They say, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” right? With a reputation like that, it makes sense why this 800,000-acre desert behemoth was established as Big Bend National Park in 1944. That’s larger than the state of Rhode Island. This is Texas saying, “We’re so big; we have state-sized parks.” Remarkable. How do you even begin to visit a park that big? That’s what we are here to provide assistance on. We will help you on your visit and show you what there is to see on a 3-day trip to Big Bend National Park.
A Full Guide to Big Bend National Park in Three Days
You could spend a week or more exploring Big Bend National Park, but most people don’t have unlimited vacation time and must use some time to reach the park. We feel like you can really get a good taste of the park in three days. This guide has all the information you need to plan your trip, along with our suggestions to help inspire you. Plus, it will leave you wanting more.
What Makes Big Bend National Park Special
Big Bend National Park is the best way to visit a remote destination without leaving the lower 48 states. It’s far from any major city, so it requires a bit of planning, but you’re guaranteed to have a lot of space to enjoy the nature and the quiet.
The park is mostly made up of the Chihuahuan Desert with the Chisos Mountain rising up in the middle of the park. That means that you’ll have wide open views in every direction. Plus, it’s the only national park where you can hop across the border into Mexico for the day.
From epic sunsets to wide open starry skies, we were treated to incredible views our entire visit. If you can figure out how to get there, you will fall in love right away and the journey will be worth it.
When is the Best Time to Visit Big Bend National Park?
We got to the park in early February. It was easy hiking weather because the sun wasn’t too hot. March is usually the busiest month because of spring breakers and good weather. If you visit in the summer months, you’ll run into the same issues at Death Valley (although not to quite the same extremes.)
Fall is another great time to explore the park. As the heat backs up a little, you can still enjoy floating in the water, but you can also hike without worrying about heat stroke. Ideally, you are visiting between October and April for the best temperatures to explore.
How to Get to Big Bend National Park
Part of Big Bend’s appeal is that it’s remote and quiet, but that’s because it’s far away from any large city. El Paso is about 4 ½ hours away, and you’ll drive through the cool, artsy towns of Marfa and Alpine. That’s the closest large city. Our favorite Texas city, Austin, and its southern neighbor, San Antonio, are each about six hours away, but if you’re doing a big road trip, you’ll come through the Texas Hill Country, another excellent road trip destination.
The best way to get here is to make it part of a larger road trip and cover some of the other cool things in western Texas. We drove from San Antonio and continued on towards New Mexico after our trip. If you don’t have a big trip in mind, flying into El Paso would be your best bet.
Where to Stay in Big Bend National Park
Stay in the Park
Chisos Mountain Lodge is the only hotel within the park’s boundaries. There are also a few campgrounds you can take advantage of. The Chisos Basin campgrounds were incredible, but there are a few others scattered around the park. We didn’t explore the hotel itself because we loved staying in Terlingua and would highly recommend it if you aren’t camping.
Terlingua Nights Cabins
We stayed at the Terlingua Nights Cabins and loved it. It’s probably best described as glamping. You’ll get a tiny cabin with a bed and a chair. The bathrooms are communal, but they were in great shape and very clean. Each cabin has a little porch where we enjoyed coffees in the morning, plus you can hike up the hill behind the property for some cool views. It’s a great budget option, and they have recently added a pool for additional comfort.
Lajitas Golf Resort
If you want a more luxurious experience, check availability at the Lajitas Golf Resort. Guests can enjoy the pool and amenities in between their time exploring the park. The resort is 27,000 acres, so there is plenty to explore and keep you busy here as well.
Things to See in Big Bend National Park
You’ll realize quickly that driving is the best way to get around here. However, there will be plenty of time for hiking in the 3 days. There are a few routes in the park that will take you everywhere you want to see. I’ll break down each drive and the places you should stop along the way.
HWY 385
This is one of the major ways to get into the park. It’s not just an entrance, there are a few great spots along this route too.
Fossil Discovery Exhibit
Upon entering the Big Bend National Park via Highway 385 you’ll make your way toward Panther Junction and soon you’ll encounter the Fossil Discovery Exhibit. This is a fantastic start to the park. It is here you’ll learn about the history of the region and even see some amazing fossils from animals. Spend as much time as you need here to learn about how sea life once ruled the area. Yes it is true, once upon a time it was all under water. Also, take in your first views of the Chisos Basin and imagine what the ridges looked like before the ancient volcano blew its top.
Panther Junction
Continue to Panther Junction and the Big Bend National Park Visitor Center. Like always, we recommend the visitor center, so you know what to expect from the park. You will quickly learn about the native mammals, reptiles, and plant life you should expect to encounter. Watch the 24-minute film “Life on the Edge” which is played every 30 minutes, to really get a feel for the place. Be sure to pick up a patch or get your NP Passport stamped while here.
Boquillas Canyon Road
The eastern section of the park is near Rio Grande Village. If you hope to look out over, or even visit, Mexico, then this is a detour worth the 20-plus miles.
Boquillas Canyon Trail
At the end of the Boquilllas Canyon Road, that you’ll find a nice easy hike at the Boquillas Canyon trail head. In and out this is a 1.5 mile hike with minimal elevation change. You can look across the river into Mexico, get great scenic pictures and of course, stop for a snack down by the river.
Visit Mexico
If you decide to make the trek into Mexico, you’ll want to head back to the Boquillas crossing stop. You can park here and hire a boat to take you across the river and border. No wall, just a quick ride across the river. It’s a bargain at $5 per person.
Once in Mexico, you can take a 1/4 mile walk to town and have an authentic meal or do some shopping. Just don’t forget your passport or enhanced driver’s license. Visit the website here for all acceptable forms of ID to allow you back into the United States.
For reference, the two men riding horses in the photo below are in Mexico. Everything on the other side of the river is across the border.
Chisos Basin Road
This was our favorite drive in the park, but we are mountain people and you can’t change our minds. It’s hard to pick anything that isn’t the mountain peaks.
Lost Mine Trail
One of the most popular hikes in the park is the Lost Mine Trail. It’s an out-and-back trail that is 5.1 miles round trip. You’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. The trailhead is right on Chisos Basin Road. Just beware: there is about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, so it’s not great if you don’t feel like getting a bit of a glute workout.
Chisos Basin
This scenic, albeit winding, road takes you into the heart of the park. It is in the basin you’ll find amazing campsites, a store, visitor center, restaurant and hiking trails to suit all abilities. Some of these trails fall into more of a moderate to strenuous category, so know your limits and make sure you have correct equipment and supplies.
Unfortunately for us, we were unable to camp here. Of all of the parks we have now visited, this camping area stands out as one we MUST return to. Given the fact there are cliffs on all sides, you don’t get any light pollution. This will make for the most epic stargazing in an already epic location. You are sleeping under the sky in a well that was once a volcano. That volcano is responsible for all of the landscape around you. Spend 2 nights here if you can. There are 60 campsites (and they fill up fast) of which only 27 can be reserved in advance online. Plan accordingly.
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
The scenic drive is a 30-mile paved road that takes visitors east to west in the park. There are a few highlights along the way to stop and take in the views, so you’ll want to plan a few hours to enjoy this route.
Homer Wilson Ranch
The Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is definitely the largest driving route you can take through Big Bend National Park. You should have no fear of being bored, however. This route offers plenty, with new scenic landscapes around every turn. As you first come down this road from Route 118, you’ll drive along the backside of the Chisos Basin. You’re sure to be left in awe by the area again from this new vantage point. But continue on, as your first stop is a nice easy walk to the Homer Wilson Ranch. Don’t just look down upon the ruin. Take 10-15 minutes to walk there. It is fun to picture the area in its heyday and imagine what it could be like to live in such a rugged setting. The path is well-maintained and clear of hard steps.
Sotol Vista
Almost immediately after leaving the parking area for Homer Wilson Ranch you’ll come across the Sotol Vista Overlook. This wonderful pull off is not to be neglected. This location offers one of the most expansive views you’ll get in the park. On a clear day you can see all the way to Santa Elena Canyon, which is over 20 miles away. It is quite spectacular.
Insider tip: this is a one-of-a-kind sunset spot. The view faces straight west and makes for a colorful dusk. Get here early, set up your camera, and cook some dinner on your grill as you await the canvas of colors to light up when the sun drops behind the horizon.
Santa Elena Canyon
In addition to the aforementioned stops comes a big highlight for many, Santa Elena Canyon. First off, the cliffs you’ll see here that have been carved by the Rio Grande rise over 1,500 feet. Secondly, they are chiseled out of magnificent limestone that make for stunning photos if you have the eye.
You should definitely take time to park here and go on the 1.5 mile hike. The Santa Elena Canyon Trail head is right beside the parking lot. This is a pretty light hike but does require a little up and down. The trail ends abruptly but is gorgeous along the way.
Additionally, this is an excellent place to drop your canoe or kayak in the water. This is one of three river canyons in the park and this offers a unique way to see more of the canyon than you typically will on foot.
Is Three Days Enough for Big Bend National Park?
Now that you’ve seen all that information, you might be wondering if three days is enough. The routes to drive and places to see that we mention above will undoubtedly give you plenty to do for three days. However, there is an awful lot to do and see here.
There are six major hikes in the Chisos Mountains alone that can tie up three days. The routes off of Panther Junction can occupy another full day, and the Ross Maxwell route has hikes that’ll keep you busy for another two days. The point is, if you have more time than three days, take it. If not, you’ll leave wanting more, but feeling fulfilled.
Three-Day Itinerary for Big Bend National Park
Day 1
- Arrive in the park area and set up camp or drop off your bags
- Enjoy the Chisos Basin area for an afternoon hike and find a spot to enjoy sunset
- Watch the stars come out
Day 2
- Head out early on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive
- Visit the Santa Elena Canyon early to beat the crowds
- Explore the Homer Wilson Ranch
- Head into the town of Terlingua for happy hour and dinner
Day 3
- Drive to the end of the Boquillas Canyon Road
- Take a trip across the Rio Grande to Mexico (if you have a valid passport)
- Learn about the prehistoric history at the Panther Junction with the cool dinosaur exhibits
Things to Consider When Visiting Big Bend National Park
This park is incredible, but there are a few things that are important to know before you arrive.
Wildlife
It is important to observe Big Bend’s wildlife from a distance. Above all, know what animals are out there and respect them. Big Bend has black bears, mountain lions, javelinas, coyotes, and four species of rattlesnakes. The reality is that if you encounter any of these animals, you will be in the minority. However, knowing their behaviors and how to grant them space in the event of an encounter could literally save your life. Stop by any of the visitor centers to inquire about the wildlife here if you have any questions.
Impassable Roads
While most of Big Bend National Park is easy to drive in any vehicle, there are those sketchy roads you may want to consider avoiding. We were in an AWD vehicle, and after about three miles on Old Maverick Road, we chose to abort. It’s not to say you can’t make these roads, it’ll be more of a question of if you want to if you are not in a heavy-duty 4WD vehicle.
Drought Conditions
Being in a desert, there are often water shortages. It’s important to be aware of the current restrictions for water use before you arrive. Plan accordingly and avoid excessive showering or water usage. Be kind and conserve water to help the community preserve the water resources they have.
Bring a water bottle. This one with colorful choices is one of our favorites because it seals nicely in the backpack and keeps water cold for hours. I also highly recommend SPF shirts to help shield your skin from the sun on hikes.
Final Thoughts on Big Bend National Park
We certainly enjoyed our 3-day trip to Big Bend National Park and have every intention of returning to spend much more time. It pairs excellently with a Hill Country road trip or a day trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Have you been? Let us know so we can follow along on your adventure.
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