Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park of the United States located in West Texas, bordering Mexico. This one stands 15 mi east of Study Butte. The site is in the hands of the National Park Service. 2025 brought 568K visitors.
A national park, 15 mi east of Study Butte
Summers are hot
June and July highs run 100–102°, and about 177 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
March is the busiest month
March averages about 93,950 visitors, 5.9 times August. When to go ↓
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Study Butte, 15 miles west. Where to stay ↓
No airline airport nearby
The closest airport with airline service is Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF), 196 miles away.
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 101K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 97% of the 7,770 attractions we track.
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Visitors and weather through the year
This is the year at Big Bend, in visitors and weather.
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park of the United States located in West Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, and was named after a large bend in the Rio Grande/Río Bravo. The park protects more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals.
The area has a rich cultural history, from archeological sites dating back nearly 10,000 years to more recent pioneers, ranchers, and miners. The Chisos Mountains are located in the park, and are the only mountain range in the United States to be fully contained within the boundary of a national park. Geological features in the park include sea fossils and dinosaur bones, as well as volcanic dikes.
- Type
- National Park
- Established
- 1942
- Area
- 1,194 square miles
- Elevation
- 4,797 ft
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Listed
- International Dark Sky Park (2012) · Tentative World Heritage Site (2017)
- Wikipedia readers
- 101K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/bibe
Visiting: the details
- Private Vehicle$30
- Per Person$15
- Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$200
- Non-commercial Groups$30
Rooms near Big Bend National Park
You can sleep inside the park (4 places). Close by, places to stay are in Study Butte (11) and Terlingua (10).
Stay in the park
- Chisos Mountains Lodge lodge or cabins
- Rio Grande Village campground
- Cottonwood Campground campground
- Chisos Basin Campground RV park
Study Butte
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
114 people · 47% vacation homes
15 mi west of Chisos Basin Visitor Center · 2 mi to the park
Compare 2 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Butte 47% vacation homes | 15 mi west | 25 min | 11 4 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 114 | — |
| Terlingua | 17 mi west | 25 min | 10 3 hotels · 1 motel · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 3 RV parks | 178 | $110K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Close to Big Bend
These well-known places are within 58 miles.
158 mi State parkBig Bend Ranch State Park
216 mi National park siteRio Grande Wild and Scenic River120 visitors a yearPhoto credits
Big Bend Ranch State Park: Surfsupusa at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River: Unknown, Public domain
In 2025, 568,104 visitors
The numbers cover 2016 to 2025.
Big Bend: common questions
What town is Big Bend National Park near?
Study Butte, TX, about 15 miles west.
When is the best time to visit Big Bend National Park?
March and November, with highs of 76–81°. March is the busiest month (about 93,950 visitors).
How many people visit Big Bend National Park each year?
568,104 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 581,220, set in 2021.
What is the closest airport to Big Bend National Park?
Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF), about 196 miles away.
Where should I stay near Big Bend National Park?
Inside the park: Chisos Mountains Lodge, Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood Campground. Nearby: Study Butte (15 mi, 11 places to stay) and Terlingua (17 mi, 10 places to stay).
Word from Study Butte
There are no tips yet, so start one in Study Butte’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.