Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Amistad National Recreation Area
An oasis in the desert, Amistad National Recreation Area consists of the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad, a Spanish word meaning "friendship," is known for excellent water-based recreation, camping, hiking, and rich cultural history dating back nearly 5,000 years. Amistad is also home to a wide variety of plant and animal life both above and below the water.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the official provider or park-specific camping instructions published by the NPS. Select the named campground and verify its dates, access and site rules.
277 North Campground ↗
277 North Campground is generally open year-round and rarely fills up. A boat launch ramp off the campground may be available depending on lake levels. 277 North offers 17 primitive sites, which are first-come, first-served only. Each site has a covered picnic table and a BBQ grill. A group site is available with reservation only. No ground fires are allowed. The sites are suitable for tents or RVs. Vault toilets are available. No drinking water or hookups are available.
Reservations: Standard overnight camping is first-come, first-served only and does not take a reservation. However, the group campsite requires a reservation no less than 3 days in advance and no more than 6 months. Link below is for group campsite ONLY.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: RV and Trailers are permitted Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Ground fires are not permitted. Each campsite has a grill.
Site rules: Site capacity is not to exceed eight persons and one recreational vehicle camping unit (three vehicles total). Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas only and may not be driven off-road. Visitors can stay in a campground up to 14 consecutive nights with a limit of 60 nights in the park in a calendar year. Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am. Check out time is 11am. Ground fires are prohibited.
Governors Landing Campground ↗
Governors Landing Campground is open year-round and rarely fills up, except possibly on holiday weekends. It is suitable for tents and RVs up to 28 feet in length. Governors Landing is the only campground in the park with potable water available, though there are no hookups. This campground has access to some of the most popular swimming areas in the park. Picnicking at vacant sites in Governors Landing Campground is allowed 7am to 3pm. Occupying sites outside these times requires payment of camping fees.
Reservations: All sites are first-come, first-served only.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Accessible for RVs under 28'. NPS lists an RV maximum of 28 feet. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Paved Roads - All vehicles OK.
Fires: Gills are available at each campsite. Ground fires are not permitted.
Site rules: Site capacity is not to exceed eight persons and one recreational vehicle camping unit (three vehicles total). Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas only and may not be driven off-road. Visitors can stay in a campground up to 14 consecutive nights with a limit of 60 nights in the park in a calendar year. Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am. Check out time is 11am. Ground fires are prohibited.
Rough Canyon Campground ↗
Rough Canyon Campground is generally open year-round and is in close proximity to a boat ramp. There may be a camp host on duty in the winter, and a Ranger Station is staffed intermittently. This campground offers 4 primitive sites, each with a covered picnic table and a BBQ grill. The sites are suitable for tents or RVs. No drinking water or hookups are available. Comfort station and running water available nearby at the Ranger Station.
Reservations: All sites are first-come, first-served only.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: Campsites are level, graded gravel. Comfort station is a short distance, slightly uphill from campground (near boat ramp parking). Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: Fire in grills only. Groundfires are not permitted.
Site rules: Site capacity is not to exceed eight persons and one recreational vehicle camping unit (three vehicles total). Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas only and may not be driven off-road. Visitors can stay in a campground up to 14 consecutive nights with a limit of 60 nights in the park in a calendar year. Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am. Check out time is 11am. Ground fires and glass bottles are prohibited.
San Pedro Campground ↗
San Pedro Campground is open year-round and rarely fills to capacity. Of Amistad's campgrounds, it is the best suited for large RVs. This campground is accessed via a 1¼ mile graded, gravel road and offers 34 sites suitable for tents or RVs. There are also 8 walk-in (tent only) sites. Each site has a covered picnic table and a BBQ grill. Ground fires are prohibited. Vault toilets are available. No drinking water or hook-ups.
Reservations: Standard overnight camping is first-come, first-served only and does not take a reservation. However, the group campsite requires a reservation no less than 3 days in advance and no more than 6 months. Link below is for group campsite ONLY.
Reservations / current camping instructions ↗
RV / truck camping: RVs and trailers access camping area from a dirt road. Confirm the exact site and current approach.
Approach: Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather.
Fires: There is a grill at each campsite. Ground fires are not allowed in the park.
Site rules: Site capacity is not to exceed eight persons and one recreational vehicle camping unit (three vehicles total). Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas only and may not be driven off-road. Visitors can stay in a campground up to 14 consecutive nights with a limit of 60 nights in the park in a calendar year. Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am. Check out time is 11am. Ground fires and glass bottles are prohibited.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
NPS lists RV access at 277 North Campground. RV and Trailers are permitted
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Hiking, Front-Country Hiking. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Boating, Motorized Boating, Sailing, Jet Skiing, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Car or Front Country Camping, Group Camping, RV Camping, Fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Hiking, Front-Country Hiking, Hunting and Gathering, Hunting, Paddling, Canoeing, Kayaking, Junior Ranger Program, SCUBA Diving, Swimming, Freshwater Swimming, Water Skiing, Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching, Park Film, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
Amistad National Recreation Area is located on the US-Mexico border 7 miles west of the Del Rio city limit and 6 miles west of the US Highway 90 and 277 North intersection. The park is 160 miles west of San Antonio on US Highway 90 and about 230 miles east of Big Bend National Park via US Highway 90 and US Highway 385. Access to Amistad from the north or south is via US 277/377. The visitor center address is 10477 Highway 90 West, Del Rio, TX 78840. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
Weather in Southwest Texas can change in a matter of minutes. It is best to check the local weather report. Amistad National Recreation Area usually has hot summers and mild winters. For more information, please visit the park's Current Conditions page at https://www.nps.gov/amis/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Amistad Reservoir and Hwy 90 Bridge
Enjoy the serenity of sunset at Amistad National Recreation Area's Governors Landing Day Use Area.
Credit: NPS / E Paola. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: The shoreline along Amistad National Recreation Area
A peaceful view of the shores along Amistad National Recreation Area
Credit: NPS / Cesha Hernandez. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.