Openings · last 7 days
164
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 164 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234078
When Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) reopens
Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
309
Openings · last 90 days
309
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 309 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 07:00 and 18:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 225 of 309 detected openings (72.8%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Central Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 14 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 14–14 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 012 | 15 | 4.9% |
| 024 | 15 | 4.9% |
| 009 | 14 | 4.5% |
| 029 ADA | 14 | 4.5% |
| 027 ADA | 14 | 4.5% |
Site 012 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 15. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Nov 2, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 · of 29 monitored sites
Of the 5,220 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027): 646 open for online reservation · 318 reserved · 4,256 not yet released.
Where the open windows are
87.6% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 646 of 5,220 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027Not open online87.6%
Open site-nights646 / 5,220
Reserved (of online inventory)318 / 964
Weekday openings390
Weekend openings256
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 390 fall on weekdays and 256 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – Apr 2027November holds the most room. 529 of 841 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 29 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 28 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 28 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 28 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Thanksgiving: 28 sites are available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| A | 130 |
| 027 ADA | 28 |
| 029 ADA | 28 |
| 021 | 23 |
| 023 | 23 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Nov 2
Next open weekendFri · Nov 6
The next bookable night is Nov 2; the first open weekend starts Nov 6. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
646 open site-nights across 29 sites at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 55 2-night, 47 3-night, 32 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 2 at site 027 ADA.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 40 ft. 22 sites take 25 ft, 7 sites take 35 ft, 1 site takes 40 ft. 1 site of 29 has no recorded maximum and is not counted.
All 29 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Not recorded | None | 130 | 61 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 29 +118 more |
| 027 ADA | 24 ft | None | 28 | 28 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 6, Nov 7, Nov 8, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13 +16 more |
| 029 ADA | 24 ft | None | 28 | 28 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 6, Nov 7, Nov 8, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13 +16 more |
| 021 | 30 ft | None | 23 | 20 nights | Nov 2, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 14, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18 +11 more |
| 023 | 24 ft | None | 23 | 15 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18 +11 more |
| 009 | 34 ft | None | 22 | 15 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 13, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19 +10 more |
| 016 | 29 ft | None | 22 | 15 nights | Nov 2, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19 +10 more |
| 022 | 30 ft | None | 21 | 14 nights | Nov 4, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 14, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20 +9 more |
| 025 | 30 ft | None | 21 | 15 nights | Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20 +9 more |
| 024 | 30 ft | None | 20 | 14 nights | Nov 4, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21 +8 more |
| 026 | 22 ft | None | 20 | 15 nights | Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21 +8 more |
| 010 | 35 ft | None | 19 | 15 nights | Nov 2, Nov 4, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22 +7 more |
| 012 | 30 ft | None | 19 | 15 nights | Nov 5, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22 +7 more |
| 019 | 30 ft | None | 19 | 15 nights | Nov 2, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22 +7 more |
| 004 | 30 ft | None | 18 | 15 nights | Nov 9, Nov 11, Nov 13, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23 +6 more |
| 002 | 30 ft | None | 17 | 14 nights | Nov 10, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24 +5 more |
| 008 | 30 ft | None | 17 | 15 nights | Nov 2, Nov 10, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24 +5 more |
| 011 | 29 ft | None | 17 | 15 nights | Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24 +5 more |
| 018 | 34 ft | None | 17 | 15 nights | Nov 4, Nov 11, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24 +5 more |
| 020 | 23 ft | None | 17 | 11 nights | Nov 2, Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24 +5 more |
| 014 | 35 ft | None | 16 | 15 nights | Nov 10, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25 +4 more |
| 030 | 24 ft | None | 16 | 16 nights | Nov 14, Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25 +4 more |
| 006 | 35 ft | None | 15 | 14 nights | Nov 10, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26 +3 more |
| 007 | 35 ft | None | 15 | 15 nights | Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26 +3 more |
| 017 | 28 ft | None | 15 | 15 nights | Nov 15, Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26 +3 more |
| 013 | 35 ft | None | 14 | 13 nights | Nov 2, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26, Nov 27 +2 more |
| 015 | 30 ft | None | 13 | 10 nights | Nov 9, Nov 12, Nov 13, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26, Nov 27, Nov 28 +1 more |
| 003 | 35 ft | None | 12 | 12 nights | Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26, Nov 27, Nov 28, Nov 29 |
| 005 | 40 ft | None | 12 | 12 nights | Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20, Nov 21, Nov 22, Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 25, Nov 26, Nov 27, Nov 28, Nov 29 |
About Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)
Overview
Cottonwood Campground is a quiet desert oasis in the southwestern corner of Big Bend National Park. Conveniently located between the Castolon Historic District, the scenic Santa Elena Canyon and the tail end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, this small, 30-site campground is one of the least-known and quiet campgrounds in the park. There is one group campsite and 30 individual sites. This is a remote campground in a remote park. It is dry camping, no hook-ups, and no generators are permitted. There is not a fill or dump station, please come prepared.
Cottonwood gets its name from the cottonwood trees that surround and provide shade for the facility nearby the Rio Grande. A general store and visitor center -- a converted former military outpost -- are also nearby.
The campground is at an elevation of 1,900 ft. (580 m). It is relatively cool in the peak seasons of fall and winter due to cold air sinking into the lower elevations. In the spring and summer, this campground is very hot, with temperatures normally exceeding 100° F (38° C) from mid-March through August.
Recreation
Particularly popular with bird watchers, Cottonwood Campground is a haven for those wishing to study the abundant bird life in Big Bend while also escaping the more crowded areas in the park. Because of its diverse ecosystems and plant life, the park provides habitats for many rare and unique birds , including the Mexican mallard, Lucifer hummingbird, Mexican jay, black-capped and gray vireos, and Varied Bunting.
Hiking trails are located around the campground.
Facilities
The campground has pit (vault) toilets, potable water, picnic tables, bear boxes, and grills. There are no hook-ups or fill and dump stations, and the use of generators is not allowed.
The group campsite is a walk-in, tent-only site; no RVs or trailers are allowed. Vehicle parking is restricted to an adjacent parking area, a short walk from the campsite itself.
The individual sites are all similar. Each site has a bear box, picnic table, and raised grill. All have dirt/gravel parking spaces and most are well-shaded with some afternoon/evening sun. The individual sites are on a 2-week reservation window, which means you can make the reservation no more than 2 weeks in advance of your arrival.
Natural Features
The national park is named for a curve in the Rio Grande called the "big bend." For 1,250 miles (2011 km), the river is an International Boundary between the United States and Mexico.
Due to its proximity to water, many species of birds are in the Cottonwood area, including nesting migratory birds. Santa Elena Canyon is a beautiful river canyon that can be seen from the campground area.
29 monitored sitesRVs up to 40 ftNo hookups17 shadedPets OKMax party 25
Getting there
From Interstate 10, take State Highway 385 south to Fort Stockton and into Marathon. From Marathon, drive 40 miles (64 km) south on State Highway 385 to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. Drive straight for 26 miles (42 km) to Park Headquarters at Panther Junction. Turn right at the intersection and go 13 miles (21 km) west. Take a left at the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and drive 23 miles (37 km) to Cottonwood Campground. GPS Warning: GPS units may send you down Old Maverick Road, an unpaved, very rough road. Do not take Old Maverick Road unless you have a four wheel drive and high clearance vehicle.
Po Box 129, Big Bend Nat. Park, TX 79834432-477-1121
BirdingCampingCanoeingFishingHikingHistoric SitesPicnic TablesWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234078 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234078 · Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) · Big Bend Nat. Park TX12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)?
Reservations for Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) are made through Recreation.gov. 87.6% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation; 646 of 5,220 remain open. Campsite Sniper has also detected 309 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 16:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)?
Campsite Sniper detected 164 site-date openings at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) in the last 7 days, 309 over 30 days and 309 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)?
47 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 2 at site 027 ADA. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX) fit a 35-foot RV?
7 of the 29 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 40 ft. 28 of those 29 sites have a recorded maximum length and 1 does not; it is not counted as fitting.
Which month has the most availability at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)?
November 2026, with 529 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 841.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 14 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 14-14 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Cottonwood (Big Bend, TX)?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Nov 2 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Nov 6. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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