This National Park Is Bigger Than Rhode Island and Contains an Entire Mountain Range

"If you look at a map of Texas, the very left point is El Paso. From there, let your eyes wander southeast. You see that dip in the Texas border along the Rio Grande? That dip is called the Big Bend. And within this area, you'll find one of the largest, most remote national parks in the continental U.S. Big Bend National Park is bigger than Rhode Island and the only national park that contains an entire mountain range, the Chisos Mountains."

"Out-of-state visitors typically arrive via two main airports: Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF), which is about a four-hour drive to Big Bend, or El Paso International Airport (ELP), which is farther away at over five hours. Your best bet is to rent a car at the airport and drive those long stretches on bumpy desert roads or sign up with a local tour guide who can handle logistics for you."

"The skies are dark, the roads to the park are long, and there are very few amenities in the actual park. Majestic Big Bend National Park is fabulous for hiking, scenic car rides, and the Fossil Discovery Exhibit-but you'll want to plan a day or two in the surrounding area, including Big Bend Ranch State Park, for experiences like horseback riding and river floating."

Big Bend National Park occupies the Big Bend of the Rio Grande in far West Texas, larger than Rhode Island and containing the Chisos Mountains. The park is extremely remote, with long drives from Midland or El Paso, limited amenities, dark night skies, and few services within park boundaries. Recreational options include hiking, scenic drives, and the Fossil Discovery Exhibit. Nearby areas such as Big Bend Ranch State Park offer horseback riding and river floating. Most visitors rent a car or arrange local guides; rail access to Alpine still requires a one-hour drive. Multi-day planning is recommended.

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