The best camping near Big Bend Ranch State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Big Bend Ranch State Park adventure.

The best camping near Big Bend Ranch State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Big Bend Ranch State Park adventure.

Camping near Big Bend Ranch State Park

96% (78 reviews)

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Big Bend Ranch State Park adventure.

Remote and rugged terrain, grand vistas, and dark skies draw adventurers and solitude seekers.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Big Bend Ranch State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Big Bend Ranch State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Big Bend Ranch State Park

98%
(1147)

Goat Pens, Cigar Springs Ranch

50 sites · RVs, Tents600 acres · Terlingua, TX
This central location provides an ideal basecamp close to the Terlingua Ghost Town and both Big Bend State and National Parks. The unique geology and topography of the Goat Pens made this a popular movie set and many westerns were filmed here in the 80's and 90's. Come out and enjoy seclusion, peace and quiet, awesome scenery with sunrises and sunsets to die for. All while still being able to easily take advantage of the area's other attractions. The Goat Pens includes an outdoor events venue that hosts concerts, stargazing parties, festivals and weddings. The Goat Pens also has the only drive-in movie theater in the Big Bend area. Send a text or check The Goat Pens Facebook page (@goatpens) for information and dates of events. The Goat Pens of Cigar Springs Ranch is a beautiful part of the ranch. It is well known for its scenery and unique topography. The Goat Pens served as a set location for many westerns filmed during the 1980's and 90's. Remarkable beauty, easy access, centrally located, seclusion, peace and quiet. All add up to an unforgettable vacation experience.
Pets
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Campfires
from 
$40
 / night
95%
(1079)

Paisano Azul Ranch

13 sites · RVs, Tents30 acres · Study Butte, TX
Paisano Azul Ranch is on 30 acres located by Terlingua Creek. The property is just minutes from the Terlingua Ghost Town and a short 3 mile drive to the Big Bend National park. Come pitch your tent or park your camper amid the peaceful desert hillside with views of plateaus that lead to the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. There is a fire pit on site for you to toast marshmallows or cozy up near, and you can enjoy a bite to eat at the picnic table provided at each site. The picnic tables are placed beneath shade sails. There are two nice and new desert tan flushing Porta-Potties on-site, as well as showers for guests to use. These come in handy after a long day hiking. We hope you'll enjoy the beautiful open sky sunsets, sunrises, and stargazing as much as we do. We are located just 3 miles from the entrance to Big Bend National Park. There are plenty of opportunities to get out and explore - you can hike, bike, canoe & kayak, off-road, swim, go horseback riding, visit hot springs, as well as visit restaurants, galleries, and listen to great music in Terlingua. There is something for everyone to feel free to bring the whole family. DIRECTIONS: Once you are on Road Runner Circle, go past the house on the left with the Christmas lights on. Please continue down the road and follow the road around the curve to the left. The campsites will be on the left and side behind the rock walls. Additional details to note: - We now have an above ground pool to keep cool in during the summer! Covered with a shade sail the water stays nice and chilly. ($10 fee/person) - You can stay connected if you'd like to, as cell reception and wifi are both available on our property. Feel free to unplug during your stay though. - Seeing other campers on your trip at the campsite is very standard, as the sites are far enough apart to feel like they are yours, but they are not private. - Potable water is provided on-site. We have an artisan well on property that has been certified as drinkable. It is double filtered to give you the best drinking water. Please feel free to reach out with any questions and we look forward to your stay.
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from 
$39
 / night
100%
(181)

Rancho de los Arboles Muertos

10 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · TX
With 160 acres located just off Highway 118, two miles north of Study Butte, 7 miles from Terlingua Ghost Town, 7 miles from Big Bend National Park and 16 miles from Big Bend Ranch State Park, Arboles Muertos is a perfect place for tent campers, small trailers and Class-B RV's and digital nomads to set up a home base for all the many activities in the area. Your privacy is our #1 priority, so our sites are spread out over the property and most are not in view of other sites, providing you with a backcountry camping experience, yet only a few minutes off the highway. For large groups, or those that are into a more social camping experience, we also have a cluster of three sites spaced about 150 feet apart. We have several spotlessly clean composting pit toilets on the property, all just a short walk from your site. All guests have access to our centrally located outdoor shower. Rancho de los Arboles Muertos gets its name from the 25 foot tall Eastern Red Cedar trees that are being salvaged from land clearing operations near Austin and "planted" around the property. We're located directly across the highway from Willow Mountain, with 800 foot sheer faces and rising over 1000 feet above the highway, making it one of the most prominent features in the area next to the Chisos of Big Bend. The property is covered in Ocotillo, hidden arroyos, tall bentonite dunes, volcanic ridges, dry creeks and the occasional fossil. Trail runners can easily create 5 mile loop over ridges and in arroyos without leaving the property. For the burners out there, the place will have an unmistakable deep playa vibe once all trees have made it home )'( Socialized dogs are allowed on leash, but we do have a high coyote population in the area, as well as other dangers to pets. Large groups are welcome and we also rent the entire 160 acre property for private events. Please contact us for more info. We are a completely off-grid property, so remember to bring water! In the event of heavy rain, the roads could become impassible for a few hours to a couple days. If we see a major storm in the forecast, we will contact you directly to discuss options. The rainy season is late summer, however, and we are not taking bookings during that time, so this should not be an issue. Check out our Instagram page for more about us @arboles_muertos
Pets
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from 
$35
 / night
91%
(27)

Rough Run Creek Campground

44 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Study Butte, TX
The name says it all! 'Rough Run Creek Campground: is conveniently located downtown Study-Butte 1000 feet West of Cottonwood General Store. Just 2 miles before the western entrance to Big Bend National Park We have 10 acres of room for tent camping and boondock RV camping-only spots in the roadside spot in downtown Study-Butte Texas. Come and stay near the Big Bend National Park! An intimate campsite (not too far off the grid) A campground just outside Big Bend National Park where you can relax and recharge. Short walk to Cottonwood grocery ONLY 1000 FEET TO WALK East crossing over the bridge to mile marker 538 just 1000 feet walking distance from Rough Run Creek Bridge to Cottonwood grocery store and supply. The camping area is about one mile past the intersection of Highway TX-170 and TX-118 approximately one mile South on the left at the Rough Run Creek Campground. Heading only 3 miles further to the gateway into Big Bend National Park, Texas at the Western entrance following on State Highway TX-118 South. Big Bend State Park is to the West on Highway TX-170 approximately 29 miles from Rough Run Creek Bridge past the town of Terlingua, Texas 79852 Rough Run Creek Bridge Camping 53737 TX-118, Study Butte, Texas 79852 - Ten 10 acres of creekfront property This campground is a roadside camping area, directly on Highway TX-118 at the Southeast end of Rough Run Creek Bridge On the East side of the highway. Enter the property between the Rough Run Creek Bridge and the large black mailbox which also marks the South property line of the camping area. The South property line runs 800' feet deep from the roadside of highway TX-118 along the creek bed of Rough Run Creek. At the East end of the campground, you will find an old camper shell near the Southeast end of the campground and the property corner. There are 10 acres in the "dispersed" #BYO everything camping area, #BYO Sleeping bags, #BYO Tent Shades, and #BYO Gas grills, unfortunately, for now, you have to #BYO toilet. Rough Run Creek Bridge camping area includes the creek bed itself, with beachfront camping. The best location to stage an early morning hiking trip from locations for campers visiting Big Bend National Park which is only 2 miles away. Please leave nothing but your tracks when camping or leaving the area for the day. Each night campers must make bookings by 11:00 AM for check-in and out on a ticketed day pass. For showers and bathroom facilities, we recommend the bathroom showers provided at the Big Bend Motor Inn where they have coin-operated shower facilities for visiting tourists. If you need to dump any trash the Big Bend Motor Store and gas station will let you pay $5.00 to use their dumpsters. Please honor the BURN BAN (no open fires). Propane cooking stoves are okay.
Pets
from 
$30
 / night
98%
(161)

Cieloscuro

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Terlingua, TX
IF YOU WILL BE STAYING 3 NIGHTS OR LONGER, ASK ME FOR A DISCOUNT CODE!! We offer a uniquely secluded setting with stunning views of the Chisos Mountains. Located just 7 miles from the entrance to Big Bend National Park, and 10 miles from the visitors' center at Big Bend Ranch State Park, it is a perfect base from which to explore all the hiking, boating, and scenic beauty that West Texas is known for. The arts, history, and entertainment of Terlingua Ghost Town are less than 2 miles away. Like most ruins in the Ghost Town, my stone house was built in the early 1900s to house a miner’s family from the nearby Rainbow Mine. I bought the property in 1986 and began restoring and rebuilding. In 2019 I retired here from NYC and began exploring possibilities for sustainable tourism. West Texas is one of the best places in the United States to view the Milky Way (both Big Bend parks are certified as International Dark Sky parks). We use shielded LED lighting around buildings and pathways to cut down on light pollution and optimize stargazing opportunities for our astrotourists. And we are applying for dark sky certification from the Texan By Nature program. Bear in mind that this is the desert, in all its rugged glory. There are critters, rocks, plants with thorns, slippery slopes, sink holes, rusted artifacts and broken glass from decades long past. Bring sturdy shoes and a flashlight, and stay on the paths! We may eventually add a few more sites and expand our amenities, but our intention is always to provide remote, low-density accommodation for folks who are respectful of the land.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$42.75
 / night

The best camping near Big Bend Ranch State Park guide

Overview

About

Set in far west Texas next to Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park spans more than 300,000 acres of rugged mountains, dramatic canyons, and high desert terrain. Raft, paddle, float, or fish the Rio Grande River, which winds its way throughout the largest state park in Texas. And don't miss the scenic drive along FM 170 (River Road), which parallels the Rio Grande. The park also offers 238 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, an incredible diversity of wildlife, a network of cattle ranches, and hundreds of archaeological sites. There’s plenty of space for campers, with one bunkhouse, more than two dozen drive-in primitive sites, equestrian sites, and a whole backcountry open to hike-in camping.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for RVs: The Madera Canyon Campsite is one of the few areas accessible to RVs, offering picnic tables, fire rings, self-composting toilets, and easy river access.
  • Best for groups: The Arenosa Campsite offers space for 12, shaded picnic tables, fire rings, primitive toilets, and access to the river and several trails, including Closed Canyon.
  • Best for comfort: The only lodging in the park, the Sauceda Bunkhouse offers single beds, indoor plumbing, and electricity, but no heat or A/C.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Most campgrounds only offer one or two sites. To ensure the campsite of your choice, make a reservation as soon as they become available, five months in advance.
  2. If you have flexibility in your schedule, time your stay during the week or non-holiday period for fewer crowds.
  3. Backcountry hike-in campsites are available on a walk-up basis.

When to go

Spring and fall are the best times to visit. Temperatures in the summer can be dangerously hot, reaching over 130°F during the day and still at dangerous levels after sunset. March is a good time, when temperatures are still bearable and cactus start to bloom. Public hunts are held in the park during fall and winter. It can also get to near freezing at night during the winter months.

Know before you go

  • Permits are required for use of park facilities and to spend the night. Special use permits required for backcountry access and to fish. Obtain permits at Barton Warnock Visitor Center (east entrance), Sauceda Ranger Station (interior), or Fort Leaton State Historic Site (west entrance).
  • The Sauceda Ranger Station is 27 miles on a rugged, dirt road from FM170. RVs and trailers are not recommended. Other than FM170, roads are gravel, with some requiring a high clearance four-wheel drive.
  • There is very little shade. Be sure to bring lots of water and sun protection. All water from spring sources must be filtered or treated before use.
  • There is no gas in the park. Fill up in Lajitas, Terlingua, or Presidio before entering.
  • Ground fires are prohibited. Fires must be in a fire pan, with ashes extinguished and disposed of in garbage cans at the entrance or at Sauceda headquarters. You need to bring your own wood, as gathering firewood is prohibited.
  • Cell service is very spotty to non-existent in the park.

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