Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)

Po Box 129, Big Bend Nat. Park, Texas, United States
Check Availability

Warning

General

A 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.

Cottonwoods and acacia trees provide shelter and shade to campers.
Tree lined campground
Aerial view of Cottonwood Campground, bright green trees amidst the low desert, riparian area
Small travel trailer set up in tree-lined campground with cliffs in background
Two travel trailers in campsite with trees lining the sites and roadway

Featured amenities

General Store General Store
Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Fire Pit Fire Pit
View all amenities

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 sites
RV Sites 28 sites Check Availability Tent Sites 1 site Check Availability

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed - Opens on Nov 1

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

General Store General Store
Pet friendly Pet friendly
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • Grill
  • BBQ
  • Fire Pit
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • General Store
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see availability.

29 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 002, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 003, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 004, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 006, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 007, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 008, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 009, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 010, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 011, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 013, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 014, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 015, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 017, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 018, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 019, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
🚐 020, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 021, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
🚐 022, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 023, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 024, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 025, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · 30 × 18 ft · Gravel
🚐 026, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 027 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 029 ADA, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
🚐 030, Loop: Cottonwood (TX) RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Back-in Site
⛺ A, Loop: Group Site A Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly

Reviews

582 reviews

Summary

AI generated

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

Write a review
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: Oldest First
Newest First Oldest First

Ron F

Verified

April 8, 2021 Stayed at: 016, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

Wonderful place, very quiet. Best part - the camp host Margaret - she was a delight and loves her job, which she does exceedingly well. Met the wonderful maintenance man, Ronaldo, who keeps the bathrooms cleaner than any pit toilet I have ever seen. And he took the time to chat with us and gave us a great tip for a more scenic drive as we left for our next adventure. The vermilion flycatchers and the resident owl were the icing on the cake!

Helpful

Patricia T

Verified

April 8, 2021 Stayed at: 007, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

Very nice campground away from the hustle and bustle of the of the park. Nesting owls near the campsite made for an extra exciting adventure.

Helpful

George A

Verified

April 9, 2021 Stayed at: 013, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

The campground is beautiful, the hosts were welcoming and knowledgeable, and the pit toilets had an alluring bouquet! Highly recommend looking at the photos to find a sight with good shade! (13 is a good one)

Helpful

Larry L

Verified

April 12, 2021 Stayed at: 004, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

Good job on closing areas for Covid and still keeping the park open and active.

Helpful

David J

Verified

April 19, 2021 Stayed at: 005, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

The park ranger, Margaret, was very helpful identifying animals, etc. Very quiet and bathrooms clean. A nice place to camp.

Helpful

Leah Katie T

Verified

April 19, 2021 Stayed at: 012, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

This was such a great campground. It’s the perfect place to camp if you plan on staying on the west side of the park or spending a lot of time at the Santa Elena canyon. It’s definitely quite a long (but beautiful) drive to and from the campground if you’re spending time in other areas of the park, so be prepared for that. We drove the Old Maverick Road half the time, and while it’s a dirt road and takes as long to drive as Ross Maxwell, it’s a beautiful drive and it’s fun to see other parts of the park you wouldn’t otherwise see. The bathrooms were clean, the park rangers were super friendly, and the stars were incredible.

Helpful

brittany m

Verified

April 23, 2021 Stayed at: 004, Loop: Cottonwood (TX)

So peaceful! Quiet and the sites were nice and grassy with tons of shade. This may be my favorite of the 3 developed campgrounds at Big Bend

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...

Nearest town

Big Bend Nat. Park, TX - 549 mi

About over 8 hr (538 min) to downtown

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

General

A 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

Explore destination

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14 mi away

City
Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park

18 mi away

National park
Explore destination

Presidio

59 mi away

City

Last updated: October 24, 2026

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Elevation: 410 ft

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