Plan Your Visit to Big Bend National Park
This Big Bend National Park travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out what is actually worth your vacation time. Big Bend feels wonderfully remote, with the Chisos Mountains rising out of the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rio Grande carving deep canyons along the Mexican border, and some of the darkest night skies in the country.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and the practical details you need before you arrive. I’ve also included the experiences that make Big Bend memorable, from hiking into Santa Elena Canyon and soaking beside the Rio Grande to crossing into Boquillas for lunch, driving Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, and staying outside long enough to see just how dark the desert gets after sunset.
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Big Bend National Park at a Glance
Location: Southwest Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border
Closest airports: Midland/Odessa and El Paso
How many days: 2–3 days, although you can see several highlights in one long day
Best time to visit: November through April
Best places to stay: Inside the park when available, or Terlingua, Study Butte, Marathon, and nearby communities
Don’t miss: Santa Elena Canyon, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Chisos Basin, Hot Springs Historic District, and the night sky
Best scenic drive: Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
Best easy hike: Santa Elena Canyon Trail
Best for stargazing: Almost anywhere away from developed areas
Good to know: Big Bend is enormous, remote, and has limited cell service, food, fuel, and other services
Plan ahead: Reserve camping, check current Chisos Basin services, fill your gas tank, and carry plenty of water
Big Bend National Park Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do in Big Bend National Park
1. Drive Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
2. Hike into Santa Elena Canyon
3. Explore the Chisos Basin
4. Soak in the historic hot springs beside the Rio Grande
5. Cross the Rio Grande to Boquillas, Mexico, with your passport
6. Hike the Boquillas Canyon Trail
7. Photograph Mule Ears Peaks
8. Hike to Balanced Rock if road conditions and your vehicle allow
9. Stop at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit
10. Stay after dark for Big Bend’s incredible night sky
Where is Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is located in Southwest Texas on the Mexico border 4.5 hours from El Paso Texas and 3 hours from Midland.
Facts About Big Bend National Park
- The park is open 24 hours, 365 days a year.
- The park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for 7 days.
- About half a million people visit Big Bend National Park each year.
- The park is 800,000+ acres.
- Big Bend became a National Park on June 12, 1944 and is named after the 90-degree bend in the Rio Grande River.
- Became an International Dark Sky Park in 2012 and has the darkest skies in the lower 48 states.
- Emory Peak is the highest point in the park at 7,832 feet.
- Big Bend National Park shares 118 miles of shared border with Mexico.
- There are about 200 miles of hiking trails, more than 100 miles of paved roads, and 150 miles of dirt roads.
- You will find 1,200 species of plants, 450 bird species, and 31 species of snakes in the park.
Best time to visit Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is busiest from November to May. Winter temperatures are in the 80s during the day and freezing at night. Cacti bloom in March; visit in April to see the bluebonnets in bloom. Summertime temperatures reach above 100 by mid-morning. May through September is the rainy season and flash floods may occur. Temperatures return to the 80s in September and leaves begin to change. You will find fall colors in October and November.
Where to Stay at Big Bend National Park
There are three campgrounds in the park available by reservation. Backcountry tent camping is allowed by permit at the visitor center. Big Bend National Park has one lodge, the Chisos Mountains Lodge. Accommodations are also available in Terlingua, Marathon, Alpine, and Marfa.
One Day in Big Bend National Park
Early Morning: Chisos Basin
Start early in the Chisos Basin while temperatures are cooler. Walk the short Window View Trail and take some time to enjoy the mountain scenery before heading into the desert.
Morning: Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
Drive the 30-mile Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive toward Santa Elena Canyon. Stop at overlooks and historic sites along the way, including Mule Ears Viewpoint and Sotol Vista.
Late Morning: Lower Burro Mesa Pour-off
If you want another short walk, hike the 1-mile round-trip Lower Burro Mesa Pour-off Trail into a narrow box canyon.
Afternoon: Santa Elena Canyon
Continue to the end of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and hike the roughly 1.7-mile round-trip Santa Elena Canyon Trail. The towering canyon walls and Rio Grande make this one of the stops I would not skip on a first visit.
Late Afternoon: Scenic Drive Back
Give yourself plenty of time for the drive back. Distances in Big Bend are much longer than they look on a map, and wildlife is often active near the roads around dusk.
After Dark: Stargazing
Stay in the park after sunset if you can. Once the sky gets completely dark, turn off your lights for a few minutes and look up.
If you have more time: Save Boquillas Canyon, the hot springs, Boquillas Crossing, and the Fossil Discovery Exhibit for a second day rather than trying to race across the park.
Things to Do at Big Bend National Park
- Photograph the hoodoos off the road near Persimmon Gap Visitor Center.
- Learn about the park’s geology at the Fossil Discovery Exhibit.
- Watch the park video at Panther’s Junction Visitor Center.
- Check out the desert oasis at Dugout Wells.
- Stretch your legs on the 1.4 RT Boquillas Canyon Trail.
- Hop on the Boquillas Crossing ferry and have lunch in Mexico, a passport is needed.
- Bring your swimsuit and relax in the Langford Hot Springs next to the Rio Grande.
- Walk the Chisos Mountains 0.3-mile Window View Trail.
- Hike the 10.4-mile RT Emory Peak Trail above the Chisos Basin.
- Drive the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive through the park stopping at the viewpoints.
- Follow the 1-mile RT Lower Burro Mesa Pour Off trail to the base of a 100-foot dry waterfall.
- Take the 6-mile RT hike to the chimneys and arch.
- Photograph Mule Ears Peaks.
- Check out the ruins with a view on the 1-mile RT Dorgan House Trail.
- Hike a 1.7-mile RT on the Santa Elena Canyon Trail into the river gorge.
- Take the 2.2-mile RT Grapevine Hills Trail to Balance Rock, and be prepared to scramble over some rocks.
- Book a kayak trip on the Rio Grande River.
- Go stargazing with a park ranger.
Things to Do Near Big Bend National Park
- Take a selfie at the Prada store in Marfa
- Explore the ghost town of Terlingua
- Hike the 1.4-mile RT Closed Canyon slot in Big Bend State Park.
- Snorkel Balmorhea State Park natural spring pool.
- Take the self-guided tour of Fort Davis National Historic Site and stop for souvenirs at Fort Davis Drug Store.
Tips for Visiting Big Bend National Park
- There is limited to no cell phone service in the park, download an offline map before you enter
- There are two gas stations in the park at the Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village
- Watch for animals crossing the road, especially at dusk
- Dogs are allowed in the campgrounds but are not allowed on the trails
- Be on the lookout for scorpions, tarantulas, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, javelinas, and bears
- Learn bear safety
- Store food and toiletries in bear-proof containers
- The desert is hot and there is little shade. Water, sunscreen, and a hat are necessary
- Plan ahead and bring a picnic
- Wood and ground fires are prohibited in the park
- There are several convenience stores in the park at convenience stores at Panther Junction, Rio Grande Village, Chisos Basin, and Castolon
- Pack a swimsuit to soak in the historic hot springs
- Do not swim or wade in the Rio Grande, there are dangerous snags and drop-offs
- Bring your passport to cross the US-Mexico border
- Be on the lookout for flash floods or sand storms
- Big Bend National Park is an International Dark Sky Park, you will need a flashlight to find your way back after sunset hikes
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
- Check with the Big Bend National Park Service for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
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