Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)

Cottonwoods and acacia trees provide shelter and shade to campers.

Photo · NPS Photo (C. Hoyt)

Seasonal closeSeason 11-01 – 04-30

ReservableAccess

31Sites

40 ftMax rig

The place

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. Keep reading

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 1,900 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. Recreation Particularly popular with bird watchers, Cottonwood Campground is a haven for those wishing to study the abundant bird life in Big Bend while also escaping the more crowded areas in the park. Because of its diverse ecosystems and plant life, the park provides habitats for many rare and unique birds , including the Mexican mallard, Lucifer hummingbird, Mexican jay, black-capped and gray vireos, and Varied Bunting. Hiking trails are located around the campground. Facilities The campground has pit (vault) toilets, potable water, picnic tables, bear boxes, and grills. There are no hook-ups or fill and dump stations, and the use of generators is not allowed. The group campsite is a walk-in, tent-only site; no RVs or trailers are allowed. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area, a short walk from the campsite itself. The individual sites are all similar. Each site has a bear box, picnic table, and raised grill. All have dirt/gravel parking spaces and most are well-shaded with some afternoon/evening sun. The individual sites are on a 2-week reservation window, which means you can make the reservation no more than 2 weeks in advance of your arrival. Natural Features The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles (2011 km), the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. Due to its proximity to water, many species of birds are in the Cottonwood area, including nesting migratory birds. Santa Elena Canyon is a beautiful river canyon that can be seen from the campground area. Nearby Attractions Santa Elena Canyon, Castolon Historic District, and Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive are near the campground.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 31

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric	ADA
Cottonwood (TX)	001	management	20 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	002	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	003	standard nonelectric	35 ft	—
Cottonwood (TX)	004	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	005	standard nonelectric	40 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	006	standard nonelectric	35 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	007	standard nonelectric	35 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	008	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	009	standard nonelectric	34 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	010	standard nonelectric	35 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	011	standard nonelectric	29 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	012	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	013	standard nonelectric	35 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	014	standard nonelectric	35 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	015	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	016	standard nonelectric	29 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	017	standard nonelectric	28 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	018	standard nonelectric	34 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	019	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	020	standard nonelectric	23 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	021	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	022	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	023	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	024	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	025	standard nonelectric	30 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	026	standard nonelectric	22 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	027 ADA	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A	yes
Cottonwood (TX)	028	management	28 ft	N/A
Cottonwood (TX)	029 ADA	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A	yes
Cottonwood (TX)	030	standard nonelectric	24 ft	N/A
Group Site A	A	group tent only area nonelectric	—	—

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Fees

Entrance Fee . Big Bend charges an entrance fee separate from the camping fee. You may pay the fee upon arrival or purchase in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, military, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Your representative

This campground sits in TX-23. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard