Getting Here
- Getting here can be half the fun, but not if you don’t plan well. Big Bend is one of the most remote areas of the lower 48 states.
- Fly. Flying commercially will only get you part of the way to Big Bend.
- Train.
- Vehicle rental.
- Motorcycles.
- Drive from Houston.
- Drive from Dallas.
- Drive from San Antonio.
How do you get to Big Bend?
The nearest airports served by major airlines are located in Midland/Odessa, Texas (235 miles from park headquarters) and El Paso, Texas (330 miles from park headquarters). Rental cars are available at both airports. The nearest Amtrak station is located in Alpine, Texas (100 miles from park headquarters).
Can you bike ride in Big Bend National Park?
Bicycling (including e-bikes) is allowed on any road within Big Bend National Park, but is not allowed off-road or on any trail.
Can you visit Big Bend in a day?
One-Day Itinerary:
Big Bend is too big to see in a single day, but a great one-day trip to the park might include a trip down the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and a visit to the Chisos Basin.
Is Big Bend worth the trip?
Yes, Big Bend National Park in Texas is beautiful and definitely worth visiting. That’s the short answer. Big Bend National Park is America’s fifteenth largest national park, boasting 801,163 acres of protected land, making it the largest protected portion of the Chihuahuan desert in the United States.
What is the best time of year to go to Big Bend?
Fall and spring are the best times to visit Big Bend National Park. Temperatures are mild during the day and cool at night. March is one of the busiest months in the park, because of the great weather conditions and the influx of spring break travelers.
What city is closest to Big Bend National Park?
Terlingua and Lajitas are the towns closest to Big Bend National Park. It’s 9 miles (14 km) from Terlingua and 21 miles (34 km) from Lajitas to the Big Bend park entrance at Maverick Junction.
Can you mountain bike in Big Bend?
The extensive back road system in Big Bend National Park offers great mountain bike access. Lajitas Resort and the adjacent Big Bend Ranch State Park offer over 100 miles of designated single track mountain bike trail.
Do you need a passport to go to Big Bend National Park?
The Boquillas Crossing Point of Entry is now open at Big Bend National Park. There are many things you need to know before you even leave home. Everyone, including children, will need passports or passport cards. You may not take your vehicle into Mexico.
How long does it take to drive through Big Bend?
about 1 to 1/2 hr
The trip to Big Bend National Park took about 1 to 1/2 hr drive. over a year ago. You can pretty much fly through the 108 miles. If you’ve got a good car open it up.
Where is the entrance to Big Bend National Park?
There are two main paved-road approaches to Big Bend NP and they are Presidio and Marathon. We entered via Presidio and departed via Marathon.
Why do people go to Big Bend?
Breathtaking Views. One of the most important reasons to visit Big Bend National Park is the absolutely breathtaking views you’re going to see. Steep mountains and cliffs, rocky terrain, the Rio Grande, and vistas that span as far as the eye can see.
What should I wear to Big Bend?
Clothing for Big Bend National Park
No need to get fancy! You’ll want to bring your typical hiking clothes, but be particularly mindful of the desert sun – even in cooler times of the year. We visited in mid-March and all got a little pink despite our best efforts to reapply sunscreen throughout the day.
What is the difference between Big Bend State Park and Big Bend National Park?
Big Bend Ranch State Park, although just west of Big Bend National Park, offers a completely different experience with rugged volcanic landscapes and many opportunities for backcountry solitude. It offers 275,000 acres of managed wilderness.
Does Big Bend get cold at night?
Average Temperatures and Precipitation
At the higher mountain elevations temperatures average 5–10 degrees cooler during the day and 0-5 degrees cooler at night.
Does Big Bend get crowded?
Big Bend is open year-round.
November – April is the busy season in the park. The spring months see the most crowds as well as the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, and Spring Break {mid-March}. For more information on the park’s operating hours and seasons, click here.
Does Big Bend get cold?
Winters in Big Bend are generally mild, with the occasional short cold snap. Usually, the skies are clear, and day time highs can run into the 70’s or higher. Under clear skies, however, it gets colder at night, often near freezing. Counterintuitively, it is colder along the Rio Grande at night than in the mountains.
How Safe Is Big Bend National Park?
Big Bend National Park is a safe destination for outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers. A recent study from a law firm found that Big Bend had only 16 deaths among 4.4 million visitors from 2007 to 2018.
Why is Terlingua a ghost town?
The market for mercury mining steadily declined throughout the 1930s. The Chisos Mining Company, which employed virtually all of Terlingua directly or indirectly, filed for bankruptcy in 1942. After WWII, Terlingua’s population declined so sharply that it became a ghost town.
What are three different areas of Big Bend?
Three major canyons fall within the park boundary; Santa Elena, Marsical and Boquillas, between which the river flows through desert land that is wild and largely unreachable.
Do illegals cross in Big Bend?
Drug smuggling and illegal border crossings occasionally occur within Big Bend National Park. If you see anything that looks illegal, suspicious, or out of place, please do not stop or intervene, but note the location, time, direction of travel, and call 911 when possible.