National park · Big Bend National Park · Texas
Chisos Basin Campground is a National Park Service campground inside a volcanic bowl at 5,400 feet in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas, with the famous Window notch framing the desert two thousand feet below. It suits van campers, truck campers, small Class Cs, short trailers and tent campers who hike, because the park's best trails start at or beside the campground and the elevation runs 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the desert floor.
| Hookups | None |
|---|---|
| Max RV length | Exact site + basin road limits |
| Cost | $16 |
| Fees | Park entrance is separate; verify road and rig restrictions. |
| Reservations | 6-month + 14-day release |
Source-backed: Official NPS camping page (checked 2026-07-18). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Chisos Basin Campground is a National Park Service campground inside a volcanic bowl at 5,400 feet in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas, with the famous Window notch framing the desert two thousand feet below. It suits van campers, truck campers, small Class Cs, short trailers and tent campers who hike, because the park's best trails start at or beside the campground and the elevation runs 15 to 20 degrees cooler than the desert floor.
The rig limits are the defining fact: NPS does not recommend trailers over 20 feet or RVs over 24 feet on the Basin Road, which climbs 15 percent grades through sharp switchbacks, and Recreation.gov says oversized rigs will not be accommodated. The 60 sites are $16 a night, all reservation-only, with a portion released six months ahead and the rest 14 days out. There are no hookups; you get drinking water, flush toilets, a dump station, bear-proof lockers, tables and charcoal grills, with generators limited to designated sites and hours and no wood fires anywhere in the park. It is open year-round with prime season October through April. The trade-offs are small, sloped, close-together sites, wind, and 2026's facilities limbo after the planned closure was called off.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Chisos Basin Campground Review: Big Bend's Mountain BowlAn honest review of Chisos Basin Campground in Big Bend — the mountain campground with the famous Window view, the strict rig-size limits, and what the 2026 construction news means for your trip.
Covered in
Big Bend RV Camping: Desert Solitude and Dark SkiesComplete guide to RV camping at Big Bend National Park — from Rio Grande Village's hookup sites to private parks in Terlingua, plus the latest on the cancelled Chisos Basin closure.
Our verdict
Book it if your rig is under the limits and you came to hike and watch the Window burn at sunset; skip it if you tow anything substantial, need hookups or want a level pull-through and a wood fire.
No. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups at any site. The campground has drinking water, flush toilets, a dump station, bear boxes, picnic tables and charcoal grills; generators are allowed only in designated sites during limited hours.
$16 per night for standard sites, plus the separate park entrance fee. Interagency pass holders get the standard camping discount.
NPS does not recommend trailers over 20 feet or RVs over 24 feet on the Chisos Basin Road, which has grades to 15 percent and sharp switchbacks, and Recreation.gov states oversized rigs will not be accommodated. Bigger rigs should book Rio Grande Village and drive up for the day.
Yes, it is 100 percent reservation with no first-come sites. Book on Recreation.gov: a portion of sites opens six months ahead and the remainder 14 days ahead, which is the rescue plan for a sold-out spring weekend.
Yes. Prime season is October through April; summer is viable thanks to the elevation, with afternoon heat and monsoon storms. Winter nights can drop below freezing and be very windy.
No. The planned two-year closure starting May 2026 was halted in April 2026. The campground, visitor center, Basin Road and trails are open; the lodge restaurant is closed with a food trailer instead, and a smaller water-system project will return eventually, so check the park's construction updates page.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole Texas hub.