Texas / Brewster County / Big Bend National Park

Cottonwood

Open — Open year-round with reservations required up to 14 days in advance. Operated at reduced capacity during summer (May 1 through October 31). The road between Cottonwood Campground and Santa Elena Canyon remains closed due to flood damage. Limited to 14 consecutive nights with a maximum of 28 nights per calendar year.

About

Cottonwood Campground is a quiet desert oasis in the southwestern corner of Big Bend National Park, named for the cottonwood trees that provide shade near the Rio Grande. The campground offers 21 individual sites and one group tent-only site, making it one of the least-known and quieter campgrounds in the park. Conveniently located between the Castolon Historic District and the scenic Santa Elena Canyon at the tail end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Cottonwood is particularly popular with bird watchers. At an elevation of 1,900 feet, the campground is relatively cool during the peak fall and winter seasons when cold air sinks into the lower elevations along the Rio Grande. However, from mid-March through August, this campground is extremely hot with temperatures normally exceeding 100°F. The diverse ecosystems and plant life provide habitats for many rare and unique birds, including the Mexican mallard, Lucifer hummingbird, Mexican jay, black-capped and gray vireos, and Varied Bunting. This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping with no electricity, water, or sewer hookups, and no fill or dump station. Generators and idling vehicles for power are prohibited. Individual sites are available on a two-week advance reservation window and feature bear boxes, picnic tables, raised grills, and dirt/gravel parking spaces. The group site is walk-in tent-only with vehicle parking in an adjacent area. Road and campsite surfaces are gravel and level, with two fully accessible campsites featuring flat paved surfaces and paved pathways to accessible vault toilets.

Directions

From Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 miles south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 miles to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right at the intersection and go 13 miles west. Take a left at the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and drive 23 miles 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.

Nearby Campgrounds