Big Bend National Park with Kids
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The kids and I at the Sotol Vista Overlook
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Pantther Junction Visitor Center is the only Visitor Center open all year.
Big Bend National Park is one of my all-time favorite National Parks to visit with kids. The park’s enormous size provides so many opportunities to explore different landscapes. From the Chihuahuan Desert to the Chisos Mountains to the Santa Elena Canyon to Boquillas Overlook; Big Bend National Park cannot be missed. Big Bend National Park is visited by approximately 440,276 visitors annually. The National Park is 801, 163 acres and ranks as the 13th largest National Park in the United States.
Every visitor to Big Bend National Park must make a stop at the Panther Junction visitor center. This is the only visitor center in the Park open every single day from 8:30-5:00 PM. There you will be greeted by a staff of Park Rangers who can help you plan your day to day activities and notify you of imminent weather or road closures. Due to the vastness of this National Park, you may not see another Ranger during your visit, so be sure to ask what you need to while you’re there. While inside of Panther’s Junction, definitely watch the Orientation video which plays every 30 minutes.
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What to do in Big Bend National Park with Kids
Rio Grande Village Visitor Center
Langford Hot Springs (Boquillas Springs)
Spend time in Boquillas, Mexico
Explore the Santa Elena Canyon
Explore the Fossil Discovery Center
Visit the Chisos Basin
Become a Big Bend Junior Ranger
Join a FREE Ranger Led program or activity
The kids at the mouth of the santa elena canyon
When to Visit Big Bend National Park
The peak months to visit to Big Bend National Park are between November 15 and April 15. This is when the majority of the park’s annual visitors make their way through the park.
The rainy season starts in mid-June and lasts through October.
The summer is the harshest season within the park. Due to the temperate high desert climate, the weather can become unbearably hot making hiking and outdoor activities dangerous.
We were in Big Bend in June and it was rainy the entire time but one day. HOWEVER, the weather was a mild 68-70 degrees F.
How to Get to Big Bend National Park
Big Bend is amazing, but it is one of the most remote National Parks. To give you an idea of how long it will take to get the park, here are a few examples.
El Paso to Big Bend National Park is 4 and a half hours.
Austin to Big Bend is 6 hours and 45 minutes.
Dallas to Big Bend is 7 hours and 40 minutes.
Houston to Big Bend National park is 8 hours 35 minutes.
San Antonio to Big Bend is 5 hours 48 minutes.
As you can see, getting to this amazing National Park will definitely require some driving on either end of the trip.
Getting a photo with the national park sign is obligatory! There are two entrances and two signs!
Where to Stay In Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park Lodging:
Chisos Basin Camp Ground: Reservations Required. There are 60 sites available at $16 per night. This site is open year-round. For stays between November and April, make reservations online. The campground is at an elevation of 5,400. This campground is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend.
Chisos Mountain Lodge: There are 73 rooms starting at $143 per night. This lodge is simple but convenient. It is located within the Chisos Basin and has a gift shop, laundry, free parking, and many other amenities. It sells out quickly, so reservations are highly recommended.
Cottonwood Campground: Reservations Required. There are 22 available at $16 per night. There are no hook-ups or electric. A general store and visitor center -- a converted former military outpost -- are also nearby. The campground is at an elevation of 1,900 ft.
Rio Grande Camp Ground: Reservations Required. There are 100 sites available at $16 per night. This site is open year rounds and reservations are highly recommended. This is the main campsite in Big Bend National Park. This campground is at an elevations of 1,850 feet.
Rio Grande RV Park: There are 20 full hook up sites available by reservation. There are an additional 5 sites which are first-come, first serve. Sites are $33 per night for 2 people and $3 per person over 2. Register at the Rio Grande Village Store or call 1-877-386-4383.
This is the cottonwood campground near the santa elena canyon
Where to Stay Outside Big Bend National Park
There are no resorts in Big Bend National park, but there are several places to choose from outside the park.
Our Campervan parked at our spot at Big Bend RV Resort and Adventures
Terlingua, Texas
Big Bend Resort and Adventures: This is where we stayed for 2 nights in our RV. You can book actual hotel rooms here or get some great RV sites. The location can’t be beat as it’s less than 2 miles from the park entrance. There is a gift shop, a convenience store, a restaurant, laundry and great wi-fi.
Base Camp Terlingua: Big Bend National Park is also called the International Dark Sky Park because of how dark the sky gets and how amazing the star gazing is in the area. Base Camp Terlingua is a hub of Tipis, Bubble homes and newly renovates places to stay. I can’t wait to try this spot out. The best part – this company pays it’s employees LIVING wage instead of just minimum wage.
Lajitas Golf Resort: We stayed here in 2022 for 3 nights and it was so great! Tucked away in Texas' historic Big Bend between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies Lajitas Resort, the perfect setting for your away-from-it-all adventure. Our 27,000 acre Texas resort is famous for its solitude, natural beauty and rugged desert environment. The resort's unique destination is rich in Old West history. The resort offers an 18-hole golf course, full spa, clay shooting and equestrian activities. **Lajitas Golf Resort also has a full hook up RV park on the property. The on-site restaurants, convenience to the park, awesome pool, and accommodating staff makes this place incredible for families.
Use the map below to find lodging that suites your groups needs and budget! We definitely recommend trying out one of the unique VRBO options!
The LAjitas Golf Resort Pool was an incredible way to cool off from the summer heat
We stayed in a room with 2 queen beds and it was spacious, had a mini fridge, plenty of storage, and a large bathroom! LAjitas Golf Resort
Top 10 Things To Do In Big Bend National Park
1) Hike: Hiking is the premier activity in Big Bend National Park. For more about hiking with Kids in Big Bend, check out my full guide to Hiking in Big Bend.
The Kids enjoying the view at Boquillas Overlook in Big Bend National Park
2) Langford Hot Springs: Another unique experience near Rio Grande Village is the Langford Hot Springs. These are the most famous of the thermal features along the Big Bend of the Rio Grande is the Langford Hot Springs. Located where Tornillo Creek enters the Rio Grande, some four miles upriver from Boquillas Canyon and the Mexican village of Boquillas. Besides the man made Langford baths, there are natural springs at the site called the Boquillas Hot Springs. These springs are only 2 miles from the Rio Grande Village. There is a road that leads to a trailhead - you will have to hike from the end of the road to the hot springs. Bring towels and swim suits! While the springs generally aren’t safe for small children due to the water temps reaching 105* F, I definitely recommend this for families with older children.
The kids and i crossing the rio grande with a boat guide to get to boquillas, mexico
The Food in Boquillas, Mexico is SO GOOD.
3) Boquillas, Mexico: If you are visiting Big Bend National Park, I suggest bringing your passport and take a morning or afternoon to head into Boquillas, Mexico. Plan to spend 2.5-3.5 hours on this adventure. Be sure to bring plenty of cash with you. Crossing the Rio Grande by boat is $5 per person for a round trip adventure. Then you must hire a burro or truck to bring you into the town which is another $5 per person for a round trip journey. Lunch is cheap and delicious. A full meal will cost you $7 per plate and the Margaritas are absolutely delicious. There isn’t much to do in Boquillas, so just enjoy the slow pace while you devour some authentic Mexican cuisine. Adults must have a valid passport and young children can get in with their parent’s permission and a birth certificate.
Check out this complete guide on how to visit Boquillas, Mexico and what to do when you get there.
Charletta exploring the small town of Boquillas, Mexico
The kids hiking along the santa elena canyon trail
4) Experience the Santa Elena Canyon: The Santa Elena Canyon is approximately 43 miles from the Panther Junction visitors center. Along the drive you can stop at three amazing stopping points; Sotol Vista Overlook, Tuff Canyon Overlook and Mule Ears View Point. All three offer breathtaking and interesting views of different terrains inside of Big Bend National Park. The best part of all three? If you’re traveling with children, you don’t have to hike to reap the benefits of the view. Simply drive up and get out! This drive is pretty long for a National Park, so take your time. As you get close to the Canyon you’ll pass the Castolon Visitor Center which was closed in early 2019 due to massive damage from a forest fire, but has since re-opened.
C at the Santa Elena Overlook
Be sure to stop at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook for some incredible views and photo opportunities. The massive Santa Elena Canyon gives a perfect backdrop for photos. Once you’re done, load up and keep driving. You will drive directly down to the access to the canyon. There are restrooms and picnic tables to stop for a meal or a quick refresh. From there you will walk along a well beaten path to the mouth of the canyon. Most visitors stop and enjoy the views from the shores. If you are feeling adventurous, cross the Terlingua creek and take the hike up into the Canyon. I was able to do this easy 1.7-mile hike with a 2-year-old on my back in our toddler carrier and my 4-year-old walked. Access will depend on whether the river is high or low and the strength of the current. However, if it’s walkable, go for it! The views inside the Canyon are impressive.
Instead of Hiking the Santa Elena Canyon, check out this Canoe Trip through the Canyons of Big Bend National Park
There is so much to learn at the fossil discovery exhibit.
5) Fossil Discovery Exhibit: As Big Bend’s newest addition, the exhibit is a full open air museum featuring the Park’s ancient life and how it has changed over the years. The exhibit is 8 miles north of the Panther Junction visitor center, it is handicap accessible, and it is open from dawn to dusk. Definitely add this free guided journey through history to your Big Bend adventure.
Views from the top of the trail at the Fossil discovery Center in big bend
there are several huge fossils at the center.
The 6-mile drive into the Chisos Mountains is unreal.
6) Explore the Chisos Basin: The Chisos Mountains are the only mountain range fully contained within a National Park. (Did we mention Big Bend National Park is massive?) This mountain range is home to the Chisos Basin and is completely surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert. There you will find a restaurant, camping and another Visitors Center. There are so many hikes ranging from very easy to very hard within the Chisos Basin. Check out my Big Bend Hiking Guide for more details. We easily completed the .3-mile Window View Trail which is a paved trail located near the Basin store. The Mountain Range is over 7,000 feet, so the weather is always cooler inside the Basin. Be very cautious of hiking with small children because they have a large and active population of bear and mountain lion within this area of the park. Chisos Basin is located 12 miles from the Panther Junction Visitor Center.
The Chisos Basin is other worldy. This photo was taken down in the tent camping area.
The kids got their junior ranger badges at the panther junction visitor center
7) Become a Big Bend Junior Ranger: . The Big Bend park rangers need help teaching visitors to properly care for the park and depend on Junior Rangers to lend a hand with this task. You can earn a Junior Ranger badge by learning about the park's natural and cultural history.
Grab a free Junior Ranger Activity Book at any park visitor center. The book is full of fun activities about the park's history, wildlife, plants, and geology. After completing the activities, take your book back to a Park Ranger and get sworn in as a Junior Ranger!
8) Join a Ranger Led Program: Join the Big Bend Park Rangers as they lead a variety of fun, educational, and FREE activities across the park. The rangers lead guided hikes, evening programs, patio chats, and even put on actual activies around the park. Click HERE for a schedule of upcoming Ranger led programs.
9) Star Gazing: Big Bend National Park has been identified as one of the outstanding places in North America for stargazing. This park has the least light pollution of any other national park unit in the lower 48 states; making it the best place to see the stars. Since Big Bend is so far from any city and has a low human occupation — the stars are on full display. As a matter of fact, in 2012 Big Bend National Park was awarded International Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark-Sky Association!
Some of the history of big bend goes WAy way back — we saw these petryglyphs on our jeep tour.
I had no idea the area had hoodoos until we took the jeep tour and our guide stopped to show us!
10) Take a Jeep Tour or a Guided River Trip: Depending on the season and water levels, there are many 2-4 day river trips that take visitors along the Rio Grand River. However, each time we have visited the water levels were too low. Instead, we opted to take a jeep tour with Big Bend Far Flung! Far Flung offers a variety of tours for every kind of traveler; from the rough and rugged experienced explorer, to young families and first-time visitors. What I loved most about the jeep tour is that we were able to visit areas that are off limits to tourists including historical sites! Our guide stopped many times to showcase the native plants, geological formations, and walk us through the rich history of Big Bend National Park.
We joined a jeep tour with big bend far flung to learn more about the history and ecology of big bend.
Big Bend National Park is the perfect destination for families. The different climates, endless adventures and the phenomenal star gazing makes this a fit for entire family. No matter whether you camp out, stay in the Mountain Lodge, stay in or out of the park. No matter where you choose to spend your days exploring. You will love this place. West Texas has a way of getting into your soul and leaving you itching to get back.
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