How to Spend 4 Days in Big Bend

Big Bend is one of the least visited national parks, with only 561,459 annual visitors reported in 2024. It’s also one of the largest, ranking 15th in land-size across all 63 registered national parks. These two facts are what we believe make Big Bend unique. It’s spread out and is much less crowded than your average national park.

I went to Big Bend last year with a couple of friends, and it was beautiful. I attribute much of our trip’s success to the planning I did beforehand. We only had four days and three nights to see all we wanted to see, driving included, so I had to be very meticulous with our schedule to make sure we hit all the big attractions.

Big Bend National Park can be separated into three main areas: Rio Grande Village to the east, Chisos Basin in the center, and the Santa Elena Canyon to the west. This guide will take you through all these areas while saving room for a night trip to Marfa.

If you are planning on making a trip out to the desert, we recommend you use this four-day guide to Big Bend National Park. It’s crafted to make the most out of your time (and budget) with a variety of activities that we know you will enjoy.

Day #1

The closest commercial airport — the Midland International Air and Space Port — is a three-hour drive from the park. My friends and I chose to skip out on flying for that exact reason, and instead made the journey straight from Houston. We left at eight in the morning and the drive took about seven and a half hours.

The Airbnb we stayed at was in Marathon, Texas – a small town about an hour from Big Bend. This worked great for us, but I would recommend only staying here if you are on a tighter budget like we were.

Terilunga is a town that is much closer to the park, and would cut down on commute times. The only downside is that the campgrounds, Airbnb’s and hotels can be a little more expensive.

After we arrived in Terilunga and got our stuff situated, we made our way out to the small art oasis of Marfa, Texas. If you are going to Big Bend, please make sure you check out Marfa. It is a bit out of the way, but makes up for it with it’s top-notch exhibitions and the mysterious Marfa Lights phenomenon.

The art installation we spent the most time at was the Instagram-famous Prada Marfa. We took lots of pictures as the sun lowered below the mountains. It was the most marvelous sunset I had ever seen.

We ate dinner at this restaurant called The Watershop, which I can proudly say had some of the best burgers north of the Rio Grande. Make sure to check them out while in Marfa. We chose them because they were open pretty late – but the town has a bunch of great food and drink options.

After dinner, we went home and immediately hit the can. The next morning was going to be an early one!

Day #2

Our second day started off with a quick breakfast before we packed the car and headed out. When you go to Big Bend, make sure to bring a big cooler, pre-made meals, and an insane amount of water.

There is virtually nowhere to get food in the park, so make sure to bring as much as you would need. As for the water, temperatures in Big Bend regularly get into the triple digits, especially in the summer, so make sure you’ve got enough water to hold you down!

Big Bend is situated within the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande River, and, let me tell you, it’s huge. Big Bend’s low visitor numbers and massive size meant getting in was a breeze. All you have to do is drive through one check point, pay a one time fee, and your set. It’s thirty dollars for seven-days.

The first trail we set upon was the Lost Mine Trail — a 2.4-mile hike across 1,100 feet of elevation. It’s situated in the Chisos Basin area of the park and takes about three hours to complete. The big reveal after the steep claim is some really cool rock formations and a breathtaking view of the Chisos Mountains. We got there around sunrise, which meant it was cool outside and not too crowded.

After sweating our faces off at Lost Mine, we chose to head over to the river in the Rio Grande Village.

The Rio Grande Nature Trail was our first stop here. It’s small, and isn’t included as one of the biggest attractions on the parks website, but do some sleuthing online and you will find this place is a true hidden gem you don’t want to skip out on.

The trail will take you right up to the Rio Grande river, where you can watch the flora change from sun-beaten cacti to long strands of grass growing from the river. Toward the end of the trail, you will get to climb up a small hill, which has got a nice view into Mexico and the small town of Boquillas.

After the Nature Trail and a quick change into our swimsuits, we headed over to one of Big Bend’s most popular attractions – the Hot Springs. The drive to the springs’ trailhead is rocky, so make sure your vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive if you decide to follow this part of the guide.

The Hot Springs Historic Trail — the path to the springs themselves— contained a bunch of old buildings detailing the history of the area. It made for a pleasant walk to the final destination, where we got to soak in a stone pool right along the river.

This is one of the only highly populated areas of the park and requires a swimsuit to partake, but man is it worth the crowd and extra change of clothes. The water was warm and relaxed my joints more than any massage ever could.

We ended our day with one last hike — a short 1.5-mile round-trip through Boquillas Canyon. Unlike the last mine trail, this one actually takes you below the mountains.Big Bend is considered one of the greatest places to go stargazing, and I have to say, I completely agree with that consideration.

Stargazing at Boquillas Canyon was incredible, you could see the lights pop up through the walls beside us. It was the perfect end to our second day.

Day #3

After the trail, we all packed into my car once again and headed along the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, which takes you down to the Santa Elena Canyon area of the park. The drive itself is an attraction, with stops like the historic Sam Neill Ranch, the Lower Burro Mesa Pouroff and the Castolon Historic District.

Sighs along the road will direct you to different outlooks, trails and structures. We recommend having a picnic at one of these for lunch. If you’re worried you’ll get tired of driving – don’t be. The landscape along the drive looks like it was pulled straight from a western film, and that, mixed with some country music, is sure to keep you distracted while making your way to the foal destination.

Santa Elena Canyon is what I consider to be the most breathtaking sight of Big Bend. The trail to the attraction is about 1.6 miles long with an elevation of 80 ft. It’s one of the easier hikes in the park, and takes you straight to the bottom of the canyon where the river flows through.

Santa Elena Canyon was a bit busier than the park’s other areas — children laughed while splashing through the river, and men hiked up and down with their fishing gear — but that didn’t take away from the experience in any sense. I felt like an ant looking up at the towering walls beside me. Pictures were a necessity.

After hiking back to our cars, we headed back to Marathon to pack our bags for checkout the next morning. I had squeezed as much as I could into our final day, so it was important we didn’t waste any time the next morning!

Day #4

The main activity for our last day was horseback riding. I recommend you do either this or a half-day river trip if you’re traveling to Big Bend. Both options provide a way to explore the Chihuahuan Desert from a completely different perspective than usual. We chose horseback riding because the river was too low to book a water tour at our time of visit, but both are equally good options.

We did a half-day guided tour through Big Bend Stables, which included lunch and a a tour through Big Bend State Park. It started in the morning and ended in the afternoon. The best part of the tour was — no surprise — the views. The horses could reach places that would be difficult to reach on foot, and were able to cross long distances in a much shorter amount of time.

After our tour ended, we began the trek back home, but not without a quick stop in the previously mentioned town of Terlingua. We grabbed a coffee at Venga and some souvenirs at the Terlingua Trading Company. This small town has a ton of rich history, and is a necessary stop you shouldn’t miss out on. We couldn’t stay long with the long drive ahead of us, but we definitely enjoyed our time there.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to do exactly what me and my friends did when we visited, but you won’t be disappointed if you do! This four day guide to Big Bend National Park takes you through small towns, natural landscapes and rolling canyons. There is such a wide variety of activities to partake in – experiences ranging from riding on horseback through the desert to soaking in a natural pool on the Rio Grande River.

The Chihuahuan desert and Big Bend are unlike anything else in the world. The stars, mountains and rock formations are indescribable. If you aren’t already planning a trip out west, your doing something wrong.There is so much to do – even if you only have a short amount of time to explore.

Pack your bags and load up your car. The trip of a lifetime is waiting for you. Big Bend is one of only two national parks in our great state, and whether you’re from Texas or are visiting from out-of-town, it’s not something you want to go your whole life without experiencing.