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)
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
29 Sites Available
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Site Details
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29 Sites Available
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Reviews (566)
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground offers a serene and quiet experience, close to Santa Elena Canyon and various hiking trails. Visitors appreciated the clean facilities, friendly staff, and beautiful surroundings, with many noting the enjoyment of wildlife sightings. However, the loss of cottonwood trees has diminished shade, and some areas require management improvements, but overall, guests had a pleasant stay and expressed a desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground offers a serene and quiet experience, close to Santa Elena Canyon and various hiking trails. Visitors appreciated the clean facilities, friendly staff, and beautiful surroundings, with many noting the enjoyment of wildlife sightings. However, the loss of cottonwood trees has diminished shade, and some areas require management improvements, but overall, guests had a pleasant stay and expressed a desire to return.
Review Summary
Kathy M
VerifiedApril 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
While the campground is very well maintained and has great (flat/spacious) campsites, it's significantly more rustic than I've experienced. Rustic sites are not bad in general, but this is not advertised as rustic. There is 1 location for drinking water, which "trickles" (10 minutes at best to fill. Standard water bottle. The next drinking water is 60 min away. All other water is non-potable. There is not utility sink to wash dishes or drain cooking water, yet it is a location that experiences javelinas and other wildlife including warnings for bears. It is unclear where to dispose of cooking water or simple Grey water. Camp rangers site is a 1/2 mile down the road.
Because of a fire a few years ago, there is no camp store within 60 miles.
Sites are great though. All else is no comparison for the other equivalent campgrounds at 13 other national parks I've camped at.
Michele S
VerifiedMarch 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
The campground is small with not a lot of amenities but it's quiet and clean. The Camp Host was very nice and accommodating. The area is perfect for bird lovers...so many different kinds. Javalinas graze in the morning in the fields around the campsites. Highlight is the Santa Elena Canyon hike....just lovely.
Matt N
VerifiedMarch 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Great sites, plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. Awesome stargazing. We loved our stay.
Michelle A
VerifiedMarch 26, 2021 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We stayed in site 14 and loved it! Highly recommend.
May N
VerifiedMarch 22, 2021 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Not enough parking spaces at the trail heads. Plan to leave for trails early in the morning for parking.
Matthias S
VerifiedMarch 18, 2021 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Excellent campground with little noise and no large RVs or trailers. If you seek quietness then this is the place to go. Excellent base to explore the west of the park including historic sites and Santa Elena canyon. Very nice and helpful campground host.
Gloria B
VerifiedMarch 16, 2021 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We love this campground! The restrooms, while only vault toilets, were always clean. The campground was only 1/2 full due to COVID, so it was very quiet and awesome.
Anne B
VerifiedMarch 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
These are tough times, so I don't want to complain needlessly. However, the drinking water spigot was barely a trickle right from the start. That's a problem. On the the 6th of March the water main was apparently broken, so there was NO potable water. It would have been nice to be informed as to where potable water was available. Good thing we were leaving that day!
Lucy C
VerifiedMarch 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We loved camping at Cottonwood Campground in Big Bend! The location was great--super close to great hikes and beauty. The campground is smaller than the Rio Grande campground or the Chisos Mountain campground, and perhaps because of the absence of hookups and limited access to water, was blissfully quiet and calm. The spacing of the campsites allowed for privacy and the campground host was wonderful. We had visits from resident roadrunners, saw and heard a resident Great Horned Owl, and also spotted numerous birds in the campsite area including Vermillion Flycatchers. We will definitely return to this campground!
Rebecca M
VerifiedMarch 10, 2021 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
An amazing experience! I plan to be back.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 29.1369 / -103.522
Elevation: 649 feet
Nearby National Park
In Big Bend National Park
Approximate driving time: 48 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: June 13, 2026
