Cottonwood Campground

Campers enjoy the shade of Cottonwood Campground

NPS / C. Hoyt

 

CAMPGROUND OPEN.
Reservations are REQUIRED via www.recreation.gov
NO First Come First Served Camping

Cottonwood Campground is a quiet, shady desert oasis located between the Castolon Historic District and scenic Santa Elena Canyon.

This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted.

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. It is relatively cool in the peak seasons of fall and winter due to cold evening air sinking into the lower elevations along the Rio Grande. In the spring and summer, this campground is extremely hot, with temperatures normally exceeding 100 degrees F from mid-March through August.

Elevation

2,169 ft.

Open

November 1 - April 30. Closed for the summer season.

Details

24-site campground (no hook-ups). $16 per night ($8 with Senior or Access pass). Pit toilets, picnic tables, grills, and water are available. No dump station, no generators allowed. A small picnic area is available across from campsite #23.

Reservable Campsites

16 sites are reservable November 1 - April 30. Contact recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.

Accessibility

Cottonwood Campground is a semi-developed camping option. Road and campsite surfaces are gravel. The four vault toilets are accessible. Surfaces in Cottonwood are flat and level. Road surfaces are gravel, and may prove to be difficult for extensive wheelchair navigation. Most campsites are level and useable for those in wheelchairs.

Group Camping

Group Campground is CLOSED at this time.
Cottonwood Campground has one group camp site available by advance reservation only. Maximum occupancy is 25 persons. Minimum occupancy is 9 persons. Group campground is walk-in tent camping only. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area.

To reserve the group campsite, contact recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.

Campground Regulations

For your safety and enjoyment, and the protection of park resources, please abide by park campground regulations.