Cottonwood
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. Cottonwood gets its name from the cottonwood trees that surround and provide shade for the facility nearby the Rio Grande.
More like this: reservable in Texas · big rigs in Texas · pets allowed in Texas · group sites in Texas · dark sky in Texas
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 28 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
29 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 33 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 003 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 004 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 31 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 005 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 006 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 007 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 008 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 009 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 34 | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 010 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 2 | No | |
| 011 | Cottonwood (TX) | Standard | Back-in | 29 | Gravel | None | No / – | 8 / 2 | 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 | 40 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 | Sites 027 ADA, 029 ADA are listed accessible |
The campground has pit (vault) toilets, potable water, picnic tables, bear boxes, and grills. 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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 miles (64 km) south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 miles (42 km) to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right at the intersection and go 13 miles (21 km) west.
| Nearest town | Big Bend Nat. Park, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29.1369° N, 103.5222° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- There is not a fill or dump station, please come prepared.
- There are no hook-ups or fill and dump stations, and the use of generators is not allowed.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 16.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Big Bend National Park Camping. Cottonwood Campground.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Luna JacalBuilding · Big Bend National Park · 5.5 mi
Natural features
The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles (2011 km), the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. Due to its proximity to water, many species of birds are in the Cottonwood area, including nesting migratory birds. Santa Elena Canyon is a beautiful river canyon that can be seen from the campground area.
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.
Nearby
Santa Elena Canyon, Castolon Historic District, and Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive are near the campground.
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 Cottonwood?
Sites at Cottonwood 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 Cottonwood?
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 Cottonwood?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cottonwood have?
31 sites, including 28 standard sites without power and 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cottonwood?
The longest site here provides 40 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 pets allowed at Cottonwood?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Cottonwood?
Sites 027 ADA and 029 ADA are 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 Cottonwood good for stargazing?
Yes. Cottonwood sits inside Big Bend National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Cottonwood?
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. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cottonwood?
Big Bend Nat. Park, Texas. Santa Elena Canyon, Castolon Historic District, and Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive are near the campground.
Source: Getting there
What if Cottonwood is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Chisos Basin Group Campground (16.2 mi), Chisos Basin Campground (16.2 mi), and Big Bend Backcountry Camping (23.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Cottonwood in?
Cottonwood is a Big Bend National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Big Bend National Park