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Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande, Big Bend National Park

Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0

Where to camp from Austin to Big Bend National Park

Updated October 26, 2026 · Route guide

The drive from Austin to Big Bend runs west through the Hill Country to Fredericksburg and Junction, follows I-10 across the Edwards Plateau to Fort Stockton, then turns south on US-385 through Marathon to the park.

You can do it in one long day, but the Hill Country and the South Llano River are worth a night on the way. Inside the park, campsites are reservation only, so book before you leave Austin.

Orange pins are campgrounds and green pins are hikes. Tap a pin for its name.

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Hill Country to Fredericksburg

The Pedernales River below the falls, Pedernales Falls State Park

Photo: Corey Leopold, CC BY 2.0

Terrain map of Hill Country to Fredericksburg, miles 0 to 90

West of Austin the route follows US-290 past Dripping Springs and Johnson City to Fredericksburg. Two state parks sit a short detour off the highway.

  1. Pedernales Falls State Park

    State parkMile 35 · 6.8 mi off route

    Campsites with water and electricity near the falls, plus hike-in primitive sites. The water/electric campground closes January 1, 2027 through summer 2027 for construction, and the park closes for a few hunt dates each winter.

    Texas Parks and Wildlife alerts ↗

  2. Old Tunnel State Park

    Evening stopMile 72 · 8.7 mi off route

    Up to 3 million Mexican free-tailed bats leave an old railroad tunnel at dusk, May through October. No camping; bat viewing after 5 p.m. is by ticket.

    Texas Parks and Wildlife ↗

Junction and the South Llano River

The South Llano River at South Llano River State Park

Photo: Jonathan Cutrer, CC0

Terrain map of Junction and the South Llano River, miles 120 to 155

Junction is the last real Hill Country town before I-10 heads into open ranch land, and a good first night out of Austin.

  1. South Llano River State Park

    State parkMile 139 · 3.5 mi off route

    Camping along the South Llano River about 5 miles south of Junction, with tubing and paddling when the river is up.

    Texas Parks and Wildlife ↗

Across West Texas on I-10

Stone ruins at Fort Lancaster State Historic Site

Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0

Terrain map of Across West Texas on I-10, miles 220 to 340

From Junction to Fort Stockton, I-10 crosses long empty miles past Sonora and Ozona. Fill up in the towns; gaps between services get longer from here on.

  1. Fort Lancaster State Historic Site

    Historic siteMile 263 · 5.0 mi off route

    Ruins of an 1850s frontier fort a few miles off I-10 near Sheffield, with a visitor center and a self-guided walk. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Texas Historical Commission ↗

Marathon to Big Bend National Park

Casa Grande in the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park

Photo: National Park Service Digital Image Archives, Public domain

Terrain map of Marathon to Big Bend National Park, miles 390 to 476

At Fort Stockton the route turns south on US-385 to Marathon, then crosses about 45 miles of desert to the park's north entrance at Persimmon Gap. The park has three campgrounds run by the National Park Service and a concession RV park.

All park campgrounds require reservations, and wood and ground fires are not allowed anywhere in the park.

  1. Chisos Basin Campground

    National parkMile 474 · 4.4 mi off route

    Open year-round at 5,400 feet in the Chisos Mountains. Reservations required. The road is narrow and winding; trailers over 20 feet and RVs over 24 feet are not recommended.

    National Park Service ↗

  2. Rio Grande Village Campground

    National parkMile 469 · 13 mi off route

    Near the Rio Grande on the east side of the park. Reservations required. The adjacent Rio Grande Village RV Park, run by Aramark, has full hookups for rigs up to 38 feet.

    National Park Service ↗

  3. Santa Elena Canyon Trail

    HikeMile 474 · 24 mi off route

    1.6 miles round trip into the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon at the end of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. You first cross Terlingua Creek, which can be dry, muddy, or flowing; the trail can be impassable after rain.

    National Park Service ↗

Before you go

  • Reservations. Big Bend's campgrounds have no first-come, first-served sites. Book on Recreation.gov before you go. Pedernales Falls often reaches capacity on weekends and holidays, so reserve there too.
  • Flash floods. Hill Country rivers and West Texas washes can rise fast after storms. Never drive into water over the road. Check DriveTexas for closures.
  • Fuel and water. Services are far apart west of Junction and south of Marathon. Fill up in town and carry extra water.
  • Live alerts. QuickCamp's Safety layer shows weather alerts, fire and smoke, and flood risk along this route.

Sources

Seasons, closures, and reservation rules change. Always check the agency page before you go.

Route line: OSRM, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Distances and drive time from a QuickCamp route search. Map imagery © Google.