Community Forums

reutherfan · 01-04-2023, 10:16 AM

I’m in New Orleans and heading for Big Bend NP in Southwest Texas.
I’m planning to stay in Terlingua outside the park for full hookup and restaurant availability. Can anyone recommend a campground there or suggest an alternative location for visiting the park.
I’m also interested in dry camp alternatives in the park or nearby.
Thanks in advance for any help.

andy29847 · 01-04-2023, 01:50 PM

We prefer the Adventure Inn in Study Butte. It is a classic desert campground. Dirt lot, pay showers, and poor or no wifi. The location is great - just 3 miles from the west gate of the park. Also, there is a restaurant and gas station on the same property, and a grocery store 1/2 mile away. There is a road going out the back of the park that is fun to explore. It goes down to a park boundry and out into Terlingua Ranch.

We have stayed at Mavrick RV Park in Lajitas once. It is a little nicer than the Adventure Inn ,but it is 20 miles away from the park. Also, Lajitas is a resort town, and prices there are higher than Study Butte (nothing in the area is cheap).

I love the Big Bend area and have been there several times. Here are a couple of travel reports from recent visits.

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/2...-trip.1426252/

https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/b...again.1499435/

wolfe10 · 01-04-2023, 02:18 PM

Camping within the NP: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Rio Grande Village is a good choice. And, adjacent to Rio Grande Village is a concession with power, but basically just a parking lot.

Also, west of San Antonio on U.S. 90, Seminole Canyon SP. There is also a private CG on the west side of Marathon. And, last big grocery store headed west is the HEB in Del Rio right where U.S. 90 heads north in downtown. They usually also have the cheapest fuel around-- RV accessible.

Chisos/the basin is beautiful, but the climb up is only accessible for short vehicles:"Trailers over 20 feet and RV's over 24 feet are not recommended due to the narrow, winding road to the Basin and small campsites at this campground."Take your tow car/PU.

I believe Indian Head Trail is the one referred to above with some Ancient Pictographs (and well worth it!):https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/t...ian-head-trail

andy29847 · 01-04-2023, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfe10

Camping within the NP: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/camping.htm

I believe Indian Head Trail is the one referred to above with some Ancient Pictographs (and well worth it!):https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/t...ian-head-trail

That's it. It's just a dirt road. The land on either side of the road is private so you shouldn't explore too far from the road. Near the end is where you find the boulders. The road ends at a hill on the national park boundary. There is a fork in the road about half way to the end. Turn right to stay on the trail. Go straight and enter the Terlingua Ranch (desert real estate). Left is a private drive.

Here are some of the boulders.

This is from the hill at the end of the trail - looking out on the national park and the Chisnos Mountains.

twogypsies · 01-04-2023, 04:44 PM

We've always stayed at Rio Grande Village campground - very pleasant surroundings - no hookups. 1/8 mi away is a full hookup concessioner rv park consisting of a row of RVs.

You'll need reservations.

https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/camping.htm

wolfe10 · 01-04-2023, 04:52 PM

And, unless it has rained, accessible by any kind of vehicle including small cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy29847

That's it. It's just a dirt road. The land on either side of the road is private so you shouldn't explore too far from the road. Near the end is where you find the boulders. The road ends at a hill on the national park boundary. There is a fork in the road about half way to the end. Turn right to stay on the trail. Go straight and enter the Terlingua Ranch (desert real estate). Left is a private drive.

Here are some of the boulders.

This is from the hill at the end of the trail - looking out on the national park and the Chisnos Mountains.

Jkjavelin · 01-04-2023, 05:33 PM

We have gone to Maverick Ranch the last 3 years in a row for 1-2 weeks each, because that's all we could get a site there in Feb./Mar. Before leaving last year, we reserved a site for a month for this year. It's commonly considered the nicest rv park in the Big Bend area. There is a sit down restaurant and a couple places for carry out food. It's about 15 miles from Terlingua.

andy29847 · 01-04-2023, 06:09 PM

It is a long way from one end of the national park to the other. The map here shows (from right to left) the Rio Grande Village, Panther Junction (gas and visitors center), Chisos Basin, Santa Elana Canyon, the Big Bend Adventure Inn, Terlingua Ghost Town, and Mavrick RV Park.

BTW, the park service gives away their excellent visitors guide at the entry gates. It's worth the read.

rream · 01-04-2023, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkjavelin

We have gone to Maverick Ranch the last 3 years in a row for 1-2 weeks each, because that's all we could get a site there in Feb./Mar. Before leaving last year, we reserved a site for a month for this year. It's commonly considered the nicest rv park in the Big Bend area. There is a sit down restaurant and a couple places for carry out food. It's about 15 miles from Terlingua.

Stayed there two times it is the best choice in the area 20 miles to get park entrance gate

Rob_M · 01-04-2023, 06:49 PM

Some good advice above.
Maverick Ranch is the nicest in the area, but you’re adding 20+ minutes to an already long drive to get to anywhere in the park.

Check out the Terlingua Ghost Town while you’re there.

Off topic sort of. ROUTING: If you go in or come out using 90 (my preference) instead of l-10, be sure and stop at Langtry and check out Judge Roy Bean museum.

reutherfan · 01-04-2023, 07:04 PM

Thank you all for your great suggestions

SergioP · 01-04-2023, 07:41 PM

If you have time, take the drive from Lajitas west on FM 170, the river road. We did it in our Class C.

Chuck&Pam · 01-04-2023, 08:59 PM

We recently stayed at Paisano Village in Terlingua/Study Butte. It's a newer desert RV park with full hookups. It's only a out 3 miles from the BBNP entrance. We drove through several other parks in the area and would choose this one again. Pretty dark out there and we could see the Milky Way and numerous meteors from our site. Also a food truck on site with good breakfast and lunch.

Rob_M · 01-04-2023, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck&Pam

We recently stayed at Paisano Village in Terlingua/Study Butte. Pretty dark out there and we could see the Milky Way and numerous meteors from our site. Also a food truck on site with good breakfast and lunch.

Terlingua is a “dark sky” community. The first time we visited, there was no moon and it was so dark and amazingly beautiful.

Don’t stay at Maverick Ranch in Lajitas if you want to experience this. There was an idiot projecting a football game on the side of his rig last time we were there. And others lit up like Christmas trees.

The night sky out there is something to experience.