There are four developed campgrounds in Big Bend National Park, three of which are managed by the National Park Service, and one (a full hook-up RV camping area) managed by park concessionaire Aramark Destinations. Advance reservations are required for all these campgrounds.
Below is a quick rundown of each campground. Click on each campground name for more detailed information. Each recreation.gov link listed below is campground-specific. If you see any discrepancies between the park's webpage information for a campground and recreation.gov, it's best to go with recreation.gov's information because that is where you will make your reservation.
NPS-Managed Campgrounds
Chisos Basin Campground is open year-round and offers 56 standard sites and 7 group sites (tent-only, no RVs) accommodating 9-20 people (size is site-dependent). There is one ADA accessible campsite (site #37). Standard sites will accommodate 8 people and two vehicles.
Vehicle-trailer combinations over 20 feet (6 meters) and RV's over 24 feet (7 meters) are not recommended due to the narrow, winding road to the Basin and small campsites at this campground. There are no hook-ups. Each site has a picnic table and above-ground grill. There is running water as well as flush toilets but no showers. A camp store is nearby.
Standard sites are $16 per night and reservations are required through recreation.gov. Group sites range from $60 - $100, depending upon site capacity, and reservations are required for these sites through recreation.gov.
Rio Grande Village Campground, is open year-round and Reservations are required through recreation.gov. The most popular campground in the park is located near the Rio Grande River and Mexico, offering 93 standard sites, including 1 ADA accessible site (#014), plus 4 group sites (tent only, no RVs) accommodating a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 40 people (maximum size is site-dependent).
Paved roads connect each campsite, and grassy areas separate each site. Flush toilets, running water, picnic tables, grills, and some overhead shelters are available. A dump station nearby, as are a camp store with showers and a park visitor center. Maximum RV/vehicl-trailer size is 65 feet (20 meters), according to recreation.gov.
Standard sites are $16 per night and will accommodate 8 people and two vehicles. Group sites range from $60 - $100, depending upon site capacity. Group site reservations are also required through recreation.gov.
Note: During the summer months due to the extreme heat (110+ degrees) only a limited number of campsites are available.
Cottonwood Campground is open January 1, 2026 - April 30, 2026 and November 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026. During the summer months, the campground is closed due to extreme heat. This campground offers 28 standard sites, including two ADA accessible sites (027 & 029), plus one group site accommodating 9-25 people. Maximum RV/vehicle-trailer length is 40 feet (12 meters).
Cottonwood Campground is located in a more remote part of the park, between the historic Castolon District and Santa Elena Canyon. There are no hookups, and no generators are permitted. The campground offers potable water, vault toilets, and food storage lockers, and each site has a grill and picnic table.
Standard sites are $16 per night and will accommodate 8 people and two vehicles. The group site is walk-in tent camping only and is $60 per night. Reservations for all sites at this campground are required through recreation.gov.
Concession Campground
Operated by Aramark Destinations, the Rio Grande Village RV Park is open year-round and is a pet-friendly campground offering 25 sites for RVs with full hook-ups (50 amp). There are public showers and a camp store, plus 4 grills and 4 picnic tables available on a first-come, first-served basis. All sites are back-in only, and the maximum RV/Trailer length is 38 feet (11.6 meters). The average nightly fee for these sites is $46 (not including taxes). For more detailed information, click on the campground name above or call 855-765-1324.
Campgrounds Outside Of Big Bend
If the in-park campgrounds are full, there are plenty of other camping options outside the park. Click here for a list of campgrounds, locations, and links to their websites.
Backcountry Camping
If you want to get away from it all, there are designated backpacking and primitive roadside campsites. Check out the Chisos Mountains Backpacking Trails Map to see the available sites along the backcountry trails. You can also view and print out the Chisos Mountains Backcountry Camping Guide.
A backcountry permit is required for all backcountry camping and an organized group or individual party may not exceed a 15-person limit.
Most backcountry campsites (both Chisos Mountains Backpacking and Primitive Roadside Campsites) are available for online permitting up to 180 days in advance for $10 through www.recreation.gov or through the recreation.gov call center at 877-444-6777.
Permits for desert wilderness backpacking and the primitive roadside sites along Maverick Road and the River Road are available in person only at Panther Junction and Chisos Basin Visitor Centers, 24 hours in advance of your first night's stay.
Note: A rugged high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is required to access the primitive roadside campsites. You will NOT be able to reach these sites with a passenger car, minivan, or RV, and rangers will not issue permits for those types of vehicles.
- By Rebecca Latson - June 2nd, 2026 2:25pm
