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
Glenda W
VerifiedJanuary 30, 2026 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
This is a non-electric campground that does not let you use your generator! Our site had two large trees that had died and been cut down some time ago, but not removed. There was no internet available or tv reception so we felt very isolated. We were not allowed to have a campfire either, so really nothing todo here but hike.
John B
VerifiedJanuary 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We enjoyed our stay at Cottonwood. It’s a smaller campground in comparison to Rio Grande Village. It’s a No Generator campground so it was quite and they have only vault toilets. However they were very clean and did not smell at all. The host was very nice and engaging.
Torre N
VerifiedJanuary 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
A quiet campground. This was winter, so most of the trees didn’t have leaves. There is very little vegetations, so very little privacy between sites. There’s only one water spigot for the campground. The toilets are toilets, but very well maintained, and nice smelling. The campground is 45 minutes from the visitor center and gasoline. There’s very limited cell service on T-Mobile. The sites were flat.
Curtis B
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2026 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
very spacious small boon docking park. mostly tents and small campers. spaces were large and mostly level. the outer spots seem to be flatter than the inner spots. nice bathrooms with potable water for jugs only and non potable around the park for cleaning. nighttime was perfect for stargazing.
Alexander T
VerifiedJanuary 21, 2026 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
Very nice.
Shaun H
VerifiedJanuary 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 030, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
I loved our campsite, not a ton of other campers, super close to the Rio Grande, great for exploring that side of the park and in decent proximity to Terlingua if one wants to go into town.
Sarah R
VerifiedJanuary 18, 2026 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
We stayed in both cottonwood and rio grande village and cottonwood was the better of the two. Quieter and closer to many more hikes. Vault toilets were supremely clean!
Violet G
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2026 • Stayed at: 021, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
An amazing remote campground with beautiful views.
Torre N
VerifiedJanuary 14, 2026 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
The campground is a 45 minute drive from the main visitor center at Panther Junction, the closest place for gas, so plan ahead. The campsites have wonderful, flat, parking spaces. The campground has very sparse vegetation so that there isn’t any privacy between the sites. Pit toilets only, but very well maintained and odor controlled. There is only 1 spigot for drinking water at the front of the campground which is a bit of a hike if you're at the back. They have FULL recycling-including paper. The campground is quiet and safe. The ‘store’ at Castolon is very minimal. The best store is at Rio Grande campground. I would not want to be in this campground in hot weather because there isn't any shade. The Rio Grande river is close, but very low river levels-its more of a small, slow stream.
Graham C
VerifiedJanuary 13, 2026 • Stayed at: 027 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)
For a campsite of this purpose it was what you would hope for. There were several water supplies. BBQ and bear box at each campsite. The compostable toilets were as well maintained as you can expect and the views were great. Note that it is almsot 50 minutes from Chisos Basin but there are a lot of great hikes nearby.
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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Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 4, 2026
