Bending Southwest Texas
In May 2023, we set out on our “Let’s Visit Four National Parks” EV road trip, with Big Bend National Park as one of our most anticipated stops.
Tucked into the remote southwest corner of Texas, Big Bend offers stunning desert landscapes, rugged mountains, and star-filled skies - with not a single public or private EV charger in sight.
At a Glance: EV Road Trip to Big Bend National Park
The Challenge: No Towing Bill
Pulling it Off: Calling Ahead & Relaxed Driving
Park Visuals: A Myriad of Color
Best EV Practices: Curb Your Speed Need
OVERALL RATING: 7/5 stars
EV Road Trip to Big Bend National Park: The Challenge
Our destination was Terlingua, a quiet desert town just outside Big Bend National Park. At the time, EV charging options were nonexistent, so we had to plan carefully.
The goal: spend two full days exploring Big Bend in our EV, then make it north to the Electrify America charger in Fort Stockton via US Highway 385.
The challenge was simple - enjoy the park without creating an expensive towing bill.
We explored the park’s vast beauty, from desert trails to canyon overlooks, and still had enough charge to confidently head north along US 385, rolling into Fort Stockton with battery to spare - and a sense of accomplishment that only EV road trippers will truly understand.
EV Charging at Big Bend National Park: How We Pulled It Off
The lack of private and public chargers required more thought than our usual color-coded dots on an atlas EV road trip planning method.
We needed to plan for two days of recharging upon arrival in Terlingua, Texas, for park exploration and the 155 mile trek back to Fort Stockton, Texas.
Paisano Village RV Park & Inn, Turlingua, Texas
Our journey began on NM State Highway 285, rolling south from Cline’s Corner with a quick opportunity charge in Roswell, New Mexico.
After a full top-off in Artesia - the last public EV charging station before Carlsbad Caverns - we pushed onward, knowing the next stretch would test our range and nerves.
We followed US Highway 62 to NM State Highway 54, eventually sputtering into the Electrify America charging station in Van Horn, Texas.
With a full charge and a sigh of relief, we cruised along US Highway 90 through Marfa (sadly, too sunny to spot the mysterious lights), then turned south on Texas State Highway 118 at Alpine for the final 83-mile stretch to Terlingua.
As our charge dipped to 14%, I braced for a possible towing bill and the “You screwed up look” from Cheryl. But salvation came in the form of a reliable RV 14-50, 50 amp plug at Paisano Village RV Park & Inn. Our hosts saved my ego, our battery, and our budget, keeping this EV road trip alive and drama-free.
The following morning, fully charged and ready, we set off to explore the vast beauty of Big Bend National Park. After a day of desert trails and canyon views, we returned under a sky bursting with stars, plugged in, and settled in for the night.
With a 100% charge on our second morning, we rolled out along US Highway 385, traversing the park, passing the Border Patrol Station, and eventually reaching the Fort Stockton Electrify America charger - continuing our EV road trip toward Oklahoma City.
Thanks to a little planning and some generous hosts, we spent our time sweating in the West Texas heat - not over charging - and kept our EV road trip running smooth, scenic, and stress-free.
EV Sight Seeing Big Bend National Park: Visual Highlights
To be blunt and honest, I found Big Bend National Park to be one of the most visually stunning places in America.
See for yourself—embark on your own EV road trip to the splendid isolation of Big Bend National Park.
Our discovery through Big Bend National Park began at the main visitor center, tucked away at Panther Junction, about 30 miles into the park.
After picking up our essential “we were there” park magnet, we continued east toward Boquillas Canyon Overlook, passing the port of entry to Boquillas del Carmen, where a colorful roadside display of handmade souvenirs caught our eye.
Though unofficial, this honor system market reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of our neighbors just across the Rio Grande in Mexico.
Heading west, we turned onto Maxwell Scenic Drive to enjoy 22 miles of sweeping desert views on our way to the Castolon Visitor Center and Store - only to discover the last 8 miles to the Rio Grande were underwater, bringing our descent (and our hopes for riverside views & world peace) to an end.
We headed back uphill and turned east again, this time taking the winding Chisos Basin Road into the mountains.
Our destination: dinner at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. We enjoyed a feast for both the palate and the eyes, and the lodge store offered a fun mix of souvenirs - including, most importantly, a pair of Big Bend National Park socks.
As we returned to our cottage in Terlingua, the spectacular Chisos Mountains glowed in shades of purple and green, fronting a fiery orange sky - a moment that felt like pure magic.
But the day wasn’t quite over - at 1:00 AM, we climbed out of bed for one last adventure, driving back to the park entrance to stargaze.
With no artificial light for miles, the night sky provided a breathtaking, horizon-to-horizon display - an unforgettable finale to a colorful day together.
EV Driving in Big Bend National Park: Best Practices
Planning ahead prevented “the look” and a potentially embarrassing tow to Fort Stockton.
Efficient driving and using the hills for regeneration, ensured plenty of battery for a 12-hour park exploration.
Sunset over the Chisos Mountains
Overnight EV Charging
We contacted Paisano Village RV Park & Inn the previous Spring to reserve a delightfully comfortable cottage; they allowed us to use our portable charger with an RV electrical pedestal located 20 steps outside our cottage door.
This was the first time I had used our portable charger at an RV park, and I was concerned about the electrical connection.
To prevent problems, I brought a Progressive Industries Portable 50 AMP RV Surge Protector to plug into the pedestal and then used my MUSTART Level 2 40 AMP EV Charger with 25ft Cable from the surge protector.
This setup worked wonderfully. After settling into our cottage, I irritated the RV Park patrons when our Kia loudly announced, “Charging Started”. A feature rapidly disabled.
Park EV Road Trip Driving Efficiency
Most of our driving in the national parks stayed around 35 MPH - perfect speeds for maximizing an EV battery’s range.
A play on the adage “what goes down must come up” described many of the park roads. We set our regenerative braking to a higher level, letting gravity recharge the battery on the way down and using that free energy to power us back up the hills.
I don’t worry about saving battery by limiting AC use - forget that. I’m going to be comfortable and run it all the time.
The low driving speeds and frequent sightseeing pullouts actually improved our driving efficiency, making AC use practically negligible - yet still essential for eliminating arm pit odor.
EV Road Trip in the Desert (Over) Heat
Our late-May arrival brought daytime temperatures near 100 degrees - very hot for walking around, and even worse inside a parked car. Anytime we exited stage left, we took the 20 seconds to set up the Windshield Sunshade Umbrella.
While out of the car, our sun hats protected us from sunburn and shielded our eyes from the glare.
Water bottles in our cooler were more than essential. We usually carried three to four bottles each, but while exploring the park, we brought around 20 water bottles. You can never be sure everything will go right, and getting stuck in the sun without water is not an option.
What I didn’t expect was how hot the battery would get by the time we returned to the charger. I had to let the car cool for three to four hours before it would charge without failure.
On our day driving south to the park, the weather was milder, and we were able to start charging right away. But on the second day of desert driving, we had to wait until after stargazing to begin charging.
Get out there and enjoy yourself! When you plan ahead, stay hydrated, and dress appropriately, you set yourself up for a safe and memorable EV road trip.
Birds Eye Review: Big Bend National Park is a Great EV Destination
West Texas is more than just U.S. Interstate 10 and the city of El Paso.
Dip south into Big Bend Country and push your comfort zone to explore the rugged beauty of the West Texas countryside.
The town of Terlingua offers a variety of lodging options, dining experiences, and even a quirky grocery store - perfect for prepping before racing the roadrunners across the park.
While Tesla has now opened a Supercharger station 100 miles away in Alpine, Texas, you’ll still need to plan for charging during your one or two-day adventure in the area.
I encourage you to leave the highways behind and EV road trip a world few have seen. This venture will showcase sunrises, desert flora & fauna, the clear midnight sky and dramatically change your appreciation for the color brown.
Find solitude and expand your color palette in the vast landscapes of Big Bend National Park.
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