Terlingua, TX is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Terlingua is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Discover great camping spots near Terlingua, reviewed by campers like you.
"Ranch Topanga Campgrounds
A good place to camp if you want a quiet, secluded spot, lovely views, close to both the National and State Parks. Reasonably priced."
"Each site has potable water and a fire pit. The individual showers have hot water and the dishwashing stations at the bathhouse were something I wish more campgrounds had!"
"No pets on those."
"Yes we did a shake out in the most remote camp site, in the most remote State park in Texas."
$12 / night
"The campsite are drive up campsites, but somewhat primitive in nature in that there are not restrooms with toilets, sinks and showers. There are picnic tables and fire rings, but that is about it."
"Each site has a picnic table, with sun shade, and a campfire ring. The composting pit toilets were well maintained, and didn’t smell at all. "
$10 - $35 / night
"Two of the tent sites have their own artistic touch complete with A-Frame style lodging so you can leave the tent home if you’d like."
"Tin Valley is a beautiful and serene desert retreat situated in a valley, surrounded by small mountain ranges such as the Western Corrazones and Sombrero Peak."
$12 / night
"Most of the path is easy until you leave normal roads at the La Posta site. After the first descent on a very rocky ledge, its mostly managing to keep on the path and navigate a few obstacles. "
"Incredible location deep within BBRSP. The majority of the route is straightforward until you deviate from regular roads near the La Posta site.
cotton candy t shirt full sleeve"
"The site has awesome views of the night sky and of the surrounding mountains. The road is passable if you drive slowly. Plenty of room to park."
"You can see the mountains all around you but this site is flat with no shelter or windbreaks of any kind."
$10 / night
"Seep Spring is a dispersed primitive campsite on the Rancherias Loop Trail.
The main attraction of this site is that it is relatively close to the trailhead entrance."
GuideTin Valley Retro Rentals is a diamond in the rough! Owner Ronda has transformed Airstreams, buses, retro RV’s, and even a VW Beetle (the Cuddlebug) and Land Yacht into amazing places to stay. At Tin Valley you’ll share your stay with a donkey, some pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. It’s a pet friendly atmosphere. Along with the retro rentals and tent sites there’s amazing RV parking and new to Tin Valley, Van Lifer parking spaces. This is not your standard RV park, the RV parking spaces are spread out not packed in tightly. The sites are spread out so you’re not looking directly into your neighbor’s window but instead at the immaculate unobstructed view of the surrounding mountains. Two of the tent sites have their own artistic touch complete with A-Frame style lodging so you can leave the tent home if you’d like. The Land Yacht site is the only clothing optional site here as well, where you can feel free to feel free. Each site has it’s own fire pit and charcoal grill. There’s an outdoor shower here, or nearby showers, laundry, pool and cafe at the neighboring Terlingua Ranch. Artist Jules Muck has put her own touch on Tin Valley transforming what would normally be just a renovated RV into a work of art. Stars will shine brighter here than you’ve ever seen before without the city light pollution nearby and it’s an amazing sight. You can hike up the two mountains closest or take a walk around Tin Valley. Take time to head to Big Bend national or state parks in the Terlingua area. The center of Terlingua also has a ghost town complete with walking tour. In that area you’ll find bars and restaurants, Cottonwood, the nearest grocery store, or the closest place to fill up on gas. A visit to Terlingua and Tin Valley Retro Rentals won’t disappoint. You won’t’ find another place this original, or with this much space to rent to call your own as an RV’er, camper, or retro renter. Check out tinvalleyretrorentals.com or Tin Valley Retro Rentals on Facebook.
TravelerTin Valley is a beautiful and serene desert retreat situated in a valley, surrounded by small mountain ranges such as the Western Corrazones and Sombrero Peak. The night skies are bright and breathtaking when the weather is clear; we were lucky enough to see the Milky Way and the Leonid meteor shower during our stay. There are several sites at Tin Valley - some A frame platforms, some stationary trailers, some cars and buses that have been converted to camping trailers. There are also some stationary RVs available to rent that have running water, electricity, and a bath house. These latter RV rentals are more expensive than the more primitive sites. We booked our stay through Airbnb.
Our camper was an old trailer that had been gutted/renovated and was outfitted with sleeping bags, extra blankets, two cots, and a propane heater (no gas provided). It was a good windbreak on the colder, chillier nights. There were some solar-powered outlets in the trailer (for charging a phone), but we didn't use them since our phones would charge in the car. I don't think they would power anything like a hair dryer, etc. The rest of the site included a trash can, a padded bench, two chairs, a picnic table, a charcoal grill, and a fire ring (wood available for purchase - I think it was $5 per bundle). There is no water at the site, but there is a sink and outdoor shower a short walk away. There is no hot water available, but it is potable. The rental included the free use of the (hot) showers at nearby (5 minute drive) Terlingua Ranch Lodge, where there is also a restaurant. There is also a portapotty a short walk away from the trailer, which was kept very clean and well-stocked with toilet paper. There is no cell service or wifi at the campsite, but free wifi is available if you walk down toward the stationary RVs.
Getting to the site in the dark can be a little intimidating - it's West Texas, so everything is pretty spread out. The owner of the site was excellent when communicating how to find it. Google Maps will not take you to the correct place - you must print out directions before you go (cell service is very spotty out there) and watch your car's odometer. Drive slowly and carefully - lots of wild animals and winding, unpaved roads. You can safely make it to the camp site with any kind of car, though a vehicle with high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive wouldn't hurt.
The site is about a 20-25 minute drive from Terlingua/Study Butte, and about a 30-35 minute drive to the entrance of Big Bend National Park. If you plan to stay here while visiting Big Bend, remember to factor drive time to the park and then within the park - it's a big place. The drives are beautiful, though, so it's not a chore.
Please be aware:
If you bring your own car, please check all systems before you take it out there. Our car's battery died halfway through the trip and the owner of the only auto parts store in Terlingua was out of town, so the store was closed. We had to get a jump in the park and then drive two hours north to Alpine to get a new battery.
West Texas is a desert - Big Bend NP only allows 5 gallons of water per person per day at potable spigots. Please be sparing and conserve where you can. That said, it is Texas, which means it can get very hot. Bring water with you everywhere.
West Texas is home to Mexican black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, javelinas (wild hogs), every variety of venomous snake that lives in the United States, and more. It may not look like a typical "predator country," but it can be. Store food in hard-shell enclosed spaces, like your trailer or car. Bear boxes are not available at sites, but they are available in the national park. Watch carefully for snakes on dry ground at the site (rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes) and in water (cottonmouths, water moccasins).
RangerBig bend state park is the same terrain as the National except it is less landscaped. The campsites are rough ones that you have to hike to. No pets on those.
GuideWe 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.
LegendBig Bend Ranch State Ranch is quite different than Big Bend National Park. While much of the national park has sky islands (mountains), much of the state park is classic desert. The park stretches from the desert to the Rio Grande River. There is a scenic road that runs along the river with a number of campsites. The campsite are drive up campsites, but somewhat primitive in nature in that there are not restrooms with toilets, sinks and showers. There are picnic tables and fire rings, but that is about it. There is not much shade cover at these campsites so it is helpful if you have a tent or canopy shade. The attraction of this park is the expansive views of the desert that one is able to view. The heat and lack of cover can be tough on the body, so bring lots of water and hydrate. Outside the park are some interesting towns like Terlingua and the old silver mining town of Safter.
GuideRanch Topanga Campgrounds
A good place to camp if you want a quiet, secluded spot, lovely views, close to both the National and State Parks. Reasonably priced. The managers take great care of the place and have a great camping spot with all the amenities needed. The bathhouse has hot showers, toilets, large sinks for washing dishes, and electrical outlets. I camped in Site#1 February 2020. I had my camp set up in the back of my truck topper, and I was attending an annual 4 day motorcycle rally in the Big Bend region of Texas.
Rancho Topanga is located on the North side of Highway 170, approximately 11 miles West of Study Butte and 7 miles East of Lajitas.
I will definitely come back.
GuidePlenty 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.
GuideWe went out here for a four day primitive site stay in Javelin. If you love solitude this place is right up your alley. We chose Big Bend Ranch over the National park primarily for an adventure and the fact that they allow camp fires. It was a long drive out in the desert. The main road is well maintained. Once you hit the side roads to your campsite you need to pay attention to what vehicle they tell you, you need to get to the campsite. They aren’t fooling around😆we had two wheel drive high clearance and it is exactly that. One thing we didn’t realize was that the brush grows close into the road so if you go out to Javelin you will scratch your vehicle. But you are rewarded with the solitude and beauty of the area. In four days we saw no one. We heard wildlife (coyotes) but never saw anything. It had plenty of trails close by to explore if you want to stay put. They require your own waste disposal. The site includes tent sites (they are rocky), picnic table and a fire pit/grill. Just a beautiful awesome place that I hope to return to soon.
GuideWe stayed at Rancho Topanga for 4 nights during our unforgettable trip to Big Bend National Park in December 2019. The campground was thoughtfully designed and is lovingly maintained. The sites are very spaced out with gorgeous views. Each site has potable water and a fire pit. The individual showers have hot water and the dishwashing stations at the bathhouse were something I wish more campgrounds had! We saw wildlife and amazing sunsets during our visit. No electricity and primarily tents only. We can’t wait to visit again!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Terlingua, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Terlingua, TX is Rancho Topanga with a 4.8-star rating from 11 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Terlingua, TX?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 glamping camping locations near Terlingua, TX, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
