Blooming Cenizo. Photo: NPS
- Entrance
- $30 per car
- Nonresident fee
- None
- Park annual pass
- $55, U.S. residents
- Payment
- Card only, no cash
Work out the cost for your group
About Big Bend
There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and species diversity is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend...
Things to do
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Backpacking Big Bend
Big Bend National Park is a backpacker's paradise.
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Become a Big Bend Expert
The bookstore carries a large variety of educational books, videos, park information, and high quality souvenirs to help you learn more about the park and its resources or just help you remember your trip to Big Bend.
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Big Bend Junior Rangers
Big Bend National Park invites young visitors to become official Junior Rangers.
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Bike Big Bend
Lightly traveled roads and varied terrain make Big Bend a premier bicycling location.
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Birdwatch at Cottonwood Campground
Situated near the Rio Grande, under the shade of numerous large cottonwood trees, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to look for birds and other wildlife.
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Birdwatch at Rio Grande Village Nature Trail
Rio Grande Village is consistently one of the best places to find a large number of birds in Big Bend National Park.
Photos
Century Plant Agave Photo: NPS / C. Negele 
Vermilion Flycatcher Photo: NPS 
Fascinating Geology Photo: NPS / B. Trester 
Desert Scenery Photo: NPS 
Santa Elena Canyon Photo: NPS / B. Trester
Entrance fees
| Type | Price | Valid for | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $30 | 7 days | All year |
| Per person, 16 and over | $15 | 7 days | All year |
Park annual pass
Big Bend National Park Annual Pass Covers entrance fees to Big Bend National Park. Pass is available at Big Bend National Park entrance stations or any visitor center. Good for one year from purchase date. Pass is non-transferable.
A park's own annual pass is sold to U.S. citizens and residents only. A U.S. resident who holds one covers everyone in their private vehicle, including nonresident passengers.
Reservations
NPS lists no entry reservation for this park as of October 26, 2026. Campgrounds and tours may still need booking.
Weather and seasons
Big Bend is in the Chihuahuan Desert. Sunshine is abundant year-round. Spring (March) is typically warm and pleasant and is the park's busiest season. Summer heat begins in May. It is extremely HOT. Temperatures vary greatly between the desert which is usually well above 100 degrees F by late morning, and the Chisos Mountains, which can be 10-15 degrees cooler. May - August are the hottest months. Fall and Winter (Nov-Feb) are mild and pleasant, but some freezing does occur. Snow is rare.
Hours
Big Bend National Park is always open. You can enter and exit at any time of the day or night. Park entrances are open 24 hours daily, all year.
Getting there
Several highways lead to Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio to Study Butte (then 26 miles east to park headquarters) or US 90 or US 385 to Marathon (then 70 miles south to park headquarters). Distances between towns and services are considerable. Be sure you have plenty of gas, food, water, and supplies for your trip. There are no electric vehicle charging stations in Big Bend National Park. The closest EV charging station is 130 miles away in Fort Stockton.
Campgrounds
- Chisos Basin CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Cottonwood CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Rio Grande Village CampgroundBook on Recreation.gov
- Rio Grande Village RVBook on Recreation.gov
Webcams
Visitor centers
- Persimmon Gap Visitor Center
- Panther Junction Visitor Center
- Chisos Basin Visitor Center
- Castolon Visitor Center
- Rio Grande Village Visitor Center
Alerts
- Information: Big Bend is a NO DRONE Zone
- Information: Bringing a Pet to Big Bend?
