The Best RV Camping in Big Bend National Park

Last updated on March 31, 2026

Wondering what your options are for RV Camping in Big Bend? You’ve come to the right place! Big Bend National Park is an RVers paradise. Located in southern Texas on the US-Mexico border along the Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park boasts over 800,000 acres of gorgeous mountains, rivers, and desert landscapes.

Big Bend was the first stop on our journey west and the park’s beauty blew us away! Our YouTube video below covers some of the awesome hikes and things to do in Big Bend (including hot springs), but this post covers your options for RV camping in Big Bend.

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Let’s go camping!

Quick Facts About Big Bend National Park

• Ancestral Lands: Chiso, Jumanos, Coahuiltecan, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache), Mescalero Apache
• Established: 1944
• Size: 1,251 sq. miles or 801,163 acres (15th largest National Park in the USA)
• Annual Visitors: 500,000
• Visitor Centers:
  • Persimmon Gap Visitor Center (North entrance of the park)
  • Castolon Visitor Center (southwest near Cottonwood)
  • Chisos Basin Visitor Center (center of the park)
  • Rio Grande Village Visitor Center (southeast part of the park)
• Entrance Fee (as of 2023): $30 per vehicle for 7 days or free with the national park pass
• Drive time: 2 hours from east to west (one way).
• Best time for RV camping in Big Bend: November through April

Things to know before RVing to Big Bend

🍎 Big Bend is one of the most remote National Parks in the country. The drive to the nearest grocery store is roughly 2 and a half hours from the park entrance. Come well-stocked with any groceries, medical supplies, or other items you might need while RV camping in Big Bend.

📵 There is no cell service in the majority of the park. Download offline maps so you can navigate without worry. There are a few spots near the lodges with wifi but it’s spotty at best.

Despite its remote location, Big Bend is still a popular park in peak season. November through April are the best times to visit Big Bend. The summers here (May through October) can be brutal with temperatures reaching over 110 degrees. Most campgrounds have reduced capacity due to extreme heat.

🧥 Since you’re in the high desert, it can get quite cold here in the winter. Wear layers and drink lots of water. It’s super easy to get dehydrated in the desert without realizing it.

💧You can get water for your RV at all three campsites. They request conserving water. You are, after all in the desert, and water is a precious resource here.

📞 Due to its popularity, make RV camping reservations well in advance. If your desired dates aren’t available create a sold-out search (SOS) on Arvie. Arvie is an online booking tool that allows you to search and book spots at thousands of campgrounds, including national parks.

If there is no availability, you can create a sold-out search (SOS) with your desired dates, camping preferences, and rig size. If something pops up, Arvie will automatically book it for you! This is a LIFESAVER for booking RV camping in Bend Bend.

RV camping in Big Bend

If you’re interested in having amenities as you are RV camping in Big Bend, there are three developed campgrounds to choose from.

RV Campground	RV Size limit	Services	Reservations	Total Sites	Elevation
Chisos Basin	Trailers under 20 ft. RVs over 23 ft. or less	✅ Potable Water fill ✅ Dump station ✅ Flushable toilets ✅ Limited cell-service 🚫 No electricity / Generators allowed in some sections 🚫 No showers 🚫 No laundry	Reservations only No first come first serve $16 per night	56	5,400 ft.
Rio Grande Village	All rig sizes welcome	✅ Potable Water fill ✅ Dump station ✅ Flushable toilets ✅ Coin showers ✅ Laundry 🚫 No electricity / Generators allowed in some sections	Reservations only No first come first serve $16 per night	93	1,850 ft.
Cottonwood	38 ft and under.	✅ Potable Water fill ✅ Flushable toilets 🚫 No cell-service 🚫 No dump station 🚫 No electricity + no generators allowed 🚫 No showers 🚫 No laundry	Reservations only No first come first serve $16 per night	22	2,100 ft.

The Chisos Basin Campground is our top pick for RV camping in Big Bend if you have a small RV. Its location in the center of Big Bend National Park makes it the perfect location to explore. It also doesn’t hurt that its views are spectacular!

Unfortunately, the switch-back road to the campground means only RVs shorter than 23 feet, and trailers under 20 feet can camp here.

The Rio Grande Village RV Campground is on the far east side of the park. It offers the most amenities of the three campgrounds and is big rig friendly, making it a popular choice for RV camping in Big Bend. It has timed coin-operated showers, laundry, a village store, and two parking areas.

There is a spot to fill up your water and dump your tanks upon entering with each site being dry-camping. Some sections allow generators while other sites prohibit generator use. Make sure to check this before booking.

We loved that this campground was a quick drive to the nearby hot springs and located along the Rio Grande. However, we were not prepared for the wild wind storms and bugs that frequent the spring season.

The Cottonwood Campground is located on the westernmost side of the park, Cottonwood is the smallest campground of the three. On the plus side, the campground is near the breathtaking Santa Elena Canyon and is close to the river. The campground has some trees for shade but plenty of sun for solar as well. It’s a no generator zone, so if you’re reliant on your generator this won’t be the best fit for you.

Backcountry camping in Big Bend

If you’re into backcountry camping you can apply for a 14-day permit to camp on River Road or Old Maverick Road. Permits are issued in person for these spots on the same day and are required to camp outside the three developed campgrounds.

The roads to the backcountry camping are primitive. Expect washboards and rutted roads with rocks and potholes. Your RV or vehicle should be capable of 4×4 off-roading and fully self-contained and self-sufficient.

Permits only cost $16 and are good for 14 days making it a super affordable option for RV camping in Big Bend. 🚨Permits are issued at the Chisos Basin Visitor’s Center.

RV camping outside of Big Bend National Park

If you can’t secure a spot inside Big Bend National Park you’ll need to go to one of the developed campgrounds about an hour to 2 hours outside the park. This is less than ideal as it means you’ll be spending a lot of time (and fuel) driving back and forth to explore the park.

However, it may be the only option if there is no availability or you are reliant on electricity in your RV. Big Bend National Park has compiled a list of the closest RV parks outside of Big Bend along with their amenities.

No matter how challenging it may be to get there or reserve a site RV camping in Big Bend — it’s worth it. This park remains in our top five favorite national parks in the entire country. We can’t wait to return in the future.