Big Bend National Park — Visitor Info

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Big Bend National Park spans a huge stretch of Chihuahuan Desert along a sweeping bend in the Rio Grande, from river canyons up into the Chisos Mountains. It's remote — the nearest town of any size is hours away — and one of the least-crowded large national parks. Here's what to know before you go.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: Big Bend is huge and remote — gas, food, and services are limited and spread far apart inside the park, and summer heat at lower elevations is extreme. Always check the official Big Bend Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Far West Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border
Entrance Fee
$30/vehicle (7 days)
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Permit Needed For
Backcountry camping, river trips, primitive roadside camping
Lodging
Chisos Mountains Lodge (in-park); camping; nearby Terlingua/Study Butte
Managed By
National Park Service

Visitor Centers

Panther Junction Visitor Center
The park's main hub and headquarters, near the center of the park. Open year-round.
Chisos Basin Visitor Center
High in the Chisos Mountains, near the lodge, campground, and main mountain trailheads.
Rio Grande Village & Persimmon Gap
Rio Grande Village serves the river/east side; Persimmon Gap is the north entrance station. Castolon, on the park's west side, is seasonal.

Confirm current hours on the official NPS visitor centers page before you go — distances between them are large.

Entrance Fees & Passes

The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle (motorcycle $25, per person on foot/bike $15), valid for 7 days. An Annual Pass is $55. Entrance stations and visitor centers are cashless — credit/debit only. No reservation is required to enter.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

4th graders (and their families) can visit free with an Every Kid Outdoors pass, available at everykidoutdoors.gov.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit to enter the park or day-hike. You do need one for:

Backcountry Camping, Primitive Roadside Camping & River Trips

A permit is required for all backcountry camping, river trips, and primitive roadside camping (no dispersed "boondocking" is allowed anywhere in the park). Permits for most designated sites are available online via Recreation.gov; permits for desert backpacking and some remote primitive roads (Old Maverick Road, River Road, Old Ore Road) are only available in person at a park visitor center.

Campgrounds & RV Options

Three NPS-run frontcountry campgrounds plus one concession-run RV park with hookups. Reservations are required at all developed NPS campgrounds — there's no first-come, first-served option.

Chisos Basin Campground
In the center of the park, high in the Chisos Mountains — the coolest campground in summer. Reservation required.
Rio Grande Village Campground
On the park's east side near the river. Reservation required.
Cottonwood Campground
A shady spot near the river on the park's west side. Closed for summer. Reservation required.
Rio Grande Village RV Park
Concession-run (Aramark), 25 full-hookup sites, maximum length 38 ft. Reserve directly with the concessioner, not Recreation.gov.

No wood or ground fires anywhere in the park (above-ground charcoal grills and liquid-fuel stoves are fine). If the park's campgrounds are full, options exist outside the park — see NPS – Camping Options Outside the Park. Fees and current details: NPS – Camping.

Good to Know

  • The park is enormous: driving between areas (Chisos Basin, Rio Grande Village, Castolon) can take an hour or more — plan accordingly.
  • Very remote: the nearest full-size town is hours away — fuel up whenever you can and carry extra water.
  • All developed campgrounds require reservations — there's no walk-up camping option inside the park.
  • River crossings to Mexico: a seasonal border crossing at Boquillas allows day trips into the village of Boquillas del Carmen — bring a passport if interested.
  • Extreme summer heat at low elevations — the Chisos Mountains stay noticeably cooler.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees, campground availability, and road conditions change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Big Bend National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Camping · NPS – Backcountry Camping · NPS – Alerts & Conditions