West Texas stretches out in front of us, mile after mile of open road and widening sky. The drive has a rhythm now—long straightaways, the occasional small town, the sense that we’re leaving one world and easing into another. Cell service fades, radio stations come and go, and the landscape simplifies until it’s mostly earth, sky, and time.

With every mile, Big Bend feels closer, even before we can see it. Mesquite and creosote line the highway, distant ridges ripple along the horizon, and the quiet grows more noticeable. This is the kind of drive that demands patience, but rewards it too. The remoteness is the point.

Soon, the Chisos Mountains will rise ahead of us, and the road will begin to climb. By late afternoon, we expect to wind our way up into the Chisos Basin, just just in time to watch the sunset through the Window. After a full day on the road, the thought of pulling in, stepping out into cooler air, and finally being there is enough to keep us rolling.

Big Bend is one of our favorite parks, and even before we arrive, it’s already doing what it does best—slowing us down and pulling us in.

🎥 A look back at our very first Big Bend visit: