Big Bend National Park
Desert, mountains and river canyons on the Mexican border, under some of the darkest skies in North America.
Photo: Michael from Minnesota (@Michael) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Big Bend guide: Santa Elena Canyon, the Chisos Basin and Window Trail, the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, the hot springs, stargazing, distances and the best season.
What to expect
Big Bend National Park lies in a huge curve of the Rio Grande in far West Texas, where the river forms the border with Mexico. One park holds the Chihuahuan Desert, the Chisos Mountains, the only mountain range entirely inside a US national park, and deep limestone canyons cut by the river.
Santa Elena Canyon, at the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, has walls about 450 meters high, and a short trail leads into it along the river. In the Chisos Basin, the Window Trail descends to a notch that frames the desert, and the Lost Mine Trail climbs to sweeping views. Near Rio Grande Village, natural hot springs bubble up beside the ruins of an old bathhouse at the river’s edge.
Big Bend is one of the most remote national parks in the lower 48: the closest big airports, in El Paso and Midland, are several hours away. In return, it is a certified International Dark Sky Park, with the Milky Way bright on moonless nights.
Distances inside the park are long, and gas is sold only at Panther Junction and Rio Grande Village. Terlingua and Study Butte, just outside the western entrance, have most of the lodging and restaurants.
Big Bend: top things to do
- 1The trail into Santa Elena Canyon
- 2The Window Trail in the Chisos Basin
- 3The hot springs on the Rio Grande
- 4A night sky full of stars
Big Bend: best time to visit
November to April. Summer in the desert is extremely hot.
Insider tips
- Fill the tank whenever you can; distances in the park are long.
- Bring your passport if you want to cross into the village of Boquillas, Mexico, at the official port of entry.
- Carry plenty of water, even on short walks in spring.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $30 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Motorcycle | $25 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Per person (on foot or bike) | $15 per person, 7 days |
| Annual pass for this park | $55 per year |
- America the Beautiful pass accepted: $80 a year for US residents, $250 for others (also covers the $100 fee).
- Crossing into Boquillas, Mexico, is only allowed at the official port of entry, with a passport.
- US residents enter free on a few fee-free days.
Checked Oct 26, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
3 gas stations within 40 km
- 9.7 km Panther Junction Gas Station open 24 hours
- 28.9 km Alon
- 29.0 km Gas station diesel
No fast (DC) chargers within 40 km; plan to arrive with enough range.
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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