Are you planning a dispersed camping trip to Dolan Springs? We've got you covered. The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.
A network of backcountry roads has been developed within the park to provide access to the lakeshore and other areas of interest that are off the beaten path. Approved roads are signed with a yellow arrow. The black number in the center of the arrow designates the road number. Driving on roads or trails not marked with the yellow arrow is prohibited. With hundreds of miles of backcountry roads, conditions can change without notice. Please travel on backcountry roads with caution. Driving off roads, in washes or cross country damages the fragile desert soil and is prohibited by National Park Service regulations. Please help preserve the park by staying on approved roads, respecting the rights of other visitors and carrying out all trash and litter.
From the Lake Mead Visitor Center, follow US Hwy 93 east 8.4 miles (4.2 miles past Hoover Dam). Watch for the sign to the trailhead. If you are coming from Kingman, Arizona, the trailhead is .2 miles before the mile marker 4.
Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as dispersed camping. Most of the remainder of public lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources.
Dispersed camping is generally allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. Camping limitation rules vary per office, please check with your local office for details on camping limitations. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska).
Campsite Selection Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
States may have additional requirements or restrictions for dispersed camping.
$50 / night
Guide
Access to lake mead, plenty of little pull offs scattered throughout a small valley to set up camp in, a vault toilet, and a herd of Burros roaming around. Incredible views of lake mead and the surrounding elevation! Road was gravel and decently accessible for my van!
Traveler
We stayed Oct 28-31. We stayed in a back-in dispersed camping spot ...exit 66 from I-40, and a couple miles on S Blake Ranch Road. Our rig is 43', towing a pickup with UTV loaded in the back. After unhooking (wide road) by the old Hwy 93 turnoff, we drove 93 a ways in the truck and determined it was too rough and washed out in places for our RV.
We explored down S Blake Ranch road and found our spot --several spots are available down that road, and easy access to trails if you go out trail-riding.
Blake Ranch road is wide, and pretty wash boarded in places, but easily doable, taking it slow. We backed into our chosen site, with room for the truck and UTV. A bonus = it's a level site!!
Beautiful scenery, extremely peaceful, wooded site with plenty of scrap wood around for a careful campfire.
Also making it a mission in retirement travel to practice Leave No Trace, so also cleaned up some prior trash left behind as well as our own.
A little traffic does go down the road, but not often.
Had 2 bars of Verizon cell service; husband had about the same on US Cellular.
GuideThis area is amazing Between the rocks, the lake, the burros, the vault toilets, and the open space it’s beautiful!!! The burros are NOT wild 😂 & they get into everything. But we loved it. It definitely is a bumpy drive and I would not recommend trying to take a large rv down the wash road. I brought my 5x8 converted cargo trailer down and would do it again, but it was rough.
ScoutWe went a lot farther down the road than anyone else that we could see. There are several places to camp pretty close to Blake’s Ranch Rd. But they were full. The farther down the road, the rougher and more rutted it gets. Don’t recommend for larger campers or trailers unless it’s a 4x4 type. We found a huge spot. Obviously someone or multiple people stayed here for quite a while and generated a lot of trash which they left all over. Not cool! There is the faintest hint of traffic noise from I-40. You will probably have to do some leveling on your vehicle.
Traveler
Good Verizon signal clean sites. Easy to get to beautiful area. You do need an Arizona trust camping permit. It cost $20 for the whole year. You can get it online.
Traveler
We loved it here, stayed the one night to break up the journey. The directions are great, and there are two sites here, we stayed in the second. It was nice and level. The views were beautiful, and having all the space and quiet to ourselves was magical. Didn't see any snakes or other critters.
Guide
We stayed here for a night and the site was beautiful. We stayed in one of the spaces not too far down the road as it was our first time dispersed camping. I would definitely recommend staying further down the road as there were a few things we quickly realized:
TravelerVery close to the water. Very few people. Gorgeous scenery!. The road is a little rough getting a camper down there but they do have volted toilets.
TravelerWe pulled in to a spot here late at night and left the next morning to continue our long drive, so we didn’t spend a lot of time here, but it served our needs! I am happy any time I wake up surrounded by nature, and I was very happy to wake up and see quail running in the morning. There were some people in tents as well as other RV/car campers around, but it was all spaced out nicely so you still have privacy.
ScoutWe arrived around 4pm and to our surprise there was no one here. Had our choice of spots. Unfortunately past visitors left a fair amount of trash in several sites. Bummer I think. Don't ruin a good thing. Approximately 10 or so sites. No fire pits unless you make one, no tables, no bathrooms. Free BLM camping. Great access from hiway. About 3 mile off hwy 40 easy. Gas and food possibilities at exit when you leave. Nice and alot of Juniper trees but not enough for any shade. Would stay here again. Hopefully no one screws it up. PICK UP YOUR SHIT!!
Traveler
We loved using government wash when we came in to Vegas to visit family but starting August 1st 2024 they have permanently closed government wash.
ScoutSeems like a beautiful setting but we ran into a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake within feet of the campsite. They are aggressive and fatal. We left to go find somewhere else. Be careful.
ScoutDue to the number of homeless encampment, trash and crime, the Government Wash and 8.0 Mile Road is now closed indefinitely. Barriers are being raised. Park Rangers are clearing any remaining persons. Please do not go there with RVs or vehicles.
Hiking and biking are available but you will not be able to take a RV or vehicle in.
ScoutPerfect out of grid compert tu vegas xd
GuideWe needed a nice, lovely spot to rest for the night and organize our campervan on our way from LAS to GCNP. This was perfect. No one around, lovely sunset and sunrise, campervan did just fine.
Scout
I want to know if there is a camping gear rental service there? We want to ride a motorbike there slope game
GuideGreat spots for rv Close to lake Lots of people fishing Road is graded with camping spots or drive further rough road wild spots
TravelerGreat little spot to stop on the way. Far enought from main road. Fantastic sky at night.
ScoutThere’s a lake at the end of the sketchy road that makes it all worth while especially in the heat. Water is clear and plenty of space to park if you’re just there to visit. May feel too crammed if you have a camper though. I thoroughly enjoyed staying here for 2 nights.
Traveler
We have a 37’ class A diesel pusher. The road in wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Go slow. Some tight spots so watch for oncoming vehicles. Beach is first come first serve. 7 day camping limit. Free. Restrooms and dumpsters available. Boat launch area. No wake zone for swimming. Shallow water is great for kids and dogs.
ScoutThe two spots are about 1.5 miles off the highway on a dirt road, you'll see a spot off the right on a narrow trail. BLM property. Free-roaming cows, didn't bother us at all. Beautiful sunset on our nights stay. The second spot is just around the first corner after the first one, less used, but probably flatter. Could hear the highway, but wasn't bothersome.
ScoutGreat free camping located on Rte 66. Very clean. You must go through a gate to access camping. Be sure to close the gate. The site has lots of places to pick for car and van camping. There are only a few that would fit larger travel trailers. I would check it out before accessing the spots up the hill. We stayed one night down low with no problems in mid May.
Scout
We followed the directions and arrived in an area where some mobile homes were installed, apparently permanently. No possibility to stay there
RangerGreat little pull off camp spot. I wouldn’t spend more than one night here. The cows are super cute to wake up to. I didn’t smell them at all. The road is a little washboard and there aren’t a lot of good turn around spots. Overall very happy with the spot. It was quiet and perfect for a road trip camp spot.
ScoutGave only 3 stars due to sketchy cell (AT&T) and no internet. Only 2 spots, but there was a fire ring and free roaming cows. Great for an overnight stay.
LegendStayed right off highway in big parking lot. Class C towing Jeep. Scouted out sites further up the road with Jeep but they were occupied even at noon. Appears to be a lot of permanent residents. Trash seems to be the Arizona state flower in the BLM dispersed areas.
ScoutThe location was nice, quick drive In. Directly in the flight path for Vegas. Light pollution from the city
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Dolan Springs, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Dolan Springs, AZ is Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Dolan Springs, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 39 dispersed camping locations near Dolan Springs, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
