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.
Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates29 total sites
RV Sites
28 sites
Tent Sites
1 site
About Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
Number of accommodations: 29
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
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
Rates, Sites & Availability
29 Sites Available
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Site Details
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29 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (578)
What Guests Are Saying
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.
What Guests Are Saying
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.
Review Summary
Joshua H
VerifiedFebruary 15, 2023 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Campground hosts were great, very friendly and knowledgeable. The pit toilets were super clean. Close to Santa Elena Canyon, which is absolutely lovely in the early morning.
chase n
VerifiedFebruary 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
There was a real issue with the park trying to get grass to grow. They would apparently flood the middle part of the campground with water. Also the gnats were unbearable unless you had a full face netting to wear. I am not sure if this was something caused by the water and the ground being soft for the bugs, but it definitely needs to be addressed. I personally would not come back to camp at this particular spot. I would stay up in the mountains (Chisos) away from the bugs and visit the river as a day trip.
Laura B
VerifiedFebruary 20, 2023 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
The staff was very nice here, otherwise there is nothing noteworthy about this campground. You have to drive to everything as there are no hiking trails in the immediate vicinity.
Kenneth M
VerifiedFebruary 21, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Needs dump station. Park it’s self has parking problems and not large RV friendly. Campground was peaceful and quite.
Adam S
VerifiedFebruary 24, 2023 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Nice and quiet, but at least during February it was a pretty ugly campsite. Can't really see the mountains of Big Bend, can't really see or access the Rio Grande, and no leaves out. It was a bit depressing, so I left.
Katia F
VerifiedFebruary 25, 2023 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Nice and quiet camground. Site numer 2 is unfortunately not very nice because it is at the entrance of the camping. i think sites at the other end were quieter.
There was a great horn owl at the campground!
The hosts were very nice.
Peter B
VerifiedFebruary 26, 2023 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We (two people) were there for a birding trip covering most of Texas and some parts of New Mexico. Although the weather was relatively cold (32oF at night; low 50oF during the day) our stay at Cottonwood was very good. The irrigation that was going on at the campground brought in many different birds (owls, woodpeckers, doves, warblers, catbirds, etc) and made up for the relatively low bird activity (due to the cold) in the desert parts and Chicos mountains. I personally was impressed with Helana Canyon.
Betsey L
VerifiedMarch 1, 2023 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Close to Santa Elena for sunset & sunrise. Got cellular at Santa Elena; no bars at CG. Cottonwood had piles of gravel, not all sites were open. Fierce winds one night. Black flies were a menace from 2pm.
Will S
VerifiedMarch 5, 2023 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Nice campground. Site #5 was quiet, near the bathrooms, and had good shade. The hosts were great and answered al of our questions. It was a bit warmer than normal for February and the gnats came out swarming around 9:00am and hung around until 6-7:00 pm so we decided to hike in higher elevation during our time in BBNP.
Stuart W
VerifiedMarch 7, 2023 • Stayed at: 030, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Nice and generally quiet though it seemed like the same cars kept circling and raising dust. It would have been nice to have hiking trails adjacent. For example a trail to the visitors center so we didn’t have to walk in the shoulder-less road.
Easy drive to Santa Elena a definite must-see.
We brought our bikes but the narrow roads (again, no shoulders) made biking not possible/safe for us.
Location Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
Address:
Po Box 129
Big Bend Nat. Park, TX, 79834
United States
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. Take a left at the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and drive 23 miles (37 km) 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.
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.
Elevation: 649 feet
Nearby National Park
In Big Bend National Park
Approximate driving time: 48 min
549 mi drive to downtown Big Bend Nat. Park (about 8 hr 58 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: September 9, 2026
