Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Terlingua, TX

We could not have been happier with our experience at Roadrunner Travelers RV Park. Chris and Allison went out of there way to make us feel at home and comfortable, especially since this was our very first destination with our trailer. Originally, we were going to have to move twice during our stay due to them not having one spot available for all 8 nights, but eventually it worked out so that we did not have to move at all. They had electric and sewer hook ups when we first got there, but with them being so new(just opened in December 2020), they were still working on the water hook ups, and ended up getting us hooked up to water about 3 days before leaving. Before the water hook ups were available, they drove around every single day and topped off everyone's fresh water tanks. That's customer service for you! They are working on getting fiber optics in the campground, and should have it very soon. If you need a good internet service while there, just ask them and they will tell you where and how to get it very easily and very close by. The grounds are gravel and each site is mostly level from what I could tell. We were 15 minutes from Big Bend Ranch State Park, 10 minutes from teh entrance to Big Bend NP, and 5 minutes from Terlingua Ghost Town. Perfect location for the area. Do not hesitate to stay here! Thank you again Chris and Allison for your hospitality, answering all our questions, and giving us some great local info on things around town. Cheers and good luck!

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. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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).

Tin 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.

This place was the crème de la crème imo. Nice big sites with full hookup, picnic table and fire ring. A really nice pool area with free towels provided and very nice bathrooms with hot showers. There was a huge laundry facility as well. The dog park has water and two picnic tables with sun shades. Multiple poo bag stations around the park and very clean. There’s a trail/dirt road to walk from the campground to the Lajitas General Store (very good breakfast sandwiches). You also get access to the golf resort amenities: fitness center, 3 restaurants, and spa. I treated myself to a Deep Tissue massage and it was incredible!

This is the very first time we have stayed at this RV Park...well this week was EVERYONE’S first time staying at this RV park. It just had it’s soft” opening the week of Christmas. So although it is new and still working on completion of all their facilities(only sewer and electric currently available) the owners went out of their way with ensuring they did daily water deliveries to All campers. Mind blowing since when booking we knew that the water was not yet ready to go so fully expected to have to run out occasionally to fill up. That service alone makes me give it 5 stars but there is so much more that these owners do to make sure your stay is enjoyable. They answer all your questions about the local area, advise you of any weather that is concerning, provide great restaurant recommendations and encourage all the park guests to come together every evening around the community campfire to talk about their Days adventure, or your travel journeys. This was my favorite part(safe outdoor social distancing, of course). They have plans to have a bath house, dog park, and community area with games. I can not wait to return next year just to see how they progress. My gut tells me that this will be the“Oasis” destination in the desert. Thank you Chris and Allison for the wonderful memories of our first trip to Terlingua!

We stayed in Lajitas at their Maverick Ranch RV park, which is right across the road from the resort. We stayed here for a few days while on a 10 day camping trip (left DFW, went out west to Ft Davis, down to Big Bend and back up through the hill country).

This park is about a 30 minute drive to the entrance to the national park, but just a few minutes from the state park. There’s a lot of great amenities, which normally we don’t care about. However, since this was halfway through our 10-day trip, we were able to do all of our laundry, which made me happy. The RV park has a clubhouse with games, books, laundry, showers and a pool. You also have access to the resort amenities.

The RV park is a dark sky park, so camera are supposed to have exterior lights off after 9 or 10pm so everyone can enjoy the stars.

There’s also a dog park with grass, which our dogs were happy about!