It's been awhile since anyone posted about their visit to this National Park, we are here now staying at the Maverick Ranch RV Park. Pics are the view out of our RV windows and are actually a part of Big Bend Ranch State Park and the Bofecillos Mountains. There is also the Roadrunner RV Park in Terlingua that some have stayed at and a couple of others in Study Butte. Expect no shade at these RV parks, you are in the Chihuahuan Desert, lots of cactus ! It's May 12th and already it has hit 106* in the late afternoon.
First getting here - We filled with diesel at Fort Stockton Flying J, From I10 just west of Fort Stockton we took TX 67 south to Alpine then TX 118 South to Study (stoody) Butte then TX 170 West through Terlingua to Lajitas TX and the RV Park. You will swear that your getting lost out in the middle of nowhere, the area is remote. The roads are fine but they can be humpy and dippy.
Be Advised - Alpine Tx is the largest town with stores that you may be used to, BUT its 80 miles from Big Bend. The best stocked small general store/groceries/ gas station we found is in Lajitas right at the Maverick RV park. Expect prices to be higher than you are used to, you are in a remote area. Right now diesel is $6 / gallon.
At the Alon gas station/general store in Study Butte, 17 miles from Lajitas, diesel is $3.69 / gallon but they do not have much for grocery items.
Be Advised - TX 170 from Lajitas to Presidio is not recommended for big rigs, lots of sharp turns, narrow road, switchbacks, steep grades, this route is on the National Geographic most scenic roads.
Food/ Restaurants -
Lajitas - The Maverick Ranch Boardwalk restaurant and bakery is very good and not too pricey for a resort. The general store/gas station has fresh deli sandwiches. Don't be deceived by the Resort title, it's not what you expect when you hear "Resort". This place is not really touristy at all.
Terlingua - Rustic Iron has great Texas BBQ.
Study Butte - Chili Pepper Café, hole in the wall, has great Tex-Mex food and breakfast. Great place to get breakfast before driving into the National Park.
Getting to the National Park West Entrance - TX 118 turns into the park entrance road. From Study (stoody) Butte, Big Bend National Park sign is @ 3 miles, the Park entrance gate is @ 4 miles and to Maverick Junction. This park is wide open spaces / desert wilderness in some areas. From visitor center to visitor center can be 20 - 30 miles. The visitor centers at Castolon and Persimmon Gap are closed for the summer months. Chisos Basin and Panther Junction are the closest to each other at 10 miles apart.
Panther Junction is the park main visitor center and the park headquarters, it is @ 20 miles from the West side Maverick Junction. Get all the maps and information you need! You will use the heck out of the park map you get here! There is a gas station right before Panther Junction, it has diesel. The only other gas station inside the park is at Rio Grande Village 20 miles from Panther Junction.
Be Advised - you are in a remote area, susceptible to power failures so says the info from the NPS. Rio Grande Village is the only place they have an emergency generator for the gas station and has propane. There are general stores at the Chisos Basin and Rio Grande Village. The general store at Castolon is very tiny very basic.
Be Advised - It is very hot even in May, 100+ temps. Away from visitor centers you can be in a very remote area. There is limited to no cell service in a lot of areas. Recently two people have died from heat exhaustion, one in Feb, one in March. The surrounding small towns have NO medical facilities to speak of. The town of Terlingua has an Emergency Response Station, for fires, flooding and lost search. NPS Officers and Boarder Patrol Officers patrol the park.
Be aware and be smart as they say, and we have really enjoyed our visit so far. We uploaded you tube videos of our trips into the park so far, Chisos Basin and the "Window", Castolon, Santa Elena Canyon, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Mule Ears, Sotol Vista, Dorgan/ Sublett trail. For the last few days Boquillas Canyon has been closed for a prescribed burn, we hope to get there soon.
First getting here - We filled with diesel at Fort Stockton Flying J, From I10 just west of Fort Stockton we took TX 67 south to Alpine then TX 118 South to Study (stoody) Butte then TX 170 West through Terlingua to Lajitas TX and the RV Park. You will swear that your getting lost out in the middle of nowhere, the area is remote. The roads are fine but they can be humpy and dippy.
Be Advised - Alpine Tx is the largest town with stores that you may be used to, BUT its 80 miles from Big Bend. The best stocked small general store/groceries/ gas station we found is in Lajitas right at the Maverick RV park. Expect prices to be higher than you are used to, you are in a remote area. Right now diesel is $6 / gallon.
At the Alon gas station/general store in Study Butte, 17 miles from Lajitas, diesel is $3.69 / gallon but they do not have much for grocery items.
Be Advised - TX 170 from Lajitas to Presidio is not recommended for big rigs, lots of sharp turns, narrow road, switchbacks, steep grades, this route is on the National Geographic most scenic roads.
Food/ Restaurants -
Lajitas - The Maverick Ranch Boardwalk restaurant and bakery is very good and not too pricey for a resort. The general store/gas station has fresh deli sandwiches. Don't be deceived by the Resort title, it's not what you expect when you hear "Resort". This place is not really touristy at all.
Terlingua - Rustic Iron has great Texas BBQ.
Study Butte - Chili Pepper Café, hole in the wall, has great Tex-Mex food and breakfast. Great place to get breakfast before driving into the National Park.
Getting to the National Park West Entrance - TX 118 turns into the park entrance road. From Study (stoody) Butte, Big Bend National Park sign is @ 3 miles, the Park entrance gate is @ 4 miles and to Maverick Junction. This park is wide open spaces / desert wilderness in some areas. From visitor center to visitor center can be 20 - 30 miles. The visitor centers at Castolon and Persimmon Gap are closed for the summer months. Chisos Basin and Panther Junction are the closest to each other at 10 miles apart.
Panther Junction is the park main visitor center and the park headquarters, it is @ 20 miles from the West side Maverick Junction. Get all the maps and information you need! You will use the heck out of the park map you get here! There is a gas station right before Panther Junction, it has diesel. The only other gas station inside the park is at Rio Grande Village 20 miles from Panther Junction.
Be Advised - you are in a remote area, susceptible to power failures so says the info from the NPS. Rio Grande Village is the only place they have an emergency generator for the gas station and has propane. There are general stores at the Chisos Basin and Rio Grande Village. The general store at Castolon is very tiny very basic.
Be Advised - It is very hot even in May, 100+ temps. Away from visitor centers you can be in a very remote area. There is limited to no cell service in a lot of areas. Recently two people have died from heat exhaustion, one in Feb, one in March. The surrounding small towns have NO medical facilities to speak of. The town of Terlingua has an Emergency Response Station, for fires, flooding and lost search. NPS Officers and Boarder Patrol Officers patrol the park.
Be aware and be smart as they say, and we have really enjoyed our visit so far. We uploaded you tube videos of our trips into the park so far, Chisos Basin and the "Window", Castolon, Santa Elena Canyon, Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, Mule Ears, Sotol Vista, Dorgan/ Sublett trail. For the last few days Boquillas Canyon has been closed for a prescribed burn, we hope to get there soon.
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