Terlingua is an interesting place to stop while on a road trip. I didn’t grow up in Texas so I had never heard of it until I recently started planning a trip to Big Bend National Park, which is just south of Terlingua. When I asked around, my friend who grew up in Sweetwater (deep in the heart of West Texas) described Terlingua as “a very famous piece of Texan culture heavily referenced in much of the Outlaw country music of the Austin based scene of the 70s.” My coworker, who grew up in Houston and backpacks frequently in Big Bend, described the Terlingua reputation as that of a “weird party town… like, really weird.”

 

Planning a trip to Terlingua? Check out my list of films either set or filmed in West Texas to find out what movies were filmed in Terlingua that you should watch to get ready for your trip!

 

Here are nine things you should keep in mind when you’re planning a road trip to Terlingua:

1. Book your lodging for your trip to Terlingua NOW.

Seriously, if you think you’re going to stay in Terlingua for a trip to Big Bend National Park, stop reading this and book your lodging. There aren’t many hotels in town and Airbnb lodging fills up QUICKLY so you have to plan ahead. (For example, I just pulled up the options for a weekend in February and only found 2-3 Airbnb non-RV and non-camping options available). For our trip over New Year’s Eve weekend this year, we ended up paying $100 a night for a private room that was basically a storage container in a barn that shared a public single stall bathroom with about eight other groups… and we were lucky to get it.

Camping is also an option, but it’s not going to be that affordable compared to other places in the country. The owner of the Airbnb we were staying was also offering camping on his property, and it was $30 a night.

2. … especially if you’re planning to go in November.

The busy season for Big Bend National Park (and therefore Terlingua) is November through January.  On top of that, the Terlingua Chili Cook Off (started in 1967) is held every year in November, so accommodations fill up even quicker than usual.

3. Food isn’t fast in Terlingua.

Here’s the thing: Terlingua is tiny. In the 2010 census, it was listed as having a population of 58. You basically need to be prepared to stay in a rural area with few amenities. There are no fast food joints in Terlingua. There are only three restaurants in town and the wait for food is… leisurely. When we mentioned our long wait for food at one restaurant to another guest staying at our Airbnb, he shrugged and said, “Yeah, of course.”

4. Cell phone coverage in Terlingua is spotty at best.

Just as an example, here’s a map of Verizon’s coverage in this part of the country:

Not great. Plan ahead. Bring a paper map of the area or download a map of the area to your phone.

5. Keep an eye on your gas gauge.

The closest gas station is 5.5 miles outside of town, and there are only two gas stations inside Big Bend National Park. It’s not inconceivable that you’d run out of gas, so fill up as soon as you start getting low, just to avoid the stress of possibly running out of gas in the middle of a desert where you can’t even make a phone call for help.

6. There are no convenience or big box stores available in Terlingua.

Plan ahead, especially if you’re planning on buying bottled water. (Better yet, buy a reusable water bottle and fill up wherever you’re staying or in the park.)

7. It’s going to take you about 45 minutes to get to Big Bend National Park Headquarters.

Even though if you look at a map, Terlingua is only about 7 miles away from the north border of Big Bend National Park, it’s still a ~30 mile drive to get park headquarters. The speed limit in the park is 45 mph, so it’s going to take you around 45 minutes to get from Terlingua to park headquarters, and another 45 minutes to get back after you’re done for the day. Plan to get up early so you can get on the road and beat the crowds.

8. Plan to get up early to go star-gazing and watch the sunrise.

Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are both dedicated dark sky parks, so you’re in an awesome spot to see the Milky Way. When we were there, though, there was a full moon so we couldn’t see much at night before bed. I ended up getting up early to star gaze and it was AMAZING. As an added bonus, getting to watch the sunrise from behind Maverick Mountain while eating some Hearty Overnight Oats was a treat.

9. The sunsets are amazing.

Consider eating at the High Sierra to sit on the rooftop porch and watch the sunset after a long day of hiking.

 

Want more travel guides?

Check out the other Road Trip Soul guides that are available. Hover over a heart to see the location name, then click the “Guides” link to see everything I’ve written about that place.

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Thanks for reading! Looking for more information about staying in Terlingua? Check out my Pinterest board on the local culture and places of interest: