Best Equestrian Camping near Big Bend National Park

OK the campground is a parking lot and I mean a parking lot. Each spot is 2 parking spots. It is all asphalt. No Cell Phone, No Internet, no TV nothing. But was the best place we have been to. If you want full hook ups for camping it is the only one in Big Bend National Park. they only have 25 sites all back in. Pay for showers if you don't have your own. But catch the sunrise and sunsets. Hike to Boquillas Canyon, the hot springs down the river or all over Rio Grande Village. Drive to all of Big Bend and spend days hiking Mountains, Deserts, River, Canyons. The most beautiful area in the World at least to me.

We arrived after traveling the long journey into Big Bend National Park and were excited to camp in the Chisos Basin but the campground was full. We were informed that there were spots open at Rio Grande Village, and we quickly found out why. We were there in early March and the temperature was already into the low 90's during the day with wet and muggy nights in the low 80's.

The campsites are open with little to no privacy or sound barriers to block out the noise from generators. The one plus side to an open campground is that you can see the Javelinas before you can smell them. The temperature made most day hikes nearly uncomfortable so we resigned to swimming most of the day away.

Stayed here at the end of May 2022. I knew it would be hot, but I can’t describe the intensity of the heat. The campsite itself was very cramped, luckily there were only a half dozen other campers while I was there… I could see this place being very crowded during peak months. I came here to see the dark skies but had to drive a few miles from the campground to avoid the bright lights of other RV’s. There was gas available at the nearby store as well most things you’d need at the store. You have to pay for showers with quarters so be prepared for that… $2.00 for 5 minutes. I crossed into Mexico via the Boquillas Crossing, rode a Burro into the village and had lunch. Bring small bills to pay for things there… cost to ride Burro, horse or truck. Plus $3 per person once you get to Mexico. Then plan on having cash for lunch and to tip your “tour guide.” Overall the campsite needs more space and shade would help too.

Stayed at Grassy Bank (this is not an “interior primitive site”)off and on over a three weeks period in mid to late Feb. 2021. There are 17 designated sites and several dispersed. All numbered sites are large, offer moderate to total privacy, and all have cabanas, picnic tables, and fire rings. #15 is the only camp site directly on the River. Síť there in total privacy and watch canoers maneuver the little rapids, turtles sunning on River rocks, birds and ducks coming and going and a few hundred feet across in Mexico see three horses and a donkey grazing or javelinas coming to drink at the river’s edge. It’s paradise. There’s a canoe launch or go tubing or take a dip. There are two separate but adjacent very clean pít toilets and plenty of open space to walk the dog.

Cost is $12 pěr day plus $5 park entry fee which unfortunately has to be paid every day you camp. There is no cell service or WiFi. Closest access is seven miles away in Lajitas at the market. The woman Ranger who manages the Bartoň Warnock Center during weekdays where you register should not be dealing with the Public. There’s water and a dump station at the Center.

We have recovered from our shake out trip to Big Bend Ranch State Park, Chorro Vista Camp Site. Yes we did a shake out in the most remote camp site, in the most remote State park in Texas. Texas Parks& Wildlife Dept calls this"the other side of No Where" and says bring TWO spare tires and they mean both. The 4x4 trail to get to the camp site was exhilarating, both the scenery and driving what they call maintained road. Want some real fun try the unmaintained 4X4 roads....we had a mountain goat tell us we were crazy for drive up there. If you care about your paint don't drive these roads, but if West Texas Pin Striping is a badge of honor this is for you. The Falcon Pro was awesome, if we would have had the old truck bed tent, it would have been in Mexico after the winds Friday night, as it was I was trying to figure out self rescue when the winds blew the truck over....but we made it. Then Saturday night the temps dropped to 15 degrees and us without a heater again did OK. We got some sleep Sunday night. The days were great some of the most rugged hiking ever...and the views, AMAZING. What a great experience, cant wait to get back out there.

The countryside in this part of Texas is not lush. The dark skies are astounding and the Stilwell folks seem serious about protecting them. We were there New Years Eve and it was pretty quiet. Everything worked, price was fair- it was an interesting place and the owners’ handouts show a wry sense of humor. I liked the place!

This is one of my favorite Texas campsites. If you love the desert and big Texas sunsets this is the place to camp. You will need a high clearance vehicle and experience camping in dispersed desert sites. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring, otherwise you need to bring everything including water and a toilet. The ranger station is about 25 miles off the highway on a rough washboard road. Sections of the smaller roads which lead to campsites required 4x4 vehicles. Our Sprinter 4x4 has no problem making it to our site which was about 12 miles off the highway. The variety of desert cactuses was amazing. We visited in April and it was very hot in the day. So, you will need to time the visit carefully has the summer temps can exceed 100 most days. We also experienced a lot of bees in the spring from the flowers Ocotillo plants.

We were here 2/20/21 to 2/26/21. Weather was great, mid 70's during the day, 40 to 50 at night. 

Horrible roads, takes forever to get anywhere! We loved the Isolation, saw very few people unless we went into the Ranger Station. Bathrooms and showers very clean, although never used showers. Bring tons of water! Can get more at Ranger station and also decent WIFI there. Free Ice is a huge bonus!

Had Texas Longhorns in camp. We have a Truck Camper on a Silverado 3500 and originally reserved Yedra 1. We were talked out of that site by a ranger and ended up in Tascate 1 instead which was just fine. We tried driving into Yedra later in our stay and turned around, so glad we didn't end up there.

Trails are plentiful and fantastic. The scenery fantastic. Be sure to bring everything you need food and alcohol wise!

Also, if you have the Texas state park pass, you don't pay the daily fees and you get discounted camping on at least one night plus discounts on gift store items. Was well worth it

BBRSP is quite possibly our favorite park in Texas. The draw is that there is far fewer foot traffic than BBNP - so much solitute. We camped at Fresno Vista and backpacked the Rincon Loop from the Barton Warnock Station... about 30 miles in 3days/2nights. Wifi at the Ranger stations and a shower at the Sauceda Station. If you have any questions don't hesitate to call the Ranger stations. Water near the Crawford Smith house.

Great primitive campsites! vast space for hiking and exploring! wonderful place and would absolutely visit again!

La Noria #1 should get a campsite medal! It was seriously everything I could have ever ever wanted in a backcountry site! Awesome fauna, awesome views and no people!

This is a great site for big rigs. We didn’t have any problems getting our 36ft fifth wheel to the site. It’s close to the main road but not too close. Be aware that back country sites like this one must be reserved on Recreation.gov as of Jan 1, 2021.

Ground is just gravel so you can not stake a tent. It’s… not a camping site it’s like a parking lot. Not kidding. Watch my video. Easy to get in. Had to block the entrance with my truck as people just pull in all night and it was just me and my daughter. Wind never stops. Bear box filled with garbage- unusable. 5 miles away from anything.

Small pull off and a paved path to an area you could pitch a tent. Very remote. No water.

The javelina can knock over your campsite if you're not careful.

Nice, clean and convenient Campground. Shower (prepare quarters..), little store and fuel. The two other campground in Big Bend NP are nicer.

We travel full time and I have never had such a negative experience.  The bathrooms are disgusting.  There are only two washers for the entire area.  The staff is beyond rude.  We were exactly 13 minutes late checking out with nobody checking into our #5, because the water hookup was broken.  One of the works sarcastically told my husband she hoped the the coyotes didn’t eat our cat as he was sitting next yo the water with my husband.  Worst experience we have ever had!

This is not my style of “camping” but in a pinch or if electric hook ups are a must, then this place will work. This is a parking lot with services that you won’t get in the standard campgrounds. I would stay here however, just to be in the park and especially if it was during the hotter months. . The general store, gas station, laundry and shower facilities are in walking distance.

Basic parking lot with hard to reach pedestals near the raised curbs. Flat sites, full water and electric hookups, although the electric went out for 3 hours from 5AM to 8AM. Very unfriendly check in. We were charged twice because due to computer error when we booked online (we had no trouble with any of our other online bookings) that resulted in a non-refundable charge for an extra site that we didn't need. Showers were $2.00 on top of the $40+site ($80+ for us). The laundry to serve 100 sites in the national park campground and 40 in the private one had 2 washers, 2 dryers, so long lines. Worst of all, the bathroom cleaning schedule had them closed from 8AM-9AM, rush hour. That is, the schedule is set for the convenience of the staff, not the campers. Hardly a hospitality industry standard, but par for the course for a monopoly location. On the other hand, great wildlife and decent store.

Big campground bear boxes available

Great site, camped near the river. Great views and beautiful weather.

It was an amazing couple of days with views and hikes well worth the visit. It gets crowded during season so you need to get there early cause it's 1st come. The entire park is one of the most amazing I've visited. The hike and climb to Emory peak is amazing but not for beginners.

Boh bend is so pretty with so much to do here. Ever been? Well you need to.

This is probably the coolest place I've ever camped at. We stayed at the group camp site, which I highly reccomend because it's off to the site instead of piled on top of one another, like the individual sites. Just down the road, about 5 minutes, are the hot springs and the Rio Grande which are INCREDIBLE. Highly reccomend taking a dip at night before bed - super refreshing and the stars are spectacular. Santa Elena Canyon is across the park a ways but it's absolutely 150% worth going. This whole place is stunning.

Big Bend is a magical place. It’s one of the darkest places in US to see the Milky Way at night. During the summer it can get insanely hot, but the nights cool off immensely and the sunsets are amazing.