Cottonwood Campground, Big Bend National Park, TX

Cottonwood Campground is part of Big Bend National Park in Texas (4 hrs 41 min west of Del Rio, TX) with an elevation of 2,129 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 22 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. There is a fee of $16.00 per night. Some amenities include restroom, amphitheater. Activities include fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

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Campground Capacity (Next 30 Days)

Campsite Reviews (227)

4.6 out of 5

5 star		74%
4 star		16%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		0%

@JakeH1312886 · Camped on Nov 12, 2024 at Campsite #7

The campground was clean. Nice to have a few trees. We are self contained in our RV so the pit toilets were not an issue. I checked them out and they were clean and well kept. My only gripe is the no generator running and no engine running rule. The campground is beside the road so car traffic noise is there regardless. What's the point?

@Elizabeth93265 · Camped on Nov 8, 2024 at Campsite #18

I loved my stay at Cottonwood Campground. It was so nice to disconnect - and it was nice to be away from electricity but close enough to amenities like the small store. I heard the owls at night and little javalenas snorted around the campground eating mesquite pods. I can't wait to go back!

@GregoryS158769 · Camped on Nov 7, 2024 at Campsite #9

Awesome campsite. Don't come here b/c I want to have the availability!

@MadalynS82DE14 · Camped on Nov 4, 2024 at Campsite #16

Close to Santa Elena Canton, has nice port-o-potty toilets.

@EvanZ1DACD89B1 · Camped on Nov 3, 2024 at Campsite #8

Campsites in the middle loop are too close, quiet hours not enforced. Toilets were clean and well maintained. Nearby camp store in Castolon was convenient.

@ChuckB9454908 · Camped on Apr 28, 2024 at Campsite #4

A lovely, well-maintained campground.

@RajshreeSECC06 · Camped on Apr 27, 2024 at Campsite #11

I visited in Spring and this was my favorite campsite in Big Bend NP. Has a lot a shade which is much needed in the hot months and after returning from an early morning hike. The dry toilets on this campsite were very clean. Overall, really enjoyed my stay here.

@JaneB4053440 · Camped on Apr 21, 2024 at Campsite #14

Very nice campground.

@RichardB341941 · Camped on Apr 18, 2024 at Campsite #20

Great spot to pitch a couple of tents in the soft grass, under the shaded honey Mesquites, with next to no bugs, at the end of April! Parking and picnic table were in full sun the whole time. Non potable water was 100yds away next to clean pit toilets, and filtered water for drinking was next to entrance to campground 500yds away. AMAZING birding site, we had people walking thru camp with huge camera lenses coming down from the lodge to take pictures. We saw, a roadrunner, a vermillion flycatcher, and enjoyed all the cheerful other songbirds while in camp. They do water by flooding but the camp host let us know they put up signs well in advance so dont have to worry about a soggy sleeping pad. We did wake up in the middle of the night to a small and stealthy pack of Javelinas grazing on the grasses around our tent which was pretty cool to see! There is ice 1mi next door at the Castolon store, but dont count on it, they were out when we tried to get a bag & ended up driving to Panther junction to get refilled. Also no gas down there so top up at Panther junction before driving another hour to this remote spot. Great star gazing spot, next to no other light and was entreated to a spectacular night sky, and the warm nights 62 were perfect temps to stay up. First day we checked out Santa Elanna canyon, highly recommended, wait until sunset when the temperatures start cooling down to avoid the heat, and catch the sunset from the canyon mouth. We woke up early and drove to the Chisos one morning and hiked 12mile loop up and around Emory peak and returned in the evening and was easy to do. No rv generators made this a very peaceful camp and lots of friendly people to talk to as well. The campsites on the south end of the campground dont have grass and noticed you will have to camp in the dirt if you get one of those sites, & did not look appealing to stay in. All in all a great campground to stay in and will be coming back!

@JeremyP7103793 · Camped on Apr 17, 2024 at Campsite #9

very quiet, clean facilities, friendly staff, well maintained campground

@JeramiM5281300 · Camped on Apr 5, 2024 at Campsite #5

Lovely campground although gets a bit windy. Wide variety of birds to see here. Bathrooms were quite clean and the water was probably the best tasting out of the main campgrounds.

@donnaK1849426 · Camped on Apr 3, 2024 at Campsite #22

Great location for hiking Santa Elena Canyon (a highlight of our trip). The campground in early April was a birdwatchers paradise.

@NickS9183761 · Camped on Mar 22, 2024 at Campsite #6

Very clean and well maintained.Sites were nice and levelWould like a sign suggesting slow speed through campground as a lot of dust gets kicked up with cars driving by

@SanjivH30FF39A · Camped on Mar 17, 2024 at Campsite #21

Good backup when you can't get a campsite in the Chisos Basin. Good viewpoint of Cerro Castellan and easy to get to Santa Elena Canyon. Be wary of flooding and wildlife on the scenic drive in this part of the park.

@RogerL6012204 · Camped on Mar 16, 2024 at Campsite #8

Due to the reservation system I had to move my tent three times. Very inconvenient. The campground host would TALK with other campers for lengths outside tents of sleeping campers for long periods disregarding campers might want to sleep in. One time talking to a female Ranger in a running truck for 20 minutes, immediately next to several sleeping campers. You would think being in a natural area like BIBE that they would conserve fuel and shut down the vehicle while gabbing.

@CarolynK9DE718 · Camped on Mar 16, 2024 at Campsite #22

Campground was nice and spacious and beautiful! Camp host was awesome!

@JasminP2399078 · Camped on Mar 8, 2024 at Campsite #18

Beautiful campground right by the Rio Grande. Ive stayed here twice, and loved it both times!

@RodneyC8481244 · Camped on Mar 7, 2024 at Campsite #14

Not an attractive campground. Having water access is great yet not real helpful being non-potable everywhere but at the campground entrance.

@IsaacB5862516 · Camped on Mar 5, 2024 at Campsite #30

Campground was nice. The camp host was very friendly. Just across the river from Mexico so that's kinda cool. Worth a stay!

@StephaniF3B75E · Camped on Mar 1, 2024 at Campsite #25

New bathrooms are great. Recycling and trash bins moved to a more convenient location. Really like larger more level campsites.

@WayneM9023420 · Camped on Mar 1, 2024 at Campsite #5

Cottonwood campground is clean, the sites are level and the largest in the park. Camp hosts are both friendly and knowledgeable. We will be back

@JasonB8429005 · Camped on Feb 27, 2024 at Campsite #28

Very happy with my stay at this site. Views were amazing. The vault toilets were very clean. There was water available. The whole campground was very neat and tidy. Staff was very informative about things at the campground. Very thankful to find an opening at this campground.

@CharlesS661433 · Camped on Feb 21, 2024 at Campsite #6

Well kept camping spot. Campground host was very friendly and stopped by to check on us our first and only night. Close to Santa Elena which is a must see if you make it to west side of park.

@SylvieL14C01B8 · Camped on Feb 19, 2024 at Campsite #13

Ce camping est vraiment bien trs tranquille et les gens y sont trs respectueux

@MadsA524F7F70F · Camped on Feb 16, 2024 at Campsite #21

Beautiful campground that is secluded. The trees were a nice addition to an otherwiseArid region. The campground was well maintained and enjoyed that there was no generators or dogs barking.

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