Rio Grande Village (Big Bend, TX)
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- Right now
- OpenThe agency lists it open
- A night
- $16From, per site
- Sites
- 9893 on recreation.gov
- Season
- Year-roundOpen year-round
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 15 notices
In the agency’s own words
The Rio Grande Village Campground sits near the banks of the Rio Grande, the International Boundary between the United States and Mexico. It is one of the most popular campgrounds in Big Bend National Park, especially for those traveling in large recreational vehicles. It is located close to Boquillas Canyon and Hot Springs, and serves as a launch point for visitors accessing the river or the endless miles of backcountry roads. Rio Grande Village has an outstanding view of the Sierra del Carmen Mountains, located in Mexico to the east, which light up with hues of red and orange during sunset. Keep reading
Recreation
The river offers ample opportunities to explore its shores and water. The river put-in allows easy access to canoeing and kayaking on the river. Birders flock to the river banks to spot such rare and unique species often found only in Big Bend. Day Hike trails are also found nearby and many backcountry roads are located near the campground.
Facilities
Equipment Types . This fairly large campground has 100 campsites that range in size from small tent sites to large pull-through sites that can fit a 40-ft. (12 m) motor home. Please look carefully at each campsite description, as low hanging branches persist in the campground and not all sites are suitable for tall or long RVs and trailers. All campsites are reservable, some six months in advance, some two weeks in advance (campsites #14 (accessible), 20-25, 34, 61-65, 67-70, 72, 74-75, 87-100). There is no first-come, first served camping. A few sites are set aside for administrative use. No Hookups. There are no hookups available in the facility but each site offers a picnic table, charcoal grill and bear-proof food storage locker. Some are also furnished with picnic shelters for shade. Generators are permitted in some sites during designated generator hours (8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.). Other amenities. All campsites are within easy walking distance to water spigots, flush toilets, and utility sinks, and for those camping in motor homes and travel trailers, a fill/dump station is provided at the campground's entrance. Showers and laundry facilities can be found at the Rio Grande Village Store just outside the entrance to the campground.
Natural Features
The mountain views, proximity to Mexico, the Rio, and shade from the surrounding cottonwood trees make Rio Grande Village Campground irresistible to visitors. The campground is at an elevation of 1,850 ft. During the winter season (November through March) temperatures are warm and pleasant with daily highs in the mid-70s to low 80s. From April through September, this campground is extremely HOT with daily highs exceeding 100-107 degrees. Be prepared for the weather: Current Weather Readings Nearby Attractions Rio Grande Village is located near the Boquillas Canyon trail, the Boquillas Port of Entry, the Marufo Vega Loop trail, the Hot Springs and Hot Springs Historic District and Daniels Ranch. It is 20 miles (32 km) from the Panther Junction Visitor Center.
What the agency tells you
Do not reserve campsites that you are not planning to stay in. A camper arriving the day AFTER the reservation begins is considered a No Show. A No Show may result in a cancellation of your ENTIRE reservation. Contact the park at 432-477-2251 if you are late or will not be arriving until the day after your reservation starts.
Check-in Time. You may occupy your campsite anytime after 1:00 PM. Your site will be marked. There is no official check-in procedure.
Equipment Capacity. A maximum of two motor vehicles, one vehicle with a trailer, one motorhome with tow vehicle or four motorcycles allowed per campsite. A maximum of four tents OR one wheeled camping unit and one tent allowed per campsite. Only 1 conversion van or other type of recreational vehicle allowed per site. Two (2) conversion vans or RVs require 2 campsites.
Everything else this campground posts · 12
Campfires. NO wood or ground fires allowed at any time. Charcoal may be used in the raised grills provided at each site or on a charcoal or propane grill.
Generators. Many sites are in a NO generator zone. From November 1 until April 30, Generator hours are 8:00AM-11:00AM and 5:00PM-8:00PM. May 1 through October 31, generator hors are8:00AM-8:00PM. Read the site details carefully before selecting a site.
Food Storage Lockers/Bears & Wildlife. Bears, javelinas and bobcats frequent the area. All food must be kept in approved containers or in a hard-sided vehicle. Trash must be disposed of in the animal-proof dumpsters provided. Coolers or food boxes may not be unattended at any time. Cattle will sometimes cross the river from Mexico to graze on the grass in the campground. Please treat the cattle as you would any other wildlife by keeping a safe distance.
Hammocks. Hammocks are only allowed when not affixed to natural features. Do not hang hammocks on trees. No hammocks or other devices may be attached/tied to trees or any other natural features or objects.
Pets. Pets are allowed in each campsite, although they must be leashed and restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed on trails or in buildings.
No Hookups. There are no electricity, water or sewer hookups at this facility. There is a dump/fill station at the campground entrance.
No Showers. There are no showers at this campground. The Rio Grande Village camp store (a 5 to 15 minute walk) offers coin-operated showers.
Are you still camping? If you leave your site during the day, please leave something at the site so we know you are not checking out early. A tent, camp chair, stove, book, etc. Something of little value but that indicates you plan to return.
High Wind Warning. High winds are prevalent in this campground! Stake down your belongings and keep a tidy campsite.
Border Crossing. There is only one authorized border crossing within Big Bend National Park, located at Boquillas Crossing, a five minute drive from Rio Grande Village campground. Crossing the border at any other unauthorized location is illegal.
Entrance Fee. Big Bend charges an entrance fee separate from the camping fee. You may pay the fee upon arrival or in advance. The park also honors Federal interagency passes (e.g., annual, senior, military, access, 4th grade, Golden Age pass etc.). For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.
Big Bend National Park is an International Dark Sky Park. In the interest of protecting night skies, outdoor lighting will be limited between 10 PM and 6AM to handheld lighting designed for wayfinding and lighting needed for immediate camp chores or cooking.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 98
- Hookups
- None
- Longest rig
- 65 ft
- Paved pads
- 3 of 98
- Accessible sites
- 1
- Pets
- Allowed
- Campfires
- Not allowed
- Shade
- 58 of 86 sites
Facilities
- Toilets
- Flush Toilets - year round
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- recreation.gov lists “Dump Station”
- Bear boxes
- Yes
- Camp host
- On site
- recreation.gov lists “Host”
Around the campground
- On the water
- Hot springs, River
- Boating
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historic site
- Picnicking
- Visitor center
- Night sky · 2nd darkest of 154 in TX
- Bortle 1
2 of 44 site-nights open this Friday and Saturdayread 16:40 UTC
recreation.gov lists 93 of the 98 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.
OpenBookedClosed
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
Tell me when the season opens
Watch for the season to open
One email when the season goes on sale, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We check once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time the agency has that season on sale.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 18
What you actually pay
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rate for this season, $16 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 5
recreation.gov availability, read 16:40 UTC · rules read Oct 1, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
100 records · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 93 mapped sites2 sites share one published coordinate and are left out of the rankings.
All 100 records
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 100 of the 100 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 93 of the 100 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| Loop 1 | 001 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 77 ft | 168 ft | 225 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 002 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 77 ft | 132 ft | 172 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 003 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 77 ft | 147 ft | 115 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 004 HOST | host pad | 45 ft | 141 ft | 120 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 005 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 82 ft | 165 ft | 266 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 006 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 79 ft | 205 ft | 330 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 007 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 79 ft | 221 ft | 301 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 008 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 75 ft | 280 ft | 221 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 009 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 63 ft | 340 ft | 148 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 010 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 68 ft | 384 ft | 106 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 011 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 63 ft | 390 ft | 89 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 012 | type not stated | 30 ft | 457 ft | 74 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 013 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 110 ft | 515 ft | 103 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 014 ADA only | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | yes | 44 ft | 648 ft | 173 ft | $16 |
| Loop 1 | 015 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 69 ft | 625 ft | 184 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 016 | standard nonelectric | 15 ft | 39 ft | 601 ft | 208 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 017 | standard nonelectric | 15 ft | 39 ft | 605 ft | 241 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 018 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 101 ft | 514 ft | 245 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 019 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 118 ft | 405 ft | 204 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 020 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 44 ft | 689 ft | 213 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 021 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 50 ft | 729 ft | 254 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 022 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 65 ft | 783 ft | 307 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 023 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 53 ft | 786 ft | 226 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 024 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 65 ft | 843 ft | 284 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 025 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 53 ft | 834 ft | 194 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 026 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 49 ft | 901 ft | 224 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 027 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 60 ft | 877 ft | 154 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 028 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 49 ft | 935 ft | 202 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 029 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 55 ft | 966 ft | 145 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 030 | standard nonelectric | 60 ft | 55 ft | 1,020 ft | 195 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 031 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 62 ft | 1,032 ft | 180 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 032 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 60 ft | 1,098 ft | 243 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 033 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 60 ft | 1,095 ft | 232 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 034 | standard nonelectric | 15 ft | 54 ft | 1,178 ft | 351 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 035 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 73 ft | 1,144 ft | 295 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 036 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 44 ft | 1,148 ft | 344 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 037 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 1,123 ft | 345 ft | $16 | ||
| Loop 1 | 038 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 43 ft | 1,092 ft | 299 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 039 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 1,121 ft | 343 ft | $16 | ||
| Loop 1 | 040 | type not stated | 30 ft | 979 ft | 314 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 041 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 59 ft | 945 ft | 316 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 042 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 66 ft | 915 ft | 375 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 043 | standard nonelectric | 65 ft | 59 ft | 897 ft | 271 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 044 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 66 ft | 864 ft | 329 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 045 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 61 ft | 835 ft | 241 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 046 | standard nonelectric | 42 ft | 49 ft | 785 ft | 286 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 047 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 58 ft | 784 ft | 219 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 048 | standard nonelectric | 42 ft | 49 ft | 744 ft | 272 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 049 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 39 ft | 725 ft | 217 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 050 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 39 ft | 686 ft | 246 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 051 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 90 ft | 651 ft | 229 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 052 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 62 ft | 561 ft | 321 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 053 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 62 ft | 562 ft | 308 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 054 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 54 ft | 495 ft | 295 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 055 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 74 ft | 424 ft | 264 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 056 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 54 ft | 493 ft | 266 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 057 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 49 ft | 447 ft | 200 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 058 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 49 ft | 493 ft | 243 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 059 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 39 ft | 452 ft | 199 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 060 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 39 ft | 490 ft | 238 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 061 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 43 ft | 491 ft | 246 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 062 | standard nonelectric | 50 ft | 46 ft | 492 ft | 262 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 063 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 46 ft | 451 ft | 217 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 064 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 57 ft | 445 ft | 242 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 065 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 57 ft | 501 ft | 296 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 066 | type not stated | 60 ft | 542 ft | 356 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 067 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 50 ft | 280 ft | 196 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 068 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 64 ft | 343 ft | 213 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 069 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 50 ft | 273 ft | 146 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 070 | standard nonelectric | 55 ft | 62 ft | 328 ft | 142 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 071 | type not stated | 25 ft | 276 ft | 88 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 072 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 80 ft | 324 ft | 82 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 073 HOST | host pad | 45 ft | 245 ft | 53 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 074 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 106 ft | 328 ft | 100 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 075 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 101 ft | 239 ft | 191 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 076 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 59 ft | 358 ft | 250 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 077 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 59 ft | 385 ft | 308 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 078 | standard nonelectric | 22 ft | 62 ft | 312 ft | 314 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 079 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 70 ft | 416 ft | 244 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 080 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 61 ft | 322 ft | 253 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 081 | standard nonelectric | 18 ft | 61 ft | 364 ft | 194 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 082 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 52 ft | 467 ft | 187 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 083 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 52 ft | 441 ft | 144 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 084 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 68 ft | 533 ft | 182 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 085 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 64 ft | 485 ft | 94 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 086 | type not stated | 50 ft | 550 ft | 115 ft | |||
| Loop 1 | 087 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 66 ft | 607 ft | 171 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 088 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 66 ft | 667 ft | 235 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 089 | standard nonelectric | 40 ft | 71 ft | 599 ft | 234 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 090 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 70 ft | 670 ft | 193 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 091 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 45 ft | 746 ft | 141 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 092 | standard nonelectric | 18 ft | 70 ft | 732 ft | 132 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 093 | standard nonelectric | 60 ft | 45 ft | 784 ft | 96 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 094 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 83 ft | 803 ft | 99 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 095 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 56 ft | 930 ft | 102 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 096 | standard nonelectric | 30 ft | 81 ft | 862 ft | 136 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 097 | standard nonelectric | 35 ft | 56 ft | 958 ft | 157 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 098 | standard nonelectric | 45 ft | 63 ft | 931 ft | 193 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 099 | standard nonelectric | 20 ft | 43 ft | 1,058 ft | 290 ft | $16 | |
| Loop 1 | 100 | standard nonelectric | 25 ft | 73 ft | 1,006 ft | 298 ft | $16 |
The agency files 2 more records here that aren’t sites for the night. It names them host pads. They’re in the table above, marked for what they are, and none of them is counted as a site.
25 of 100 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Rio Grande Village Group Campground (Big Bend, TX)Big Bend National Park · 0.0 mi
Big Bend Backcountry CampingBig Bend National Park · 18 mi
Chisos Basin Campground (Big Bend, TX)Big Bend National Park · 22 mi
Chisos Basin Group Campground (Big Bend, TX)Big Bend National Park · 22 mi
Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)Big Bend National Park · 34 miFrom Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 miles (62 km) (south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 miles (42 km) to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn left and proceed for 20 miles (32 km) to the Rio Grande Village area. Turn left at the stop sign and follow signs into the campground.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Study Butte, TX
Typical weather
Typical October night 54°F, day 89°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical January night 30°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Junes are colder than the June line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
what threatens it · who answers for it
What threatens this place
You’re camping on ground somebody wants. We track the threats and the comment deadlines.
Who answers for this land
Rio Grande Village (Big Bend, TX) is in Texas’s 23rd congressional district. Whoever holds it votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. See how its representative votes on public lands →
Our roster still carries Tony Gonzales for this district and the current federal record doesn’t list them as sitting, so we’re not naming a representative here until the two agree.