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All about Big Bend National Park

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Big Bend National Park sits in the big bend of the Rio Grande. The park shares a border with Mexico but the park is entirely within the state of Texas. The park is an interesting mix of landscapes from the canyons and riparian of the Rio Grande to the Chihuahuan Desert to the Chicos Mountains. The park has something for everyone to explore. Head south to explore Big Bend National Park.

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Big Bend National Park Profile

Region Intermountain Region
Park Size 801,163 acres (1,251.82 sq miles) (3,242.19 sq km)
About the size of Iturup Island (Russia)
Elevation Highest point: 7,825 feet (2,385 m) at Emory Peak
Lowest point: 1,715 feet (523 m) at the Rio Grande
Location Brewster County, Texas
Nearby CitiesMarathon, Texas
Terlingua, Texas
Founding DateTexas Canyons State Park – May 1933
Big Bend State Park – 1933
Big Bend National Park – June 12, 1944
Visitors  440,091 (in 2018)
Busy SeasonNovember through April
Visitor Centers Panther Junction Visitor Center – Open Year-Round
Chisos Basin Visitor Center – Open Year-Round
Castolon Visitor Center – November through April
Persimmon Gap Visitor Center – November through April
Rio Grande Village Visitor Center – November through April
Park Hours Open 365 days (24 hours a day)
Entrance Fees 7 Day Private Vehicle Pass – $30
7 Day Motor Cycle Pass – $25
7 Day Individual Pass – $15
Annual Pass American the Beautiful Pass – $80
Pets Yes but best left at home. If bringing, please review the Big Bend Pet Policy.

Big Bend National Park Climate 


Jan Feb MarAprMayJun
Average high in °F:626875848995
Average low in °F:384248566370
Av. precipitation in inch:0.690.380.310.361.511.55
Av. Snowfall in inch:100000

JulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high in °F:939286817163
Average low in °F:717165574739
Av. precipitation in inch:1.932.011.750.660.820.51
Av. Snowfall in inch:000000

Big Bend National National Park Guide

Check out nearby National Park Service Sites (less than a 4-hour drive):

Check out nearby National Park Service Sites (less than an 8 hour drive):

  • Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
  • Chamizal National Memorial
  • Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
  • Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
  • Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
  • Padre Island National Seashore
  • Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
  • San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
  • Waco Mammoth National Monument
  • White Sands National Monument

Badlands Gear

Planning to visit Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA? Don't know where to start. Let National Park Obsessed help you plan your trip to #BigBend with guides, itineraries, things to know and much much more.

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