Chisos Basin Campground
Chisos Basin Campground, perched high in the rugged Chisos Mountains, is the most sought-after campground in Big Bend National Park. At an altitude of 5,400 ft. (1646 m), the campground is surrounded on all sides by tall, rocky cliffs and is conveniently located near some of the park's most spectacular and popular trails. This campground offers excellent views and mild temperatures. Also found in the Chisos Basin area is the Chisos Basin Visitor Center, the General Store and the Chisos Mountains Lodge, which houses the only restaurant in Big Bend National Park. The road to the campground is steep and winding with sharp hairpin turns.
The group site has its own page: Chisos Basin Group Campground.
More like this: reservable in Texas · pets allowed in Texas · dark sky in Texas
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 56 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
56 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | ||
| 002 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | ||
| 003 | Loop 1 | 15 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | |||
| 004 | Loop 1 | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | |||
| 005 | Loop 1 | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | |||
| 006 | Loop 1 | Pull-through | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | ||
| 007 | Loop 1 | Pull-through | 24 | Paved | 8 / 2 | No | |||
| 008 | Loop 1 | 15 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | No | ||||
| 009 | Loop 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 2 | No | ||
| 010 | Loop 1 | 20 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | No |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 24 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Entrance Fee. Big Bend charges an entrance fee separate from the camping fee. You may pay the fee upon arrival or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g. annual, senior, military, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.). |
| Dark sky | Inside Big Bend National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Site 037 - ADA Only is listed accessible |
The Chisos Basin Campground has 60 individual campsites. The campground is reservable year-round, some sites six months in advance, some two weeks in advance (Sites 8 - 10, 12 - 15, 31, 37 (accessible), and 48 - 60. There is no first-come, first served camping. A few sites are set aside for administrative use. Because of the size of each campsite, they are more suitable to tent camping than RVs or trailers, though both are allowed at some campsites. Each site comes with a picnic table, charcoal grill and bear-proof food storage container, and some sites come with picnic shelters for shade. Sites are generally rocky and not level. Most campsites are within easy walking distance to drinking water and toilets, and a dump station is provided for RVs and trailers. The dump station is oddly situated and requires EXTRA long hoses, as it's on the right side of the road, opposite from most RV sewer outlets. Another more easily utilized dump station is located at Rio Grande Village.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Interstate 10, take highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and then on to Marathon. From Marathon, go 40 miles (64 km) south on Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight 26 miles (42 km) to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right and drive for three miles (1 km).
| Nearest town | Big Bend National Park, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29.2750° N, 103.3042° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Campsites are small, rocky, and not level, so there are very few sites truly suitable for RVs.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
CHISOS BASIN CAMPGROUND Site Exploration & Review | BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK | Texas
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Luna JacalBuilding · Big Bend National Park · 14.5 mi
Natural features
The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles (2012 km), the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. The campground lies at the base of several sloping cliffs amidst montane shrubland; desert plants such as Arizona cyprus and mesquite trees fill the landscape. Maple, aspen, pinyon and ponderosa pines grow at higher elevations just above the campground. Though it is lower than the surrounding cliffs, the Chisos Basin is at a higher elevation than other campgrounds within the park. Summer temperatures here are cool, yet warmer than other areas in fall and winter due to the cold air sinking into lower regions. The Chisos Mountains are a popular nesting site for migratory birds. The mountains provide the only nesting ground in the United States for the Colima warbler, which arrives in mid-April and departs for its wintering grounds in southwestern Mexico by mid-September.
Recreation
This campground is a hub for hikers. Some of the park's most spectacular and popular Day Hike trails are nearby, including the Lost Mine Trail, the Window Trail, the South Rim Trail and the Pinnacles Trail, with its access to the park's highest point, Emory Peak (elevation 7,825 ft./2385 m). Campers can find the trailheads for most of these trails in the main Chisos Basin area a mile or so further down the basin road from the campground. Access to the river is approximately 30 miles (48 km) away, where visitors can canoe, kayak and fish.
Nearby
Big Bend National Park encompasses 801,000 acres (324,153 ha) and the Chisos Basin area is centrally located. This allows visitors an excellent opportunity to explore all areas of the park in a relatively short drive. Big Bend offers excellent hiking trails, miles of rugged dirt roads, and endless possibilities for sightseeing.
Guidebooks for Big Bend National Park and Texas
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Chisos Basin Campground?
Sites at Chisos Basin Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Chisos Basin Campground?
Entrance Fee. Big Bend charges an entrance fee separate from the camping fee. You may pay the fee upon arrival or purchase in advance.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Chisos Basin Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Chisos Basin Campground have?
62 sites, including 56 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Chisos Basin Campground?
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Chisos Basin Campground?
Most campsites are within easy walking distance to drinking water and toilets, and a dump station is provided for RVs and trailers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Chisos Basin Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Chisos Basin Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Chisos Basin Campground?
Site 037 - ADA Only is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Chisos Basin Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Chisos Basin Campground sits inside Big Bend National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Chisos Basin Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Chisos Basin Campground?
This campground is a hub for hikers. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Chisos Basin Campground?
Big Bend National Park, Texas. Big Bend National Park encompasses 801,000 acres (324,153 ha) and the Chisos Basin area is centrally located.
Source: Getting there