What Is the Closest City to Big Bend National Park?
Terlingua is the closest population center to Big Bend National Park, but is it a city?
It depends on how you define city but, in most cases, people would call Terlingua a small town. So where can you stock up on supplies and take in a little local culture on your way to or from Big Bend?
Let’s explore!
Closest Town – Terlingua
The only town within an hour of the centrally-located Chisos Basin Visitor Center, Terlingua offers many of the services you’ll want or need. Lodging there includes several hotels and RV parks, many of which have higher than 4.5-star reviews. In addition, it boasts one Harvest Hosts location.
You’ll have access to cell service and possibly WiFi at these, but it may not be the fastest.
In Terlingua, you’ll also find a couple of grocery stores and several restaurants, including the Starlight Theatre serving “offbeat Texas fare,” such as an antelope burger. Don’t let that scare you away, though. They also serve grill mainstays such as steak, chicken, brisket, and burgers and have live music.
In addition, Terlingua can provide adventure in the form of jeep, river, horse, and hiking tours through places such as the Far Flung Outdoor Center. Learn about all the stars you see at the famous Big Bend Observatory or local natural history at the Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center.
In case of emergencies, the town holds the county’s 24-hour regional medical center, a veterinarian, and auto and RV repair shops. There’s only one gas station here, but each visitor center also has small ones. In addition, much of the national park has no or limited cell service. But you’ll be able to call out or upload that video once you’re in Terlingua.
For all that Terlingua has to offer, surprisingly, the town has a population of only 110 people. If you’re entering Big Bend National Park from the West, it’s a great place to resupply or even stay. However, we wouldn’t call it a city.
Closest Cities West and Northwest of Big Bend
If you’re heading west or northwest from Big Bend National Park, these are the closest cities you’ll run into along the way.
Closest Small City – Alpine
Heading north on Highway 118 from Big Bend National Park, you’ll come to the city of Alpine about 1.5 hours after leaving Terlingua. Alpine has a population of about 5,892 as of the 2020 census and it offers stores such as True Value and Tractor Supply, multiple grocery stores including a natural foods store, and several gas stations. The town provides a hospital and medical center, and three veterinarians.
It also has several RV parks and hotels and one Harvest Hosts spot, plus an RV supply and service shop. There doesn’t seem to be much to do in town other than a couple of galleries, a museum, and a few trails. On the other hand, Alpine has numerous restaurants including fast food, Mexican, and BBQ.
This might be the best place to get supplies if you need harder-to-find items. Gas may also be less expensive here than in Terlingua.
Alpine would be good for an overnight or even a few days for resupplying or more urgent repairs. Alpine could be considered a small city or large town. But, if you want a large city on your way west from Big Bend, El Paso is where you want to be.
Closest Large City – El Paso
El Paso will be the first large city you come across heading west out of Big Bend National Park. From Terlingua, it’s about a five-hour drive, which is just about right for many RVers.
On the other hand, if you prefer shorter drives in your RV, a quick overnight in Alpine or Van Horn would do the trick. With a population of 685,434 and about 257 square miles of land, El Paso can certainly provide nearly anything you’d want or need.
The city offers countless restaurants and shopping opportunities, including an outlet mall. Grocery stores go from local to large chains, such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Albertsons. Of course, all the big box stores such as Target and Lowes have multiple locations.
Campendium shows 19 RV parks in the El Paso area, and Harvest Host has 12 locations. You’ll also have dozens of hotels to choose from if you need to get out of your RV for repairs. Speaking of which, this closest large city to Big Bend has numerous RV and auto repair shops, plenty of hospitals and urgent care centers, and a multitude of hotels.
For entertainment, El Paso provides anything you can imagine from a zoo to historic sites and concerts to hiking trails. Looking for something unique? Visit the Casa de Azúcar, a house covered with sugar-like decorations. Or take a ride on the Wyler Aerial Tramway providing stunning views and ample photo-ops at 5,600 feet above sea level.
From the top, you can walk a short trail to see the remains of a B-36 airplane crash.
El Paso isn’t an overnight stop. It’s a destination. So hang out a while and explore the city before heading further west.
Closest Cities North of Big Bend
If you’re heading north or east from Big Bend National Park, these are the cities where you’ll want to resupply or even spend some time exploring.
Marathon
Just over an hour from the Panther Junction Visitor Center on the northeast side of the park, Marathon is just slightly more populated than Terlingua with just under 400 people.
Because it’s farther from Big Bend and near the bigger city of Alpine, there’s not much to this area.
The town does have several restaurants, a couple of local grocers, a handful of hotels, and one RV park. One auto repair shop does business in town; however, the nearest RV repair is in Alpine. Marathon has just one small health center. Again, your closest true hospital is in Alpine.
Stop here if you need to pick up some quick groceries or fill up at their one gas station. Otherwise, we suggest you continue north for about another hour to Fort Stockton.
Pro Tip: Here’s how many hours it takes to drive across Texas.
Closest Northern Town – Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton seems made for travelers with numerous hotels, restaurants, and gas stations, including Love’s and Flying J. The nearly 8,500 people in the small city offer 15 RV parks, but no Harvest Hosts. The area also boasts several RV and auto repair shops, as well as a Tractor Supply, Lowes, and Walmart.
There are plenty of medical centers, including a good-sized hospital, and two veterinarians.
For fun, head to the visitor center for information on a driving tour of historic Fort Stockton, then wander through the fort and cemetery. Before you leave town, be sure to visit Paisano Pete, the second-largest Roadrunner in the world.
The drive east to San Antonio from here is just over four hours, and Austin is another two hours beyond that.
Keep in mind: Fort Stockton is a sight for sore eyes when you’re driving through west Texas on I-10. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Closest Northern Large City – Midland-Odessa
Heading further north about 1.5 hours, you’ll run into the metropolis of Midland-Odessa. With a population of around 388,000, you can certainly call this a big city and you’ll find practically anything you could need here.
Big box stores are in multiple locations. There are dozens of hotels, more than 20 RV parks, and several RV repair shops. You have your pick of grocery stores and gas stations too.
The Midland International Airport is here, as is an event center, and George W. Bush’s childhood home. For some extra fun, take in a show at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center or tour the Odessa Meteor Crater. Just spending the night? Stay at the only Harvest Hosts location, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, and take a look inside.
The Midland-Odessa area is an excellent stop to explore or rest up for a few days on your way to the Dallas-Fort Worth area approximately 5.5 hours farther north.
Cities Are Close, But Towns Are Closer to Big Bend
There you have it. Terlingua is the closest town and offers a large variety of services and entertainment for travelers. But, if you want a big city with all its amenities, El Paso is the closest one to Big Bend National Park.
Have you stayed in any of these towns or cities? What were they like?
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