Barton Warnock Visitor Center

Open — Open year-round. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made up to five months in advance for campsites. The visitor center is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

About

Barton Warnock Visitor Center sits at the eastern gateway to Big Bend Ranch State Park, approximately 1.5 miles east of Lajitas along the scenic River Road (FM 170). The campground system encompasses 79 primitive sites divided between River Corridor drive-up sites along the Rio Grande and backcountry hike-in sites accessible from the park's interior trails. River corridor sites accommodate vehicles up to 22 feet and trailers up to 18 feet, though RVs and trailers are restricted at some locations like Arenosa. The visitor center itself operates daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and houses the "Una Tierra – One Land" interpretive exhibit showcasing the natural and geological history of the Big Bend region in both English and Spanish. Outside, a two-acre botanical garden displays native Chihuahuan Desert plants. The facility serves as the primary permit station for Big Bend Ranch State Park, where visitors obtain camping permits, river-use permits, and backcountry permits. Campsites are primitive with no hookups or nearby water at most locations. The park receives less than 10 inches of rainfall annually, and summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees by late morning, reaching as high as 130 degrees in direct sun. Flash flooding can occur suddenly in creek beds during summer thunderstorms. Cell service is unreliable throughout the park, and GPS navigation directly to campsites is not recommended. After-hours check-in is available for River Corridor sites, with visitors selecting their site and checking in the following morning.

Directions

From San Antonio, take I-10 West to Fort Stockton. From Fort Stockton, take Highway 67 South to Alpine. From Alpine, take Highway 118 South to Study Butte. From Study Butte, take FM 170 West for 16 miles toward Lajitas. Barton Warnock Visitor Center is 1 mile east of Lajitas.

Nearby Campgrounds