Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) is a national park campground in Texas. Hookups: electric.
- Type
- National park campground
- Location
- Texas
- Coordinates
- 29.13694, -103.52222
- Hookups
- Electric
- Activities
- Birding, Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, Historic Sites, Picnic Tables, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 432-477-1121
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
Overview 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-site campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 30 individual sites. This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted. There is not a fill or dump station, please come prepared. Cottonwood gets its name from the cottonwood trees that surround and provide shade for the facility nearby the Rio Grande. A general store and visitor center -- a converted former military outpost -- are also nearby. The campground is at an elevation of 1,900 ft. (580 m). It is relatively cool in the peak seasons of fall and winter due to cold air sinking into the lower elevations. In the spring and summer, this campground is very hot, with temperatures normally exceeding 100° F (38° C) from mid-March through August. Recreation Particularly popular with bird watchers, Cottonwood Campground is a haven for those wishing to study the abundant bird life in Big Bend while also escaping the more crowded areas in the park. Because of its diverse ecosystems and plant life, the park provides habitats for many rare and unique birds , including the Mexican mallard, Lucifer hummingbird, Mexican jay, black-capped and gray vireos
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- National Park Service · 34 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Propane · 34 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Campground | National park campground | under 0.1 mi | $16 | — |
| Cottonwood Campground | Private campground | under 0.1 mi | $16 | — |
| Buenos Aires | Private campground | 3.5 mi | — | — |
| Buenos Aires | Private campground | 4.8 mi | — | — |
| Ocotillo Grove | Private campground | 6.2 mi | — | — |
| Terlingua Abajo | Private campground | 6.5 mi | — | — |
Open Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.