Chisos Basin Campground

The road into Chisos Basin is steep and winding. The cautionary sign about vehicle length is accurate and should be heeded. Only a few sites will accommodate a vehicle longer than 20 feet. Most sites are meant for a regular sized SUV and a tent. We managed to get our 22’ class B into site 30. The nearby hiking is exceptional. The campground is quiet and the starry sky is stunning! I had never seen Orion’s sword before! Soooo many stars.

Like other comments mention, the campsite is in a beautiful location and there is no shortage of great views.

I'm only leaving a review to say that while many other reviews rave about the level of service, I found the service to be unusable. We had plenty of bars, especially with the WeBoost, but actually accessing anything on the internet was extremely unreliable. Plus, my Verizon said I was roaming and on the extended network, which never works that well for me.

I showed up on a Thursday afternoon and planned to stay until Tuesday, working from the campground. However, while I was able to join a meeting Thursday and hear everyone, later in the afternoon as people returned from hikes and started all getting on the network, I couldn't even manage to load a single simple webpage. I joined another internet call-in later in the evening and nobody could hear me although I could hear them clearly (in-between getting kicked out by the network). Early Friday morning I was once again able to join and listen in on a meeting, but I didn't trust that the network would be usable on Monday/Tuesday during the day when I desperately needed it so we cancelled our last two nights. Unfortunate, but it would have saved me some trouble if I had known this ahead of time.

Beautiful location and I know service shouldn't be expected in a national park, but seeing these reviews made me confident I could sneak in some more time here so others with me who don't have to work could enjoy it longer. Just know what to expect.

This is a beautiful place to spend a few days. Views are terrific, some hiking right there, potable water all over, pretty quiet and some great campsites.

I wouldn't stay in the inner ring if possible. Some great sites on the outer loop with unobstructed views especially 30-60.

Pic is of one of the sites I'd look for next time through.

We stayed in site 20 for two nights in our truck camper. Site 20 has no designated “parking pad”. You parallel park along the main road. It was one of the few level sites we saw as we walked around. The hosts were directly across the road from us and were very welcoming. Pay close to site lengths and driveway grade before you book. We saw a small RV parked in a site with a severe grade and there was no way to level it. The road to the campground is tight with hairpin curves. We were okay in our truck camper but met another large vehicle in a curve and we had to stop. If you have the right setup for this campground, it’s amazing.

I camped out of my Rav 4 Prime for 4 nights in January, 2022. A quiet campground in the Chisos Basin with a fantastic view of surrounding mountains. Site was clean as was the bear box. Restrooms were clean (no showers) and heated, which for the time of year I was there was nice. Small sink area in the bath house for washing cook gear. Beware of windy nights, at least in the winter - was glad I was sleeping in my car!

Great cell coverage! The proximity to the Chisos Lodge made for excellent Verizon service. Some of the best in the park.

Site 30 in Chisos Basin is the deluxe premier penthouse suite of the entire campground. This spot opened up due to cancellation and I managed to grab 3 nights in December 2020. Not knowing what to expect, I was just feeling lucky to land a spot in Chisos Basin, as these spots are really hard to get during that season. Most of the spots in this campground are right on top of each other and have very little to no privacy at all. That being said, all of the spots have great views, as you are right down in the middle of the scenic basin. Site 30 is completely different from most of the other sites. It is set off the road, down a set of steps and inside a tree canopied clearing. Because of how it is offset from the road and surrounded by trees, it is very private and isolated from the other camps. Also, our winnebago served as a privacy wall at the entrance, which made the camp feel even more separated. There were some other good private sites that I saw in the group camping section, but that entire section was closed due to 2020.
If you're into hiking, Chisos Basin is an ideal place for your base camp. There are some amazing trail heads right from the campground and staying here gives you an early start to beat the crowds. There was absolutely no cell service, but you can get internet if you stop off outside the lodge up the hill. There's no electricity but plenty of sun and our solar panels easily got us through 3 days here.
Also, if you are into remote boon-docking, you absolutely must try and find a spot in the back country area of Big Bend. It is amazing and we enjoyed that even more than Chisos Basin. All in all, Big Bend has been one of our most memorable and favorite trips we have ever done.

We absolutely loved this place. It’s magical. The restrooms are pretty dark, even during the day. And the cell service isn’t great. But it doesn’t matter because you’re surrounded by beauty. The camp hosts were friendly. Recreation.gov makes it easy to select a site based on your needs, whether it’s a longer parking pad or a space for a tent. We will definitely be coming back here!

We stayed here one night and wouldn’t stay here again or recommend it to anyone. The sites are literally on top of one another, with no privacy. Some sites have a roof over the picnic bench, most don’t. Parking spots aren’t level, if your site even has a parking spot (problematic for van lifers). Half of the sites also don’t have a suitable spot for a tent. Hosts weren’t helpful.

Not worth the $16.

I am reviewing even thought i did not spend the night, i did drive into the campground with my 2500 pickup truck and found it difficult to make some of the tight turns within the campground. Location is perfect for hiking and exploring the surrounding area. The road to the campground and visitors center has some very tight U-shape turns at the edge of the mountain. I would not dare take any RV longer then 22ft up & down that road. A tent or Casita style trailer is ideal. It's $30 (7 day pass) to enter the park even if your visiting just for the day. Some of the dirt road to other primitive campgrounds in the area are washboard and tuff to drive up and down them. I decided to stay just outside the park at Paisano RV Park with full hookups and drove to the areas i wanted to visit.