Big Bend at Christmas

Another option is to visit Big Bend Ranch State Park. It is every bit as rugged and beautiful and maybe less developed than the National Park. There are no sites in the state park appropriate for a trailer, but there are private RV parks in Terlingua and Lajitas. We've stated several times at Maverick Ranch in Lajitas. It is full hookup, and sort of in the state park, and sort of $$$.

Keep in mind that most of the non-desert hiking in the national park is in the Basin. The road to the Basin has a 24 foot vehicle length limit; believe this limit. The two lane road has no shoulders, steep grades, and hairpin or worse turns.

Get reservations if you can; the parks can be crowded around Christmas.

We did Big Bend a couple of years ago in April with a fifth wheel. It was over 100 degrees making our stay at the Rio Grande commercial campground a must. They have full hook ups there. There is a much cheeper park service primitive campground at Rio Grande Village as well. Not sure how busy it might be over the holidays. It is a really big park so be prepared to have to break camp and drive your class C to get to things. The best hiking is in the Chios mountains area where access is restricted to around 25 ft as already mentioned. There is one tight switch back going up to Chios that forces that restriction. Once up there it opens up with plenty of parking and a lodge. There is a primitive campground up there as well if your rig fits. Check the NPS web site to be sure. The views are breathtaking. It will be much cooler up there as well. Big Bend is one of the least visited parks because it is so remote. Well worth the trip.

I've been spending Christmas at Big Bend for 5 or 6 years. If you get there before Christmas you generally won't have a problem getting a site. While Chisos Basin is the best place for hiking, it it a bit difficult getting into with anything longer than about 24'. And there are few good RV camping spots - most are not level. A few years ago they turned about half of the good spots into no-generator spots. There are no hookups in the Basin and only about a dozen in the parking lot at the Village. I think they are commercial. There are lots of excellent spots in the NP RV area at the Village, all level and most are shaded but no hookups. There is a little hiking within walking distance of the RV area.

I'll most likely be at the Village this Chirstmas with my little Class B and my Jeep. If you're there at the same time stop by and say Hi.

Oh, I've got quite a few pictures from past trips.
Bob's travel log
-bob

make a reservation if you can.
yes you can drive your class C most everywhere, but there is a length limit on the road going up to the Chisos Lodge and campground: not sure what it is.
If you want full hookups, you can stay in Terlingua at Big Bend RV park...not far from the park.
water and dump campground at Rio Grande campground.
It might be pretty busy around Xmas.

We've been there in Nov & Jan but never Christmas so someone else will have to give you info on how popular it is at that time. I would recommend you reserve a site at Rio Grande Village campground - dry camping and very nice (or RV park, next door, if you need hookups. It's a straight line of RVs on blacktop).

Rio Grande Village has a small grocery for staples, a laundramat and showers. Also, expensive fuel. Fuel is also available at Panther Jct. as you're driving through and it might be a little cheaper. Rio Grande Village is a very pleasant area with some nice little hikes from there and it's a flat area for a little biking riding.

Big Bend is huge so you won't be riding your bikes to get to all the areas and they don't rent horses. However, if you drive your Class C to trailheads you'll be fine as most would accommodate you.

Have a great trip!