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.
$30 - $60 / night
"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"
"All sites are gravel, level, power & water, everything works great, lots of great landscaping and a social area."
"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."
"I did not camp here but used their very clean showers ($10) and laundromat several times while camping in Big Bend Ranch State Park."
"The view of the Chisos Mountain is fantastic, especially at dawn. This RV Park includes 12 large pull-through sites and 17 back-in sites with 50/30-amp, water and sewage."
"staying at BJs RV park was like an immersion experience to living in Terlingua."
$39 - $179 / night
"A small, quaint campground close to Big Bend NP. Sites are level with cement sitting area, picnic table, and firepit. Bathroom and shower area are new and nice. Will definitely stay here again."
"Very nice 50amp, full hook ups. Very nice bathhouse, fully stocked with sample sized accessories. Easy in, easy out. Great homebase for visiting Terlingua & Big Beand."
"Our maiden voyage in our 41 foot fifth wheel. A little concerned about finding a campground that could accommodate us, and have plenty of room."
"It’s your typical RV Park on the edge of a National Park (close spots, basic amenities). The area is very quiet. The staff we interacted with was friendly and helpful."
$45 - $65 / night
"Terlingua's only 3rd generation local owner and operator buisness."
"We were just plugging in a camper van because the nights were too warm to get good rest."
$41 / night
"Watch out for the metal bar sticking out at the front entrance area. It would cause some serious damage to your tires."
$16 / night
"No Cell Phone, No Internet, no TV nothing. But was the best place we have been to."
"No cell service, Wi-Fi at the store, campground host was very nice."
$10 - $22 / night
"Laundry has decent size machines and are paid by the honor system (which was so cheap we threw a few extra bucks in). Running the campground seems to be a group effort."
"Not a very scenic spot for a tent but since I was birding my way along the Texas Birding Trails, this was a hotspot and worth the stop. Clean bathroom and shower, nice game room."
$16 / night
"The Chisos Basin Campground is nestled in an open woodland within a scenic mountain basin. Campers enjoy the views of Casa Grande and Emory Peak."
"This campground is located near the center of the park and at a high elevation. It is located in the only mountain range that is entirely within a national park."
TravelerThey do indeed still have full hook-up rental spaces for travel trailers! We have a 27’ and we were fine (maybe call if you are one of those big fifth wheels to be sure). Terlingua’s a funny place in the best way possible so your not gonna fine incredible signal or high speed internet in these parts but my husband was still able to work full time online from here. The owners are super sweet and her art studio is worth checking out. We walked to a bar every other night and it’s easy access to hike Big Bend daily.
TravelerCottonwood Campground is a quiet oasis in the western corner of Big Bend National Park. Reservations are required. Conveniently located between the Castolon Historic District, the scenic Santa Elena Canyon and the tail end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, this small, 22-site campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 21 individual sites.
This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted.
Cell Phone Reception, No
Internet Connectivity, No
Trash/Recycling Collection. Yes, Year-Round
Food Storage Lockers, Yes, Year-Round
Laundry, No Dump Station, No
Potable Water, Yes on site
The campground is one of the lower places in elevation, 2200 feet in the national park, it is hot in sprint and summer, over 100F at summer afternoons. Not recommended from May to September, use instead Chisos Basin Campground(5,400 feet) where the temperature is lower 15 to 20 degrees than any campground near the Rio Grande
ScoutThis 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.
TravelerThe Chisos Basin Campground is nestled in an open woodland within a scenic mountain basin. Campers enjoy the views of Casa Grande and Emory Peak. The sunset through the nearby"Window" is a Big Bend highlight. Some of the park's most popular trails begin nearby. Elevation: 5,400 feet. Open year-round. 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. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
Cell Phone Reception, Yes
Internet Connectivity, No
Trash/Recycling Collection. Yes, Year-Round
Food Storage Lockers, Yes, Year-Round
Laundry, No Dump Station, Yes
Potable Water, Yes on site
At Chisos Basin Campground 5,400 feet the temperature is lower 15 to 20 degrees than any campground near the Rio Grande, take this in consideration for summer
GuideThe view of the Chisos Mountain is fantastic, especially at dawn. This RV Park includes 12 large pull-through sites and 17 back-in sites with 50/30-amp, water and sewage. The Recreation building has 3 complete washrooms with showers; a community kitchen with a fridge and microwave; a variety of cookware and dinnerware; and 2 sets of washers and dryers. The pavilion is also available and includes tables, chairs, a smoker/cooker and a community fire pit. There are pot lucks and other events to participate in and the atmosphere and terrain are unmatchable. They LOVE pets and well behaved ones are even allowed to play off leash. But at night there are desert creatures so keep them inside. Terlingua is a “ghost town” that is worth spending time in. There are cantinas and restaurants, there’s an eccentric trading post store, a famous cemetery, and an annual chili cook off. The community is quirky but it feels like home. I take an annual trip to this area and BJs has my business every time. PS: all the food in town is GOOD.
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).
RangerWe loved it. No hookups, no generators. Just quiet. Zero cell service so don't even think about it. We camped there in the new year. Did a bunch of hiking and bird watching.
Not big rig friendly. Smaller trailers, tents and van life.
GuideThis place was amazing! A little tight to get into with our 42’ toy hauler, but not too difficult by any means. We LOVED our pull through spot. The night hosts were so great and hospitable and we had trees for shade! This was our fav dry camping in an rv park so far.
GuideThis campground is located near the center of the park and at a high elevation. It is located in the only mountain range that is entirely within a national park. There are many hiking trails and chances for encounters with nature in the area. The campground is not accessible for large rv's or large tow behinds, so tent camping, pop up callers, tear drop trailers, and class b vans are prevalent. There is a gift shop and restaurant in crisis basin as well.
Terlingua, Texas, offers a unique RV camping experience surrounded by stunning desert landscapes and close proximity to Big Bend National Park. With a variety of well-reviewed parks, visitors can enjoy both comfort and adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Terlingua, TX?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Terlingua, TX is RoadRunner Travelers RV Park with a 4.8-star rating from 27 reviews.
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