Drive to Big Bend

Routes, Drive Times & Road Tips to Big BendBig Bend sits deep in far West Texas. Whether you’re coming from El Paso, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, or Dallas/Fort Worth, choose the route that matches your arrival town and the part of the park you want...

Drive from Houston

Houston to Big Bend: Best Routes, Drive Times & Road TipsThe trip from Houston to Big Bend is a true cross-Texas adventure—piney woods to Hill Country to wide-open desert. Expect roughly 8–9 hours of drive time and about 540–600 miles, depending on your route and...

Fly to Big Bend

Commercial & Private Air Travel Options for Big BendPicture yourself sweeping over endless West Texas plains, the sun glinting off distant mesas as you descend into the rugged embrace of Big Bend’s wild frontier. By flying into El Paso, Midland, or even chartering...

Travel to Big Bend by Train

Experience the Historic Sunset Limited Rail RouteBoard Amtrak’s Sunset Limited—the oldest continuously operating named train in the U.S.—for a scenic journey between New Orleans and Los Angeles. This route stops in Alpine, TX three times weekly, offering a relaxed way...

Vehicle Rentals to Big Bend

Convenient Vehicle Rental Options to Big Bend from El Paso, Midland, Alpine & MoreFlying in? Renting a vehicle at a major airport is the fastest, most reliable way to reach Big Bend National Park—and gives you the freedom to explore every scenic mile on your own...

Drive from San Antonio

San Antonio to Big Bend: Scenic Road Trip Highlights & Hidden Stops Along the WayAt roughly 430 miles, the journey from San Antonio to Big Bend National Park takes you from the Hill Country’s rolling hills into West Texas’s rugged desert. Plan for about 7–8 hours of...

Alpine

Alpine is the hub of the Big Bend and a major service center. There are 400 hotel rooms, along with restaurants, shopping and groceries. No Wal Mart! It is the home of Sul Ross State University, and annual events like Gallery Night and the Cowboy Poetry Gathering....

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park has a small community nestled in a beautiful valley over a mile high in the Chisos Mountains. The Chisos Mountains Lodge 432 477-2291 is located here, along with ranger and information station, restaurant, and convenience store. Several hiking...

Lajitas

Lajitas means “small flat rocks” in Spanish, so named for the layered limestone formed by ancient seas. Today Lajitas is home to a beautiful resort on the legendary Rio Grande, which is nestled in between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Enjoy all...

Terlingua

Perhaps the best-kept secret about the Big Bend is the view from the porch in Terlingua Ghost Town. Most afternoons you can see the Santa Fe de Los Pinos mountain range over 80 miles south in Mexico, and of course such local landmarks as the Chisos Mountains and Mule...

Study Butte

At the junction of TX 118 and FM 170, Study Butte is just two miles west of Big Bend National Park. There are several outdoor activity outfitters, various lodging options, gift shops and galleries, convenience stores, restaurants, auto service, a gas station,...

Marathon

Marathon was established with the coming of the railroad in 1882. At first it was a shipping and supply point for area ranchers; later it became a railhead for silver ore coming up from Mexico. Over the years, Marathon’s population grew and declined with the fortunes...

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK WEATHER
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK WEATHER
experience our region in a whole different way
big bend TEXAS!
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK WEATHER
Explore Endless Possibilities
Where Nature, Adventure, and Discovery Meet
Big Bend is home to a few remarkable communities: Marathon, Study Butte, Terlingua Ghost Town, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park. Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. Accommodations run the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available. Big Bend is a diverse region with endless possibilities for adventure and discovery.
Start Your Big Bend Journey
Adventure, Relaxation, and Everything In Between
The Big Bend is named for the vast curve of the Rio Grande in remote southwest Texas. It is a wildly beautiful natural region, with a complex and fascinating history. Over one million acres of public land including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park offer hiking, camping, river running, horse riding, mountain bicycling, birding, jeep touring, and abundant sightseeing opportunities on paved and improved roads.

History

Nature

Events

Itinerary Planner

Adventure Awaits in Big Bend
From Relaxing Getaways to Rugged Expeditions
Big Bend offers many exciting activities, from sightseeing in the family car and enjoying the amenities of a comfortable lodge, to hard-core wilderness adventures, and everything in between. People visit Big Bend to hike, camp, ride horses, paddle the river, pedal bicycles, ride motorcycles, look for wildlife, look for nightlife, and to get a life. Some work hard at it, others let professionals do the heavy lifting. A small community of experienced outfitters and activity providers arrange excursions of all descriptions, as well as provide good local information for visitors.