two of the key areas in the park - Boquillas Canyon and the Hot Springs - as well as being situated close to the Old Ore Road and the River Road, two of the busiest backcountry roads in Big Bend. These factors as well as the welcome shade from all those cottonwood trees make Rio Grande Village Campground irresistible to campers from all over. The campground's 100 sites range in size from small, tent-sized ones to pull-through sites large enough to handle a 40' motor home, although there are no hook-ups available in the campground. Each site is provided with a picnic table, charcoal grill (wood fires are NOT permitted in the park), and bear-proof food storage containers. Some sites are also furnished with shade structures called ramadas. All campsites are within easy walking distance to water spigots and restrooms, and for those camping in motor homes and travel trailers, a dump station is proficed at the campground's entrance. Generator use is limited to between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, and a no-generator area is available for those wishing to avoid the noise. Showers and laundry facilities may be found at the Rio Grande Village Store just outside the entrance to the campground. Rio Grande Village Campground's campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis for most of the year, however from November 15 to April 15, there are 43 sites that are available by reservation. These sites may be reserved by contacting recreation.gov online or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Campsites are $14 per night, but if using the reservation system, a small processing fee will be charged. It is important to note that the grassy areas within the campground are subject to flooding due to flood irrigation, and that the area around tents may be flooded. All tents in the campground must be set up on the tent pads. Rio Grande Village elevation: 1850'
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Cottonwood Campground
Mileage:24 mi
Description: In the very southwestern corner of Big Bend National Park lies a quiet little oasis in the desert known as Cottonwood Campground. Located conveniently between the Castolon Historical District and lovely Santa Elena Canyon on the tail end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, this small 31-site campground is one of the least-known and therefore least-occupied campgrounds in Big Bend. Particularly popular with bird watchers, due to its proximity to the Rio Grande River, Cottonwood Campground is indeed a haven for those wishing to study the abundant bird life in Big Bend while also escaping the hordes of visitors to the park, especially during the busy months. That's not to say the campground never fills up - it certainly will during the Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year holidays, and again at Spring Break - but at most any other time of the year, there will always be campsites available here in the shade of the cottonwood trees. All 31 campsites at Cottonwood Campground are on a first-come, first-served ONLY basis year-round, and the fee for these sites is $14 per night. No generators are allowed at any time in the campground and no dump station is available. There are pit toilets available, as well as potable water spigots. Cottonwood Campground has one Group Camping site available on a reservation basis only for groups of no fewer than 9 and no greater than 25 persons. The Group Camping site is a walk-in tent site only, and as such, no RVs or trailers are allowed. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area. This site may be reserved up to 360 days in advance, but must be reserved at least 4 days prior to the group's arrival. To make reservations for this site, contact ReserveAmerica.com online, or call 1-877-444-6777. The fee for this Group Camping site is $3 per person per night. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, border crossing conditions in the park have changed. Even though Cottonwood Campground is located near the Rio Grande River and is essentially just across from Mexico, re-entering the United States at other than official Points of Entry is illegal. The closest Points of Entry to the park are Presidio to the northwest and Del Rio to the east. Big Bend National Park is NOT an authorized border crossing point. Persons found re-entering the US at other than official Points of Entry may be liable for a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment of up to 1 year, or both. Area elevation: 1900'
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Note: All mileage numbers are "as the crow flies"
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