The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Temple Bar Marina, AZ

465 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping sites dot the landscape around Temple Bar Marina in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, with options ranging from established tent areas to more primitive backcountry settings. Gregg's Hideout offers tent-only camping in a secluded section of Lake Mead, while Eight Mile Dispersed Camping near Government Wash provides year-round tent sites with more open terrain. Valley of Fire Dispersed, though technically in Nevada, offers accessible tent camping within reasonable driving distance from Temple Bar Marina.

Access to most tent campgrounds requires driving on rough, unpaved roads that can become impassable during or after rain. A camper noted that "the road is rough, you definitely cannot camp here in the rain. It's a wash...so that would get dangerous." Many sites lack basic amenities, with no drinking water, toilets, or picnic tables available at locations like Gregg's Hideout. Eight Mile Road features trash receptacles near the entrance but no other facilities. Campers should pack in all necessary water and supplies while maintaining a 7-day stay limit at most dispersed sites within Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Tent camping in this region offers spectacular desert vistas and night skies rarely found in developed campgrounds. Areas farther from main access points provide deeper seclusion and quieter camping experiences. According to one visitor, "this place is hard to get to but worth it. It's very isolated and secluded." The landscape alternates between open desert terrain and areas with scattered vegetation that provides minimal shade. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for tent camping. Higher-clearance vehicles provide access to more remote tent sites, but several areas can be reached with standard passenger vehicles driving cautiously. While swimming access exists at some locations, receding lake levels have increased the distance between many campsites and the shoreline.

Map showing campgrounds near Temple Bar Marina, ArizonaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Temple Bar Marina, Arizona (8)

Show More
Showing results 1-8 of 8 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Temple Bar Marina Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Temple Bar Marina, AZ

39 Photos of 8 Temple Bar Marina Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Temple Bar Marina, AZ

465 Reviews of 8 Temple Bar Marina 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.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2023

    Atlatl Rock Campground — Valley of Fire State Park

    Nice rocks Hot weather

    Arch rock campground is further up the road from Atlanta campground. It used to be a first come first serve campground, but just this month changed to a reservation system. If a site is not reserved and it is after 3pm, you can pay the iron ranger $10 for the site. Arch rock sites are more scenic than the other campground, but also more primitive with just vault toilet and water spigots distributed throughout the camp. No electricity. Desert big horn sheep do frequent the area. It can be very hot temperature. Sites are only modestly separated with little screening. Though the sites further up the loop are more dispersed. Each site has sun shade, table, fire ring, and 12’x12’ tent pads. No T-Mobile.

  • 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?

  • 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!

  • 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.

  • Emily F.
    Jan. 11, 2022

    Atlatl Rock Campground — Valley of Fire State Park

    Walk-in Site #21

    We were tent camping in #21 which is a walk-in site and my fav of the three walk sites of this area. Only about a 45 second walk but there are only three campsite on this side of the rocks and it’s quiet. Once spigot for water. Trash cans. 2 mins walk to the bathroom. Tent pad, fire pit, grill, picnic table. It was perfect.

  • 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

Guide to Temple Bar Marina

Dispersed camping near Temple Bar Marina offers varied terrain options from open desert to rocky landscapes. Most sites sit far from the shoreline due to water level changes at Lake Mead. Primitive sites require visitors to pack in all water and supplies, with temperatures fluctuating dramatically between seasons. Summer camping often means daytime temperatures exceeding 110°F, while winter nights can drop below freezing.

What to do

Desert hiking trails: Multiple unmarked trails branch from several camping areas near Temple Bar. At Valley of Fire Dispersed, a camper noted "we stayed for one night, loads of space, fairly level as well. Just a little bit off the road and really quiet." Trails offer views of limestone formations and desert vegetation.

Wildlife observation: Dawn and dusk hours provide opportunities to spot desert wildlife including jackrabbits, coyotes, and roadrunners. At Gregg's Hideout, a visitor mentioned "pretty much had the area all to myself," making it ideal for quiet wildlife watching.

Night sky photography: The lack of light pollution makes tent camping locations perfect for astrophotography. According to a camper at Mid-Basin Cove, this spot is "more secluded than its sister site up the road but much more secluded and enjoyable," creating ideal conditions for night photography without interference.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Many dispersed camping areas offer significant spacing between sites. A camper at Valley of Fire Dispersed reported that "dark, quiet, flat and easy to get to" conditions make it attractive for those seeking separation from neighboring campers.

Cell service availability: Unlike many remote camping areas, several sites maintain usable cell signals. At Eight Mile Dispersed Camping, a reviewer found "half to full cell service/wifi all the way to the water! Water was clear and could see decent sized fish in the shallows."

Accessibility to water recreation: Some camping locations provide access to water activities. One camper at Road Runner Cove reported "caught a huge carp that snapped my pole and a pretty large Bass. If you hike to those cliffs on the left it's a fish sanctuary see a couple striper in there."

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Many access roads deteriorate quickly and become impassable without proper vehicles. A camper at Windy Point Campground advised, "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."

Limited to no facilities: Most dispersed sites lack basic amenities. A reviewer at Eight Mile Dispersed Camping noted "there is a dumpster at the front but no bathroom or other facilities. Hike out what you hike in."

Wildlife considerations: Local wildlife affects camping decisions. According to one camper, "Coyotes are very present so I personally wouldn't tent camping anywhere here but I saw several people with no problems tent camping."

Tips for camping with families

Best seasons for children: Avoid summer months with children due to extreme heat. Spring and fall offer more moderate temperatures for tent camping near Temple Bar Marina. As one camper noted about Windy Point, "we went in June when it was probably 110 degrees at the base of the mountain, mid 90s up at the camp site."

Water access challenges: Lake access often requires significant hiking from campsites. A camper at Eight Mile Dispersed Camping explained, "It's a hike to get to the water from here you can't actually get down to the water so keep that in mind."

Shade considerations: Natural shade is scarce at most sites. A visitor to Road Runner Cove described how "someone abandoned [an EZ up] so I dragged it to those rocks and I've been back four times and use it. I just throw some blankets over it and instantly have shade."

Tips from RVers

Road suitability: Many access roads prohibit larger RVs. A reviewer at Eight Mile Dispersed Camping warned, "Wide dusty washboard road to access, 2-3 miles. Dumpsters at top by Northshore hwy but nothing later, no toilets or other facilities. I would never haul a trailer in there."

Weather precautions: Weather changes drastically affect camping conditions. One camper cautioned, "you definitely cannot camp here in the rain. It's a wash...so that would get dangerous."

Parking limitations: Finding level spots challenges RVers. At Valley of Fire Dispersed, one camper found "a flat spot next to a fire ring after traveling down a bumpy road."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Temple Bar Marina, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Temple Bar Marina, AZ is Gregg's Hideout — Lake Mead National Recreation Area with a 3-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Temple Bar Marina, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 tent camping locations near Temple Bar Marina, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring