RV Sites
Tent Sites
Pam P
VerifiedFebruary 12, 2025 Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We love staying here because of the beautiful and peaceful setting.
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Warning
GeneralA maximum of two motor vehicles, one vehicle with a trailer, one motorhome with tow vehicle or four motorcycles allowed per campsite. A maximum of four tents OR one wheeled camping unit and one tent allowed per campsite. Only 1 conversion van or other type of recreational vehicle allowed per site. Two (2) conversion vans or RVs require 2 campsites.
About Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
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 1.9 ft. (580 m). 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° F (38° C) from mid-March through August.
Available sites
29 total sitesSeasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
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Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed
- Opens on Nov 1
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
General Store
Pet friendly
Picnic Table
Fire Pit
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
- Grill
- BBQ
- Fire Pit
On Site Services
- General Store
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
Missing information?
Rates, Sites & Availability
Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.
29 Sites Available
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002, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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003, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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004, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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006, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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007, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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008, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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009, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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010, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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011, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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013, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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014, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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017, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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018, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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019, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
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020, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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021, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
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022, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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023, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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025, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
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026, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
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Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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027 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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029 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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030, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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A, Loop: Group Site A
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
29 Sites Available
Site
Price
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002, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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003, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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004, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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006, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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007, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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008, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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009, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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010, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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011, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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013, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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014, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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017, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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018, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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019, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
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020, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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021, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
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022, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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023, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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025, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
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026, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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027 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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029 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
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030, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
⛺
A, Loop: Group Site A
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews
582 reviews
Summary
Cottonwood Campground offers a peaceful and quiet atmosphere, ideal for those seeking a low-key experience near Santa Elena Canyon. While many of the original cottonwood trees have been lost, leading to reduced shade and some disappointment, the campground still provides a clean and well-maintained environment, with friendly staff and decent facilities. Visitors appreciate the beautiful surroundings, wildlife sightings, and proximity to hiking trails, making it a worthwhile spot despite its recent challenges.
Based on guest feedback
4.5
Overall rating
Based on 582 reviews
5 stars
69.6% (405)
4 stars
18.7% (109)
3 stars
8.6% (50)
2 stars
2.2% (13)
1 star
0.9% (5)
Showing 582 reviews
Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Joseph F
VerifiedFebruary 11, 2025 Stayed at: 025, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Beautifully remote campground. Quite and clean. Perfect for boondocking with water and toilets available
Helpful
Lisa E
VerifiedFebruary 8, 2025 Stayed at: 005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Nice small campground. Pit toilets only but they were clean. Very close to Santa Elena Canyon, which in my opinion is the best hike in the park.
Helpful
Patrick W
VerifiedFebruary 7, 2025 Stayed at: 013, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Breathtaking!
Helpful
Margaret S
VerifiedFebruary 6, 2025 Stayed at: 005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Big Bend was awesome. The Cottonwood Campground was very comfortable. It was a fenced in area with nice open campsites spotted with trees for shady areas. The stars at night were awesome!
Helpful
Kenverly P
VerifiedFebruary 6, 2025 Stayed at: 029 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Amazing experience, campsite is well kept, very clean. Amazing view of the stars, close to Santa Elena trail. Restrooms are also kept in very good condition. Only downside is there is no water in camping site so make sure to bring your own water. There is also no cell service in the area, however a quick 5 minute drive to the nearest visitor center provides cell service.
Helpful
Bruce B
VerifiedFebruary 2, 2025 Stayed at: 006, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Nice campground, campsites are not too close together and #6 is level. The restrooms were very clean! Santa Elena Overlook and Santa Elena Trailhead both worth checking out. Chimneys Trail out ~2.5 mi (5 mi out & back) to the petroglyphs is cool!
Helpful
Maureen M
VerifiedFebruary 2, 2025 Stayed at: 024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
This is my favorite campground. It’s kept immaculately clean, even the toilets which is hard since they are long drops. It’s so pretty and peaceful. The only negative is other campers let their dogs bark which scare the Javelina’s and Roadrunners away and breaks the peace. I really wish the National Parks would ban all pets or make a separate pet friendly campground. We are here to enjoy the wildlife and nature. Other than that it was wonderful.
Helpful
Janet A
VerifiedJanuary 28, 2025 Stayed at: 022, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Might be an all time favorite campground. Such peace and calm. Saw vermilion flycatchers. They even have recycling for propane canisters. It’s such an awesome beautiful drive to get here. And just a short drive further is called Santa Elena Canyon which is just like a postcard.
Helpful
Geraldine R
VerifiedJanuary 27, 2025 Stayed at: 024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Great location for this very nice campground in Big Bend. Beautiful views at sunrise and perfect clear night to admire the sky. Great host, very caring!
Helpful
Location & Directions for Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
Po Box 129, Big Bend Nat. Park, TX 79834 United States
Elevation: 649 ft
Getting There
From Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 mi (39.8 mi) south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 mi (26.1 mi) to Park Headqu...
From Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 mi (39.8 mi) south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 mi (26.1 mi) to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right at the intersection and go 13 mi (13 mi) west. Take a left at the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and drive 23 mi (23 mi) to Cottonwood Campground.
GPS Warning: GPS units may send you down Old Maverick Road, an unpaved, very rough road. Do not take Old Maverick Road unless you have a four wheel drive and high clearance vehicle.
Highway access
Cottonwood Campground is accessible via State Highway 385, which connects to Interstate 10 to the north. Travelers can take State Highway 385 south from Interstate 10 through Fort Stockton and Marathon to reach the campground.
Near Big Bend National Park
The closest entrance is: Maverick Entrance Station
Approximate drive: 13.4 mi · 23 min
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
1PM
General
- Do not reserve campsites that you are not planning to stay in. A camper arriving the day AFTER the reservation begins is considered a No Show. A No Show may result in a cancellation of your ENTIRE reservation. Contact the park at 432-477-2251 if you are late or will not be arriving until the day after your reservation starts.
- Generators are not allowed in Cottonwood campground. Idling a vehicle to provide power is also prohibited.
- No Hookups or Dump Station. There are no electricity, water or sewer hookups. There is no fill/dump station available at this campground.
- Group Campsite is Tent Only. The group site is for tents only. RVs and trailers are NOT allowed.
- Campfires. No wood or ground fires are permitted in Big Bend. Charcoal may be used in the raised grills provided at each site.
- Pets. Pets are allowed in each campsite, although they must be leashed and restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails or in buildings.
- Food Lockers/Wildlife. Javelinas, bobcats and bears frequent the area. All food must be kept in the food storage lockers or approved containers or in a hard-sided vehicle. Dispose of trash n the animal-proof dumpsters provided. Do not leave coolers or food boxes unattended at any time.
- Are you still camping? If you leave your site during the day, please leave something at the site so we know you are not checking out early. A tent, camp chair, stove, book, etc. Something of little value but that indicates you plan to return.
- Hammocks. No hammocks or other devices may be attached/tied to trees or any other natural features or objects.
- Border Crossing. There is only one authorized border crossing within Big Bend National Park, located at Rio Grande Village. Crossing the border in an unauthorized location is illegal.
Warnings & Advisories
Warning
GeneralA maximum of two motor vehicles, one vehicle with a trailer, one motorhome with tow vehicle or four motorcycles allowed per campsite. A maximum of four tents OR one wheeled camping unit and one tent allowed per campsite. Only 1 conversion van or other type of recreational vehicle allowed per site. Two (2) conversion vans or RVs require 2 campsites.
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Last updated: October 24, 2026
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Big Bend Nat. Park, TX
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