Terlingua International Chili Championship 2026
A chili world championship in the Chihuahuan Desert — the campout IS the event.
Days to go
66days · Nov 4–7, 2026
Where to sleep in Texas
Texas campgrounds we keep verified — rig limits, fees and booking windows straight from the operator. Distances to Terlingua, TX (Rancho CASI de los Chisos) vary, so check the map before you commit.
- Rio Grande Village Campground (Big Bend NP)Nearest town: Boquillas · National Park Service$16–$40/nightRigs to 40 ftBooks 6 months ahead via recreation.gov
- Chisos Basin Campground (Big Bend NP)Nearest town: Marathon (TX) · National Park Service$16/nightRigs to 24 ftBooks 6 months ahead via recreation.gov
- Pine Springs Campground (Guadalupe Mountains NP)Nearest town: Salt Flat · National Park Service$20/nightRigs to 35 ftBooks 6 months ahead via recreation.gov
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park CampgroundNearest town: Canyon · State Park / State Forest$24–$38/nightRigs to 50 ftBooks 5 months ahead via tx state parks portal
Going to Terlingua Chili 2026? Tell us the nights.
Local owners list their own rigs here. You get a single email when one is listed for your window.
What you need to know
Every first week of November, the ghost-town country between Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande fills with rigs for the Terlingua International Chili Championship — the 59th edition runs November 4-7, 2026 at Rancho CASI de los Chisos, the Chili Appreciation Society International's own ranch off FM 170. This is the rare festival where the RV is not logistics but the point: the ranch is a primitive desert campout — no hookups, no water, no shade beyond what you bring — and thousands of cooks and campers build a temporary town of rigs, flags and cook stoves under some of the darkest night skies in Texas. Wednesday through Friday layer in bean, salsa and wings contests plus live music before Saturday's championship judging. Come fully provisioned: Study Butte has limited fuel and groceries, and the nearest real resupply is Alpine, 80 miles north. Terlingua's famous quirk — two rival chili cookoffs run the same week on opposite sides of town, a schism dating to the original 1967 shootout — is half the fun of asking locals for directions. Tack on Big Bend: Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is 40 minutes from your campsite.
Official source: casichili.net/ticc-home-page.html
Safety + legal
Remote desert dry-camping: haul in all water and fuel, expect zero hookups and no cell coverage pockets, and keep a sober driver — the two-lane roads out of Terlingua are dark, shoulderless and shared with wildlife at night.
Insider tip
Position your rig's door to the east: dawn over the Chisos Mountains from your own camp chair is the single best free show of the week, and the November desert drops to the 40s overnight — pack for real cold.
Plan your trip · Nov 4–7, 2026 · Terlingua, TX (Rancho CASI de los Chisos)
Rent an RV near Terlingua Chili 2026
Search runs on your Nov 4–7, 2026 window with a one-day buffer on each side — arrive early, leave late. Whether an RV is listed for those dates depends on what Texas hosts have posted, so the campsite plan below is worth locking either way.
- Dates
- Nov 4–7, 2026
- Days away
- 66
- Location
- Terlingua, TX (Rancho CASI de los Chisos)
- Book ahead
- 8+ weeks
- Planning window
- Plan ahead
Hosting near Terlingua, TX (Rancho CASI de los Chisos)? List your rig and put your calendar in front of event travellers.
List your rig →Start early, arrive easy — the whole runway
The honest runway from start-looking to head-home, with a one-day buffer on each end.
Start
~8 weeks out
Give yourself ~8 weeks to line up a rig and a campsite.
Arrive
Nov 3
Roll in a day early and set up camp.
Event
Nov 4–7
Terlingua International Chili Championship 2026
Head home
Nov 8
Leave a day late and skip the exodus.
Best rigs for Terlingua Chili 2026
First pick first — each row opens a search for Nov 4-7, already filtered to the class.
Plan it by rig
Each class above has its own planning page for Terlingua Chili 2026 — class fit and booking guidance in one place.
Frequently asked about Terlingua Chili 2026
When is Terlingua International Chili Championship 2026?
Terlingua International Chili Championship 2026 runs Nov 4–7, 2026 in Terlingua, TX (Rancho CASI de los Chisos), Texas.
Where is Terlingua Chili 2026 held?
Terlingua, TX (Rancho CASI de los Chisos), Texas.
What are the exact 2026 dates?
Nov 4–7, 2026.
What RV should I rent for Terlingua Chili 2026?
Best categories: rv, towable, trucks-vans, off-road. Every first week of November, the ghost-town country between Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande fills with rigs for the Terlingua International Chili Championship — the 59th edition runs November 4-7, 2026 at Rancho CASI de los Chisos, the Chili Appreciation Society International's own ranch off FM 170. This is the rare festival where the RV is not logistics but the point: the ranch is a primitive desert campout — no hookups, no water, no shade beyond what you bring — and thousands of cooks and campers build a temporary town of rigs, flags and cook stoves under some of the darkest night skies in Texas. Wednesday through Friday layer in bean, salsa and wings contests plus live music before Saturday's championship judging. Come fully provisioned: Study Butte has limited fuel and groceries, and the nearest real resupply is Alpine, 80 miles north. Terlingua's famous quirk — two rival chili cookoffs run the same week on opposite sides of town, a schism dating to the original 1967 shootout — is half the fun of asking locals for directions. Tack on Big Bend: Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is 40 minutes from your campsite.
How early should I book an RV?
Recommended lead time: 8 weeks. Event windows book up early, so search and lock your dates as soon as your plans firm up.
Can you camp at the Terlingua chili cookoff?
Camping on the ranch is the event — primitive desert camping with no hookups or water. Self-contained RVs are the standard way people do it: arrive with full fresh tanks, empty holding tanks, and every gallon of drinking water you'll need.
When is the Terlingua International Chili Championship in 2026?
November 4-7, 2026 — Wednesday through Saturday, with championship judging on Saturday — at Rancho CASI de los Chisos near Terlingua, Texas. The dates are published by CASI, the sanctioning organization.
Is Terlingua a good add-on to a Big Bend RV trip?
It's the natural pairing — the ranch sits under an hour from Big Bend National Park's western entrances. Many crews camp the cookoff midweek, then move into the park or Terlingua-area campgrounds for the following week. Book any hookup campground in the area far ahead; November is peak Big Bend season.
What safety and legal guidance applies?
Remote desert dry-camping: haul in all water and fuel, expect zero hookups and no cell coverage pockets, and keep a sober driver — the two-lane roads out of Terlingua are dark, shoulderless and shared with wildlife at night.
What's an insider tip?
Position your rig's door to the east: dawn over the Chisos Mountains from your own camp chair is the single best free show of the week, and the November desert drops to the 40s overnight — pack for real cold.
Ready to roll?
Texas is waiting.
Complete nightly price on every listing — your exact total itemized before you pay · 48h free cancel. Every rig near you, one checkout.
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Plan around the event · 3
Hub state · nearest city · nearest park · recommended rig category — one click each.
State rules, safety and legalLicence + towing rules, insurance basics and the non-affiliation notice.
Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Before you rent in Texas — key local rules
No CDL for personal motorhomes under 26,001 lbs — Texas Transp. Code §522.004
Boater Education required for anyone born Sept 1, 1993 or later — Texas Parks & Wildlife — Boater Education
0.08% BAC; Texas open-container law (§49.031) is strict — Texas Penal Code §49.031
OHV Decal required for use on public OHV areas — TPWD — Off-Highway Vehicle Decal
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with Texas DPS before relying. Reviewed in the last 3 months (as of 2026-05-24).
Texas rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- State rental tax
- 10% · not collected by PickRV
- Min driver age
- 18+ std · 21+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-08:00