Big Bend NP

Big Bend? Resort? 10 kids? As other have suggested, Maverick in Lajitas is the only thing that is close. Big Bend is not a resort destination. Don't get me wrong. It is beautiful. Lots of hiking and scenery.

;)I'm not looking for a "resort". I only asked because I had seen one and couldn't remember what it was called. When we take our 10 kids camping to a National Park we are not looking for a spa vacation. We are looking to explore a beautiful NP. We've been to Carlsbad, Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Palo Duro and the Adirondacks (I know they are not NPs) in the past 2 years. This year our big destination is BB. I'm just looking for recommendations on where to stay with hook up because 12 people in a TT for a few days really requires hookup.

Thanks for the suggestions. I had not found Rio Grande Village in my searches. Has anyone actually stayed at Maverick and gone to BB? I'm getting conflicting information about the distance to the park entrance. Since it will be hot a pool would be a nice addition but I don't necessarily want to drive an hour to the park...

Here's your information on Rio Grande Village RV. This park site has lots of good information for you to read:

https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/camping.htm

If you stay at Lajitas, you will be driving a lot. I'm not sure of the exact mileage to the visitor's center in Panther Junction, but it will take you about an hr. Once you get in the park, it is 45mph and it is enforced.

If you want full hook ups, you will have to stay at Rio Grande village (inside the park) or in Study Butte at Big Bend motor inn/rv park, BJ's or Study Butte rv park, no pool at any of them. Study Butte is 3 miles outside of the western entrance. If you are coming from Marathon, Stilwell's ranch is outside the park to the north east. I've never been there, but most people enjoy staying there. No pool tho and it is close to an hour from Panther Junction.

It's been several years since I was at Lajitas, so I don't know what their pool is like.

If you stay in the park, you can visit the hot springs, which are located between Rio Grande village and Panther Junction. I do need to add a caution, there are people who go to soak in the hot springs in their birthday suits.

We stayed at Stillwell Ranch 2 years ago. It has full hookups, good wifi, a small store, gas station and a nice little museum with the history of the Stillwell family. We were there with our BIL & SIL who had their horses. It is about 8 miles outside of the east entrance south of Marathon. We spent a week there and enjoyed it.

In September, the temps down by the Rio Grande will make it to 100+ virtually everyday. In the Chisos Basin, the temps will be somewhat cooler but still will be hot compared to Indiana. Maybe think about staying in Alpine for a full service RV park like the Lost Alaskan and make a long day trip to Big Bend. Also the McDonald Observatory is nearby and has great star watching programs. Have a safe trip!

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! It will be the very end of September/beginning of October so I'm hoping that temps will be a little cooler??? It's difficult to schedule a trip where the weather won't be an issue when we are covering such a stretch of the country...and of course we have our own life schedules to deal with.

You might want to check Ft. Davis when in this area of Texas. That includes the old cavalry fort, state park and McDonald Observatory.

state park

cavalry fort

We were campground hosts at the Chisos Basin Campground about two years ago Apr-Aug.

The road into the Chisos Basin is 'restricted' to trailers under 20 feet, RVs under 24 feet. We had no problem taking our 36' foot trailer in, nor another host with a 40' motorhome. However the two hosts sites in the campground are the only ones that could hold your rig. Also, once past the first loop, you would not be able to turn around in the CG. Your rig can't make the turn at the bottom loop, nor turn in the middle loop.

(When I say bottom loop, the campground elevation changes about 150 feet from the first/ upper loop near the entrance to the turn at campsite 60 on the bottom end of the CG.)

Full hookups - as mentioned the parking lot at Rio Grande Village is the only option within the park.

Big Bend is BIG. It takes a long time to get from one place to another. Hour drive between Rio Grande Village and the Chisos Mountains. Another hour to Santa Elena Canyon.

If your stay outside the park, you are looking at a minimum of one and one half hour drive to the 'attractions' of Big Bend from your campground.

Maverick Ranch listed above is probably the best in the area. It is 20 miles of 70/60 mph road to the park entrance. Another 40 miles down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive to Santa Elena Canyon.

30 miles from the park entrance to the Chisos Basin, 40 miles to Rio Grande Village.

There are a few full-service campgrounds in Terlingua / Study Butte near the west entrance of the park. Maverick is the only one that has a pool.

There is no swimming allowed in the Rio Grande River within the park.

Big Bend is a unique, special place. Temps will be hot anywhere you can park your rig, but enjoy the park.

I highly recommend taking a day to drive the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. There are several stops with short hikes to enjoy to various historic sites. We like hiking down the bottom of Tuff Canyon. And Santa Elena Canyon is a wonderful/ must see hike.

There is one very small store in Lajitas, and another with a bit better selection (Cottonwoods) near the park entrance. Be sure you are stocked with food before you get south of I-10 if coming from Fort Stockton, or Alpine if coming in from that direction.

Bring plenty of water. We saw many hikers dehydrated during our stay. Humidity levels are extremely low at Big Bend. The sweat evaporates off your skin before you know you are sweating. People often underestimate the amount of water they need.

If you can adjust your schedule a little, November is an awesome time - weatherwise - and the cottonwoods at Rio Grande Village will be glorious with color against a brilliant blue sky. :)