Big Bend National Park

Visitor Centers:

• Chisos Basin: Open daily from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Closed for lunch. Reduced hours on Christmas day.
• Panther Junction: Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Reduced hours on Christmas day.
• Persimmon Gap: Open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Closed for lunch.
• Castolon: Open seasonally from November to April, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed for lunch.
• Rio Grande Village: Open seasonally from November to April, 8:30 am to 4 pm. Closed for lunch.

Big Bend National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Entrance fee stations have variable hours and seasons. Big Bend's busy season is generally November through April, and the park is often full to capacity during Thanksgiving week, Christmas holiday season, and spring break (mid-March). Advance reservations for camping and lodging are highly recommended. To maximize your visit, plan ahead and have a flexible itinerary.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping:
The park operates three developed campgrounds. A limited number of campsites in Rio Grande Village and the Chisos Basin campgrounds are reservable from November 15 to April 15. Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance by visiting recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations. For more information on reservations, click here. The concession-operated Rio Grande Village RV Campground (with full hook-ups) is also located at Rio Grande Village. For reservations call 1-877-386-4383 or 432-477-2293.

• Chisos Basin Campground: Open year round. 60 sites. 26 reservable sites and 7 group sites.
• Cottonwood Campground: Open year round. 24 sites. One group site available by advance reservation only.
• Rio Grande Village Campground: Open year round. 100 sites. 43 reservable sites and 4 group sites.

Backcountry Camping:
Big Bend has a number of primitive campsites along backcountry roads. While some sites are accessible to most vehicles, a high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive vehicle is necessary to reach others. Primitive sites offer excellent views, solitude, and a flat gravel space to set up camp next to your vehicle. No shade, toilets, or other amenities are provided. A backcountry use permit is required to camp at any of these sites. More information can be found on the park's website.

Lodging:
The Chisos Mountains Lodge, operated by Forever Resorts, Inc., is located in the Chisos Basin at 5,400 feet elevation. The lodge offers a variety of rooms and cottages, plus a gift shop and dining room. The lodge is open year-round. Reservations can be made online or by calling (877) 386-4383 or (432) 477 2291.

The Mountain View Restaurant, located in the Chiso Mountain Lodge, provides the only full-service dining inside the park. The restaurant has a grand vista of the basin and surrounding peaks and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Additionally, there are three convenience stores located at the Rio Grande Village, Chisos Basin, and Castolon which carry basic camping supplies and groceries. Two gas stations are located at Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village. For visitors looking for additional dining options, the nearby towns of Terlingua and Study Butte have plenty of options.

Big Bend National Park offers a variety of ranger-led programs that vary by season. All programs, unless otherwise specified, are free and open to the public. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

REI Adventures:
REI offers over 30 national park trips led by expert guides capable of taking you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that many visitors never see.

Check out REI Adventures' national park offerings here.

With over 100 miles of paved roads, 150 miles of dirt roads, and about 200 miles of trail, Big Bend Nationa Park offers nearly limitless opportunities for scenic driving, hiking, running, camping, backpacking, horseback riding, bird watching, wildlife observation, and stargazing. Additionally, the Rio Grande borders the park for 118 miles providing options for half-day floats to extended excursion by raft, canoe, or kayak. More information on river trips can be found on the park's website. For visitors looking for other opportunities for outdoor recreation outside the park, be sure to check out the nearby options for rock climbing and mountain biking in the area.

To download the park's free visitor guide to help plan your visit, click here.