Big Bend National Park, TX
Big Bend National Park
Five campgrounds and wilderness backcountry camping in remote desert and canyon country.
Big Bend National Park spans remote desert and mountain terrain in Far West Texas, offering visitors starlit nights, deep river canyons, and one of North America's richest landscapes for wildlife and plant diversity. The park protects a vast and wild corner of the Chisos Mountains and the Rio Grande.
Visitors can choose from five developed campgrounds and a backcountry wilderness area. Chisos Basin Campground and Chisos Basin Group Campground sit in the mountains, while Cottonwood Campground, Rio Grande Village Campground, and Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, TX) serve the lower desert and river zones. Those seeking solitude can explore Big Bend Backcountry Camping across the park's open wilderness.
Big Bend draws visitors year-round to hike slot canyons, float the Rio Grande, and observe desert wildlife in an exceptionally dark-sky environment. The park lies hours from the nearest major town, making it a true destination for travelers committed to remote exploration.
Experiences
Camping
Explore 5 camping locations in Big Bend National Park.
Chisos Basin Campground
Chisos Basin Group Campground
Cottonwood Campground
Rio Grande Village Campground
Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, TX)
Experiences
Wilderness Areas
Explore 1 wilderness areas location in Big Bend National Park.
Common Questions
What visitors most often want to know about Big Bend National Park.
Do I need a permit to camp in Big Bend National Park?
No, none of Big Bend's developed campgrounds require a separate camping permit. You do need a site reservation, since camping here is booked through Recreation.gov rather than handled on arrival. Backcountry camping in the park's Wilderness Area is managed separately from the five developed campgrounds.
What campgrounds are inside Big Bend National Park?
Big Bend has five developed campgrounds: Chisos Basin Campground, Chisos Basin Group Campground, Cottonwood Campground, Rio Grande Village Campground, and Rio Grande Village Group Campground. Each sits in a different part of the park, so the landscape and elevation vary noticeably between them.
What's the difference between camping at Chisos Basin and Rio Grande Village?
Chisos Basin Campground sits up in the park's central mountain range, giving it a cooler, higher-elevation setting surrounded by peaks. Rio Grande Village Campground is down near the river along the park's eastern edge, at lower desert elevation. Both offer a group campground option for larger parties.
Can I go backcountry camping outside the developed campgrounds?
Yes, Big Bend contains one designated Wilderness Area where backcountry camping is allowed beyond the five developed campgrounds. This backcountry camping is a distinct option from reserving a site at Chisos Basin, Cottonwood, or Rio Grande Village. It's suited to visitors looking to get further from roads and facilities.
How does Open Canyon help me get a Big Bend campsite?
Open Canyon watches Recreation.gov listings for Big Bend's campgrounds and alerts you when a site opens up from a cancellation. This is useful for a park with only five campgrounds spread across a large area, where a specific site or campground can book out. You still complete and pay for the booking directly on Recreation.gov.