## Overview

 Cottonwood Campground is a quiet desert oasis in the southwestern corner of Big Bend National Park. Conveniently located between the Castolon Historic District, the scenic Santa Elena Canyon and the tail end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, this small, 30-site campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 30 individual sites. This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted. There is not a fill or dump station, please come prepared. Cottonwood gets its name from the cottonwood trees that surround and provide shade for the facility nearby the Rio Grande. A general store and visitor center -- a converted former military outpost -- are also nearby. The campground is at an elevation of 1,900 ft. It is relatively cool in the peak seasons of fall and winter due to cold air sinking into the lower elevations. In the spring and summer, this campground is very hot, with temperatures normally exceeding 100 degrees F from mid-March through August. 
## Recreation

 Particularly popular with bird watchers, Cottonwood Campground is a haven for those wishing to study the abundant bird life in Big Bend while also escaping the more crowded areas in the park. Because of its diverse ecosystems and plant life, the park provides habitats for many rare and unique birds, including the Mexican mallard, Lucifer hummingbird, Mexican jay, black-capped and gray vireos, and Varied Bunting. Hiking trails are located around the campground. 
## Facilities

 The campground has pit (vault) toilets, potable water, picnic tables, bear boxes, and grills. There are no hook-ups or fill and dump stations, and the use of generators is not allowed.\_\_\_\_ The group campsite is a walk-in, tent-only site; no RVs or trailers are allowed. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area, a short walk from the campsite itself.\_\_\_\_ The individual sites are all similar. Each site has a bear box, picnic table, and raised grill. All have dirt/gravel parking spaces and most are well-shaded with some afternoon/evening sun. The individual sites are on a 2-week reservation window, which means you can make the reservation no more than 2 weeks in advance of your arrival. 
## Natural Features

 The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the \"big bend.\" For 1,250 miles, the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. Due to its proximity to water, many species of birds can be found in the Cottonwood area, including nesting migratory birds. Santa Elena Canyon is a beautiful river canyon that can be seen from the campground area. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Santa Elena Canyon, Castolon Historic District, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.\_\_

Cottonwood Campground — Big Bend National Park

The site here was really peaceful with a huge campground. I took my family and my boyfriends family here for a weekend getaway in December of 2016. I was able to get  the only group site here. We were located at the edge of the Rio grande. The site was a quiet one but with a couple of RVs coming in and out. I believe there are about 30 smaller sites surrounding our group site. There is no firewood here and you would need to pick up at the few gas stations you come along the way. During our stay the temperature was around the 70s and at night it dropped to the chilling 40s. The mornings was a little breezy. We were able to drive to Emory trail head and hike about 1 and a half miles. I would definitely recommend this campground. 

Absolutely lovely 

If you are looking for a quiet campground, with no ambient light to diminish your view of the night sky, stay at this campground. Pit toilets only but who cares.

Also this campground doesn't seem to fill up as fast as others in Big Bend. Which means more open camp sites and a better selection. It might not have the best of views but the sunsets and night sky was amazing.

Nice flat sites, plenty of trees and shade, not a ton of sites which keeps it pretty quiet and more laid back and calm.

Embrace the darkness at night

Small enough to not be noisy, large enough to be accommodating. Central to multiple trails. Staff was friendly and knowlegable. Shade trees at many sites, important even in November in Texas. Showers and restrooms available. Highly recommend!

Highly recommend!

This campground was very secluded when I visited, there were two others sites taken during my visit. The area was very quiet and we had fun watching the collared pecaries foraging through the sites. We saw multiple bird species and it was a very easy walk to the Rio Grande.

Quiet, nature, primitive toilets only

The is a Big Bend National National Park Campsite.  The Camp  is adjacent to the Rio Grande River and a popular  camping spot for can expeditions.  The site is sometimes an overflow from Chisos Basin Campers during busy season.  The sites are in a grass meadow in one large loop.   During the off-season this campground is usually close to empty.  The major advantage is river access and proximity to the Santa Elena Canyon.  They have basic restrooms, fire pits, and tables.  If you are traveling along the Rio Grande this is a great option.   You don’t get the scenic vistas from this site due to its low lying elevation.   

Rio Grande Canoe Camping 

When we visited a few years ago, the camp was sparsely populated.  Javelinas were about though, so exercise caution.

Quiet, beautiful trees and scenery

Awesome

Quiet and nice campground. Large grass area which is perfect for the tents. Location close to the Rio Grande and the Santa Elena Canyon. Convenient store half a mile away.

Grass in the desert

We 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. 

Off the beaten path and away from everything 

Small, dispersed camping only  area, about 25 total sights. Camped 4 nights while on a group hiking adventure in mid-Feb. Water, pit toilets, tables, and grills provided at each spot. This location is remote! Its 38 miles to Panther Junction and the Chisos Basin area, 20 miles further to the  Boquillas Canyon area, but only 7 miles to Santa Elena Canyon. It's a beautiful drive to the campground with lots of hiking trails and vistas along the way. Nights were very quiet. Friendly camp host. Recommend if you're staying in the park for several days and don't mine driving a lot (the park is huge!)

Small but great dispersed camping area in Big Bend.

**Cottonwood 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

Good Campground in the wrong place for summer, all other times OK

This a nice little campground close to the Rio Grande and only a few miles from the Santa Elena canyon. The sites some what close together but still roomy. The pit toilets were extremely clean. The park host and national park employees friendly and helpful. 

Quite small Campground Close to The Rio Grande

Cottonwood Campground is nothing very special, in our opinions but served it’s purpose! It’s very close to Santa Elena and a great spot as a home base for exploring the west side of Big Bend. The campground is right off Ross Maxwell road and a few miles before you reach Santa Elena. The sites are in a long loop. They had just created several more sites when we were there - 29 in total I believe. Pit toilets, potable water and trash are available, as well as a bear box in every site. There was a couple serving as camp host that were very kind and happy to lend advice. Campground was quiet and calm when we were here in January. A gentleman next to us set up a big telescope at night and let everyone gaze at Jupiter and the moon and such. Was really lovely! 

Basic but friendly staff and close to Santa Elena

This is a remote campground close to Santa Elena Canyon. There is a very small store next the the nearby visitors center with a small selection of drinks, snacks and food plus a microwave. The campground had lots of birdwatchers! Some areas were flooded due to irrigation. This campground only has out toilets, fyi! You can’t beat the location though!! 

Classing NP Camping

This was a perfect experience on our trip south through Big Bend . Spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here . Water is gravity fed . Awesome place near the Santa Elena Canyon . Quiet dark and safe 

Christmas 2022

Really enjoyed our two nights here! Plenty of trees provide much needed shade, pit toilets, potable drinking water plus different spigots for dishwashing water.