Big Bend
National Park
Big Bend National Park spans 801,163 acres, making it the 15th largest U.S. National Park. Located on the U.S.-Mexico border, it’s proximity to Mexico is just one of the cool things about it! The park is also home to 75 species of mammals, including bears. That’s right, Texas has bears!
Additionally, the landscape is unlike anywhere else in Texas, and we were amazed by its stunning beauty.
Big Bend At a Glance
$30 per vehicle for 7 days. Or FREE with the America the Beautiful Pass.
Big Bend National Park is located close to the US and Mexico border, but far from most major cities.
The closest large city with a major airport is El Paso, and the El Paso International Airport is 4.5 hours from the park.
Visit Big Bend in the fall or winter for comfortable temperatures and the lowest crowds.
Different Areas of the Park
There are five sections of Big Bend National Park. They include Persimmon Gap, Chisos Basin, Castolon Historic District, Rio Grande Village and Boquillas, Mexico. Chisos Basin is the most popular area of the park with the most things to do.
Warning: These sections are not close together! Each section can take over an hour to drive to, Getting to Boquillas, Mexico requires a short row boat ride across the Rio Grande and a quarter mile walk to the village. Plus a valid passport is required as well.
The Ultimate West Texas Road Trip: Marfa and Big Bend
Ready to explore West Texas? This West Texas road trip itinerary includes where to stay, what to do, and where you must eat when in and around Marfa and Big Bend National Park!
Videos
We road tripped from Seattle to Texas for the holidays and during days 4-7 of the trip we spent time in Marfa and Big Bend National Park! We hiked some awesome trails at Big Bend, saw Texas beauty we didn’t know existed, went alien hunting, and enjoyed the charm of small town Marfa.
