It took multiple attempts online and on the phone to put together my three week trip to the Big Bend area of Texas. Currently, all campsites are by reservation only, due to COVID restrictions. I was able to spend 13 nights in Big Bend National Park and eight nights in Big Bend Ranch State Park. Both of these parks offer various levels of RV, Car, overland, backpacking and river camping experiences.
In the National Park I spent my first 7 nights in Cottonwood Campground, which is a campground with potable and non-potable water, picnic tables, trash, bear boxes and concrete privies. No showers or dump station. GENERATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED. There are numerous, excellent hiking trails on this side of the park within a short drive. It sits on the Rio Grande River with easy access if you want to launch a canoe or kayak.
My next 2 nights were in the Chisos Basin Campground, which has flush toilets, restroom sinks, a dishwashing sink, trash, potable water, covered picnic tables, grills, sits in the Chisos Mountains and is a short walk from many hiking trails as well as a small store, restaurant and the visitor center. No showers or dump station. Unfortunately, generators are allowed.
Both of these campgrounds are accessible to any vehicle, but Chisos Basin Road as well as the campground do have vehicle length limits.
