Where To Stay In Big Bend National Park | 9 Best Lodging Options

Big Bend National Park is a park in West Texas known for its dark, starry night skies and limestone canyons that look like temples. It’s gorgeous to visit if you want to experience time in nature without the constraints of civilization.

The mountain ranges are gorgeous, with spectacular views and hundreds of bird species, making it a bird watcher’s paradise. You can go on a hike through the mountains or take a break and relax in the beauty of nature. 

If you’re looking for a bout of peaceful isolation, then visiting Big Bend National Park is perfect for you. But where will you stay during your time here?

Not to worry, with many small towns around the park comes many hotels, lodges, campgrounds, and even houses to stay in. There is no shortage of spectacular places to stay during your time in Big Bend National Park. 

With all the nature and lodging, it’s no wonder it’s one of the best national parks to visit during the fall.

So without further ado, here is a guide on where to stay in Big Bend National Park to make your planning easier.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Best Places To Stay In Terlingua

Terlingua is a popular place for visitors of Big Bend National Park to stay in during their trip. It is close to the Rio Grande and the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It also has the famous ghost town of Terlingua, which is an area left largely abandoned today. Terlingua is also filled with places reminiscent of the town’s mining history.

Terlingua was once a thriving mining community. When mineral prices plummeted after World War II, the town fell into a financial crisis and eventually became a ghost town. So if you’re keen on a spooky tour, Terlingua is the place to be.

Terlingua was also named the Chili Capital of the World in 1967 by the Chili Appreciation Society after it became famous for its annual chili cook-off. 

Luxury: Terlingua Ranch Lodge

Terlingua Ranch Lodge is the perfect place to escape the city’s noise and park yourself in a lovely mountain cabin. It’s about 45 minutes away from the park and one of the most popular Big Bend National Park cabins. 

The rooms don’t have TVs or phones, and there is barely any cell coverage in the area. This makes it perfect for a true getaway, where you can sit on the patio and enjoy the clear night sky without distractions. However, there is WiFi in these Big Bend cabins if you need it. 

The lodge has a pool and a small airstrip. There is also the Bad Rabbit Cafe, an old ranch turned into a lovely cafe. Here you can find the Whitehouse, a stone and masonry building that serves as a restaurant, where you can get some delectable homemade meals and watch a live musical performance.

Budget: Casa Vista Grande

If you’re in the mood for a lovely and isolated stay on your journey in Big Bend National Park, then Casa Vista Grande is the place for you. This one-bedroom property can house up to 4 people at a time – perfect for a getaway with friends. 

This quaint little house has WiFi, a kitchen area, a laundry room, and even a fireplace for a real camping feel. The house is also situated at the top of a hill, which gives you gorgeous, unobstructed views of the Chisos Mountains. 

If you want to go explore some of the activities in the area, you’re in luck. Casa Vista Grande is very close to the hiking trails, stables for horseback riding, and the Rio Grande river.

Casa Vista Grande is about 6 minutes away from the main town of Terlingua. However, it’s right in the darker area of Big Bend. Which means stargazing will be quite the sight. See if you can spot the milky way on a night in Casa Vista Grande.

Best Lodging In Chisos Basin

The Chisos Mountains are entirely contained by Big Bend National Park and are one of the rare areas where you can find places to stay in the National Park. If you want to be close to all the action, this is the place to be.

Around 44 million years ago, the mountains were created by volcanic activity. Today, they still stand tall and have some of the most beautiful scenic views in Big Bend National Park. 

Chisos Basin has a campground in the park that offers some quality places to camp. However, it’s not the only option if you want to stay in Big Bend National Park.

Mid-Range: Chisos Mountains Lodge

You will find Chisos Mountains Lodge in the heart of Big Bend. It’s the only accommodation within the park itself. With modern amenities, a decent price, WiFi, and a restaurant on site, Chisos Mountain Lodge is one of the most popular places to stay near Big Bend National Park.

You can spend your time here enjoying the gorgeous scenery of the Chisos Mountains. If you want to engage in some fun activities, there’s horseback riding, hiking, and whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande. 

Chisos Mountains Lodge offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even makes boxed lunches for those going on a day trip to Big Bend National Park.

Best Places To Stay In Lajitas

Lajitas is a resort town known for its Old West history, natural beauty, and desert environment. Lajitas means little rocks in Spanish, and you will find little rocks everywhere here. 

There’s also a running joke that the mayor of Lajitas was Clay Henry III, a beer-drinking goat. However, Lajitas rich history stretches far beyond this. 

In the 1970s, Lajitas was so behind the rest of the United States that there were no phones or televisions, and newspapers were delivered a day after publication. Luckily the area has undergone a massive change, and you won’t have to worry about not being able to call someone or watch a bit of TV.

Below are some of the best hotels in Lajitas for a comfortable stay. 

Read More: 11 Best Things To Do in Big Bend National Park, Texas

Luxury: Lajitas Golf Resort

About 20 miles from the Big Bend National Park gate, you will find the luxurious Lajitas Golf Resort. It’s a true oasis in the middle of the desert. Green trees and grass cover the golf course and can be seen from the mountain’s base. It’s also quite close to Big Bend State Park.

Of course, this resort has an 18-hole golf course for you to take a break and hit some balls. Or perhaps you can relax in the pool or grab dinner at the glass-walled restaurant Candelilla Cafe. Maybe take a trip to the spa or fitness center?

While you’re here, try ziplining or arrange a one-way canoe trip down the Rio Grande river and take a shuttle back. You can even go horseback riding here. There won’t be a minute without anything to do while you’re at Lajitas Golf Resort.

Budget: Lajitas Casa Grande

Lajitas is the ultimate hideout, and this four-bedroom rental house is where you go to escape everything. It will only be you and the desert. However, it’s very cozy and not too far from civilization. It just gives that illusion.

It’s also conveniently located close to the Lajitas Golf Resort. So you can play golf at Black Jack’s Crossing or enjoy a day of pampering and relaxation at Agave Spa. You can also have a workout at the fitness center or tour the ghost town of Terlingua. 

Casa Grande is perfect if you want to stay home and relax. You can spread out on the couches in the large living room and watch some TV or take in the sunrise on the front porch with a cup of coffee. The possibilities at Casa Grande are endless.

Best Lodging In Alpine

Alpine is a city in Brewster County, Texas, and is probably most well known for being close to Big Bend National Park. However, it’s also home to the largest international dark sky reserve, which makes Alpine perfect for stargazing.

There is also Turner Range and Animal Science Center, where rodeos are held throughout the year. And don’t miss out on the annual events in Alpine. From Viva Big Bend Music Festival to the Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, you are guaranteed to find an event while you’re here.

Luxury: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Alpine Southeast

If you’re looking for a home away from home, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites is the perfect place. It’s located only a few minutes from Big Bend National Park, the McDonald Observatory of Fort Davis, and the famous Wonders of Marfa Lights. There is quite a list of places to go to keep you occupied when you’re not at Big Bend National Park. 

The hotel offers a very homey experience to make you feel as comfortable as possible in the middle of the desert. There is also a fantastic view of the mountains around the hotel. 

Holiday Inn Express offers complimentary homemade breakfast and WiFi. They also have an indoor pool and a hot tub where you can relax after a long day in Big Bend National Park. This is truly a luxurious experience without feeling like you’ve left your home.

Budget: The Holland Hotel

If you want to stay in a hotel with history, charm, and good old Southern hospitality, Holland Hotel is the place to stay. The former architecture firm, Trost & Trost, built this hotel in the 1920s and cemented a part of its history. Since 1928, the Holland Hotel has welcomed guests, with Texan hospitality being their primary focus.

You can enjoy lovely live music in the courtyard of the hotel. And if you want to go on some adventures, there are many entertainment options, shops, galleries, and restaurants just a short walk away. 

The hotel is gorgeous, with Spanish decorations adorning the classic Trost & Trost architecture. The Holland Hotel was even recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1980. Now that’s some special Big Bend National Park lodging.

Big Bend Lodging: Campgrounds

There are four significant campgrounds in Big Bend National Park where you can pitch a tent or bring your RV. They are:

• Chisos Basin Underground
• Rio Grande Village Campground
• Cottonwood Campground
• Rio Grande Village RV Park

However, if you would like to camp in a campground outside of the park, there are quite a few options.

Best Campgrounds Outside Big Bend National Park

From luxury RV parks to a campground in the middle of nowhere, you have many choices of places to stay outside of Big Bend National Park if you don’t want to stay in a lodge, hotel, or house.

Roadrunner Travelers RV Park

This destination RV park is on a 40-acre land in West Texas, 4 miles from Big Bend National Park. Terlingua Ghost Town is only 5 miles away, so you’re close to all the attractions.

In the RV park, you will wake up to gorgeous views of the mountains every morning and scenic desert views. And if you want to go exploring, there are restaurants and attractions located quite close to the RV park, considering it’s not far away from the major towns in the area.

Rancho Topanga Campgrounds

This pet-friendly campground is specifically suited toward tent camping and is perfect if you want a lovely camping experience. However, they occasionally have space for small pop-up or teardrop campers that have to be less than 12 feet.

These campgrounds have spectacular mountain views to wake up to in the morning and a gorgeous open night sky for stargazing. So if you want a peaceful camping experience run by people who are avid campers themselves and know what the people want, you know where to go.

Final Thoughts On Where To Stay In Big Bend National Park

From the pure luxury of the Lajitas Golf Resort to the isolation of Christmas Mountains Lodge, you genuinely have the pick of the litter when it comes to accommodation in Big Bend National Park.

So now you only have to worry about where you’re going to hike in Big Bend.

Pin For Later: