Big Bend National Park may be one of the most difficult to reach National Parks in the Lower 48. A visit to this wild and wonderful spot takes some serious planning, but the effort is absolutely worth it. This guide details the closest airport to Big Bend, and covers everything you need to know about how to get to Big Bend National Park.
The closest airport to Big Bend National Park is Midland-Odessa International Air and Space Port.
The closest major airports to Big Bend National Park are El Paso International Airport and San Antonio International Airport.
These airports and more details on how to get to Big Bend National Park are covered in-depth below.
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A Quick Look at the Closest Airports to Big Bend & How to Get to Big Bend National Park
Big Bend isn’t just “big” – it’s huge. At over 800,000 acres, Big Bend is the 15th largest National Park, and the 8th largest outside of Alaska.
It’s also remote. As we cover more in depth further on, most visitors to Big Bend will need to fly to one of the closest major airports to Big Bend, rent a car, and drive to the Park. Expect long, desolate, and sometimes rugged drives between the park and the nearest town.
The closest airport to Big Bend National Park is Midland-Odessa International Air and Space Port. >> Click here to book flights to Midland-Odessa.
The closest major airports to Big Bend National Park are El Paso International Airport and San Antonio International Airport. These airports and other options are described in more detail below.
>> Click here to book flights to El Paso and San Antonio.
The closest major cities to Big Bend National Park is El Paso Texas, approximately 315 miles away. Several smaller cities, such as Marfa, Alpine, and Marathon Texas are about 100 miles from the Park Visitor Center.
The closest town to Big Bend National Park is Terlingua, Texas, located between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.
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Best Lodging Near Big Bend National Park
How to Visit Boquillas Del Carmen Mexico from Big Bend National Park
Where is Big Bend National Park Located?
Big Bend is located on the Southern border of the United States, along the Rio Grande River in the state of Texas. Big Bend is located at the very southern tip of a loosely-defined, and otherworldly, area known as Far West Texas.
Vaguely defined as the arid Chihuahuan desert from El Paso to the Rio, Far West Texas is large, and larger-than-life. The area encompasses the high-mesa cliffs of Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, tales of Texas Rangers, the city of El Paso, quirky towns like Marfa, and yes, legends of alien abductions.
Far West Texas is the kind of place that where people are fiercely independent, and things like “regular business hours” don’t have a ton of meaning. Things are open when they’re open and they’re closed when they’re closed.
Planning a trip to Big Bend National Park? The Big Bend Itinerary Guide has your perfect 1, 2, or 3 day Big Bend trip completely planned for you! With over 20 pages of detailed hiking guides, printable daily itineraries, lodging and dining suggestions and more, you can spend less time stressing and more time making epic memories! Check it out, here.
Closest Cities to Big Bend National Park
The closest major cities to Big Bend National Park are:
| City | Distance to Big Bend (Panther Junction Visitor Center) |
|---|---|
| El Paso, Texas | 318 Miles / 5 Hours |
| San Antonio, Texas | 437 Miles / 6.5 Hours |
| Austin, Texas | 463 Miles / 7.5 Hours |
| Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas | 560 Miles / 8 Hours |
The closest small and mid-sized towns to Big Bend National Park are:
| Town | Distance to Big Bend (Panther Junction Visitor Center) | Services Available |
|---|---|---|
| Terlingua, Texas | 30 Miles / 40 Minutes | Lodging, Gas, Food |
| Marfa, Texas | 124 Miles / 2 Hours | Lodging, Gas, Food & Great Vibes |
| Alpine, Texas | 98 Miles / 1.5 Hours | Gas & Food |
| Marathon, Texas | 67 Miles / 1 Hour | Gas & Food |
| Midland / Odessa, Texas | 208 Miles / 3.5 Hours | Airport, Gas, Rental Car, Food, & Lodging |
The closest town to Big Bend National Park is the town of Terlingua, Texas, located just outside the National Park.
Terlingua is approximately 10 minutes from the entrance to Big Bend, and about 30 minutes to 1 hour from most of must-see attractions inside Big Bend.
Lodging options in Terlingua range from motels to luxurious independent hotel. There are no chain hotels in this area, but vacation rentals are a popular option. There are several restaurants in Terlingua, including the can’t-miss Starlight Lounge, as well as breakfast and coffee shops.
Learn more about lodging and dining options in and around Big Bend, plus must-see sights inside the Park, in the Epic Big Bend Itinerary Guide.
Closest Airport to Big Bend National Park
Unless you already live or are traveling in the Southwest, most visitors to Big Bend will need to fly into one of the closest airports to Big Bend, rent a vehicle, and drive to the Park.
The closest airport to Big Bend National Park is Midland-Odessa International Air and Space port. There are a number of small airfields in Far West Texas, but since those are only available to private and chartered flights, I’ve omitted them from this list.
While planning our trip to Big Bend, I found that the best airport for Big Bend National Park is Austin – Bergstrom International Airport. Austin had the best choice of reasonably priced flights, affordable rental car options, and plenty of affordable lodging.
These are the closest airports to Big Bend National Park. Additional details, including rental car options, are included below.
| Airport | Distance to Big Bend (Panther Junction Visitor Center) |
|---|---|
| Midland International Air & Space Port | 220 Miles / 3 Hours 45 Minutes |
| El Paso Airport | 315 Miles / 5 Hours |
| San Antonio Airport | 435 Miles / 6.5 Hours |
| Austin-Bergstrom International Airport | 460 Miles / 7.5 Hours |
| Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport | 550 Miles / 8.5 Hours |
Keep in mind, that the closest airport to Big Bend, Midland Odessa International, most likely won’t be the cheapest option. The closest major airports to Big Bend might be further from the Park, but offer significantly cheaper flights and rental car options.
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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
We found that the best major airport near big bend national park was Austin International Airport. When we visited, Austin had the best choice of reasonably priced flights, affordable rental car options, and plenty of affordable lodging.
>> Click here to book your flight to Austin.
Austin Airport is located approximately 460 miles, or 7.5 hours driving, from Big Bend National Park.
Consider spending a night enjoying Austin’s nightlife, then grab some Voodoo Donuts in the morning, and set off on your drive to big Bend.
Austin Airport is served by American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta, Frontier, Jet Blue, Southwest, United, as well as a number of international carriers.
AUS has a large selection of rental car carriers, including Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, FOX and others.
El Paso Airport (ELP)
El Paso Airport is a mid-sized airport located on the border of Texas and New Mexico, approximately 315 miles, or 5 hours, from Big Bend National Park.
>> Click here to book your flight to El Paso.
El Paso is not the cheapest airport for flying to Big Bend National Park. However, El Paso Airport is conveniently located near several other National Parks, making for an epic Southwest Road Trip.
From El Paso, you can visit White Sands National Park (1.5 Hours), Carlsbad Cavers National Park (2.5 Hours) in New Mexico, and adjacent Guadalupe Mountains National Park (2 Hours) in Texas before driving to Big Bend.
El Paso Airport is served by Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American, American Eagle, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United.
ELP offers rental car facilities, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty.
San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
San Antonio Airport is located approximately 435 miles, or 6.5 hours drive, from Big Bend National Park.
>> Click here to book your flight to San Antonio.
San Antonio is a large city with a vibrant history. If you are flying to Big Bend National Park via San Antonio, stop by the historic Alamo then wander the picturesque River Walk.
When we visited, we saw tons of restaurants along the historic River Walk, but make sure to make a reservation ahead of time for prime spots. It gets crowded!
San Antonio Airport is served by Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United and several international airlines, with flights to Mexico.
SAT offers rental cars from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty.
Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a whopping 550 Miles and 8.5 Hour drive from Big Bend National Park. But as one of the biggest airport hubs in the united states, it is still one of the best major airports to Big Bend National park.
If you are flying to Big Bend from the East Coast or outside the United States, Dallas is the best major international airport for flying to Big Bend.
>> Click here to book your flight to Dallas.
DFW is served by a huge number of airlines and direct flights from across the country, including American, Alaska, American Eagle, Delta, Frontier, Spirit, United and other international flights from around the world.
DFW offers rental cars from Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty.
Midland Odessa International Air and Space Port
The closest airport to big bend national park is Midland Odessa International Air and Space Port. Midland-Odessa is a mid-sized airport, about 220 miles from Big Bend. Driving from Midland to Big Bend takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Midland is served by American Eagle, Southwest, and United Airlines, with direct flights mostly within the southwest united states. >> Click here to book flights to Midland Odessa.
To get from Midland to Big Bend, you will need to rent a car. Midland offers modest rental car services, including Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National.
Always remember to practice Leave No Trace, stay on designated trails, and respect historic and native sites. Big Bend is the ancestral home of many Native people, including the Chiso and Jumanos tribes.
Driving to Big Bend National Park
As you may have noticed, it takes quite a bit of time to drive to Big Bend National from, well, almost anywhere.
This map, from Big Bend National Park, shows the approximate driving distance and highways to the Park.
When driving to and around Big Bend, it’s essential to have an offline map available. DO NOT rely on cell phone service for directions! Cell phone service is unreliable to downright nonexistent on the way to Big Bend. Download or print your directions for offline use and carry a paper map.
The following are approximate drive times to Big Bend:
| Driving Distance to Big Bend (Panther Junction Visitor Center) | |
|---|---|
| Big Bend Ranch State Park | 45 Miles / 1 Hour |
| Alpine, TX | 98 Miles / 1 Hour 45 Minutes |
| Marfa, TX | 125 Miles / 2 Hours |
| Odessa, TX | 208 Miles / 3 Hours 15 Minutes |
| El Paso, TX | 318 Miles / 5 Hours |
| Guadalupe Mountains National Park | 265 Miles / 4 Hours 15 Minutes |
| San Antonio, TX | 437 Miles / 6 Hours |
| Austin, TX | 465 Miles / 7 Hours |
| Houston, TX | 589 Miles / 9 Hours |
Entrances to Big Bend National Park
There are two entrances to Big Bend National Park:
The Sturdy Butte / Terlingua Entrance is located on Highway 118. From Sturdy Butte / Terlingua, follow Highway 118 (Maverick Drive) south to the Big Bend National Park entrance station. Once in the park, stay on the left and follow the paved road (Panther Junction Road) into the Park.
The Persimmon Gap Entrance is located on US Highway 385. From Marathon, Texas, follow US 385 south into Big Bend National Park. Once inside the Park, US 385 becomes Main Park Road.
Gas Stations In and Around Big Bend
Tip for Getting to Big Bend National Park: No matter where you’re driving from, getting to Big Bend National Park involves a long drive through rural and uninhabited areas. Keep a close eye on your gas tank and fill up at all available as stations. Consider bringing an extra gas can.
There are two gas stations available inside the Park:
- Panther Junction Service Station: Located just west of the Panther Junction Visitor center (and Park HQ) located in the center of the Park. This small convenience store has gas, diesel, and a small selection of gas-station groceries.
- Rio Grande Village Service Station: Located in Rio Grande Village on the southeastern corner of the Park. Gas, propane, ATM, and a full camp store are open year-round.
There is no gas in the Chisos Mountains / Chisos Basin area. The nearest fill up spot is Panther Junction.
Gas stations outside of the Park are available in the following areas:
- Terlingua, Texas, at the intersection of Highway 170 and Highway 118.
- Lajitas, Texas, at the Lajitas General Store on Highway 170
- Gas is also available in Alpine and Marathon, north of the Park
Planning a trip to Big Bend National Park? The Big Bend Itinerary Guide has your perfect 1, 2, or 3 day Big Bend trip completely planned for you! With over 20 pages of detailed hiking guides, printable daily itineraries, lodging and dining suggestions and more, you can spend less time stressing and more time making epic memories! Check it out, here.
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