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The Flintstones · 12-15-2010, 07:35 AM

Is it too late to plan a trip to Big Bend for the last week of December? Any other options if RV park is booked.
thanks
James

DKDarrow · 12-15-2010, 10:09 AM

Lots and LOTS and LOTS of back country places. For me, I would stay away from the river camping by myself; but with others would NOT be afraid. Banditos for real tend to be watching for opportunities to visit............Away from the river....LOTS of great country. The Chisos basin will probably be full; but totally cold up there at night. The other campgrounds should have SOME space........God bless.....Dennis

Wingeezer · 12-15-2010, 10:15 AM

We have been to Big Bend twice in late Feb. without reservations and stopped at the RV park in Terlingua both times - there was lots of space there. Campground has full hookups, store, small diner, groceries, fuel, etc.

Brian.

The Flintstones · 12-15-2010, 10:35 AM

What are the lots and lots of back country places? One map on the internet showed lot of the "tent" symbols in the area? Could I head that way confident of finding something? 12+ hour drive i believe.
thanks
James

KL's 77 · 12-16-2010, 02:27 AM

The short answer to your question is No. Big Bend is beautiful any time of the year.

kingfisher24 · 12-16-2010, 04:55 AM

ck out rv park reviews .com/....stillwell ranch is a place to stop while looking for a place to stop......south of marathon, near the park entrance

Lajatis ....is a neat place on Tex 170 west of terlingua......

deauxrite · 12-16-2010, 06:40 AM

Stillwell Ranch is our favorite. Close to the park, quiet, more stars at night than you have ever seen. Nice people, never crowded.

Wingeezer · 12-16-2010, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

ck out rv park reviews .com/....stillwell ranch is a place to stop while looking for a place to stop......south of marathon, near the park entrance

Lajatis ....is a neat place on Tex 170 west of terlingua......

Just curious, can you follow 170 West all the way to Presidio with a 30' trailer in tow? I had planned to go that way last time we were in Terlingua but people we spoke to said the road would likely not be suitable for us.

Brian

tomp1937 · 12-16-2010, 08:23 AM

Rte. 170 to Presidio is doable with a 30' trailer if you have a good tow vehicle. The road has steep grades in a couple of places (need power and brakes in good shape), but the rest is a beautiful and picturesque drive albeit remote.

The steep grades are short and the road was in very good shape in '09, repaved after floods on the Rio Grande earlier. This is a beautiful road for daylight travel, but it is remote Border country that could be "active" after dark. I would not park or camp along the road if traveling alone. Use good sense for safety sake.

It's a nice way to start or end a visit to Big Bend.

Wingeezer · 12-16-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomp

Rte. 170 to Presidio is doable with a 30' trailer if you have a good tow vehicle. The road has steep grades in a couple of places (need power and brakes in good shape), but the rest is a beautiful and picturesque drive albeit remote.

The steep grades are short and the road was in very good shape in '09, repaved after floods on the Rio Grande earlier. This is a beautiful road for daylight travel, but it is remote Border country that could be "active" after dark. I would not park or camp along the road if traveling alone. Use good sense for safety sake.

It's a nice way to start or end a visit to Big Bend.

Thanks Tom, we'll give 170 a try next time we are down that way - I wasn't so much concerned about grades, but more that there might be some really tight hairpins that could cause us problems.

We took the trailer up to Oatman (from the west) a couple of years ago, and planned to carry on east right thru Oatman but we were warned about tight turns we would not be able to negotiate and that folks would not be best pleased with us if we got stuck and blocked the road, so we backtracked instead!

As for 170, we have driven (without the trailer) a short ways west of Lajitas, I was amazed at how narrow and shallow the Rio Grande was at that point - could have easily just walked over - but then we might have had the Border Patrol suddenly descending upon us, so I didn't! This was at the site of some historic movie set - I forget the name of the movie but a few of the origonal set buildings are still there.

Brian

c177tx · 12-16-2010, 01:08 PM

I just spent two nights at Rio Grande Village camp ground. The park was just about empty weather great. boon-docked for both nights. The campground host says that attendance is down from all the bad press. What people need to understand is the park is long long way from the trouble spots. Go have fun. I wish I had time to stay longer

The Flintstones · 12-17-2010, 08:43 AM

Sooo can we head that way and find a spot for our trailer with confidence.
thanks
James

c177tx · 12-17-2010, 09:34 AM

Call the nps they will reserve you a site in the campground with no Hookups or call the rio grande village store to reserve one of the full hookup sites in their parking lot. If you have a generator or not staying very long I prefer the campground to the full hookup parking lot sites. This time of the year you do not need ac so the need for shore power is less

pmclemore · 12-17-2010, 09:47 AM

We enjoyed the Cottonwood campground, which is strictly dry camping. Generators are not allowed. The stars at night were spectacular.

We also stayed at the Rio Grande Village cg, which has full hookups, but is really a parking lot. Which is ok, too - because we spent most of our time out of camp.

There is also a cg at Rio Grande that is still dry, I think, but allows generators.

Wish we were on the road.

Pat

The Flintstones · 12-17-2010, 10:36 AM

Already tried to reserve through nps and all are full that is why I was asking about other available options if we just went without having a "spot".
thanks
James

DLM · 12-17-2010, 05:33 PM

Your camping "style" and activities you wish to engage in while in Big Bend might be a driver as to where you camp. The only hook-ups in the park are at Rio Grande Village RV Park, which is a parking lot. The other campgrounds (Rio Grande Village, Basin and Cottonwood) are all dry camping campgrounds.

I used to tent camp in the park at one or more of the developed campgrounds described above or at one of the back country sites (not accessible to RV's.) Since I bought my Airstream in 2007 I have made many trips to Big Bend, but always camp at the Stillwell's (which some previous posters have mentioned) just outside the park entrance at Persimmon Gap. Although there is a bit of a commute each day to the park, I like camping at Stillwell's because I get full hookups for the price of dry camping in the park, free showers, a laundry, store and some of the nicest people you will ever meet in the area. I've camped there on at least 10 occasions since 2007 at some of the busiest times of the year, and they always have room.

Hope this information helps.

The Flintstones · 12-18-2010, 08:14 PM

Thanks DLM and everyone, great information!
James

kingfisher24 · 12-19-2010, 05:43 AM

can't find nicer people....reserve america,,,,sometimes has faulty info....visit the campground if you really want to know,,,

Lance M · 12-26-2010, 10:28 PM

Headed this way soon. If you are out this way let me know.

The Flintstones · 01-03-2011, 04:51 PM

Thanks for all the help everyone, we stayed at Stillwells and were very satisfied. Here are a few photo's, only took 400 of them. Our spot at Stillwells, a fellow streamer pulled in on second night and had never heard of AirForums, turned him on to us so hope to see him here soon. Wife and son along Rio Grande, view of The Window and sunset leaving park. 10 point buck on mountain side if you can spot him. Sorry to Lance for not being able to connect with you while we were there.

James