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Best Tent Camping near Dolan Springs, AZ

433 Reviews

Primitive tent camping opportunities surround Dolan Springs, Arizona, with options including Windy Point Campground and several dispersed camping areas within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Tent campers can access backcountry sites at Gregg's Hideout along the shoreline or find established tent-only sites at BLM Wild Cow Springs Recreation Area, located in the mountains about 30 miles southwest of Dolan Springs.

Access conditions vary significantly among tent campgrounds, with many requiring high-clearance vehicles or four-wheel drive. Windy Point Campground features fire rings and basic amenities but demands careful navigation along 11 miles of steep, winding dirt roads. Most dispersed tent sites throughout Lake Mead Recreation Area operate under a 7-day stay limit. While some areas provide vault toilets, many primitive tent camping locations lack drinking water, requiring complete self-sufficiency. During summer months, extreme heat affects all tent campsites, with temperatures frequently exceeding 100°F in exposed areas.

Walk-in tent locations at Mid-Basin Cove and Eight Mile Road dispersed area offer more seclusion than developed campgrounds. Areas near the water provide cooler temperatures but minimal shade coverage for tent campers. The tent-friendly Wild Cow Springs Recreation Area stands out with more comfortable conditions due to its higher elevation and tree cover. Each designated tent site includes a table and fire ring with parking for one or two vehicles. Tent campers particularly appreciate the privacy between sites and natural surroundings. A visitor noted, "The sites are well spread out so each camp has privacy. We will definitely be back!" While Government Wash and Eight Mile Road areas offer free tent camping with lake views, they feature extremely rough access roads. One camper described Eight Mile Road as having "the worst washboard road ever" but praised the "open space and views of the lake."

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Best Tent Sites Near Dolan Springs, Arizona (9)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Dolan Springs, AZ

39 Photos of 9 Dolan Springs Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Dolan Springs, AZ

433 Reviews of 9 Dolan Springs Campgrounds

  • Daphne W.
    Nov. 21, 2021

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Great Place to Camp!

    Great experience. I arrived late at night and was still able to check in with a pay stub. Even though it’s mid/late November the weather was great! Just take a cool weather sleeping bag and you’ll be good.

    This campground is reservable 15 days in advance, but if you missed that deadline, there is first come-first serve camping as well. There were many spots open when I came. When you get here, scout for a spot, remember your site number and license plate info, and then go back to pay at the pay stub center (at the entrance of the campground).

    Its $20 a night to camp here. BRING CASH! :)

    No showers, just bathrooms.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    In the desert, but feels cozy somehow

    We landed in Vegas and headed straight out of the city to this campground.  I booked it online, not ever having seen it in person, but I'd stay again in an instant. 

    We had site 23 - very shaded and "green" - site 24 (not ours) was very open to the desert. 

    There is a no generator section meant for tents, but we didn't stay there as it seemed fully booked so I picked an RV/tent site at the far end.  And it was lovely.  The site was in the middle of a turn around, so we were in the "donut center" so to speak and it was quiet, shaded and beautiful.  Lot of palms and oleander that gave a lot of privacy. A short walk to the bathroom (hundred yards maybe?) but they were clean and the toilets were the flush kind, not pit kind. Drinking water was available too. There were fire pits at each site and a picnic table. Our site - and I assume most - were dirt/sand mix that made for easy tent set up.  But don't count on getting your stakes into the ground. There were a lot of small rocks around the site - obviously used by many campers to "stake out" the tent with.  We did so as well. 

    The campground as a whole was a short drive off the main road, but very easy to get to. 

    Absolutely I'd stay here again.

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

    Boulder Beach Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Nice Blend of Shade & Sun on the Shores of Lake Mead

    After 4 glorious days kayak camping along the Black Canyon, we moved our basecamp to Boulder Beach and spent a couple of days getting reorganized to hit the road further north. Since the wind was too strong to get out on the lake, we opted to bike along the path that runs next to the campground.  This gorgeous path is well-utilized by area cycling groups, and they are some of the most courteous and safe cyclists we’ve ever come across. 

    Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and all the sites are paved and level.  Don't normally love paved campgrounds, but the wind is so strong at times that it would be a total dust storm without them. All sites have a nice view of Lake Mead, but there is no water access to the lake from the campground. The bathrooms have running water and are kept clean and well stocked, but there are no showers. Water spigots are scattered throughout the campground and there is a sewage dump for RV’s. Most of the sites are designed for large RV’s, but there were some tent campers there as well.

    Closest town is Boulder City, about 16 miles away, and has everything you need. There is strong cell service in the campground, and free wifi.

  • Les W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2021

    Eight Mile Dispersed Camping near Government Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Another great spot!!

    Did a day trip here, looking for other areas to be able to set up my mobile office. Awesome views, and half to full cell service/wifi all the way to the water! Water was clear and could see decent sized fish in the shallows. Another start in the boon-docking sash! Only caveat is the trash! Come one fellow campers, whatever happened to picking up and leaving no trace?

  • Kyle V.
    Jul. 8, 2018

    Windy Point Campground

    Remote campground where you wouldn’t expect to find one.

    Although you can make it to the campground in 2wd, I wouldn’t take a car. SUV/truck preferred. Tent camping/car camping only, no RV sites at all. The road is steep, winding, dirt with loose gravel 11 miles off the paved road. Camp sites have a great view because of the elevation. picnic tables and fire rings in each site as well as many trash receptacles and clean toilets. no other amenities. Rough off-roading in the areas surrounding the campground leading to old mining areas. Awesome views, we went in June when it was probably 110 degrees at the base of the mountain, mid 90s up at the camp site.

  • Charlie C.
    Mar. 23, 2021

    Wild Cow Springs Campground

    Amazing Place

      Let me start off by saying I made it to this spot in my Kia Niro with its front wheel drive. Not the worst dirt road I've encountered but very steep in some parts and I would not recommend going to this site in the snow unless you have 4 wheel drive, snow chains and experience. I didn't go in the snow but I could imagine. One slip and you're in serious trouble. That out of the way, this place is GREAT!

      On the drive up you go through a sleepy little town half way up the mountain, the views along the drive are stunning. Bring plenty of supplies and know its about a 40 min drive each way to get more.

       Lots of wildlife in the area, was a little concerned about bears in the area as it looked like they had some scratching posts right around our campsite (pictures posted) but didn't end up seeing a one.

       May be pretty tight for a larger RV as sites are pretty small. Vaulted toilets were very well maintained. I will go back!

    -Chuck

    P.S. Don't forget, always leave the area better than you found it!

                LEAVE NO TRACE!

  • Theresa R.
    Nov. 3, 2020

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    The best so far!

    This is by far the best national Park campground we have stayed at. They have planted lots of trees in the campground for shade in the middle of the desert. So from the highway you come in at, it looks like a little oasis in the middle of the desert. We arrived on Wednesday and had about 3/4 of the campground to choose from. There were fire rings, picnic tables, and a trash dumpster, plus clean restrooms. There is a dump station and also fresh water to fill your freshwater tank. No hook ups, so bring everything you need. Highly recommended!

  • Colette K.
    Apr. 25, 2018

    Cottonwood Cove Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground, near Lake Mohave, NV

    Ranger Review: Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios at Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW

    Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground is located 14 miles east of Searchlight, NV, on the shores of Lake Mohave. The decent into Cottonwood Cove is quite dramatic (about 2900 ft), for which the roadside cactus can attest, as the types of cacti change even with the slightest elevation change.

    The "lower" in Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground's name characterizes it's lower elevation compared to the "upper" campground, which naturally has higher elevation.

    Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground is included in Lake Mead National Recreation Area campgrounds, and keeping with their custom, all sites are first come first serve. The Cottonwood Cove area has low elevation, at about 650 feet above sea level, which means it gets very hot during the late spring, summer, and early fall months.

    Only a few of the 45 sites have shady cottonwood trees, and there are only uncovered picnic tables, so come prepared with a shade canopy for much needed relief! There are beautiful views of Lake Mohave, three very clean restroom buildings (no showers), water on taps, and fire rings at every site. There is an RV dump station located near the entrance to the Upper Campground (although the Upper Campground is closed).

    The Lower Campground is situated behind a hill, which obstructs cell service. Walking only a short distance to the marina area, you'll find a strong 4G signal. The park service provides fee-based internet at the campground, but we didn't try it.

    Cottonwood Cove has a full service boat marina, gas, motel, RV resort (with full hook-ups), watercraft rentals/supplies, sandy beach, and shaded picnic tables with BBQs.

    Here's a drive-along tour of Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground: https://youtu.be/s6AQ6KqtxPg

    Overall, we enjoyed our stay at this campground. It was a peaceful place, with jackrabbits, a couple of hungry ducks, many songbirds, and the stars at night were bright & beautiful. 4 stars (not 5 stars due to lack of provided shade).

    PRODUCT REVIEW

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. While camping at Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground, we tested Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios (model T51).

    https://midlandusa.com/product/x-talker-t51vp/

    Camping in an isolated area behind a large hill was the perfect place to review these radios. However, with the hill as an obstruction our range was limited. [Note: We also tried these radios at home, and our maximum range was 3 small neighborhood blocks. Perhaps to achieve the maximum range of "28 miles," you'd need to be on the open ocean on a calm day or out on a very flat prairie.]

    Here's a video demonstration of the Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios:

    https://youtu.be/ocCEzY-MgUc

    As you can see in our review video, we compared the Midland radios with a very inexpensive set. Midland's quality is far superior.

    The Midland's instruction booklet is easy to follow, buttons are easy to operate, radio is comfortable to hold, and the belt clip is very tight (exercise care unlatching to prevent breaking). And… the NOAA Weather Radio scan was our biggest surprise, as you'll see in this video:

    https://youtu.be/nZvTipRcln8

    The radios can be charged while positioned on the charging stand or via a charging cord plugged directly into the radio and to an electrical source (such as a portable power bank).

    Overall, we are very impressed with the clear reception and convenience of the Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios. We are looking forward to using these radios during our future no-cell service camping, fishing, and hiking adventures. 5 stars

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2018

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Relaxing Space

    Of the campgrounds I checked out in this area I found this one to be one of the nicer ones. Unlike some which had a lot of random garbage this one was well maintained and looked like those who stayed respected the area more.

    Sites here were smaller than most but since I stay in a tent of course I had plenty space for my car and tent alike without struggle. I do not see this working well for longer rigs though that need a pull through that is much longer.

    I had plenty of space between me and my neighbor and with some low level brush it stopped any of the brash winds from effecting me at night. I had a picnic table and fire ring, standard to most camping sites and that made for a perfect set up for me as I don't really need all that extra most of the time.

    The weather was nice other than the wind when I was there so I didn't have any reason to need to plug anything in to keep cool but I do know I wouldn't even attempt to stay here after late May it just gets way to hot. Not to mention they do have a lot of snakes in this area when the heat gets to that point, so no thanks!

    The night was quiet, I had read that there were a lot of coyotes but I heard none in the area instead only the sounds of someones RV making a humming noise a few sites over.

    The bathrooms were well kept and there was water scattered throughout the campground which made it easy to access. My only complaint in regard to either of these was that the bathrooms did maybe need a bit of restock, but since I am always prepared that wasn't an issue. I would suggest also always being prepared!

    TIPS:

    • Don't leave trash at your site or food outside of your vehicle if you are in a tent. While I did not hear coyotes others have reported that not to be the case. Many times these animals are out because they smell food and are wanting to look for it.
    • Take advantage of lake views for great sunset pictures. I was so upset by the time I got to my campsite I had used all my battery and missed some of the best views of the day.
    • Check out hiking in this area. One of the best trails nearby is just a couple miles up at White Owl Canyon. It is marked on this map, however if you go and get a map from rangers you will not find the trail, this is because it is a wash area and is closed from time to time. Simply ask for directions to the trailhead when passing though the rangers station.

Guide to Dolan Springs

Tent camping options around Dolan Springs, Arizona extend beyond the developed campgrounds into remote mountain and lakeside destinations. Situated at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 5,000 feet, the region experiences extreme temperature fluctuations with summer highs regularly reaching 110°F and winter nights dropping below freezing in higher elevations. Camping access routes vary dramatically from maintained gravel roads to technical four-wheel-drive tracks requiring high-clearance vehicles.

What to do

Kayaking Lake Mohave: Access Road Runner Cove for paddling opportunities. "This place is hard to get to but worth it. It's very isolated and secluded and it surrounded by trees. If you can make it you can camp and have A whole lake to yourself. Huge fish everywhere and cliffs to jump from," notes one camper at Road Runner Cove.

Explore old mining sites: The mountains surrounding the camping areas contain abandoned mining operations. As one visitor to Windy Point Campground advises, "Check out some of the abandoned mines scattered throughout this area. If you look hard enough as your drive you will find some great little places to check out. Just be safe and DO NOT try to go inside them."

Nude hiking options: For those seeking clothing-optional recreation, secluded areas provide privacy. A visitor to Gregg's Hideout shares, "Did some nude hiking and pretty much had the area all to myself. Water level was very low so access there was a hike."

What campers like

Seclusion from crowds: Mid-Basin Cove offers privacy not found at busier sites. According to a camper, "Mid-Basin cove is more secluded than its sister site up the road but much more secluded and enjoyable. Dispersed camping on the beach, fires and pets allowed."

Mountain temperatures: Higher elevation sites provide relief from extreme valley heat. The BLM Wild Cow Springs Recreation Area stands out with "Trees cover almost everything, there is a little creek, and plenty of opportunities to go exploring on hikes," according to a recent visitor who stayed in September when "the weather was beautiful."

Strong cellular coverage: Remote doesn't mean disconnected at certain sites. Eight Mile Dispersed Area provides "Cell signal is booming @ this site, more so than Govt Wash which is across the way," according to one tent camper. Another confirmed, "half to full cell service/wifi all the way to the water!"

What you should know

Road conditions vary dramatically: Many access routes require appropriate vehicles. At Eight Mile Dispersed Camping, campers warn about "Wide dusty washboard road to access, 2-3 miles" and "I've driven down other washboard roads but even with some speed this road was so tough on my van."

Water access limitations: Changing lake levels affect shoreline camping. "The water level was way down. They still did have a road all the way to the water," reports a Gregg's Hideout visitor, while another Eight Mile camper notes, "The water isn't really accessible from this location."

Wildlife awareness: Local fauna requires proper precautions. "Coyotes are very present so I personally wouldn't tent camp anywhere here but I saw several people with no problems tent camping," shares a visitor about Eight Mile.

Tips for camping with families

Consider site spacing: For family tent camping near Dolan Springs, Arizona, choose locations with adequate separation. At Gregg's Hideout, "They have 2 compost bathrooms" which provides basic facilities for children, though a visitor warns "there is no shade in the park."

Weather planning crucial: Time visits to avoid extreme conditions. Wild Cow Springs offers better conditions as "Plenty of tree coverage to slow the occasional chilly breeze that crept up on us," according to a visitor who had "the entire campground to ourselves" during cooler weather.

Dog-friendly options: Several areas welcome four-legged family members. Eight Mile Dispersed Area provides "a lot of room for the dogs to run around," according to a review.

Tips from RVers

Beware of washouts: The best tent camping near Dolan Springs requires careful road assessment. One camper at Windy Point advises, "Do not attempt in an RV of any kind. Miles and miles of difficult winding roads will not work well with your high top heavy clearance."

Limited facilities for larger vehicles: Tent camping offers more flexibility than RV options. At Eight Mile, "You could tent camp here or any size RV so long as you find a level spot to park," but the road quality makes access challenging for larger vehicles.

Resources for extended stays: For longer camping periods, plan water and waste management. "While camping at Lake Mead, you can opt to stay in there campground that has electrical hookups, but we prefer to boondock. When you are inside Lake Mead you are able to use the dump station and freshwater to fill up your tanks at Boulder Beach campground."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Dolan Springs, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Dolan Springs, AZ is Windy Point Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Dolan Springs, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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