Desert camping in Texas with a private bathroom

The largest state in the Lower 48 features no shortage of places to pitch a tent.

98% (4426 reviews)
98% (4426 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Texas

Under $50

Star Hosts in Texas

12 top desert campgrounds in Texas with a private bathroom

96%
(1103)

Paisano Azul Ranch

14 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 camp; 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. The campsite number that is booked is the campsite you will stay in. 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
98%
(1158)

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.
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$40
 / night
100%
(189)

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
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$35
 / night
98%
(163)

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.
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$42.75
 / night
100%
(156)

Rio Bravo Ranch

8 sites · RVs, Tents1000 acres · Presidio, TX
Rio Bravo Ranch is a family owned ranch that borders the Rio Grande and Casa Piedra Road.  We have cultured a love for camping and the outdoors on this ranch as children and young adults.  One day we were sitting on "the backside," enjoying the amazing vistas, solitude and a campfire when the idea came to us that we should share this amazing place with others seeking this type of experience.  We tried to think about what makes camping enjoyable to us - no immediately adjacent campers, a nice fire ring/shade structure, a nice, large tent site and vistas with unobstructed views.  We have incorporated this into our campground design which, when completely finished, will encompass several hundred acres of Chihuahuan desert vistas.  We are also fortunate enough to have a large riparian area on the property.  It is in this area, amongst the 40ft tall cottonwood and willows, we often find Gambel's Quail, Scaled Quail, Javelina and numerous bird species including the occasional turkey.  We would love nothing more than to share this wonderful place, where we grew up, with souls seeking solitude, adventure and inspiration.  Our eastern entrance is just a few miles outside the Big Bend Ranch State Park boundary, conveniently located on Casa Piedra road about 1.6 miles north of FM 170.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
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from 
$35
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Desert camping in Texas with a private bathroom guide

Overview

They say everything’s bigger in the Lone Star State, and that includes the variety of options for campers, whether you're looking for an RV park, tent camping, or a primitive camping backcountry adventure. Beat the summer heat on sandy Gulf beaches, or head inland to the arid deserts of Big Bend Country in winter for some of the nation’s darkest skies and best nighttime views. Spring and autumn offer the best weather for wine tasting in Texas Hill Country, hiking the canyons of the Panhandle, or paddling the bald cypress forests of the Texas Pine Curtain.

Big Bend Country

Remote West Texas boasts some of the most pristine landscapes in the state. Explore the hiking trails of Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend national parks, raft through narrow canyons along the Rio Grande River, go rock climbing in Hueco Tanks State Park near El Paso, or hit the dunes in Monahans Sandhills State Park. The quirky communities of Marfa, Terlingua, and Marathon serve as convenient gateways to desert adventure.

Texas Hill Country

Known for its wineries, whiskey distilleries, swimming holes, and rich German heritage, the rolling hills of this central Texas region extend between Austin and San Antonio, with plenty of small towns to explore along the way. Springtime brings bluebonnets to the roadsides of the region. In fall, head to Lost Maples State Park for some of the state’s best leaf peeping. Soak up panoramic views from Enchanted Rock, venture deep into the Caverns of Sonora or the Cave Without a Name, or take a leisurely float along the Guadalupe River.

Gulf Coast

The Texas Gulf Coast stretches for more than 600 miles along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and includes the Padre Island National Seashore. Sun seekers will find plenty of sandy beaches with warm Gulf waters (plus opportunities for beach camping), while the natural areas along the coast feature some of the best birdwatching in the nation. Houston, Galveston, South Padre Island, and Corpus Christi are among the most popular areas to stay.

Panhandle

The plains of the Texas Panhandle comprise one of the largest regions in the state. Here you’ll find America’s second-largest canyon within Palo Duro Canyon State Park, as well as the iconic Cadillac Ranch car sculpture along road trip-worthy Route 66.

Pine Curtain

Lakes, forests, and swamps dominate the landscape of the lesser-known Piney Woods of East Texas. Step back in time at Mission Tejas State Park, straddle the state line in Texarkana, pitch a tent among the gargantuan pines of Daingerfield, or make the 835-mile camping trip along the Texas Forest Trail. If you want to get out on the water, it's hard to beat a kayak in Caddo Lake State Park.

Prairies and Lakes

This region sweeps down through the center of the state from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Waco, Bryan, and College Station (home of Texas A&M University). You don’t have to drive far to find a lakeside campground or on-the-water activity, thanks to the area’s 17 Texas state parks and one national wildlife refuge.

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