Chisos Basin Campground

The campground sits at about 1,650 m (5,400 ft) in the Chisos Basin, a bowl in the middle of the Chisos Mountains, the only mountain range in the US lying entirely within a national park. From here you can see Casa Grande and Emory Peak. Sunset through the "Window," a gap in the basin's rim, is considered a highlight of any Big Bend visit.

The access road is narrow and winding, and the sites are small and uneven, so trailers over 6 m (20 ft) and RVs over 7.3 m (24 ft) are not recommended. There are no electric or water hookups at the sites, but there are restrooms, water spigots and a bear-proof food locker at every site. Wood and ground fires are prohibited; charcoal is allowed only in above-ground grills, as are liquid-fuel stoves. The campground is open year-round, and sites must be reserved on recreation.gov. Two large construction projects began in the Chisos Basin in spring 2026 and are expected to last about two years (as of October 2026), so check current conditions before you go.