What to Expect When Visiting Big Bend National Park in March
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Are you planning a trip to Big Bend National Park in March?
Remember, March is one of the busiest times of year in Big Bend National Park. School or college students in Texas have their Spring Break this month. At the same time, Big Bend’s weather is usually warm and pleasant, and bluebonnets bloom along the roadsides. It turns Big Bend National Park into one of the best Spring Break destinations in Texas.
So, here’s what to expect when you visit Big Bend National Park in March.
Big Bend National Park in March: What to Expect.
1. Campgrounds and lodging in the park are fully booked. People reserved their accommodation way in advance. If you are lucky, you might find a spot at the primitive backcountry campsites. If not, find a place in Study Butte or Terlingua, the closest town to the park. You still can’t find a spot? Check out Lajitas, Marathon, and Alpine. But it will take 30-60 minutes to drive to the park’s entrance. Then another 30-60 minutes drive to the closest popular attractions in the park from the two gates.
2. Parking at popular spots fills up quickly. Try to arrive early in the morning at your destination. We left Santa Elena Canyon around noon, and the car line was long. Visitors were waiting for an empty spot. We arrived slightly before ten, but it would be better if you could arrive before nine. We didn’t get to hike the famous Lost Mine Trail and Window Trail at the Chisos Mountains because of the parking problem.
3. Weather in Big Bend National Park in March is pleasant in the morning. It might crawl up to the upper 80s or lower 90s during the day, especially in the desert and river areas. But temperatures in the Chisos Mountains can be 20+ degrees cooler. Prepare for the changes.
4. Skip soaking in the Hot Springs. You’ve seen that IG picture of someone relaxing in the hot spring. Well, let me tell you the reality. That person was visiting during the week when students were still in school. There’s only one hot spring in the Hot Springs Historic District – only one – and everybody wanted to experience it. Unless you can come early in the morning, you might think about deleting the hot springs from your itinerary. It is a popular destination in the park.
Moreover, you must drive for two miles on a gravel road that descends a rough, narrow wash before you get to the Hot Springs District area. Then continue on foot for a .5-mile walk to the hot springs. Motorhomes and oversized vehicles are prohibited on the one-way sections of Hot Springs Road. Here’s what we found when we arrived there in the afternoon.
5. When you drive into the Chisos Mountains, you will feel like you are not in Big Bend anymore. Desert plants turn to evergreens like pinyon pine, juniper, bigtooth maple, quaking aspen, and Douglas fir. Visitors like to hang out here because the temperature is cooler than in the river or the desert.
6. The vast majority of the park is underdeveloped. To reach several locations, you’ll use either improved dirt roads or primitive dirt roads. For instance, when you visit the Hot Springs Historic District or the Grapevine Hills Trail, which will lead you to the renowned Balanced Rock. I wish we drove a high-clearance car than a minivan. Some areas on improved dirt roads are rougher than others, and road conditions deteriorate quickly with a passing storm. It is a good idea to ask the ranger about the state of the roads.
7. Storms come and go quickly. We were rushing to the Balanced Rock because of a storm forming in the distance. Well, it turned in another direction.
8. Having a pet with you will limit your activities and exploration in the park. But sometimes you can’t leave the dog at home or the kennel, just like us. So, here’s your guide on visiting Big Bend with your dog.
9. Big Bend shares the border with Mexico. You can see Mexico from where you stand in Big Bend, and you can cross the border to Mexico from the Boquillas Crossing Port of Entry. It is near the Rio Grande Village area. Be sure to bring your passport.
10. The Rio Grande Village Nature Trail is one place in the park where you can find handmade items left by Mexican Nationals. Typically, prices are attached to the crafts. If you buy something, there’s a plastic jar or coffee can for you to place your payment. But, it is prohibited to purchase these handicrafts since doing so could encourage people to cross the river illegally, which could lead to their arrest and deportation through Presidio (100 miles away.) You can find other justifications here.
11. You won’t see too much traffic on the road because points of interest locations are far from each other. This park is massive. But expect to see people stop along the roadside for those bluebonnet pictures. 😉
12. There’s a service station inside the park, next to Panther Junction Visitor Center. It offers gas, diesel, as well as groceries. When we were there, the gas price was less compared to the gas station in Terlingua. Don’t rely on this, though.
13. You will not see rangers at all points of interest, but please follow the park rules at all times. When my son and I were hiking on Grapevine Hills Trail, a family took their dog on a trail, which is prohibited. If something happens and causes the park or trail closure, it is not fair to others who follow the rules.
14. Bring enough water for everyone in the group. You won’t see water faucets everywhere.
15. Cell service is very spotty throughout the area. WiFi is available at the Chisos Mountain Lodge, Rio Grande Village Store, and Panther Junction Visitor Center. Some people sat inside to cool down while using their laptops or cell. A place to post your pictures to your social media. 🙂
16. The only full-service dining inside the park is the Mountain View Restaurant in the Chisos Mountains Lodge. It is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
17. Big Bend NP was awarded International Dark Sky Park status by the IDA Association in 2012. Big Bend has the darkest night skies of any national park in the lower 48 states. Check out the Night Sky Programs offered by staff and volunteers. Or, do it yourself. If you are lucky, you might see the Milky Way. Too bad it was cloudy when we were there.
18. Big Bend is not like Texas you know. Be prepared for the spectacular views awaiting you there.
Big Bend Location
You will find Big Bend in far west Texas. I mean, right at the west corner of the state. Rio Grande River separates Big Bend from Mexico. Because of its location, prepare yourself before you make a trip there. Have your passport ready if you plan to cross to Mexico.
November to April is the best time to visit the park because of the lower temperatures. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and Spring Break are their busiest times. Also, the extended holiday weekends. June-August is the hottest month, with temperatures often above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are two entrances to the park:
1. Persimmon Gap Entrance that you can reach through Alpine and Marathon.
2. Maverick Junction, which you can reach through Alpine and Study Butte/Terlingua.
Big Bend Distance From Big Cities in Texas:
– Austin: 437 miles, +/- 7 hr
– Houston: 563 miles, +/- 9 hr
– Dallas: 533 miles, +/- 8 hr
– Fort Worth: 502 miles, +/- 7 hr 30 min.
– San Antonio: 371 miles, +/- 6 hr
– El Paso: 292 miles, +/- 5 hr (destination is in a different time zone.)
The entrance for the driving distances above is through Persimmon Gap. Add around 30 minutes more if you enter from Maverick Junction in Study Butte/Terlingua. Then add another 30 to 60 minutes from the entrances to your accommodation in the park.
Long drive, right? But it’s worth it. It is Texas that you’ve never seen before.
While visiting Big Bend, don’t forget to drive to Big Bend Ranch State Park. Most people don’t bother to go, which is a big mistake (check out the picture below.) Big Bend Ranch is the largest state park in Texas. And the most beautiful, in my opinion. Moreover, if you visit with your dog, you can hike with your dog at Big Bend Ranch State Park. It is also an International Dark Sky Park. So, the night sky is spectacular!
Here’s your guide when visiting from Fort Worth to Big Bend on a long weekend. It will be an intense trip, but if that is the only time you have, do it.
Enjoy your visit to Big Bend National Park!
I love the detail you went into, and reading how the landscape can change to feel like a different place, and then going on to dirt roads. An adventure. Sounds like it needs some advance prep if you want to stay in a campground in March but that’s OK, and I don’t mind places being busy when I am visiting on my weekends. 🙂
As long as you have a proper preparation, it’s fine.
Big Bend sounds like our kind of adventure! Camping, hiking and a little more offbeat? We’re sold! Love how honest and comprehensive you are with the information on this guide. I didnt know you needed to bring passports (we would have never known in all honesty), thanks for the reminder!
If you are international traveler or plan to cross to Mexico, yes, you will need it.
Crossing the border sounds very attractive to me, the past years I have already crossed three international borders by foot, but no national one, so it´s now on my list. And oh how I miss the feeling of walking between risks and rivers and long desert like valleys, this post made me reminisce it. Thanks for that!
You are welcome!
I have never been to Big Bend National Park before but I would love to go there because of your posts. I would love to spend sometime at Santa Elena Canyon as I love canyons and also I will ensure like you said to visit these places in the morning.
Santa Elena Canyon is spectacular. It’s really a must-do when visiting the park.
This is an excellently detailed guide to visiting Big Bend. It’s useful to know the best time to go and when to avoid. I can imagine that the heat can get quite high due to the climate so taking plenty of water is essential. Your experience offers useful tips like skipping the hot spring due to crowds, booking in advance to avoid disappointment and getting parking early.
Your cute little doggy by the sign is adorable 💜 Big Bend is on my NP list – what do you recommend is the best airport to fly into when visiting?
The closest airport is at Midland (around 3 h), followed by El Paso (4h 30m), Lubbock (5 h), San Antonio (6 h), and DFW (7h 45m). If you stay in Lajitas Golf Resort, they have a private airport that will take you around 20 min to the park.
March does sound like a good month to visit Big Bend National Park. Although I might want to avoid the spring break crowds – especially if I wanted to enjoy the hot springs. Good tip to remind us of the swing in temperatures as you go higher. And I would never have thought to make sure I had my passport with me.
Oh yeah. International visitors must bring their passports. The border patrol will ask for it.
This was very informative and honest post. Many of the parks are unfortunately very crowded nowadays. But the Big Bend National Park definitely is a place I want to visit soon, and it looks beautiful. Good to know that there are many remote roads in this park. Better to bring a lot of water and snacks. Very fascinating that you can actually cross the border in the park. I have never heard of that but now I want to know more.
I hope you can make it here sooner than you think, Paula.
Thank you. This is one of the national parks we have not been to. I hope to go in March. It’s 10.5 hours drive from Mesam Az.
Make sure you are visiting not during Spring Break.
I would love to visit Big Bend National Park, but not in March I guess. I would love to enjoy the hot spring when it’s not so crowdy. Also, I would like to park my vehicle without any stress. Taking pets along will be a hurdle I can see, maybe would leave them at my friend’s there.
If you have flexible schedule, I suggest you not to visit in March. Also, visit during the week. Then you can enjoy the park mostly to yourself.
WOW, what a beautiful place. I would love to visit this national park. And, this is such an extensive guide. I would love to part of the Texas.
Your post has inspired me to write something on national parks in India. I am so amazed by lands which are near borders. Just the idea of touching another country from where you are standing makes my mind go into a dreaming state. I hope to explore the Rio Village trail and buy some Mexica stuff someday from here.
Just make sure you buy it from where you are in Mexico. Not from the trails inside Big Bend NP.
Always in love with your extensive guides of the various national parks across USA. Parking definitely seems to be an issue. I’m guessing it is more so in weekends and probably a bit better on weekdays. Too bad you didn’t get to hike Lost Mine Trail and Window Trail coz of this issue. Thanks for the tip about varying temperatures within the same trail! Definitely layered clothing is the key! Thanks for the tip about the hot spring as well.
These are great tips for visiting Big Bend, and they can apply to lots of other national parks as well! Accommodations are so hard to find during March if you haven’t booked far in advance, and packing gets a little more tricky because the weather does have more drastic changes. But still, I think March is a great time of year to see these sites!
You just have to except the situation you will find at the park.
Now this is one place I really want to hit up, Big Bend National Park. I am starting to look into this more and more for when I do a lot of hiking adventures in the U.S. Apart from seeing the famous sights here, I defo want to hit the trails more and educate the children at the information centres. However one thing I hate to use whilst hiking but does help if one gets lost and there is a signal, the cellphones! I go hiking to get away from it all but that phone always catches up with me in any part of the world.
It’s a dilemma for most of us. We never know what will happen and we feel more safe with cell in our hand.
I like the primitive camping. We bought a seven person tent years ago because we did a lot of family camping with my son’s cub scouts. However, I do get nervous about not having cell service.
I hear you. We are all depending on cells now. Before cell we could built this confidence that everything was fine with our family. Now there’s a need in us that we have to check the cell IF there’s an emergency news from our family.