Scenic drive along Big Bend Ranch State Park (Texas Parks and Wildlife) · Texas

River Road (FM 170)

FM 170 along the Rio Grande between Presidio and Lajitas, beside Big Bend Ranch State Park, through canyons and river bends.

Also known as El Camino del Rio

Along the River Road (FM 170)

Photo: Colin J. McMechan, CC BY 2.0, source

  • LengthNot verified
  • Drive timeNot verified
  • RoadsFM 170[1]
  • Start and endPresidio to Lajitas, along the Rio Grande[1]
  • Fees and passesNot verified
  • Best seasonNot verified
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesThe road into the park's interior (to Sauceda) is 27 miles of rough dirt; motor homes and trailers aren't recommended there.[1]
  • Seasonal closuresNot verified

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.

About the drive

FM 170, the River Road, follows the bends of the Rio Grande between Presidio and Lajitas, along the edge of Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Fort Leaton State Historic Site near Presidio and the Barton Warnock Visitor Center near Lajitas mark the two ends; both sell park permits. Closed Canyon, a short hike into a narrow slot canyon, is the most popular stop.

The paved river road is the easy part. The road into the state park's interior is 27 miles of rough dirt that Texas Parks and Wildlife doesn't recommend for motor homes or trailers.

Stops along the way

  1. Fort Leaton State Historic Site

    West entrance, about 4 miles southeast of Presidio.

    Official information · 29.5427, -104.32783

  2. Closed Canyon Trail

    Popular short hike into a narrow slot canyon off FM 170.

    Official information · 29.32775, -104.02821

  3. Barton Warnock Visitor Center

    East entrance, 1 mile east of Lajitas.

    Official information · 29.27073, -103.75484

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Sources

  1. Big Bend Ranch State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department) (checked 2026-10-22)
  2. Barton Warnock Visitor Center (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department) (checked 2026-10-22)
  3. Fort Leaton State Historic Site (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department) (checked 2026-10-22)
  4. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

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