National Park · Texas, United States
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park in Texas, United States, covering 801,162 acres (324,219 ha), established in 1944; it recorded 568,104 visits in 2025.
Photo: Michael from Minnesota (@Michael) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Park facts
| Park type | National Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Texas, United States |
| Area | 801,162 acres (324,219 ha) |
| Established | 1944 |
| Annual visits (2025) | 568,104 |
| Highest point | Emory Peak — 2,385 m (7,825 ft) |
| Coordinates | 29.2500° N, 103.2500° W |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
About Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park of the United States located in West Texas, bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, and was named after a large bend in the Rio Grande/Río Bravo. The park protects more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals. The area has a rich cultural history, from archeological sites dating back nearly 10,000 years to more recent pioneers, ranchers, and miners.
Description from the park's Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA), linked in the sources below.
Planning your visit
Best time to visit
October to April — cooler days; summers are extremely hot
What to do
Getting there
| Nearest town | Terlingua, Texas |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Midland International Air and Space Port |
Where to stay
| Campgrounds | Yes |
|---|---|
| Lodges | Chisos Mountains Lodge inside the park |
Famous trails
- Lost Mine Trail — 4.8 miles (7.7 km) — Moderate
- Santa Elena Canyon Trail — 1.7 miles (2.7 km) — Easy
- South Rim Trail — 12.4 miles (20 km) — Hard
Like Big Bend National Park? Visit Big Bend National Park’s official park page for hours and current conditions before you travel.
Airports near this park
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport (CUU) · Chihuahua, Mexico · 168.3 miles away
- Abraham González International Airport (CJS) · Ciudad Juárez, Mexico · 251.1 miles away
- El Paso International Airport (ELP) · El Paso, United States · 256.7 miles away
Parks nearby
More parks in Texas
Frequently asked questions
Where is Big Bend National Park?
Big Bend National Park is in Texas, United States (29.2500° N, 103.2500° W).
When was Big Bend National Park established?
Big Bend National Park was established in 1944, per the source listed at the foot of this page.
How big is Big Bend National Park?
Big Bend National Park covers 801,162 acres (324,219 ha).
How many people visit Big Bend National Park each year?
It recorded 568,104 recreation visits in 2025, the latest published figure.
What is the highest point in Big Bend National Park?
The highest point is Emory Peak, at 2,385 metres (7,825 ft).
When is the best time to visit Big Bend National Park?
October to April — cooler days; summers are extremely hot.
Does Big Bend National Park have campgrounds?
Yes — Big Bend National Park has campgrounds.
How do I get to Big Bend National Park?
The nearest town is Terlingua, Texas. The nearest airport is Midland International Air and Space Port.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_United_States_National_Park_System_official_units — Wikipedia list of National Park System official units — unit name, state, official designation.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_areas_in_the_United_States_National_Park_System — Wikipedia list of National Park System areas — year established and gross area.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_parks_of_the_United_States — Wikipedia list of US national parks — coordinates, established date, area, recreation visitors (2025), description.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_National_Park — Wikipedia article — description (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.nps.gov/bibe/ — Official park page.
- https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/hiking.htm — Named trails, as stated by the source.