Big Bend National Park by car · Big Bend National Park by car
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Big Bend National Park by car
Big Bend National Park by car
Services between towns range from limited-to-nonexistent and distances are vast, so stock up on gas, water, and other essentials beforehand and re-stock whenever possible. However, roads are in good condition and points of interest are well-marked (qualities generally shared throughout the Texas highway system). Although the roads here can be extremely lonely, don't get lulled into thinking it's safe to speed ? the area is regularly patrolled by cops. The roads are also scenic and sometimes quite curvy, so it pays to take it slow.
All major roads into the park now have Border Patrol checkpoints, although they are not always manned. If there is a flashing light posted outside, you'll have to stop and you may get asked a few questions or inspected. It's generally not a hassle if you've got nothing to hide.
There are two entrances to the park and three main routes to reach them:
US-385 south from Marathon. This is the fastest route when approaching from points east. This route leads to the north entrance of the park at Persimmon Gap after about 40 mi (64 km), then another 30 mi (48 km) south to park headquarters.
TX-118 south from Alpine. This is the quickest route from the west. There is a bit more development along this stretch compared to the Marathon route but they are equally scenic. The small communities of Study Butte-Terlingua lie near the end of the route. Shortly afterward, the west entrance to the park is reached at Maverick Junction ? about 75 mi (121 km) to this point, then another 25 mi (40 km) east to park headquarters.
Ranch Road 170 east from Presidio. This is the quickest route to Big Bend if coming from Mexico or Presidio (and arguably the most scenic route); from anywhere else it's the slowest route. Ranch Road 170 follows the Rio Grande River, hemmed in by foreboding mountains. In sections it's akin to a roller coaster ride and can get very steep; it's not for the faint of heart or those driving RVs or other long vehicles. Towards the end you'll pass Lajitas and then join up with Tex. 118 near Study Butte-Terlingua, for a distance of about 65 mi (105 km) to that junction, then another 30 mi (48 km) or so to park headquarters.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Big Bend National Park
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Big Bend National Park - updated May 2024
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Big Bend National Park Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
