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
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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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
JESSICA C
VerifiedNovember 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We stayed here for 3 days and had a great experience. The camphosts were great, bathrooms, sites, and land overall maintained beautifully.
Lita F
VerifiedNovember 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
clean campground & facilities, super nice rangers, and a quiet area! loved seeing one of the owls that lives at the campground and a road runner.
Cheryl B
VerifiedNovember 18, 2021 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Despite some damage from a 2019 fire, Cottonwood remains green with lots of birdlife. The host on duty was very vigilant, regularly driving the camping oval to make sure everything was alright. The campground's proximity to Santa Elena canyon, the Castolon Historic District, and some short trails to interesting old farm ruins were its primary attractions to me. I was surprised to get good text and cellphone coverage on some of the hills along the trails! There's filtered water available at the entrance and clean vault toilets toward the rear end of the oval. Some large mature cottonwoods have been cut down and new saplings planted so there's not as much shade as I had hoped for, but Cottonwood's smaller size and remoteness meant it was quiet with its own charm.
Marc S
VerifiedNovember 15, 2021 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
If you prefer quiet, this place is much better than RGV. Limited potable water, and put toilets, but no generators, so quiet at night. People who camp there seem more into the peace than at RGV. Picnic tables and food storage boxes, and two pairs of pit toilets is all the infrastructure. Some sites have good shade from the cottonwoods. Sites are nicely spaced but there is little privacy. The lawns are sometimes flooded, so tents had to go up on the parking pad while I was there. A rather long ride to the Chisos, close to Santa Elena.
Nicole B
VerifiedNovember 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Great stay at Cottonwood - be aware there is no mobile reception in the area and the NPS periodically irrigates the campground through flooding of low lying areas.
John D
VerifiedNovember 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Quiet and clean
Priscilla T
VerifiedNovember 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Cleanest camp toilets I’ve ever used. The experience was downright borderline pleasant! Polite hosts will chat you up. Sites are pretty close to one another without a very clear demarcation of the boundaries but everyone is very friendly. You can hear road noise from the nearby employee residences but it’s not terrible.
Paul B
VerifiedNovember 12, 2021 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Well laid out
Quiet
Cathleen T
VerifiedNovember 11, 2021 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Great launching off point for Santa Elena trail. Amazing views from Chisos Basin. Potable water for water bottles.
Scott P
VerifiedMay 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Our site was excellent, with very nice shady trees. Some of the sites have no shade at all and most are not very big. But overall, this campground is excellent. Bathrooms very clean and well stocked. Great hosts who kept a close eye on the campground. We saw LOTS of beautiful birds, including some very enjoyable Roadrunners and a resident owl in Site #5. Santa Elana canyon was wonderful, a highlight of our trip for sure. Low water at this time of year allowed us to hike upstream. Very fun. Bring your water shoes, but we just took off our socks and shoes. Be sure to watch amazing sunsets at Sotol Vista, another highlight of the trip!
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
