Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)

Big Bend National Park — riverside, fishing, hiking

Location: BIG BEND NAT. PARK, TX, TX

Price: From $16 per night

Price range: $16–$60 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (569 reviews)

Season: May through October

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 sites campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 30 individual sites.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Bear Boxes, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-big-bend-tx to be notified when sites open up.

Cottonwood is a quiet, remote desert campground in Big Bend National Park's southwestern corner with large individual sites near Santa Elena Canyon and the Castolon Historic District. Real campers praise it as a secluded experience with minimal crowds and convenient access to scenic attractions.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions, collared peccaries, American hog-nosed skunks, and various raptors including great horned owls inhabit the area within 8km.

Insider tips for Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx): Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Sites are large and suitable for self-contained RVs despite lack of hookups Located 30 minutes from Santa Elena Canyon, 30 minutes from Castolon, and roughly 1 hour from Rio Grande Village

Skip Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) if: You require RV hookups—none available at this campground. You need shade—most cottonwood trees were recently removed. You rely on generators—not permitted.

Best time to visit Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx): May-October — Official operating season for Cottonwood Campground.

Nearby campgrounds: Chisos Basin — Big Bend NP (Big Bend National Park, TX), Big Bend Backcountry Camping (BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX), Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx) (BIG BEND NAT. PARK, TX).

Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)

Cell signal at Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) (BIG BEND NAT. PARK, TX): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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CamperWatch›TX›Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)
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Big Bend National Park — riverside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)

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BIG BEND NAT. PARK, TX, TX★ 4.6 (569 reviews)From $16/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

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 sites campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 30 individual sites.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV40 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites2 sites
Bear boxesYes — at every site
PetsAllowed
CampfiresNot permitted
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDump Station
Recreation
Picnic TablesBear Boxes
Family & Pets
Drinking WaterFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You require RV hookups—none available at this campground✕ You need shade—most cottonwood trees were recently removed✕ You rely on generators—not permitted

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with high demand

Sites are large and suitable for self-contained RVs despite lack of hookups

Located 30 minutes from Santa Elena Canyon, 30 minutes from Castolon, and roughly 1 hour from Rio Grande Village

Best: May-October

Official operating season for Cottonwood Campground

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain lions, collared peccaries, American hog-nosed skunks, and various raptors including great horned owls inhabit the area within 8km.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
432-477-1121· Big Bend National Park
Getting there →

From Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 miles (64 km) south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 miles (42 km) to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right at the intersection and go 13 miles (21 km) west. Take a left at the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and drive 23 miles (37 km) to Cottonwood Campground. GPS Warning: GPS units may send you down Old Maverick Road, an u

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Big Bend National Park fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Big Bend National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) cost per night?+
Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) costs $16–$60 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) open?+
Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)?+
Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet.
How do I make reservations at Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)?+
Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) open, and what are check-in times?+
Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$16 /night★ 4.6 (569)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) cost per night?+
What season is Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) open?+
Does Cottonwood (Big Bend, Tx) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Chisos Basin — Big Bend NP

Big Bend National Park, TX

From $16/night

Big Bend Backcountry Camping

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX

From $10/night

Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, Tx)

BIG BEND NAT. PARK, TX

From $60/night

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