Planning a Big Bend National Park Trip: What We Learned After Two Visits

Big Bend was a bucket list location for me, and we have been twice and plan to go again!

It is never too soon to start planning an adventure to Big Bend National Park.

We have been twice now, and I am certain we will go back. Big Bend is one of those places that is difficult to fully appreciate until you experience just how beautiful, remote and enormous it really is.

After two trips, we have also learned a few things about planning a Big Bend National Park vacation. This isn't a destination where I recommend simply showing up and figuring everything out as you go. A little planning can make a huge difference—especially if you are traveling a long distance or camping in an RV.

If Big Bend is on your travel list, here are the things I think you should consider before you go.

Our New Year's Day Hike at Santa Elena Canyon was a great way to start a new year.

1. Choose the Right Time of Year to Visit Big Bend

Winter has been the best time for our family to visit Big Bend National Park.

The temperatures are generally much milder, which makes hiking and exploring far more enjoyable for us. Big Bend is desert country, and temperatures can soar during the warmer months. If your goal is to hike and spend most of your time outdoors, that is something you definitely want to consider.

Cooler weather may not fit everyone's schedule, but I would encourage you to look carefully at seasonal temperatures before choosing your dates.

And remember—this is the desert. Come prepared for changing temperatures, sun exposure, dry conditions and plenty of time outdoors regardless of when you visit.

The Rio Grande Village campground was a great spot for us to land for the week.

2. Start Planning Your Big Bend Trip Early

Big Bend is remote, and that is part of what makes it so special. It also means that lodging and camping options are more limited than what you may find at more developed vacation destinations.

Planning early gives you a better chance of staying exactly where you want.

On our first trip, we stayed in Terlingua and had no issues with that location. Terlingua is a fun destination in its own right and offers lodging, restaurants, shopping and plenty of West Texas personality. If you are considering staying outside the park, this Terlingua and Study Butte guide is a helpful resource when planning.

The hike along the Windows Trail was spectacular all the way down to the stunning end point view!

For our second trip, however, we decided to camp inside Big Bend National Park at Rio Grande Village, and I much preferred being inside the park.

We stayed at the RV campground with full hookups in the Rio Grande Village area. The sites themselves were basic, but we weren't there for a fancy campground. We were there for Big Bend.

And the views were incredible.

We also hiked into Boquillas Canyon. This was a nice spot for a picnic lunch that day!

Being inside the park allowed us to spend more time enjoying Big Bend and less time driving into the park every morning. We were also close to a camp store where we could access fuel, laundry facilities and basic groceries.

That setup worked extremely well for us, and I would absolutely do it again.

There are several camping options in this part of the park, including the National Park Service's Rio Grande Village Campground. You can check current campground information, reservation requirements, amenities and seasonal updates on the National Park Service Rio Grande Village Campground page.

Tip: Campground rates, reservation policies and amenities can change. Always check current information before booking rather than relying on an older campground rate or review.

For popular hiking spots - plan ahead and hike early. Many times there are more crowds that roads or parking can handle, and you will be turned around.

3. Don't Underestimate the Size of Big Bend

Big Bend is MASSIVE.

That sounds obvious when you look at a map, but you really understand it once you start driving from one area of the park to another.

It takes time.

We learned not to overload our days. Instead, we generally planned one major hike or activity per day. Anything we managed beyond that was a bonus.

Some hikes are long and strenuous. Others may be easier but require a significant drive to reach the trailhead.

And you simply cannot do everything in one trip.

Choose the experiences that matter most to you, build your days around those and leave some room for plans to change.

The National Park Service has some excellent suggested Big Bend itineraries for visitors with different amounts of time. I think this is a great place to start when deciding what is realistic for your trip.

You can also browse the NPS list of things to do in Big Bend National Park to help narrow down the activities that appeal most to your family.

And remember, not getting to everything is also a great excuse to come back!

The Boquillas Crossing trip was a highlight for us because it was something different and fun!

4. Consider Crossing Into Boquillas, Mexico

One of the most memorable experiences from our second trip was crossing the border into Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico.

You will need the appropriate travel documents, including a passport, so this is definitely something you'll want to research before your trip. You should also verify current border crossing hours and requirements before making plans.

Our experience was so much fun.

You can ride a donkey into town and back for $10 a piece. It was a fun little thing to do.

We paid to cross the Rio Grande in a small john boat and then rode donkeys into town. You can also walk or arrange other transportation once you cross.

We enjoyed lunch and some shopping before going back across the border. It was windy and chilly the day we went.

We had lunch, did a little shopping and enjoyed exploring before heading back across the river.

It was easy, fun and completely different from anything else we did during the trip.

Boquillas Crossing is also very close to the Rio Grande Village area, which made this an especially easy excursion from our campsite.

Plan for layers on this trip. We had cold weather for jackets and wore shorts and tee shirts!

5. Pick a Few Must-Do Big Bend Hikes

There are so many trails in Big Bend that choosing what to hike can feel overwhelming.

A few of our favorites have been:

Boquillas Canyon Trail — A beautiful canyon hike that paired perfectly with our time near Rio Grande Village.
Santa Elena Canyon Trail — We did this hike on New Year's Day, and I cannot think of a better way to begin a new year.
The Window Trail — Absolutely stunning and another experience I would recommend.

The Windows Trail lookout point was amazing! I would recommend doing this to anyone coming to Big Bend. It was worth every step!

We weren't able to visit the hot springs on our last trip because of road conditions, but that just gives us something else to explore next time.

Before your trip, look at trail distances, elevation changes, weather conditions and current closures. Then choose hikes that work for your family's abilities and the amount of time you have available.

Again, don't feel like you have to do it all. We found that one big activity each day gave us time to enjoy what we were doing instead of constantly racing to the next stop.

Terlingua is a fun little town with shops, places to eat as well as a fascinating cemetery and should not be missed.

6. Don't Forget About Terlingua

Even if you're staying inside Big Bend National Park, make time for a trip into Terlingua.

It's quirky, interesting and part of the whole Big Bend experience.

We enjoyed wandering around, doing a little shopping and grabbing a meal. If you want to learn more about the area before your trip, check out this guide to Terlingua and Study Butte.

Long Draw Pizza was fun for a night out!

We also ate at Long Draw Pizza. We initially wanted to try it because of the Mississippi connection, and we enjoyed both the food and the fun atmosphere.

Terlingua is worth adding to your itinerary even if you're camping inside the park.

7. Attend a Ranger Program

This is one of my favorite tips for Big Bend—and really for any national park.

Check the ranger program schedule!

During one of our trips, we attended an evening program in the Chisos Basin about creepy, crawly critters. It was fun, educational and incredibly well presented.

Our son loved it.

These programs are one of those extras that can easily be overlooked when you're busy planning hikes and sightseeing. But ranger programs, visitor centers and educational activities can add so much to a national park experience.

The park offers ranger-led hikes, talks, activities and evening programs. Check the Big Bend ranger-led program schedule as you get closer to your trip to see what may be available during your stay.

I grew up loving national parks, and I'm trying to pass that same appreciation along to our son. Learning about the landscape, wildlife and history of a place makes the trip even more meaningful.

We stayed at Loves going and coming on this trip. We stayed in Winona, Texas at Loves on the way out. Ranger, Texas had RV stops for our return trip home. These are really convenient along I-20 in Texas.

8. Give Yourself Enough Time to Get There—and Home

Big Bend isn't conveniently located right off the interstate.

Getting there is part of the adventure.

For our trip, we planned three travel days and two overnight stops each way. Your travel time will obviously depend on where you're starting, but I wouldn't rush this portion of the trip.

We used Love's Travel Stops at different points along I-20 and also stayed at private campgrounds along our route, including an overnight stop near Monahans.

Breaking up the drive made the trip much more manageable for our family.

If you're traveling by RV, I also recommend thinking about fuel stops before you need them. Once you start getting into more remote areas of West Texas, I prefer knowing where we're stopping rather than hoping something appears down the road.

You can take a look at my Southern Glamper Camping Map to see some of the campgrounds where we've stayed during our travels.

Plan a trip to Big Bend. It is the place you may not know you needed to go!

9. Let Big Bend Surprise You

Planning is important, but so is flexibility.

Road conditions change. Weather changes. You may discover that a hike takes longer than expected. Your family may be tired. Or you may find somewhere so beautiful that you simply want to stay there longer.

That's okay.

Some of our favorite travel memories aren't necessarily the result of checking everything off a list. They come from slowing down enough to actually enjoy where we are.

Big Bend is the perfect place for that.

Helpful Big Bend National Park Planning Resources

When you're ready to start planning your own trip, these are some helpful resources to bookmark:

This was our first big hike in a National Park with him! And 5 years later we were back.

Give Big Bend the Time It Deserves

If I could give someone planning their first Big Bend National Park trip just a few pieces of advice, they would be simple:

Plan early. Give yourself plenty of time. Don't overfill your itinerary. And stay flexible.

Big Bend is beautiful, vast and absolutely worth the miles it takes to get there.

Our first trip was an amazing adventure.

Our second trip was even better because we understood the park a little more and knew how we wanted to experience it.

And I'm already looking forward to a third trip.

There are still trails we haven't hiked, places we haven't explored and experiences waiting for us.

If you're thinking about traveling somewhere beautiful, wild and wonderfully remote, put Big Bend National Park on your list.

You might discover, like we did, that one trip simply isn't enough.