Hiking in Big Bend National Park: Part 1 – Our VRBO House in a Ghost Town

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Not all travel is about fancy hotels and First Class flights using miles and points.  You can find Big Travel with Small Money right in your own back yard.

This past December, a couple of friends and I hit the road for a weekend getaway to Big Bend National Park.  The park is on the border between the US and Mexico.  And the landscape is a magnificent mix of desert and mountains carved out by the winding Rio Grande.

Hiking in Big Bend National Park Index:

• Part 1 – Our VRBO House in a Ghost Town
• Part 2 – Hiking and a Journey Into Mexico
• Part 3 – Restaurants & Stops

Road Tripping in an Audi A4

When my friends and I decided to take this trip to Big Bend, I knew it would be an excellent time to test out Silvercar, a new rental car company that rents only silver Audis.

I saved 50% by making my reservation during their Thanksgiving sale.

I usually like to rent the cheapest economy car I can find.  However, sometimes Silvercar has discounts that can save you money.  And I was really impressed with the seamless experience they provide.  You can find out more about Silvercar in my full review.

The drive from Austin to Big Bend National Park took us ~6 and a half hours.

Once we got outside of Austin, there was very little traffic.

VRBO House in a Ghost Town

We rented a 3 bedroom, 1 bath house on VRBO for 3 nights.  We split the cost, so the total was ~$360 per person.

The house sits just outside Terlingua, a former mining town that was abandoned in the 1940s.

The owner of the house we rented greeted us at the door.  You could tell how much she loved her adobe home and the surrounding area.

And while the house has a rustic feel, I was happy to find there was Wi-Fi access available for guests!

What I enjoyed most were the sprawling views of the Santa Fe de Los Pinos mountains.

Everywhere you look there’s a different outdoor space where you can sit back and enjoy the view.

Bottom Line

My friends and I decided to hit the road for a trip to Big Bend National Park.  It was a fun weekend adventure and we didn’t have to spend a lot of money or miles and points to make it happen!

I had a blast driving the Audi A4 we rented from Silvercar.   And while the views were pretty spectacular from our VRBO house in Terlingua, they were even better once we made it inside the park!