Closest airports
| Airport | City | Drive to the park | Straight-line miles | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF) | Midland, TX | 4 h 30 min (223 mi) | 193 | Regional |
| San Angelo Regional Mathis Field (SJT) | San Angelo, TX | 5 h 35 min (292 mi) | 216 | Regional |
| Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM) | Carlsbad, NM | 5 h 15 min (266 mi) | 219 | Regional |
| El Paso International Airport (ELP) | El Paso, TX | 5 h 55 min (316 mi) | 255 | Large hub |
Drive times run from the airport to Panther Junction Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.
Regional airports have fewer flights, so compare fares with the larger hub.
Directions from the park service
Several highways lead to Big Bend National Park: TX 118 from Alpine to Study Butte or FM 170 from Presidio to Study Butte (then 26 miles east to park headquarters) or US 90 or US 385 to Marathon (then 70 miles south to park headquarters). Distances between towns and services are considerable. Be sure you have plenty of gas, food, water, and supplies for your trip. There are no electric vehicle charging stations in Big Bend National Park. The closest EV charging station is 130 miles away in Fort Stockton.
Hours
Open 24 hours, every day. Big Bend National Park is always open. You can enter and exit at any time of the day or night. Park entrances are open 24 hours daily, all year.
Visitor centers
- Panther Junction Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 5:00PM. Open all year, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. Reduced hours on Christmas day: 8:30 am-12:00 pm
- Chisos Basin Visitor Center: Daily, 8:30AM - 4:00PM. Open all year, 8:30am-4:00pm. Closed for lunch (12:00 pm-1:00 pm). Christmas Day: open 8:30 am-12:00 pm
- Persimmon Gap Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM. During the busy season, Persimmon Gap Visitor Center is Open daily from November 1 through April 30 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Closed for lunch from 12:00-1:00
- Castolon Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM. Open seasonally, November 1 through April 30 Open Daily 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed for lunch from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm)
- Rio Grande Village Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:00PM. Open seasonally, November 1 through April 30, 9:00am-4:00pm. Closed for lunch (12:00 pm-1:00 pm)
Last gas, groceries and EV charging
Places mapped in OpenStreetMap within 19 miles (straight line) of Chisos Basin Visitor Center and Panther Junction Visitor Center. Fill up before you head deep into the park: most parks have little or no fuel inside.
Gas stations (2 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Fuel extras and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panther Junction Gas Station | See map | 0.2 | Open 24 hours |
| Alon | See map | 14.7 |
Grocery stores and supermarkets (1 within reach)
| Place | Where | Miles | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study Butte "Mall" | See map | 13.9 | 7 am to 9 pm |
EV charging
None mapped within this distance. Charge fully before you arrive, and check PlugShare or your car’s app for chargers farther out.
Opening hours and fuel types are what local mappers have recorded, so call ahead in winter or off season. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License.
Getting around
Most parks are best seen by car. Fill up before you enter, since gas inside parks is limited or absent. Parking at popular trailheads fills early in summer.
Sources
- National Park Service Data API: directions, hours and visitor centers (public domain)
- OurAirports: airport list and locations (public domain)
- OSRM drive-time estimates on OpenStreetMap road data (ODbL)
- OpenStreetMap: gas stations, grocery stores and EV chargers (ODbL)
Last checked 1 November 2026.