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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.

    My Trip to Big Bend National Park Was the Perfect Relaxing Getaway and I Didn’t Have to Use a Single Airline Mile or Hotel Point to Make It Happen!

    Hiking in Big Bend National Park Index:

    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.

    Ready to Rev This Engine on the Open Highway!

    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.

    All Silvercar Rentals Come With GPS, Which Made It Easy for Us to Find Our Way Around

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

    I May (or May Not) Have Gone Over 130 MPH Somewhere on This Route

    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.

    Some Former Residents Even Left Their Cars Behind

    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!

    There Was an Ecelectic Mix of Antiques and Locally Made Goods Around the House

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

    We Had a Great Time Dining by the Outdoor Fireplace Watching the Sunset Over the Mountains

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

    It’s Not Always About Fancy Hotels, This Trip Was Special Thanks to Fresh Air and Good Friends!

    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!

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)