Camp Elena

This place was incredible, tranquil, and very romantic. I am still dreaming of this yurt in the desert. We actually got lucky and experienced brief rain, which after a long summer hike, we welcomed! The tent was clean, distant enough away but not too far, best views and reasonably priced. The booklet inside made our stay easy to know where we can go to eat or shop and some excursions to get involved in. And the stars... with the telescope, you'll never want to leave! We can't wait to come back, high recommend! 🌵✨💕 Ps. Those are wild donkeys! So neat!

I’d give this place more stars if Google allowed it. Our experience at Camp Elena was nothing short of luxurious. Every detail has been thoughtfully curated to make the stay both comfortable and magical. First—the view. Stunning doesn’t even begin to describe it. From our room, we looked out across miles of serene desert, all the way to the distant mountains. Sitting on our balcony in the morning, sipping coffee and taking it all in, is a moment we’ll never forget. And the magic doesn’t stop at sunset—the night sky is something else entirely. A true blanket of stars stretches overhead. We were told by the owners that Big Bend has the darkest skies in the U.S., and we believe it. Second—the amenities. Every detail in the room has been carefully considered, from the soft robes and artisanal soaps, to the gorgeous floor tiles and the cowboy hats hanging above the bed. The look is cohesive, warm, and high-end. The kitchen is fully equipped, and the outdoor BBQ works like a charm. While there are grocery stores in town, we brought everything we needed with us.

We had previously seen ads for Camp Elena on Facebook and thought about staying, but never planned the trip. We decided to take a last minute trip to Big Bend and had not found a place to stay. We were able to find a tent available at the last minute for a one-night stay at Camp Elena. What a blessing! This place is AMAZING and every staff member we talked to was incredible friendly and helpful. We weren't sure if the car we were in would allow us to make it to the actual camp because of the road, but they offered to fully refund our money if we were unable to navigate the road in our car! Such kind people! We were able to navigate our way to our tent and were so happy that we did. We were in awe of the beauty of our surroundings and the tent itself. We really wished they had availability for us to stay another night, but unfortunately, they were fully booked. We will definitely be back to stay at Camp Elena for more than one night! Thank you for an incredibly wonderful experience!

Camp Elena is an awesome way to experience the Chihuahuan Desert and Big Bend National Park. It is a luxury refuge in the middle of the desert that will allow you to relax and reset in such beautiful circumstances. No detail has been left to chance.|| The “tents” are absolutely amazing, with great views, fully climate controlled, a deck equipped with a propane grill and a high-powered telescope to enjoy the night sky. All the lighting is dimmable, so you can enjoy the dark skies. Just outside your tent is your own private fire pit too.|||The bathroom is very sleek and well laid out, plus you have essentially a full kitchen, miniaturized. The bedding is amazing. The decor fits the landscape so beautifully. You're in a tent, but you have all the luxuries of home. |||| The caretakers are very responsive. There is nothing that you will want from a stay at Camp Elena, other than to stay longer. ||||I was here during a big storm where the entire town of Terlingua lost power, but because this property is solar powered — We never lost power, nor did we lose internet service. That is pretty amazing, for such a remote area. ||I was a solo traveler, and despite the “remoteness” I felt extremely comfortable staying at this property. So if you're planning a trip to Big Bend, there's no place better to stay than Camp Elena.

I booked Camp Elena based off a blog I read about West Texas. The camping (even in late June) was amazing. I packed like I was camping but everything I needed was available but food. The layout and thought process for each camp site having privacy and views was amazing. Would recommend a must stay designation and experience.

We had the most wonderful family stay at Camp Elena! I had been wanting to go there for awhile and it exceeded all our expectations. Even with a night heavy on wind we felt safe in our tent and loved our stay. The views were unreal, it was very private, and the tent was ultra luxury with well appointed furnishings and amenities. We cooked/bbq both nights in and it was so peaceful eating on the deck at sunset. I’m recommending it to everyone. The tent had more space than expected and fit our family of four well. The suite tent was brand new and gorgeous. We had tent 7 and we loved our view, we were partial to thinking we had the best tent but I’m sure the others were lovely too. Can’t wait to go back!

This is our 3rd time with Camp Elena and our 7th time to the region and the only repeat place we’ve stayed at. Perfectly curated- has all amenities and luxuries modern day lifers desire but presented in a simple form that is perfect for an escape into the desert. We can grill, cook, and relax after long days of hiking. This time our tent had low water pressure which is not the norm. The team responded promptly the next morning when we notified them of the issue and it was fixed before we got back to the tent. Good communication too. As always, reminder it’s a tent even though it’s fancy so you can hear your neighbors cars and the weather elements. Winds can get very loud. We don’t mind it at all and come prepared with noise cancelling headphones.

We stayed at Camp Elena during our second trip to Terlingua, and it will be hard to stay anywhere else on future trips. ||The owners of Camp Elena cut zero corners on these tents - from the construction of the tents to the amenities inside. Everything from the bed to the linens to the appliances to the fixtures - all top of the line, making the stay feel very luxurious and comfortable. With restaurant options being limited and crowded in Terlingua, having everything needed to prepare a nice meal in the tent is a great option to have. The property lighting at night was neat and helpful when navigating around the property and enjoying the dark sky. ||The communications we received leading up to our stay were extremely helpful, making it easy to find the property and setting our expectations on what the roads would be like. While we saw smaller sedans at the property, we were grateful to be in a truck that could navigate the desert roads. ||Camp Elena has thought of everything, so guests can make the most of their stay near Big Bend. We'll definitely be back!

My wife and I stayed at Camp Elena in March, 2025. We had a fantastic time. The amenities were first class and super comfortable. Also, very cool to stay in a tent. We felt like the hosts anticipated all our needs. The views from the porch were awesome. We will definitely stay there again.