Cottonwood Campground — Big Bend National Park
Reviewed May. 31, 2022

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

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

Site10
Month of VisitMay
  • Round trip across campground
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  • Review photo of Cottonwood Campground — Big Bend National Park by Mario D., May 31, 2022