Big Bend National Park22
Campsite #22 at Cottonwood Campground, Big Bend National Park, TX
$16
Campsite #22
| Drive-In | 8 people |
| 22 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | weak |
3/5
3/30
Campsite #22 Features: Drive-In access, Back-In parking, 22-foot driveway, Food Storage Locker, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (22)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 68% |
| 4 star | | 27% |
| 3 star | | 5% |
| 2 star | | 0% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@DebbieK02273E4 · Camped on Dec 18, 2025 at Campsite #22
Absolutely Stunning! Park host Mark, was fantastic!
Some Coverage
@EllieH19694DD0 · Camped on Dec 9, 2024 at Campsite #22
This campground is still dry camping but nicer than the other one. Still not impressed with Big Bend National Park. Won't go back.
No Service
@donnaK1849426 · Camped on Apr 3, 2024 at Campsite #22
Great location for hiking Santa Elena Canyon (a highlight of our trip). The campground in early April was a birdwatchers paradise.
No Service
@CarolynK9DE718 · Camped on Mar 16, 2024 at Campsite #22
Campground was nice and spacious and beautiful! Camp host was awesome!
@lisag1860020 · Camped on Jan 11, 2024 at Campsite #22
Wonderful location. There was a mix up with our site reservation and someone else occupying it, but campground host was very helpful and assigned us another site for the night. Vault toilets were clean and drinking water was available. Would definitely stay there again!
No Service
@RyanS4713424 · Camped on Dec 22, 2023 at Campsite #22
Truck Tent Camping Review: Great site in Big Bend, recommend brining a bicycle as any hiking trails are 4-9 miles away.Also bathrooms have no running water...so bring soap & water or sanitizer wipes.Lotta cool birds in the area, including a very social Roadrunner.
Major Issues
@Xiangyang6A615 · Camped on Dec 19, 2023 at Campsite #22
Great!!
@PaulS8803282 · Camped on Dec 1, 2023 at Campsite #22
Park hosts were great: very helpful and friendly
@johnc3063297 · Camped on Nov 3, 2023 at Campsite #22
Perfect location for visiting Southwest corner of the park. Staff were welcoming and very helpful. Be sure to reserve BEFORE arriving as cell service is limited
Some Coverage
@MarkL5886645 · Camped on Jan 8, 2023 at Campsite #22
Great place to camp close to the canyon.
No Service
@IngridD8181177 · Camped on Dec 18, 2022 at Campsite #22
Prachtige locatie aan de Rio Grande. Schone toilet gebouwen die iedere dag gereinigd werden. Grote stalen beren- boxen aanwezig. Grote plaatsen; genoeg privacy. Prima verblijf
Major Issues
@CPTRich4FB51C4 · Camped on Nov 15, 2022 at Campsite #22
Although Cottonwood Campground has less amenities compared to the other two campgrounds at Bid Bend, it is very well placed within the park for the most diverse scenery that is close to the road for easy access on foot, or just to view from your car.As with all the facilities here, the restrooms are very clean. Do understand, however, that with the charm of a more rustic experience, comes the need to be prepared to deal such things as not having water at your site. Thus necessitating a short walk to a faucet. No internet or power and spotty cellular coverage. If you have solar power capability this is a great place to make use of it.Bring a means to wash your dishes and pots such as a collapsible or hard sided basin. Something that will allow you to use the recommended technique of making the short walk to the fence line to do the washing. Thus keeping food smells away from your tent site.This side of the park has some interesting and easy to get to geological features that should not be missed. Drive along the main road until you see something that calls to you, fine a place to pull over and venture out for a one to two mile walk out and back. With the numerous rocky features, so close to the road, that can be reached car from Cottonwood in as little as 5 to 15 minutes, you can plan on a short trip out to a great spot at sunrise, or sunset and still be close to camp.The one really important consideration to be aware of is that from time to time the famous cottonwood trees will be watered by flooding the grassy low ground around and in between the elevated campsites. This only a problem if you have a tent and choose to set up on the grass and not on the elevated area. Yes there are some small rocks on the elevated area which makes the lower grassy areas very attractive. Driving a tent stake into the ground of the elevated pad is very challenging, but also into some spots on the grass. Have a mallet.
Some Coverage
@LuisLB908EF075 · Camped on Nov 12, 2022 at Campsite #22
Good place to camp a few days and see the western part of the park and stargaze in peace and quiet. Currently under construction adding more camping spots to enjoy.
No Service
@MichaelL540355 · Camped on Nov 9, 2022 at Campsite #22
Nice well-maintained campground. Park volunteers made sure everyone was taken care of. I personally had a foot injury and they stopped to check on me (as a solo traveler) during their rounds. Saw javelinas and a pair great horned owls. Love the proximity to the Santa Elena canyon, The quiet and isolation was very peaceful. Woke the last morning to the distant cries of far-away wolves. High recommend
No Service
@TrevorM6D1197C · Camped on Oct 30, 2022 at Campsite #22
Nice basic campground with great location for seeing nearby Rio Grande/Santa Elena Canyon. The website I looked at said it was a gravel road to the campground but practically paved road almost to the loop of the campsites. Will be nice when Castolon visitor center is rebuilt and reopened, great that the nearby La Harmonia store was open in a temporary building.
@GretchenC65877 · Camped on Oct 15, 2022 at Campsite #22
Great place to camp! Site is big grassy area w large cottonwood & other trees, unpaved road in camp yet quiet at night. No generators etc. Santa Elena overlook & trail were highlights. Crossing the river to access trail was being a kid all over again feeling. Enjoyed the homesteading sites trails too.
Some Coverage
@GretchenC65877 · Camped on Oct 13, 2022 at Campsite #22
Bathrooms were clean & smelled great- as in they didnt stink! Appreciated the hand sanitizer& the drinking water tap by the entrance. Camp was quiet and clean. Enjoyed our stay!
Some Coverage
@DanielW5233823 · Camped on Apr 24, 2022 at Campsite #22
One of the nicest sites I have ever been to.
@RobertS9225788 · Camped on Feb 18, 2022 at Campsite #22
We enjoyed the Santa Elena canyon trail hike.
@PeterF7272337 · Camped on Jan 14, 2022 at Campsite #22
The volunteers were knowledgeable and helpful which made our stay doubly wonderful. Watching the full moon come up and bathe Santa Elena Canyon is an event not to be missed.
No Service
@KevinB189 · Camped on Dec 23, 2021 at Campsite #22
Clean restrooms, attentive host...
@RobertF500 · Camped on Nov 17, 2021 at Campsite #22
Cottonwood campground was fantastic. Sits right on the Rio Grande. No generators!
No Service
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