Trailie
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Big Bend National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Explore this park
River canyons, borderland drives, and long distances between trailheads require buffer time.
There is a place in Far West Texas where night skies are dark as coal and rivers carve temple-like canyons in ancient limestone. Here, at the end of the road, hundreds of bird species take refuge in a solitary mountain range surrounded by weather-beaten desert. Tenacious cactus bloom in sublime southwestern sun, and species diversity is the best in the country. This magical place is Big Bend...
Source: National Park Service (as of Nov 11, 2026). Official Big Bend National Park page on nps.gov
Big Bend is in the Chihuahuan Desert. Sunshine is abundant year-round.
(March) is typically warm and pleasant and is the park's busiest season.
heat begins in May.
(Nov-Feb) are mild and pleasant, but some freezing does occur.
It is extremely HOT. Temperatures vary greatly between the desert which is usually well above 100 degrees F by late morning, and the Chisos Mountains, which can be 10-15 degrees cooler. May - August are the hottest months. Fall and Snow is rare.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$200.00Companies conducting business in the park are required to obtain a commercial use authorization. The only exception is companies travelling in a 26-person capacity or greater vehicle; such vehicles are charged a flat fee of $200 (commercial use authorization not required).
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$100.00This fee is valid for seven consecutive days. A commercial use authorization is required. https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/management/cua.htm
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$30.00Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less); valid for 7 days.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$30.00Organized groups such as Scouts, clubs, etc. that do not qualify for an academic fee waiver are charged as follows: $30 per non-commercial vehicle with a capacity of 15 or less. $15 per person traveling in a non-commercial vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more. Fees will not exceed the commercial rate for the same sized vehicle. Youth 15 and younger are free. Individuals or families with a valid annual or lifetime pass may use their pass for themselves and up to 3 others.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00These fees are charged only to commercial organizations, such as tour companies. This fee is determined by the seating capacity of the vehicle. For sedan with 1 to 6 seats, the fee is $30 + $15 per client. This fee is valid for seven consecutive days. A commercial use authorization is required.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$25.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 1 private, non-commercial motorcycle with up to 2 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Admits one individual. Typically used for bicyclists and pedestrians; valid for 7 days.
Big Bend National Park is always open. You can enter and exit at any time of the day or night. Park entrances are open 24 hours daily, all year.
Annual Entrance - Park
$55.00Big Bend National Park Annual Pass Covers entrance fees to Big Bend National Park. Pass is available at Big Bend National Park entrance stations or any visitor center. Good for one year from purchase date. Pass is non-transferable.
Common questions
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts for live updates.
No park-wide entry reservation is required for Big Bend. Cave tours, campgrounds, or activity passes may still need advance booking — see Overview on this page for fees, hours, and what to book ahead.
