Friday, May 8, 2015

Big Bend NP - 05/08/25 - Big Bend NP, TX

Friday – May 8, 2015
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park, Texas

We departed the Marfa Lights Visitor Center at 7:40 a.m. and arrived at the Rio Grande Village Campground in Big Bend National Park at 10:45 a.m.

We were surprised to see there were only about five tent campers in this 100-campsite campground. We pretty much had the pick of any campsite we wanted. We chose a nice shady one and set up camp.

What a difference a few hundred miles and 3,000 feet lower elevation can make! When we departed the Marfa Lights Visitor Center this morning, the temperature was in the low 50’s and we were wearing our sweatshirts. The temperature here at the Rio Grande Village Campground showed 105 degrees, in the shade, on our temperature gauge this afternoon. We later learned that May and June are generally the hottest months in the park.

We struck up a conversation with a retired couple who was tent camping here. They too were struck by the hot weather here this early in the year. They decided one night was enough for them and were departing in the morning for the higher elevation and cooler weather available in Fort Davis, Texas.

We had noticed on our drive into the park that a couple of the Visitor Centers were closed for the season – having closed at the end of April.

Campground: Rio Grande Village
Camping Fee: $14.00 ($7.00 with Golden Age Pass)
Campsite: 79

Total miles traveled today: 136
Route Traveled:
East on U.S. Highway 90
South on U.S. Highway 385 to Big Bend National Park

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

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