South Leyva Campsite

7 sites · RV, Tent

Travelling with a big crew? Tend to be late or forget to book in advance? Have a chronically late, forgetful, big crew? Try camping at South Leyva. This group campsite can accommodate lots of people and is only a quarter mile from the visitor’s center. The campsites themselves are only unassuming plots of sandy desert, but a short hike will put you atop a ridge with one of the best views in the park-- we recommend rising before the sun to see La Mota Mountain in the northeast silhouetted in stunning colors. There are plenty of small but very cool canyons to explore in the immediate area as well. Just be sure to bring fresh water, as the campground is rather primitive and has only an outhouse for amenities.

What this place offers

Campfire allowed

Pets allowed

No showers

Toilets

Potable water

Picnic tables

No sewer hookups

No electric hookups

7 sites

RV, Tent

Explore 109 campgrounds near Big Bend Ranch State Park

Available campgrounds nearby

Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Big Bend Ranch State Park

The Bus Stop Campground

98%

(656)

18mi from South Leyva Campsite · 10 sites · Tents, RVs

🌵 Welcome to The at The Bus Stop Campground! 🌄 Your peaceful desert getaway nestled in the heart of West Texas! Our 12-acre campground is surrounded by stunning mountains, offering the perfect base for your next Big Bend adventure. 🏜️✨ 🏕️ What We Offer: We have 10 campsites ready to welcome you! Whether you're rolling in with a Sprinter van, a small RV (14ft or shorter), or just pitching a tent, we’ve got everything you need for a comfy, relaxing stay. 🌙 ✅ Each Campsite Includes: 🔌 Electric hookups 🚰 Running water 🪣 Wash tub (perfect for dishes!) 🍴 Picnic table 🪑 Seating area 🔥 Fire pit (bring the marshmallows!) 📶 Amazing Wi-Fi — yes, even out here in the desert! 🚿 Bathhouse Amenities: Our on-site bathhouse will keep you feeling fresh after a day of adventuring! 🚻 4 private bathrooms 🚿 2 double showers 🚿 Outdoor shower — perfect for rinsing off under the stars 🌌 🌟 Why Stay Here? 🧭 Our location is a gateway to adventure! Here are just a few epic activities nearby: 🌵 Big Bend National Park – Explore stunning landscapes, epic hikes, and endless stargazing. 🐎 Horseback Riding – Ride through the wild, open desert. 🏍️ ATV Tours – Get your adrenaline fix with off-road fun. 🌊 River Rafting – Experience the Rio Grande up close! 🥾 Hiking & Mountain Biking – Endless trails to discover. 🚌 Want to Stay in Our Famous Bus Airbnb? Our converted military bus offers a unique stay with all the comforts of home! Check it out on Airbnb by searching: "The Terlingua Bus Stop" 📋 Other Things to Know: We welcome RVs up to 14ft, Sprinter vans, truck/car camping or tent campers. Pets are welcome! 🐾 Just be sure to keep them leashed. Campfires allowed (as long as there’s no burn ban in effect). 🔥 🏜️ Come for the Adventure, Stay for the Stars! 🌌 Our dark sky campground is perfect for stargazing — bring your camera or just sit back and soak in the magic of the Milky Way. ⚡ EV Charging ⚡ Each site includes a standard 50-amp RV hookup, which may also be used for EV charging with your own adapters and equipment. EV charging is optional at $20 per night. Please note: power in Terlingua can be unreliable, and outages affecting the entire area are possible. Charging is not guaranteed and is offered at your own risk.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

Terlingua Ranch Campground

94%

(172)

33mi from South Leyva Campsite · 21 sites · Tents, RVs

DIRECTIONS: Traveling to Terlingua Ranch Lodge: **DO NOT USE GPS** 1. Fuel up in Alpine or Study Butte, depending on which direction you are traveling from. -From Alpine: take HWY 118 South out of Alpine approximately 62 miles until you come to the only left turn lane. Turn left on Terlingua Ranch Road. You will see the large white Terlingua Ranch Lodge sign. -From Study Butte: take Hwy 118 North 16 miles from the ALON gas station, turn right at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge sign. 2. Follow Terlingua Ranch Road approximately 16 miles. The first 13 miles are asphalt. There is not a center stripe, please stay on your side of the road. THE LAST THREE MILES ARE ON A MAINTAINED DIRT AND GRAVEL ROAD. It can be wash-boarded in areas. Please drive slowly and observe speed limits to help protect our roads We are proud to be a part of The Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. All guests are requested to keep their site as dark as possible between 10pm and 6am. Fire Ban: Due to extreme drought, only gas grills and propane burners are allowed. NO charcoal or wood fires. PARK INFO: While we are adjacent to Big Bend National Park, it is approximately 36 miles to the Maverick Junction entrance of Big Bend National Park and an additional 22 miles to Panther Junction Headquarters and Visitors Center. We are about 32 miles to Study Butte and about 37 miles to Terlingua Ghost Town area. Terlingua Ranch is 192,000 acres of desert and mountains between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park in far SW Texas. Our campsites are in the area of the Terlingua Ranch Lodge, which features a swimming pool, cafe, laundry, bathhouse, disc golf course, access to hiking trails, and other amenities. Terlingua Ranch is the perfect venue for your basecamp to Big Bend adventures, family reunions, and myriad other activities in the area.

Pets

Toilets

Full hookups

Willow Creek Camping Company

99%

(523)

27mi from South Leyva Campsite · 13 sites · Tents, RVs

Tucked away in the rugged desert landscape of Terlingua, Willow Creek Campground offers a peaceful, off-grid camping experience just minutes from the entrance to Big Bend National Park. Set on 20 private acres, this small, rustic campground provides a quiet, scenic base for exploring the Chihuahuan Desert and surrounding mountains. Guests can choose from a mix of tent and small RV sites, some equipped with water and 30-amp power hookups. The campground features clean bathhouses with hot showers, flush toilets, and a community sink for dishwashing. Fire rings and shade structures are available at select sites, and the wide-open skies make it a perfect spot for stargazing in this official dark skies region. Willow Creek is known for its laid-back atmosphere, desert views, and proximity to hiking, river access, and the quirky charm of the Terlingua Ghost Town. It's an ideal retreat for those seeking solitude, natural beauty, and easy access to West Texas’ wildest places. On the east side of highway 118 1.3 miles from Study Butte (grocery store, gas station) 4.3 miles from big bend national park west entrance 6.0 miles from Terlingua ghost town 17 miles from Barton Warnock Visitors Center (tx state park) shade structure site 1-2 small campers up to 22' water and 30a power site 1-5 This is a dark skies community. Please be mindful of your surrounding and limit your use of headlights and noise.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

Temple of the Bird

100%

(143)

22mi from South Leyva Campsite · 27 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

AGE: Temple of the Bird is an adult-oriented space where alcohol is present. Guests under 18 are strongly discouraged. You must be 21 to drink. NO PETS: Temple of the Bird is a pet-free property. If you see "0 sites left," check the guest selector. If a pet is added, remove it and our open sites will appear. HOSTEL BUNKS: Each bunk sleeps 1 person. Traveling with friends? Set the guest count to 1 and book one bunk per person. The bunks only show up in searches for 1 guest. Terlingua's only Hostel. Walking distance to all things in the Historic Ghost Town. We offer private rooms, a bunk room, primitive campsites and small motorhome sites. Huge communal area with a large bar (BYOB), well appointed kitchen, very nice bathrooms/showers, as well as frequent live music. Focusing on creating a strong community, social gatherings, including pot luck and fundraisers, and celebrating music, Willie Nelson and all things middle fingered. As we tell everyone, no need to wave with all your offensive fingers when it only takes 1 finger to say "I Love You!" We have a lot of fun here and have become a real social spot in this incredible community. When staying here you can expect to meet other travelers and locals alike. If you play music, all the better, as music usually fills the air here. From the house piano to any number of friends who stop by just to jam for a while. We're an adult-oriented place, and you must be 21 to drink. The bar is BYOB, and we just want adults to feel comfortable being adults. So bring an instrument, a sense of humor and a middle finger and come experience the magic that is Terlingua, Texas.

Electrical hookup

Toilets

Showers

Goat Pens, Cigar Springs Ranch

97%

(1309)

23mi from South Leyva Campsite · 50 sites · Tents, RVs

This central location provides an ideal basecamp close to the Terlingua Ghost Town and both Big Bend State and National Parks. The unique geology and topography of the Goat Pens made this a popular movie set and many westerns were filmed here in the 80's and 90's. Come out and enjoy seclusion, peace and quiet, awesome scenery with sunrises and sunsets to die for. All while still being able to easily take advantage of the area's other attractions. The Goat Pens includes an outdoor events venue that hosts concerts, stargazing parties, festivals and weddings. The Goat Pens also has the only drive-in movie theater in the Big Bend area. Send a text or check The Goat Pens Facebook page (@goatpens) for information and dates of events. The Goat Pens of Cigar Springs Ranch is a beautiful part of the ranch. It is well known for its scenery and unique topography. The Goat Pens served as a set location for many westerns filmed during the 1980's and 90's. Remarkable beauty, easy access, centrally located, seclusion, peace and quiet. All add up to an unforgettable vacation experience.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Coyote Crossing

99%

(742)

26mi from South Leyva Campsite · 9 sites

Located in Southern Most Section of Terlingua Ranch, within eyesight of the Mexican Border, National, and State Parks. Easy to find, just across from Willow Mountain, one of the most photograph natural features in Big Bend. Traveling highway 118 you will see the Entrance at address 53420, just north 1 mile of the outfitters and gas station. Every night the coyotes would cross the road and come for a visit..Thus the name Coyote Crossing.. With dreams of a tiny home and campground, we continue to improve on the land every day and love to share it with others. When arriving at night it will be very dark.. very few lights in use, dark sky's are protected in Big Bend.. so it may be hard to find. but we are directly on the highway on the west side of 118. Trash Dumpster up front for your use. No collecting rocks, cactus or wood to burn... NO TRACE, leave it as you find it..

Pets

Toilets

Perdido Overland Overnight Camp

98%

(172)

31mi from South Leyva Campsite · 2 sites · Tents, RVs

We bought our property in 2003. Built our completely off-grid cabin in 2009, and moved out here full time in 2015. Since 2015 we've been continually improving our property and in 2019 had the idea to start a small campsite on the backside of our property in a private valley. A valley that while private and secluded has excellent 360 degree views.

Pets

Toilets

Picnic table

Cieloscuro

99%

(137)

22mi from South Leyva Campsite · 5 sites · Tents, RVs

We offer a uniquely secluded setting with stunning views of the Chisos Mountains. Located just 7 miles from the entrance to Big Bend National Park, and 10 miles from the visitors' center at Big Bend Ranch State Park, it is a perfect base from which to explore all the hiking, boating, and scenic beauty that West Texas is known for. The arts, history, and entertainment of Terlingua Ghost Town are less than 2 miles away. Like most ruins in the Ghost Town, my stone house was built in the early 1900s to house a miner’s family from the nearby Rainbow Mine. I bought the property in 1986 and began restoring and rebuilding. In 2019 I retired here from NYC and began exploring possibilities for sustainable tourism. West Texas is one of the best places in the United States to view the Milky Way (both Big Bend parks are certified as International Dark Sky parks). We use shielded LED lighting around buildings and pathways to cut down on light pollution and optimize stargazing opportunities for our astrotourists. And we are applying for dark sky certification from the Texan By Nature program. Bear in mind that this is the desert, in all its rugged glory. There are critters, rocks, plants with thorns, slippery slopes, sink holes, rusted artifacts and broken glass from decades long past. Bring sturdy shoes and a flashlight, and stay on the paths! Our intention is to provide remote, low-density accommodation for folks who are respectful of the land.

Toilets

Campfires

Showers

Jackass Flats Campground

95%

(164)

25mi from South Leyva Campsite · 20 sites · Tents, RVs

Located 25 miles north of Terlingua, TX on State Highway 118, close to the historic Comanche Trail, under the brilliant west Texas stars and below famous Nine Point Mesa. Within 25 miles of Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Terlingua Ghost Town, Rio Grande Outfitters and river access. The area is not only famous for its rich ranching history but also for its diverse geology and awesome night skies. Enjoy the Terrymar Pavilion for group gatherings, picnicking or taking in the panoramic views, phenomenal night skies, sunrises and sunsets. View our resident donkeys, mules and horses in the restored nineteenth century stock pens. Please DO NOT FEED THEM. Be sure to FILL YOUR WATER tank before arriving. NON POTABLE water can be accessed. There is no city water services available in our area. Stay connected with free Wi-Fi at The Little Burro Country Store which is also on premises. Password can be acquired within the store. We offer wood/snacks/groceries/ice and food items for sale on the property to meet your needs at The Little Burro Country Store. You can also find more of what we offer through our Linktr.ee. https://linktr.ee/jackassflatsimprovement

Pets

Toilets

Full hookups

Mel's Place

100%

(47)

27mi from South Leyva Campsite · 3 sites

Mel's Place has been a favorite cabin and tent camping spot for many since we opened 7 years ago. Feels private, secluded and remote, yet only a mile or so from everything you might need and only 5 miles to the national park west (Maverick) entrance. 5 miles to the lively ghost town of Terlingua with some great bars and restraunts. The views from camp are stunning with breathtaking sunrises over the Chisos mountains. Sunsets aren't too shabby either. The stargazing here is some of the best in the world due to our very dark skies. The campground has a clean outhouse with a private shared outdoor shower. We are an adults only retreat and aim to provide you the quiet peaceful solitude with the breathtaking views you need to renew your spirit!! We are within a few miles of nearly all the local outfitters for your river trips, Jeep or ATV tours, etc. Come make memories!

Toilets

Showers

Campfires

Ocotillo Flats Camping

98%

(20)

29mi from South Leyva Campsite · 5 sites

Howdy Hipcampers! Welcome to Ocotillo Flats, a serene 20-acre haven just 30 minutes from Big Bend National Park and the historic Terlingua Ghost Town. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert, perfect for stargazing and unwinding. With convenient cell service on the south side of the property, stay connected while you savor the tranquility of nature. You can bring your own bucket bathroom or utilize the facilities at Terlingua Ranch Lodge for free. Showers are also available there for just $2. We’ve recently added a horseshoe game area, located on the right-hand side of the road near campsites 4 and 5. Stakes and horseshoes are already set up and ready for friendly competition - just walk across from your campsite and enjoy! The road into the property is an all-weather dirt road. Embark on an unforgettable adventure, where the vast expanse of the desert meets the starlit Texas sky!

Pets

Campfires

Picnic table

Vista De Las Montañas Terlingua

92%

(12)

25mi from South Leyva Campsite · 6 sites · Tents, RVs

Conveniently located fifteen miles from the entrance of Big Bend National Park. Less than one mile off hwy 118 on an all weather, easy access road, with designated parking for each site. Shade sail, tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, outhouse, trash cans, wifi, and charging station provided. One mile from the Lazy Bear Saloon which serves beer, wine, food, and THC products. Mountain views and dark skies await you at this beautiful location.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires