Below are commonly asked questions regarding camping, lodging and park facilities. Please contact us, or look elsewhere on the website if your question is not answered here.

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Where can I park my trailer (or RV)?
Where can I camp?
Can I make reservations for camping?
Are there showers in the park?
Where can I stay in the park if I’m not camping?
Where is the nearest ATM (automated teller machine)?
Where can I get groceries in the park?
Where can I buy gas?
Where can I buy diesel?
Where can I buy LP gas (liquid propane)?
Can I use my cell phone in the park?

Where can I park my trailer (or RV)?
Many people are used to parking anywhere in an RV. Visitors to Big Bend must stay in a designated camping area. If you want hook-ups, you can stay in the RV park at Rio Grande Village. IMPORTANT: You must use all 3 hook-ups (electricity, three inch sewer connection, and water). If you cannot use all three hook-ups, you can stay in a park campground without hookups, or stay in one of the RV hookup areas outside of the park.
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Where can I camp?
There are three developed (frontcountry) campgrounds in the park, located at Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Basin, and Castolon. The Rio Grande Village and Chisos Basin campgrounds provide sewer dump stations and a place to fill your water tank, but none of the three campgrounds offers RV hookups. There are also primitive sites on dirt roads and virtually unlimited backpacking areas where you can camp with a backcountry use permit.
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Can I make reservations for camping?
A limited number of campsites in Rio Grande Village and the Chisos Basin campgrounds are designated reservable. These sites are reservable for the time period from November 15 to April 15. Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance by visiting recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Big Bend National Park cannot make reservations.
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Otherwise, all park campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. 
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Are there showers in the park?
The only area in the park with public showers is Rio Grande Village. The showers are located at the store; hours may vary seasonally, check at any visitor center for current times. Showers are also available in Study Butte and at the Stillwell Ranch.
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Where can I stay in the park if I’m not camping?
The Chisos Mountains Lodge is the only lodging available in the park; their phone number is 432-477-2291. If the Lodge is full, there are numerous motels outside of the park.
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Where is the nearest ATM (automated teller machine)?
There are two ATMs in the park. The first is located at the Chisos Basin Lodge. The secnod is a the Rio Grande Village camp store. Outside the park, an ATM machine is located at the Quicksilver Branch Bank in Study Butte. Banking services are also located in Alpine and Fort Stockton (100 miles and 127 miles, respectively, from park headquarters).
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Where can I get groceries in the park?
Groceries are available at Rio Grande Village, the Chisos Basin, and Castolon. The gas station at Panther Junction also has a limited selection of groceries. There are also several stores outside the park in Study Butte.
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Where can I buy gas?
In the park, gas is only available at Rio Grande Village and Panther Junction. Gas is also available in Study Butte, Lajitas, and at the Stillwell Ranch.
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Where can I buy diesel?
At the Panther Junction Service Station or outside the park at Study Butte.
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Where can I buy LP gas (liquid propane)?
At Rio Grande Village store, but be sure you check ahead of time - they do not always have someone available who is licensed to dispense propane. Propane is also available in Study Butte (call before drving there).
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Can I use my cell phone in the park?
Cell phone service is available in the park, but do not depend on it. Signal availability and strength varies depending on your location in the park and the service you are using. It's a good idea to have an alternate method of communication, such as a prepaid phone card. more information...
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