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 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.

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.

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 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.

Plenty of campgrounds to choose from, some that need high clearance vehicles, but plenty that don't and that still offer great views. I came here for an overnight bike-pack trip and the base camp I stayed at had a picnic table, fire pit, and a nice cliff with the river running just behind it. There are also restrooms close by.

Back-country dispersed camping was everything you'd expect. No amenities and camping under the stars.

Be prepared for extreme heat, cold (at night), and unpredictable weather. I had all of this.

If you forget any gear there is a small town just outside of the park where you should be able to find whatever you need and also get your tourist needs in.