Best Dispersed Camping near Dolan Springs, AZ

Dispersed camping options near Dolan Springs, Arizona include several free primitive sites on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. W Big Wash Road Dispersed offers basic camping about 1.5 miles off the highway with limited pull-off spots. Kingman Wash provides lakeside camping with spots scattered along the main road, from near the interstate to 3 miles away at the lake. Lake Mohave's Telephone Cove features approximately 15-20 camping spots along the water with vault toilets and a dumpster.

Most dispersed sites in this region have no amenities. No drinking water, toilets, or trash service is available at most locations. According to reviews, campers should "bring your own firewood" as "no trees for wood in this area." Fire restrictions vary seasonally; always check current regulations before your trip. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with some sites reporting 2-3 bars of service while others have none. The 7-day stay limit is enforced at most Lake Mead Recreation Area sites.

Road conditions vary significantly between sites. Several campers noted that high-clearance vehicles are recommended for many locations, particularly Kingman Wash where "the road is bumpy" though passenger cars can make it "if you drive slowly." W Big Wash Road is generally accessible to standard vehicles. Weather considerations are important; summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons. Practice Leave No Trace principles, as multiple reviewers mentioned concerns about trash at some locations. Always close gates when entering BLM land and be prepared for primitive conditions with no facilities.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Dolan Springs, Arizona (41)

    1. W Big Wash Road Dispersed

    7 Reviews
    Dolan Springs, AZ
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 505-1200

    "The 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."

    2. Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    48 Reviews
    Lake Mead National Recreation Area, AZ
    39 miles

    "Great place to disperse Dry camp. Spots are scattered along the main road. You can camp close to the interstate or 3 miles away at the lake. The lake shore gets crowded."

    "We took our camper van down to the water. About 3 miles on the dirt road. Some spots are bumpy but we made it without ever getting stuck. Beautiful view. Worth it."

    3. Lake Mohave - Nevada Telephone Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    12 Reviews
    Bullhead City, NV
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 293-8990

    "Beautiful area just outside of Laughlin, Nevada. Right on a Cove of Lake Mead. Four Mile unpaved Road to get down to the lake and anywhere between 15 to 20 camping spots depending on group size."

    "This is a perfect dispersed camping spot! Dirt road in was about 4 miles long from the highway but pretty well graded and easy to drive, big rig friendly. "

    4. Old Kingman Highway Dispersed Camping near Bullhead City

    9 Reviews
    Bullhead City, AZ
    29 miles
    Website

    "This is a site that is in a dispersed camping area and is used be OHVs. It is on Buckwash Road off of Highway 68. Before you get to Bullhead City."

    "Pulled off the highway and yes the road is a bit rough but can be navigated with slow speed and caution. Drive about 1/2 mile to a small area with a fire ring. Level and clean."

    5. Pot Cove in Lake Mohave

    1 Review
    Searchlight, AZ
    23 miles

    "About 18 miles on a dirt road! But well worth it. The road is very easy to maneuver and any vehicle can get there. Crystal clear water. Amazing experience."

    6. cottonwood cove

    1 Review
    Searchlight, AZ
    23 miles

    "I usually pick up garbage around the area to keep it nice.

    Most the time I’m alone here with the lake, in a giant fishbowl surrounded by mountains."

    7. Hwy 193 BLM Dispersed

    20 Reviews
    Kingman, AZ
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 718-3700

    "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."

    "Belting spot just off the highway. Easy enough to drive up in any vehicle, a natural campsite. Enough space for everyone and private."

    8. Government Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    32 Reviews
    Nellis Air Force Base, NV
    48 miles
    Website

    "Great spots for rv Close to lake Lots of people fishing Road is graded with camping spots or drive further rough road wild spots"

    "This is a beautiful spot to visit for the day, as there is no camping allowed by the water or the "boat ramp" but you can camp anywhere along the dirt road leading up to the lake."

    9. Arrowhead Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    3 Reviews
    Bullhead City, AZ
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 293-8990

    $50 / night

    "I was looking for a remote Cove to set up for a couple nights on Lake Mead and found this little gem off the beaten path but still accessible on a rugged and steeply graded access road."

    "The drive off the paved road isn’t as long/bad as you’d expect."

    10. Emerald Cave Dispersed — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    Willow Beach, AZ
    30 miles
    Website

    "The pin took us off-road to a private BLM spot that went to a dead end in which you can get out of your vehicles and hike .8 miles down to the river."

    "We took road 62 off highway 93 as far as our non-4x4 vehicle could take us."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Dolan Springs, AZ

227 Reviews of 41 Dolan Springs Campgrounds


  • Katie K.
    Mar. 29, 2021

    Cerbat Foothills Dispersed - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Not sure what the other reviews are about....

    But the place I ended up is just BLM land off the highway. There's a turn off the highway, super easy to miss, and it immediately goes up a hill. There's a gate at the top that just says "please close gate - Bureau of Land Management" so I just went in. The road is very smooth and well worn as of this review, my prius had no problem. Not a single other soul in sight. The road sorta stops after the electricity thing (why am I blanking on what these are called?), but it looks like high clearance vehicles have gone through.

    This spot is amazing. Free public land. There are only a few pull off spots. Very quiet and beautiful.

    Please practice leave no trace etiquette! This spot is gorgeous, let's keep it that way :)

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 2, 2024

    Hwy 193 BLM Dispersed

    Beautiful and peaceful spot; rough road for RV

    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.

  • Jenny H.
    Sep. 17, 2020

    Cerbat Foothills Dispersed - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    35.2044, -114.096711

    10/15/2020 Location updated Thank you, Dyrt Staff

    This is the gem of the area. I love the Monolith Gardens Trail and try to hike it everyday. There are extensive trails for people, dogs, bikes, and equestrian people. Best to visit in winter as it’s been hell raising hot all summer 2020. Bring water. The Campground has NO water, NO toilet, and NO trash service currently but town is a mile away. October and April are best weather. This is a primitive experience hiking on moon-like landscape.

    Note: updated 10/15/2020. The Dyrt map reflects correct location. When approaching from the East, turn around at AquaFrie/Sundown Streets

  • Jeff
    Jan. 4, 2021

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Dispersed Camping

    Great place to disperse Dry camp. Spots are scattered along the main road. You can camp close to the interstate or 3 miles away at the lake. The lake shore gets crowded. The road is bumpy but we saw cars all the way down to the lake. The sign recommends 4x4 high clearance vehicles. The mine road offers good views and a few camp spots. 4x4 is definitely recommended for this road. There is no garbage collection so pack it out. One vault toilet near the lake. Bring your own firewood. No trees for wood in this area. Wood can be purchased at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Campground Store. We spoted motor homers near the interstate, ground tenters, rooftop tenters, van campers and pull behind campers at the lake. We camped up the N Mine Road with our RTT trailer.

  • Jessica M.
    Aug. 31, 2020

    Cerbat Foothills Dispersed - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

    Lost in the wash below a landfill

    10/15/2020 Location updated Thank you, Dyrt Staff

    We followed the OLD directions link from The Dyrt app. This location is no longer listed as a camping spot on the app. So, follow the correct listing on the other side of the highway......Apple Maps said to go north of pin point, then head south on Co. Highway 125 which was washed out in places. May be okay for a high clearance van, but not our travel trailer in tow. This is just below the Mohave County Landfill. We gave up with many cactus spines in our tires. We had to return to I93 where we started. Google maps directions are from the south following Co. Highway 125 north. Possibly, this can be reached better from the south where Co. Highway 125 leaves I93 and head north. Or, the GPS marking is incorrect, and should be marking the west side of I93, closer to Kingman.

  • Brendan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Great place to stay

    We took our camper van down to the water. About 3 miles on the dirt road. Some spots are bumpy but we made it without ever getting stuck. Beautiful view. Worth it.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2025

    Lake Mohave - Nevada Telephone Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Nice, quiet water spot w/limited spaces

    Beautiful area just outside of Laughlin, Nevada. Right on a Cove of Lake Mead. Four Mile unpaved Road to get down to the lake and anywhere between 15 to 20 camping spots depending on group size. Small boat launch for jet skis but not for bigger boats. Do not recommend trying to take anything bigger than a 35 ft RV down there. Two vault toilets and a garbage dumpster. Road is recently grated and other than a little bit of noise until 10:00 p.m., a great place for a night or several. Stay limit here is 7 days. I arrived Friday at 3:00 p.m. and found the last spot.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2019

    Black Canyon of the Colorado Dispersed — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    The River Between Two States

    Along this gorgeous stretch of the Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam, you will find numerous backcountry camping options on both the AZ and NV sides, many with existing fire rings. In addition, you’ll find emerald green waters, hot springs/hot waterfalls, sauna cave, slot canyons and interesting features along the sides of the canyon.   All camping is first-come, first-served and no permit is needed.  Water can be filtered in an emergency, but it is the Colorado River; so we’d recommend bringing 1 gallon of fresh drinking water per person per day. Please Leave No Trace by bringing Wag Bags or other poop removal method, including your toilet paper. 

    **Weather & River Concerns: **

    • If you are camping in a wash, be sure to keep an eye on the weather as flash flooding is a major concern during the rainy season.  
    • We launched from Willow Beach marina (AZ side) and paddled up stream to the dam and back over 4 days. We had an amazing weather window, but have heard from locals that this place can be VERY windy (25-50mph), making it impossible to travel against the wind. 
    • When the dam releases, it can also make upriver travel quite difficult (not impossible but difficult depending on your boat and paddling skills). Also, the river can rise 4-6 vertical feet when the dam releases water from Lake Mead, so haul your boats at least 50 feet up the washes and don’t camp close to the water or you’ll find yourself floating downstream in the middle of the night.
    • Cell service in the canyon is very limited. We found a bit near the dam, but otherwise it was emergency calls only.

    Note: If you’ve never done backcountry kayak camping, hire a guide or go with a group. There are numerous companies taking groups down the river each day.

  • Rachel A.
    Jul. 6, 2020

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Basic but lovely proximity to the Hoover Dam

    We stayed here on our way to the Hoover Dam and had a fine time. Nothing fancy, super basic free camping on public lands. Highlight was our visit to the dam itself


Guide to Dolan Springs

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Dolan Springs, Arizona, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of unique spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Scenic Views and Wildlife Encounters while free camping near Dolan Springs

Top Attractions for dispersed campers

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Dolan Springs, Arizona

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 W Big Wash Road Dispersed with a 3.6-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Dolan Springs, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 41 dispersed camping locations near Dolan Springs, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.