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Devils River State Natural Area
The Devils River is one of the most pristine rivers in Texas: clear, spring-fed water tumbling past rugged ridges and scenic canyons in remote Val Verde County. The state natural area protects over 37,000 acres across two units, Del Norte and Dan A. Hughes, and it keeps amenities minimal on purpose. Camping is primitive only, every stay is by reservation, and you pack in everything, including water. It is not easy to get here, and that is exactly the point.
Getting a site at Devils River State Natural Area
Texas state parks release campsites on a rolling 5-month window at 8 a.m. Central, and Devils River State Natural Area fills up fast for weekends and holidays. Popular dates can be gone within minutes of the window opening. If your dates are already taken, the surest way to lock in a place to stay is a cabin or vacation rental nearby.
Places to stay near Devils River State Natural Area
Base out of a Del Rio cabin or rental and day-trip to one of the wildest, clearest rivers left in Texas.
See cabins & rentals near Del Rio →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Prefer to try for a state park site? Book direct on ReserveAmerica →
Texas state parks don’t have live cancellation alerts yet — but most sold-out sites free up 1–2 weeks before the date. We’ll email you the booking playbook (exact release times, the cancellation window, how to pounce) and tell you first if live Texas alerts launch.
Get the Texas state-park booking playbook
Campsite Types
Primitive Drive-up
$10/night*8 sites
No water or electricity · shade shelter · trailers 16 ft or lessRV OKTent OK
Primitive Drive-up
$10/night*3 sites
No water or electricity · tent pad, bear box · composting toilets nearbyRV OKTent OK
Primitive Walk-in
$10/night*3 sites
No water or electricity · tent pad, bear box · composting toilets nearbyTent OK
Primitive Hike-in
$10/night*2 sites
No water or electricity · 1.5 to 2 mile hike or bike inTent OK
Bunkhouse
$150/night*1 sites
Sleeps 10 in 5 bedrooms · electricity · bathrooms with showers · no kitchen, bring linens and water
Devils River State Natural Area fills up fast — lock in a cabin nearby
Base out of a Del Rio cabin or rental and day-trip to one of the wildest, clearest rivers left in Texas.
See cabins & rentals near Devils River State Natural Area →We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Guide to Devils River State Natural Area
Best Campsites
For Families:Book a drive-up site at the Dan A. Hughes Unit: tent pad, bear box, and composting toilets nearby
For Privacy:The two hike-in sites at Del Norte sit 1.5 to 2 miles from the River Gate parking area; nobody drives past your tent
For RVs:Small self-contained trailers and motorhomes 16 feet or less can use the drive-up sites; high clearance is recommended on the roads in
For Groups:The bunkhouse at Del Norte sleeps 10 in five bedrooms, with electricity and bathrooms with showers
When to Go
Spring and fall, when the river runs clear and the desert is livable. Summers are brutally hot (July highs average 98 degrees), and the park is closed Tuesday through Thursday year-round.
Tips
- →Arrive before 4 p.m.; there is no check-in after that, at either unit
- →The park is closed Tuesday through Thursday. The entrance gate runs 8 a.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Monday
- →Bring every drop of water you need; there is no potable water in the park
- →Pack out all trash, and know the two units are very far apart; confirm which one your reservation is for before you drive
- →A Devils River Access Permit ($10) is required for river access and the paddler camps on downriver trips
- →High-clearance vehicles are recommended; the roads in are rough
Highlights
One of the clearest, most pristine spring-fed rivers in Texas37,000-plus acres across the Del Norte and Dan A. Hughes unitsOver 25 miles of hiking and biking trailsMulti-day paddling trips for experienced paddlersWeekly ranger tours to pictograph sheltersSerious dark-sky stargazing; borrow the park's Dark Sky pack
Devils River State Natural Area — Frequently Asked
Is Devils River State Natural Area hard to book?+
Yes. Devils River State Natural Area is one of the more popular Texas state parks and fills up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. Spring and fall, when the river runs clear and the desert is livable. Summers are brutally hot (July highs average 98 degrees), and the park is closed Tuesday through Thursday year-round. If your dates are already full, book direct on ReserveAmerica the moment the 5-month window opens, or reserve a cabin or vacation rental nearby that you can book today.
How many campsites does Devils River State Natural Area have?+
Devils River State Natural Area has 17 campsites, including Primitive Drive-up, Primitive Walk-in, Primitive Hike-in, Bunkhouse. Sites start at $10/night plus a $5/person entrance fee.
What is the entrance fee at Devils River State Natural Area?+
The entrance fee at Devils River State Natural Area is $5 per person per day. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) waives entrance fees for you and all passengers in your vehicle.
How far in advance should I book Devils River State Natural Area?+
Texas state parks open reservations exactly 5 months in advance, at 8 a.m. Central. For Devils River State Natural Area, popular weekends can sell out within minutes of the window opening, so book the instant it opens. If your dates are already full, a cabin or vacation rental near Del Rio is the quickest place to stay you can lock in today.
How can I get a last-minute campsite at Devils River State Natural Area?+
Cancellations at Devils River State Natural Area happen regularly, most often 1 to 3 weeks before the date, so it is worth checking ReserveAmerica directly for openings. If nothing is available for your dates, privately-owned cabins and vacation rentals near Del Rio are bookable today as a backup.
Parks Near Devils River State Natural Area
Cabins & vacation rentals near Devils River State Natural Area
Privately-owned cabins and rentals around Del Rio are bookable today on Vrbo.
See cabins near Del Rio →Devils River State Natural Area
Cabins near Del Rio