Gas station · Big Bend National Park
A 1958 Mission 66 station still serving a remote park.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Big Bend Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Big Bend National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Big Bend audio tourRecorded for this place
Panther Junction“You're approaching Panther Junction, the park's central visitor hub.”
Plays as you drive up to Panther Junction Service Station in the Parkwolf Big Bend Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
This is the park’s gas station and convenience store, about 200 yards west of Panther Junction Visitor Center. It’s a practical stop for gasoline, diesel, groceries, ice, snacks, coffee and ice cream while crossing the park. The pumps operate around the clock and take credit cards.
A public flush restroom, drinking water and an ATM are available here, too. Make it a quick stop for fuel or supplies.
Built in 1958, the station is part of the Mission 66 historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its broad, low roofline was designed to echo nearby Lone Mountain. That’s the detail to notice on a stop that might otherwise be all about the fuel gauge.
A 2025 renovation reopened in February 2026 with a brighter store layout, upgraded coolers and self-checkout, while preserving the mid-century exterior. A new shaded pavilion has photovoltaic panels for site lighting and energy use.
Wildlife
377 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
329 sightingsCollared PeccaryMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
500 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
985 sightingsRoadrunnerMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
228 sightingsRavenMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
264 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Big Bend. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyLone Mountain Trail2.7 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.5 mi awayA sunlit loop around Lone Mountain’s volcanic base.
ModeratePine Canyon Trail4 mi · 3 hr · 4.5 mi awayDesert grassland gives way to a shaded canyon and cliff pour-off.
Visitor center · 0.2 mi awayPanther Junction Visitor CenterStart here before the long drives through the park.
Scenic pullout · 3 mi awayAnimal Highways ExhibitA quick stop to read the dry wash as a wildlife corridor.
Sight · 3.7 mi awayNina Hannold's GravesiteA cactus-lined path leads to a pioneer family's grave.
Sight · 4.8 mi awayBalanced RockA boulder spans two stone pillars in a field of desert rocks.Parkwolf’s Big Bend ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
