Routes, Drive Times & Road Tips to Big BendBig Bend sits deep in far West Texas. Whether you’re coming from El Paso, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, or Dallas/Fort Worth, choose the route that matches your arrival town and the part of the park you want...
Professional surveys suggest that the most popular vacation activity is shopping and in Big Bend unique local merchants have made many interesting shopping opportunities available.
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Evans Gallery – James Evans has been photographing the Big Bend for more than 20 years. He has two photographic books; Big Bend Pictures and Crazy from the Heat. Evans Gallery is located 4 doors East of the Gage Hotel on Highway 90,between the bookstore and the bank. Hours are inconsistent. It is best to call first. Marci or James 432-386-4366
Pitaya Verde is a small boutique specializing in clothing, accessories and jewelry with a free-spirited, tiny-bit western flair. Next to the Gage Hotel on U.S. Hwy. 90. 303-587-7698
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Quilts, Etc. is located on 118 just south of the Junction of highways 118 and 170 and features home made quilts in a variety of styles and fabrics. Quilts, Etc at 432 371-2292
Many Stones – Fine jewelry hand crafted by the proprietor, stained glass, precious and semi- precious stones, mineral specimens and nice variety of cacti, bromeliads, and desrt plants. Open most of the time. TX 118, just south of the junction of FM 170 and TX 118. 432-371-2994
Brer’ Rabbit Curios – Is in the Chisos Mining Company office. It is a classic souvenir shop, neat stuff for not much money. They feature a selection of rocks and fossils, along with kitschy memorabilia. No Santa Fe styled art, or pricey cowboy chic. Located in Chisos Mining Company Motel. FM 170, Study Butte. 432-371-2254
Sotol Products – From Sterling silverware wind chimes to tractor seat patio chairs. Lots of unique, fun antiques, collectibles, odd stuff, along with canes and walking sticks made locally from sotol , a native plant of the Chihuahuan Desert. Next to the Study Butte Store, TX 118 south of Rough Run Creek.
Cycle Tek , expert providers for all motorcycle needs 432-371-2560
Big Bend River Tours , FM 170 near the junction of FM 170 and TX 118. 800-545-4240, local 371-3033
Far Flung Outdoor Center, FM 170 near junction of FM 170 and TX 118. 800-839-7238, local 371-2633
Shot Time Liquorz-n-Artz is located on TX 170 just east of Far Flung, a few hundred yards from the junction of TX 118 and offers a selection of local artwork along with liquor, wine and barware. Open Monday thru Saturday 10am-9pm. 432 371-3155.
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Terlingua Trading Company & Book Store – The Trading Company boasts an extraordinary inventory of southwestern U. S. and Mexican influenced gifts and collectibles, including an outstanding book and map section. Open 10:00am – 9:00pm almost always. 432-371-2234
Leapin’ Lizard Studio and Gallery The watercolor studio for owner Bryn Moore, also features fine and folk art, photography and jewelry of many other local artists and craftspeople. Summer Hours Thursday-Monday 3:00-7:00 pm. 432-371-2775
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The Chisos Mountains Lodge Gift Shop – Located in the Chisos Basin adjacent to the Lodge reception and restaurant, this well equipped gift shop has jewelry, souvenirs, videos, photographic supplies, T-shirts, books, cards, walking sticks and much more. Lots of well made unique Big Bend memorabilia as well as useful travel items. 7:00am – 8:00pm daily. 432-477-2291
Convenience store offers snacks, beer, drinks and other necessities.
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Lajitas Resort and Spa offer nice shopping alternatives
Agavita Spa– Full service spa offering treatment from Desert Sage Massage, Rio Grande Mud Wrap and Peppermint Foot Soak. Salon for nails and hair. Call for appointment. 432-424-5146
Christina’s World – Eclectic jewelry, imported folk-art, and unique creations by local artisans. On the Boardwalk. 432-424-3250
Red Rock Outfitters– Outdoor wear, camping equipment, hiking gear. Tours of all kinds including river rafting and canoeing, horse trips, mountain bicycling, and interpretive tours may be arranged. On the Boardwalk. 432-424-5000
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visitbigbend
Thanks to Adrien Torres for sharing this rare sighting of waterfalls flowing (thanks to recent rains) in Cañón de Santa Elena, Parque Nacional, just across the river from Big Bend National Park. 🙌
#BigBendNationalPark #WestTexas #CanonDeSantaElena #ParqueNacional
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Amazing Big Bend sunrise captured by @marcusc_photo ☀️🙌
#bigbend #nationalpark #westtexas #traveltexas #bigbendnationalpark #nps
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Chisos Basin to remain open in Big Bend National Park. 🙌
With construction plans on hold, the previously anticipated closures will no longer take place, which means that winding road into the mountains will stay open and ready to welcome visitors.
Those who know, know: when summer heat settles over the desert, the Chisos Basin answers with fresh breezes, cooler temps and shaded trails.
Visit nps.gov for more information.
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Good news for winter travelers! Chisos Basin will remain OPEN through the 2025 winter season, including lodging, trails, the visitor center, and food services.
Next summer, thanks to funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, construction work on significant improvements to the Chisos Basin area of the park is expected to begin on May 1, 2026, and continue for approximately two years.
Until then, enjoy the beauty of the basin!
#visitbigbend #vbb #chisosbasin #westtexas #bigbend #bigbendnps
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✨ Your Big Bend stargazing calendar: July 14 – August 15 ✨
Home to some of the darkest night skies in the lower 48, Big Bend was made for looking up. Here`s what`s lighting up (and darkening) our skies over the next month (Photo by @tonymaples):
🌑 July 14 — New Moon. Tonight! The darkest skies of the month mean the Milky Way core glows overhead all evening. No telescope required. 📸 by @marcusc_photo
🌒 July 15–17 — Earthshine moon meets Venus. Look west at dusk for a razor-thin crescent glowing with "earthshine" — sunlight reflecting off Earth onto the moon`s dark side. On the 16th and 17th, it pairs up with brilliant Venus. 📸 by @visitpresidiotexas
☄️ July 17 — Perseid season begins. The year`s most beloved meteor shower starts flinging its first shooting stars across our skies (and keeps going through Aug 24). 📸 by Lee McMillan
🌕 July 29 — Full Buck Moon. Watch it rise over the Chisos Mountains — bring a camera. 📸 by @timmckennaterlingua
🌠 July 30–31 — Double meteor shower. The Southern Delta Aquariids (up to 25/hour) and Alpha Capricornids peak together. The bright moon will wash some out, so catch them after midnight the week before the peak. 📸 @gregvaughnphotos
💥 August 12–13 — The Perseids PEAK, under a new moon. This is the one. 60–100 meteors per hour with zero moonlight to compete with — expected to be one of the best Perseid displays in years. Best after midnight until dawn. 📷 by NPS/ L. Nowell
💫 August 14–15 — Venus at its brightest. Look west just after sunset for the dazzling "evening star" at its greatest distance from the sun. 📸 by 📷 NPS CA. Hoyt
Terlingua, Lajitas, Marathon, Study Butte. Every corner of Brewster County is a front-row seat. Send to your best stargazing buddies now, because that Perseids weekend won`t wait. 🔭
📸 by @shari_hunt_photography
#VisitBigBend #BigBendNationalPark #DarkSkies #Perseids2026 #MeteorShower #Stargazing #TexasTravel #Terlingua #Marathon #BrewsterCounty
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"Big Bend National Park is bigger than Rhode Island and the only national park that contains an entire mountain range, the Chisos Mountains. The skies are dark, the roads to the park are long," notes Carrie Dennis in her recent piece for @travelandleisure. "Majestic Big Bend National Park is fabulous for hiking, scenic car rides, and the Fossil Discovery Exhibit."
Beautifully photographed by Jon Mattrisch @jmke.visuals, the article highlights @bigbendnps`s enormous skies and expansive landscapes and the ‘serene trails leading through the rugged peaks of the Chisos Mountains.’ These moments reflect just why Big Bend is such a treasure. Dive into the full story linked in bio!
#bigbendnps #bigbend #nps #nationalparks #westtexas #visitbigbend #travelleisure
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"Deep inside a remote cave in Big Bend, archeologists have uncovered a pristine hunting kit — potentially the oldest intact weapon system in North America. This discovery offers a rare glimpse into the lives of ancient hunters, revealing tools, weapons, and even a folded pronghorn hide left untouched for thousands of years. Each artifact tells a story of survival, craftsmanship, and the deep connect between humans and the land." - @TexasParksWildlife
Read the full story in the March TPW Magazine linked in bio.
#texasparks #nationalparks #visitbigbend #bigbendnps #bigbend #nps
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Spring in West Texas means bluebonnets are back, covering the fields in a blue spectacle.
It`s a great time to see these iconic Texas flowers up close.
Beautiful photo by @gooolsby
#BluebonnetBloom #texasbluebonnets #bluebonnet #westtexas #traveltexas
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