| Big Bend National Park Travel Planner | |
Camping:
43 sites at Rio Grande Village Campground (elevation: 1,850 feet) and 26 sites at the Chisos Basin Campground (elevation: 5,400 feet) are reservable from November 15th to April 15th each year. Visitors may contact Recreation.gov in accepting campground reservations at the developed frontcountry campgrounds. All remaining campsites in these two campgrounds and the entire Cottonwood campground remain on the first-come, first-serve basis.
Group campsites at Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Basin, and Cottonwood Campgrounds are reservable year round and reservations may be made 360 days in advance. Reservations for Rio Grande Village and the Chisos Basin campgrounds family-type sites may be made 180 days in advance.
From April through November, campsite reservations are not taken, as the campgrounds rarely fill during this time of year.
Camping is also available at primitive backcountry campsites in the Chisos Mountains and along backcountry roads. A backcountry use permit is required and can be obtained in person at park visitor centers up to 24 hours in advance of the trip. The permit may be issued for up to 14 consecutive nights in the backcountry.