Big Bend National Park16
Campsite #16 at Cottonwood Campground, Big Bend National Park, TX
$16
Campsite #16
| Drive-In | 8 people |
| 28 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | weak |
4/28
5/1
Campsite #16 Features: Drive-In access, Back-In parking, 28-foot driveway, Food Storage Locker, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
3.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 64% |
| 4 star | | 24% |
| 3 star | | 8% |
| 2 star | | 4% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@abrahamfBCE53E · Camped on Apr 2, 2026 at Campsite #16
We were disappointed that any cottonwoods that may have been growing in the area apparently burned within the last few years. Also, although there are signs warning you that low-lying parts of the campground may be flooded by irrigation, it doesn't look like it's been irrigated in a long time. There was no grass. This is all in contrast to some photos that are around, showing green grass and leafy trees. But there are decent areas for pitching tents. There are some sparse large mesquites that cast some shade. The parking spot was level for our van. The other sites in general look fairly level. We appreciate that there was a campground in this remote location, and enjoyed visiting the Castolon Historic District and Santa Elena Canyon (and a couple of other interesting sites) without having to do a ton of driving. The bathrooms were decent (vault toilets, toilet paper, hand sanitizer in dispensers), and there is a campground host who checks on things a bit. There are trash and recycling bins. The picnic table was in good shape, as was the charcoal grill. A note about the grill - you can't lower the grate, so you need to use a lot of charcoal to generate enough heat to cook. If you could lower the grill, then fewer coals would be enough to cook a few items. I didn't verify this myself, but I heard there is a potable water spigot at one end of the campground (near the entrance), and the spigot at the far end (near where we camped) was signed as non-potable. If there are any hiking or walking trails accessible at this campground, I didn't see any signs for them. There's a little store in Castolon, a short drive (probably not a great walk along the road) away. Dawn was really pretty. I recorded seven bird species in a minute with the Merlin app around sunrise. I would camp here again if the plan is to do a bit of hiking in the area. It's certainly not a destination on its own.
@BonnieR1745801 · Camped on Jan 24, 2026 at Campsite #16
Quiet rustic campground. Will stay again if in area.
No Service
@TorreN49F75992 · Camped on Jan 9, 2026 at Campsite #16
A quiet campground. This was winter, so most of the trees didnt have leaves. There is very little vegetations, so very little privacy between sites. Theres only one water spigot for the campground. The toilets are toilets, but very well maintained, and nice smelling. The campground is 45 minutes from the visitor center and gasoline. Theres very limited cell service on T-Mobile. The sites were flat.
Some Coverage
@MorganG8676D92 · Camped on Mar 30, 2025 at Campsite #16
Great location! Short drive to Santa Elena canyon and old Maverick road! Site 17 is close to toilets, water spigot and has decent shade. Would stay at this one again
No Service
@PamP4615940 · Camped on Feb 3, 2025 at Campsite #16
We love staying here because of the beautiful and peaceful setting.
No Service
@NancyB3949689 · Camped on Jan 11, 2025 at Campsite #16
Nice place to stay , Near Santa Elena Canyon.
No Service
@MichaelC616917 · Camped on Dec 19, 2024 at Campsite #16
I loved that this campsite was located off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. It's my favorite road in the park. The campsite was busy when I went, but I didn't feel crowded. No cell service which is okay! but the Castolon Visitor Center is within walking distance if you really need WiFi.
No Service
@MadalynS82DE14 · Camped on Nov 4, 2024 at Campsite #16
Close to Santa Elena Canton, has nice port-o-potty toilets.
No Service
@RogerL6012204 · Camped on Feb 7, 2024 at Campsite #16
Stayed at site 16 for 5 days. The site was excellent. Easy to put Aliner trailer into and park truck. Good shade. Near toilet and non-potable water. NPS had a "volunteer" staying in site 17. Looked like a homeless camp. Four barking dogs locked in motorhome all day long. Anybody walking by camp dogs went into a barking frenzies for 15-20 minutes. When campers got home they let the dogs out to defecate wherever they wanted including my campsite. I never saw them pick up mess. Very disturbing. Complained to Host and she stated "they get quiet when they come home". Disgusting.
@MichelleC42331 · Camped on Nov 8, 2022 at Campsite #16
Bathroom facilities very clean and well maintained, construction was a bit annoying but short lived. Nice shade. It was close to many enjoyable hikes. Hosts were very nice
@erink2180723 · Camped on Mar 4, 2022 at Campsite #16
Our site, #16, had just enough space for a small tent and our vehicle. The camp host was absolutely phenomenal and checked in multiple times a day. She let us know when our zone was going to be flood irrigated so that we didnt have our tent in the grassy areas. The flood irrigation seemed to bring a lot of bugs to the campground, something that we didnt experience in Chisos or Rio Grande.
No Service
@MichaelH470 · Camped on Jan 1, 2022 at Campsite #16
Like most National Parks, it needs cell phone service. Most say 'call 911 in an emergency' but, well, we all know there is no cell service, so that can't actually happen. Why not get some of that Infrastructure money to provide cell service in the Parks? For safety's sake.
No Service
@ArdenA311 · Camped on Dec 26, 2021 at Campsite #16
This is a decent location with rare Cottonwood Trees for a bit of shade. The campground host was very helpful. Basic Pit Toilets were well maintained. Water from the scattered hydrants had excess mineralization but they had a reverse osmosis filter at one spot in the campground to provide good drinking water. a bit out of the way but many folks like it that way. I was there in late December and the weather was pleasant. Closer to summer I am sure it would be very hot.
No Service
@JanL516 · Camped on Dec 20, 2021 at Campsite #16
Everything was great, thank you. Beautiful place and experience.
Major Issues
@NicoleB792 · Camped on Nov 4, 2021 at Campsite #16
Great stay at Cottonwood - be aware there is no mobile reception in the area and the NPS periodically irrigates the campground through flooding of low lying areas.
No Service
@ScottP279 · Camped on Apr 23, 2021 at Campsite #16
Our site was excellent, with very nice shady trees. Some of the sites have no shade at all and most are not very big. But overall, this campground is excellent. Bathrooms very clean and well stocked. Great hosts who kept a close eye on the campground. We saw LOTS of beautiful birds, including some very enjoyable Roadrunners and a resident owl in Site #5. Santa Elana canyon was wonderful, a highlight of our trip for sure. Low water at this time of year allowed us to hike upstream. Very fun. Bring your water shoes, but we just took off our socks and shoes. Be sure to watch amazing sunsets at Sotol Vista, another highlight of the trip!
No Service
@EdwinM240 · Camped on Apr 20, 2021 at Campsite #16
We stayed in Cottonwood Campground for six nights in mid-April 2021. We got very lucky with cool weather--the evenings were in the 50s! It can be hot in April--so keep that in mind. We stayed one night in #14 and the rest in #16. Our trailer is 25' and it was a little tight (maybe a 27-28' trailer could fit...). We had to be a creative with tow vehicle parking, but we managed. We absolutely loved site #16--it was shady, and because it was the end site, there was a lot of grassy area for hanging out. The campground itself was lovely and quiet, a lot of birds singing (and no generators). Filtered water available at one faucet near the entrance of the campground; there were other faucets with non-potable water. We loved it! Definitely worth staying here if you can manage without electric and water.
No Service
@RonF591 · Camped on Mar 23, 2021 at Campsite #16
Wonderful place, very quiet. Best part - the camp host Margaret - she was a delight and loves her job, which she does exceedingly well. Met the wonderful maintenance man, Ronaldo, who keeps the bathrooms cleaner than any pit toilet I have ever seen. And he took the time to chat with us and gave us a great tip for a more scenic drive as we left for our next adventure. The vermilion flycatchers and the resident owl were the icing on the cake!
@MattN293 · Camped on Mar 16, 2021 at Campsite #16
Great sites, plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. Awesome stargazing. We loved our stay.
No Service
@MatthiasS486 · Camped on Mar 14, 2021 at Campsite #16
Excellent campground with little noise and no large RVs or trailers. If you seek quietness then this is the place to go. Excellent base to explore the west of the park including historic sites and Santa Elena canyon. Very nice and helpful campground host.
No Service
@JulieB884 · Camped on Feb 23, 2021 at Campsite #16
Really appreciated being able to stay there!!
No Service
@randyr266 · Camped on Jan 7, 2021 at Campsite #16
Sweet little campground, quiet and peaceful
@SteveS964 · Camped on Dec 28, 2020 at Campsite #16
Great campsite but no frills. If RV, Make sure water and LP is full and tanks are empty.
No Service
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