Tent camping near Terlingua, Texas offers both convenience and isolation with sites positioned between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The desert terrain sits at elevations between 2,700-3,500 feet, creating dramatic temperature shifts that can exceed 30°F between day and night. Most tent sites are established on hard-packed gravel or desert soil that requires heavy-duty tent stakes.
What to do
Kayaking the Rio Grande: Access Santa Elena Canyon by boat for primitive camping on sandbars. "We kayaked upstream into the canyon, spent the night and came out the next day. It was incredible! We had the canyon to ourselves and loved every minute," reports a camper at Santa Elena Canyon.
Mountain biking trails: Ride the extensive trail system near Lajitas from tent sites. "This is a great location to mountain bike in Big Bend Ranch State Park and on the Lajitas trail system, but also you're only an hour away from sitting in the Big Bend National Park Chiso basin parking lot," notes a visitor at Rancho Topanga.
Rock collecting: Search for fossils and unique geological specimens around tent camping areas. "It was neat exploring around the hills where you can find millions of years old shells and cool rocks," shares a camper who stayed at Coyote Crossing.
What campers like
Dark sky viewing: Terlingua area offers exceptional stargazing from tent sites due to minimal light pollution. "The sunsets were amazing here and we liked walking around the property to say hi to his dogs and horse," mentions a camper at Rancho Topanga.
Wildlife encounters: Desert fauna regularly visits camp areas, requiring proper food storage. "We arrived and were told that we had our pick of sites on 20 acres, after scouring the land for the best option we picked a place tucked away that would allow for an unobstructed view of the mountains. This was primitive, no frills camping and there were in fact coyotes," notes a tent camper at Coyote Crossing.
Spacing between sites: Many tent areas offer good separation between campers. "The tent camping area is huge and spread out. We stayed at #10 and the only downside was that there was a trail up to the ridge right by our site so other guests were walking by our site at all hours of the night and early morning for stargazing and taking in the sites," reports a visitor.
What you should know
Water availability: Most tent camping requires bringing all water supplies. "The local general store has almost everything you need, including fresh water at 10¢ a gallon," notes a camper at Coyote Crossing.
Road conditions: Access to tent sites varies widely, with some requiring 4WD vehicles. "The road is dirt/gravel and in pretty good shape. Prob need high clearance but not 4WD. There are some washes to go thru with low dips that may make it impassible with a standard car," explains a camper at Pine Canyon.
Wind exposure: Tent campers should prepare for strong desert winds. "It was very windy at night and throughout the night cows kept mooing. The only good thing about the site is it's 15min of off-roading from the nearest paved road," shares a camper at Buenos Aires.
Cell service: Limited or no connectivity at most tent sites. "There was sporadic 1 bar 3G service from AT&T that allowed you to send a text but no phone calls or app/internet usage. Verizon had zero service," reports a camper at Paint Gap.
Tips for camping with families
Bathroom considerations: Choose tent sites with facilities for easier family camping. "The bathhouse has hot showers, toilets, large sinks for washing dishes, and electrical outlets where you can charge your phone," describes a visitor at Rancho Topanga.
Campsite selection: Look for sites with natural boundaries for kids. "We booked this campsite through Airbnb. It was a great location. About 20 minutes from the entrance to Big Bend National Park. The road to the park also takes you through the town of Study Butte so you can get any essentials you need," notes a camper at Sky Ranch Terlingua.
Temperature planning: Schedule family activities during cooler morning hours. "We sat in the water that night to cool off. In the middle of the night we heard javelinas splashing in the river," shares a camper about Santa Elena Canyon.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup options: Several sites accommodate smaller RVs with basic amenities. "30 amp hookups with water. Beautiful views including a spectacular night sky. Showers hot and bathrooms clean. Very responsive and helpful camp host," reports a visitor at Willow Creek Camping Company.
Charging alternatives: When hookups aren't available, use communal facilities. "I would have given a 5 but for that we can't run our quiet genny during the day to charge batteries and cook, and campsites are pretty snug to each other... But it's a beautiful setting, they let you charge up from the outlets in the bathhouse," explains an RVer at Rancho Topanga.
Site reservations: Book directly with campgrounds when possible. "We did not get the chance to stay at the campground, which was a bummer based off the awesome reviews and pictures. We booked through Dyrt, the reservation was confirmed, and then shortly after the host contacted us and said that he could not honor the reservation," warns a potential camper.
