Chisos Basin Campground — Big Bend National Park Camping
in May
🏕️ 56 campsites📅 Book in December
Booking Chisos Basin Campground — Big Bend National Park in May
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance at 8 a.m. Central — so for a May trip, the booking window opens in December. Popular weekends can disappear within minutes of the window opening. If your dates are already full, check the booking system directly for cancellations, or book a cabin or vacation rental nearby.
What to Expect in May
Warming up, with Memorial Day weekend selling out fast. Weekdays stay calmer.
Park Highlights
- ✓Highest campground in Big Bend at 5,400 feet
- ✓Walking distance to the Chisos Basin Visitor Center and trailheads
- ✓Window Trail and Lost Mine Trail start nearby
- ✓Milder temperatures than the desert floor below
- ✓Chisos Mountains Lodge has the only restaurant in the park
- ✓Dark skies for stargazing
Tips
- →The basin road has sharp hairpin turns, so leave large trailers and motorhomes at a lower-elevation campground
- →The Window Trail and Lost Mine Trail both start near the campground
- →Generator use is only allowed in sites that specifically permit it, so check the site details before booking
- →Book early for spring break and Thanksgiving, the two busiest stretches
Booking Tip
Book Early or Go Cabin
Reservations for Chisos Basin Campground — Big Bend National Park open exactly 5 months out at 8 a.m. Central. If May is already full, a cabin or vacation rental nearby is bookable today.
See Cabins Near Chisos Basin Campground — Big Bend National Park →