Big Bend

Big Bend NP is a sensational experience if you like remoteness.
It's far away from anything so stock up with all essentials before
arriving. I stayed at Stillwell Ranch, just outside the NP - has hookups
and a good place to use as a base - I think he has 4,000 acres. Then moved
to Terlingua.

I ride dirt bikes and mountains bikes, so I spent 2 weeks riding all the remote
dirt roads in the NP. The views as spectacular. The road to Presidio is a
"must do" - essentially parallels the Rio Grande.

You can get supplies at Study Butte/ Terlingua, but fresh fruit/veggies come
just once a week so stock up. Couple of good campgrounds in this area and there
are 5 or 6 bars/restaurants as well. There is one in Ghost Town where all the
locals hang out and watch the sunsets - kind of a unique place. All the people
I met were exceptionally friendly and very easy to strike up a conversation
(I live in NJ - enough said)....

Did I say it's remote? some of the rustic campsites are literally in the middle
of nowhere. Make sure you're gas tank is topped up (although there is a gas
station the NP).

I'm going back this Jan but staying at the State Park and riding to Ruidosa -
another "must do" drive.

Enjoy - you'll love it,

A great and varied NP, worth visiting with several campgrounds but limited hook-ups. We will not go back in the winter because of the wildly fluctuating temps. Both visits, it started hot and dropped like a rock, even down to 7 degrees F with wind. Dangerous. Spring or Fall should be great.

I just recently got a reservation at the Maverick rv Ranch there, the place he stayed at in the video. We wanted 2 weeks in early March and barely got 1 week in February. This will be our first time down there and looking forward to it.
JK

OK this will get you started, watch the next episode too which is on the state park just to the south west of the NP.

You can 'primitive camp' in the NP too, but you have to drive on gravel roads to do it. There is one long road, River Road, along the Rio Grande that has camping all along it and on other backroads, and there are many, you'll find marked camping spots. River Road is certainly worth driving, lots of interesting spots along it.

The park itself is huge and one of the least visited major parks in the system. The video above discusses the camping areas in the park.

I suggest stocking up before getting down there, prices are high no surprise. There is one mini-super market in Study Butte. There are a couple of gas stations inside the park. The busy time in the park is the cool season, the place is semi closed down in the summer.

There are many threads here about the park, you migh want to try a search.

monkey44 wrote:
Big Bend is definitely worth the trip. One of our favorites, but fairly isolated. There is fuel at the park. Lots of desert wildlife if you take your time and look. One private park-PARKING LOT with electric, but the NPS services are no HU.

Plenty of rough roads for travel through the park, but 4x4 best for many once you get off the main paved roads, altho, the paved roads and gravel roads are plenty scenic as well. Lots of interesting sights along the Rio Grande. A state park borders the western side of Big Bend, but as I recall, no camping in it but it runs along some very scenic river views and passes an old western movie ranch set that's pretty interesting.

There are dry camping spots along the river in the State Park. Just check with the Ranger station on either end of the Park along highway 170. There are also a number of commercial campgrounds with full hookups in the area of the State Park, but they fill up fast with snowbirders.

Big Bend is definitely worth the trip. One of our favorites, but fairly isolated. There is fuel at the park. Lots of desert wildlife if you take your time and look. One private park-PARKING LOT with electric, but the NPS services are no HU.

Plenty of rough roads for travel through the park, but 4x4 best for many once you get off the main paved roads, altho, the paved roads and gravel roads are plenty scenic as well. Lots of interesting sights along the Rio Grande. A state park borders the western side of Big Bend, but as I recall, no camping in it but it runs along some very scenic river views and passes an old western movie ranch set that's pretty interesting.

I stayed at the campground close to the river inside the NP.