Amistad National Recreation Area
The Amistad National Recreation Area exists on the American side of the border with Mexico, near the town of Del Rio. In 1969, a dam created Amistad Lake on the Rio Grande River, forming a body of water with an 859-mile long shoreline. The park offers activities such as boating, fishing, hunting, hiking and camping, with the campgrounds described as primitive in nature by the National Park Service website. The sites lack hookups and every one is first come, first serve. These campgrounds typically stay open year round and most have the ability to accommodate an RV. The Governor's Landing Campground has a picnic table along with a barbecue grill at each of its 15 sites. Other campgrounds at the Amistad National Recreation Area includes the 35-site San Pedro Campground, the 17-site 277 North Campground and the much smaller Spur 406 and Rough Canyon Campgrounds.
Amistad National Recreation Area
4121 Veterans Blvd
Del Rio TX 78840-9350
(830) 775-7491
nps.gov/amis
Big Bend National Park
Congress established the Big Bend National Park in June of 1944, creating a protected area of 1,252 square miles near the Mexico-United States border and encompassing parts of the Rio Grande, the Chihuahuan Desert and nearby Chisos Mountains. These varied ecosystems attract campers and Big Bend has facilities for backcountry camping in the Chisos Mountains as well as some with more amenities in the front country.
For example, the Rio Grande Village Campground has 100 sites that offer flush toilets, picnic tables, running water and grills. Set among a picturesque and shade-giving grove of Texas cottonwood trees, it is the largest of the Big Bend campgrounds. Other campgrounds here are the 60-site Chisos Basin Campground, the 35 site Cottonwood Campground and the Rio Grande Village RV site that has room for 26 RVs, with full hookups.
Big Bend National Park
P.O. Box 129
Big Bend National Park, TX 79834
(432) 477-2251
nps.gov/bibe
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park features a fossilized reef left over from eons ago when an inland sea covered much of the region. These limestone mountains near the Texas-New Mexico border are a natural wonder. Camping in this Texas national park occurs at the Pine Springs Campground, which gives those with tents the option of 20 level sites among oak and juniper trees. There are 19 RV sites in a paved-over lot that has no hook-ups but does offer access to water to refill RV tanks. Pine Springs has potable water as well as restrooms with flush toilets, payphones and a utility sink. The Dog Canyon Campground on the park's northern side has nine sites for tents, four for RVs and has restrooms.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
400 Pine Canyon Road
Salt Flat, TX 79847-9400
(915) 828-3251
nps.gov/gumo
