Use these suggested itineraries to help get the most out of your visit. It took us nearly 9 hours with all our pit stops. There are two routes to choose from: south along the border on Highway 90 or north via I-10. Big Bend is not close to an international airport which … They book up quickly during busy season. They are not close. Besides our hikes, this was my favorite thing we did in Big Bend. Visiting Big Bend National Park is now one of my favorite things to do in West Texas. Stop at the Sotol and Mule Ears viewpoints for picture-worthy views. Chisos Mountain Lodge | The best Big Bend accommodations are within the park at the Chisos Mountains Lodge. Big Bend, Terlingua, Texas, United States, West Texas, Where to stay near Big Bend National Park, Places to stay near Big Bend National Park, The 12 Best Hikes in Big Bend National Park, Hiking the South Rim Trail, Big Bend National Park, Hiking The Lost Mine Trail, Big Bend National Park, Things to do in West Texas: The Ultimate Guide for a West Texas Road Trip, A Complete Guide to Visiting Big Bend National Park, Things to do in Terlingua: Ghost Town in West Texas, The River Road: The Most Scenic Drive in Texas. The closest airports are in El Paso or in Midland, close being relative. But if you’re flying into Texas and want to shorten your drive you can get a connection from Austin, Houston or Dallas to El Paso or Midland. We saved I-10 for the drive home because we knew we’d be ready to go home and the interstate’s speed limit is 80 mph. There are iconic hikes in each of the three regions including the Lost Mine trail and South Rim in the mountains, Mule Ears in the desert and Santa Elena in the river. Copyright 2017-2020 Sol Salute. Read more about why Big Bend is one of the best road trips from Dallas. Their loss, our gain, because we were able to enjoy the park in peace, often going large stretches of time without passing another hiker or car. Big Bend is busiest during Spring Break, Thanksgiving weekend and the winter holiday break in December. There are also campsites along many of the hiking trails in the Chisos and camping along the South Rim is very popular. Quick note: This post contains affiliate links to products & services. A mix of the charming, modern, and tried and true. Big Bend is one of the least visiting parks in the National Park Service, offering you a unique opportunity to be truly alone in nature at a time when our parks are inundated with visitors. Big Bend is busiest during Spring Break, Thanksgiving weekend and the winter holiday break in December. We rented this quirky Airbnb in Terlingua and loved it (there are also unique options like teepees like this or retro trailers like this). Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. Drive to the Castolon Historic District, amidst these turn of the century cavalry buildings you'll find a rest stop and a camper store. Everything told me visiting Big Bend in the summer was a bad idea because, obviously, it's a desert in the summer. You can get a good look at the map and ask the park ranger any questions you have. We crossed the border at around 10 am and enjoyed a relaxing lunch of homemade enchiladas overlooking the Rio Grande. We had large bottles that we re-filled at every camp or visitor site we passed. BBRSP vs. BBNP? This is both a blessing and a curse. But with the choice of going in summer or not at all, we accepted our fate. 79834-0129. All rights reserved. There are many options to go on guided canoe trips down the Rio Grande. On our hikes in the Chisos, we came across deer and jackrabbits, but we weren't lucky enough to get a rare mountain lion or black bear sighting. This post has everything you need to know if you’re planning on visiting Big Bend National Park. I'd recommend having at least three days to be able to do everything justice, but the more the better. Water, they recommend 1 gallon per person per day. Do you have any particular questions about your upcoming trip or move to Argentina? Big Bend has lots to explore! You can stay inside the park itself at either the Chisos Lodge or by camping. For more information, check the official NPS website here. From Austin you drive south through San Antonio (if you are road tripping through Texas, spend a couple days here!). Also, always keep water and snacks on you, don’t risk getting hungry or dehydrated on the trail or miles from a rest stop. There are great Airbnbs to rent here ranging from trailers and teepees to private desert homes. Here is how to get to Big Bend National Park, including our road trip route from Austin to Big Bend and the closest airports. Big Bend is one of the smallest national parks in the United States. You have access to WiFi, bathrooms and can re-fill your water bottles here. The best time of year to visit Big Bend National Park is spring and fall. Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin. We have reviews of the best places to see in Big Bend National Park. It will take around 6-7 hours without stops. I’m a Texan born and raised. Best Time to visit Big Bend National Park. It may have taken me thirty years to get out west, I anticipate many more trips in my future. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Big Bend National Park, Texas on Tripadvisor: See 3,925 traveller reviews and photos of Big Bend National Park tourist attractions. The average precipitation recorded around this time is 37.78 mm. There are more than 150 miles of hiking trails in Big Bend. The hikes in the Chisos are some of the most beautiful in the park so be sure to set aside a solid chunk of time to spend there. Romantic Hotels in Big Bend National Park, Popular Big Bend National Park Categories, Big Bend National Park Pet Friendly Campsites, Exclusive Resorts in Big Bend National Park, Charming Hotels in Big Bend National Park, Hotels near (MAF) Midland International Airport. If you want pitch a tent in the Big Bend back country, read the official site here. Hit the road and explore the park's gorgeous vistas. Embrace the adventure and plan a visit to Big Bend. An ideal situation to get around exploring all the points of interest in Big Bend … Get the latest issue of the official visitor's guide to Big Bend National Park. The new museum pavilion (above) was really interesting. For more affordable Big Bend accommodation, look at Airbnb's and motels in the nearby ghost town, Terlingua. Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. In the end, it was hardly insufferable. Don't be a gambler with that last quarter tank. What to bring to Big Bend? There are developed campgrounds within the park if you plan on visiting Big Bend with an RV or something similar. Watch the sunset from the Window View Trail (above), just steps away from the Chisos Mountain Lodge. Paved highways and dirt roads provide access to an incredible array of experiences. Fill your water bottles and continue from here onward to the Santa Elena Canyon, you can take a short hike into the gorgeous canyon. Grab a snack or a drink and enjoy the view as the sunsets, it’s breathtaking (cliche alert). Rent a car from there and drive 4.5 hours (from El Paso) or 3 hours (from Midland). The distances are long so I filled up every time I passed a gas station with less than half a tank. DAY 1 | Checked in to our Airbnb in Terlingua, hiked the Lost Mine Trail, DAY 3 | Drove the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive (seeing Mule Ears and Elena Canyon), Visited the Fossil Discovery Exhibit, DAY 4 | Crossed the border to Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico (read about that here). I had no idea that the land Big Bend occupies is home to one of the nation's richest deposits of fossils. I admit I originally went for a break from the sun, but it was fascinating. It's the only national park to enclose an entire mountain range, the Chisos, within its borders. From there we stopped in Del Rio for damn good Mexican food for lunch. Airbnb in Terlingua | Terlingua is a 15 minute drive from the park gates and is the best place to base yourself if you plan on staying outside the park. Always keep an eye on your gas tank. For a more comprehensive guide, read my post Where to stay near Big Bend National Park. We drove to Big Bend from Austin. We visited in August, in the peak of summer, and the advice we got over and over was to find the Chisos Basin and not look back! I am a convert that is obsessed with West Texas, road trips and destinations that require many hours in a car to reach (travel goals now include parks like Zion and Yellowstone). It really is a stark contrast from the flat, hot desert to suddenly be gaining altitude surrounded by pine trees and signs warning of bears. We look forward to sharing this special place with you. Getting to Big Bend is Part of the Experience. Edit to add: In May 2019, a fire originating in Mexico blew northwards into Big Bend. This 30-mile drive through the desert towards the Santa Elena Canyon is quite the stunner. Big Bend National Park, TX Looking for the best advice on where to go and what to do? After one trip to the Chisos and the Rio Grande, I can say I have fallen head over heels for Big Bend. From Dallas, you can take I-20 straight through to Big Bend in about 8 hours. Become a Big Bend Expert Visit Our Online Bookstore Plan A Visit: Essential Guidebooks Be Sure to Stop at the Panther Junction Visitor Center For information, orientation, exhibits, park video, maps, books, and free brochures, the Panther Junction Visitor Center at Park Headquarters is a great place to start your adventure. Prepare yourself for heat and sun! While those stops aren’t a must, I do recommend stopping for a tour of the Caverns of Sonora. Not far from Panther Junction is the Fossil Discovery Exhibit. By giving forethought to your actions you can have a safe, exciting, and rewarding vacation in Big Bend National Park. There is a mountain range in Big Bend, The Chisos, that house the best hikes (read my favorites here) and offer a cool respite from the desert heat. Temperatures will be mild, not too hot for long hikes and not too cold for camping under the stars. The full-service Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only lodging within Big Bend National Park. The best time of year to visit Big Bend National Park is spring and fall. Read reviews on TripAdvisor here. People who love Big Bend, LOVE Big Bend, and it's easy to see why! Texas at one point, millions of years ago, looked similar to what the Maldives look like today. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. This area was an ocean bed, and was home to alligator ancestors the size of a large yellow school bus and horse ancestors the size of a small dog. We saw animals mainly in the mornings (coyote) or in the evenings (snakes), rather than in the heat of the day. If you have the energy, hike out to the Mule Ears, or take one of the other shorter desert hikes (you'll see plenty of signs marking the trail heads).