Cottonwood Campground is a beautiful and peaceful palace to camp, in a grove of tall cottonwood trees only a few yards from the Rio Grande river (and Mexico).
Cottonwood Campground is located on Cottonwood Campground road off the Ross Maxwell Scenic Loop, and bear the Castolon Visitor Center.
From the NPS website: (
visit link)
"Cottonwood Campground is a quiet, shady desert oasis located between the Castolon Historic District and scenic Santa Elena Canyon.
Elevation
2,169 ft.
Open
Year-round
Details
24-site campground (no hook-ups). $14 per night ($7 with applicable passes). Pit toilets, picnic tables, grills, and water are available. No dump station, no generators allowed. A small picnic area is available across from campsite #23.
Group Camping
Cottonwood Campground has one group camp site available by advance reservation only. Maximum occupancy is 25 persons. Minimum occupancy is 9 persons. Group campground is walk-in tent camping only. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area.
To reserve the group campsite, contact recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
Campground Regulations
Campsite Limit
Campsite limit is eight people per site (if more than eight are present, additional campsites must be occupied and paid for). You may have only one RV per site with a tow vehicle and one tent;or four tents plus two passenger vehicles;or four motorcycles. Smaller sites may not have room for eight people or multiple tents/vehicles. Group Campgrounds are not available unless reserved in advanced and are for groups of ten or larger only.
Reserving/holding of Non-Reservable Campsites
Non-reservable "first-come, first-served" campsites may not be held or paid for prior to an occupant's arrival.
Camp Only in Designated Sites
All vehicles (including trailers and motorcycles) must remain on pavement or designated areas;do not park any vehicle on grass or behind parking barriers, rock or otherwise. Do not move parking barriers. No digging or trenching is allowed at campsites.
Wood and Ground Fires Prohibited
All wood and ground fires are prohibited including pressed wood logs or wood chips. Charcoal grills and gas grills are permissible, provided they are attended at all times. Do not place charcoal grills on tables.
Food Storage
All food items should be stored inside your vehicle or in an animal-proof food storage container. Animals consider toothpaste, soap, deodorant, and trash as food. Javelinas can destroy a tent to get at them. Do not leave coolers or food boxes on the ground when your campsite is unattended.
Trash Disposal
Dispose all trash in animal-proof dumpsters. Do not hang bags of trash from structures or vegetation. Birds, especially ravens and vultures, tear plastic bags open and spill the contents. Cigarette butts are considered trash and should not be deposited on the ground. Such items must be completely extinguished and properly disposed of.
Don't Feed Wildlife
Please, don't feed wild animals, including birds. This is unhealthy for wild animals and invites human/animal confrontations.
Pets
Prevent injury to your pets by keeping them on a leash or otherwise restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed in public buildings, on trails, in the backcountry, or on the river. Pets may not be left unattended. Pet owners are required to immediately remove and properly dispose of fecal matter deposited by their pets. Deposit bag of fecal matter in dumpster.
Quiet Hours
Be considerate of your fellow campers by observing quiet hours from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Generator Use
Generators are permitted in designated areas between 8am–8pm in the Rio Grande Village campground. Generator hours in the Chisos Basin campground are 8am–11am and 5pm–8pm. Idling vehicle engines are considered generators in this regard. No generators are allowed at Cottonwood Campground.
Gusty Winds
Be prepared for sudden gusty winds. Ensure tents and other items that may be damaged or scattered by wind are properly secured at all times.
Carry a Flashlight
Use caution when walking at night on trails, campground paths, or roads. There are many trip hazards in mountain and desert country as well as spiny plants and venomous animals. Consider wearing footwear other than flip-flops or sandals. Rattlesnakes may be prevalent anywhere in the park on warm to moderate evenings. Skunks are talented at using their noses to unzip tents. Make sure your tent is secure, especially if you are in it at night.
Unattended Property
Property left unattended for more than 24 hours will be impounded and the campsite forfeited, regardless of whether or not it is reservable or non-reservable.
Protect Your Park
Do not destroy, injure, deface, dig, collect or otherwise disturb any park resources, including plants and animals (dead or alive), fossils, rocks, or artifacts. It is a violation of park rules to possess park resources. Metal detectors are not allowed in any National Park. Please report any illegal activities to a ranger. Desert plants are fragile, do not drive or park off the paved or graveled areas."