Best Campgrounds near Nipton, CA

The Mojave National Preserve dominates the camping landscape around Nipton, California, with several dispersed camping areas including Mojave Cross Dispersed Camping and Kokoweef Dispersed Camping. These primitive sites offer free camping in a remote desert setting characterized by Joshua tree forests and rocky terrain. Nearby options include BLM Knob Hill Primitive Camping across the Nevada border and the established Hole In The Wall Campground within the preserve, which provides more amenities including drinking water, trash disposal, and reservable sites. Both tent and RV camping are accommodated throughout the region, though primitive sites lack hookups or facilities.

Road conditions vary significantly across the dispersed camping areas, with many requiring high-clearance vehicles for comfortable access. Most primitive sites feature only basic fire rings with no drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities. The region experiences extreme temperature fluctuations typical of the Mojave Desert, with summer highs regularly exceeding 100°F and winter nights dropping below freezing. Cell service ranges from spotty to nonexistent at most remote sites. "The road getting up here is steep, uneven, rocky and only wide enough for one vehicle for the first 2 miles. My 2 wheel drive ford transit barely made it. I wouldn't return without a 4wd truck," cautioned one visitor to Kokoweef Dispersed Camping.

Stargazing receives consistent praise from campers staying at these remote desert sites, particularly at Mojave Cross Dispersed. Several visitors noted the exceptional night sky visibility and the sense of solitude, with one camper stating: "We were there on a Tuesday and as far as we could tell there weren't any people around for miles. The sunset was sublime and the stars were even better." Wind exposure presents challenges at many sites, particularly during seasonal transitions. The nearby Ivanpah Dry Lake offers a unique landscape experience but has specific vehicle restrictions to prevent surface damage. While the 2020 wildfires affected portions of the Joshua tree forest, several camping areas still retain their distinctive desert character, allowing visitors to experience the Mojave's distinctive ecology and sweeping landscapes.

Best Camping Sites Near Nipton, California (110)

    1. Mojave Cross Dispersed — Mojave National Preserve

    22 Reviews
    Cima, CA
    19 miles
    Website

    "Find the first road adjacent to the white cross memorial."

    "It’s not too close to the highway and the road next to the campground is pretty quiet. There were about 5 other vehicles when we arrived on Saturday night - just 1 other on Sunday night."

    2. BLM Knob Hill Primitive Camping

    5 Reviews
    Searchlight, NV
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 515-5000

    "Felt like you were in the middle of nowhere but when we woke there were hikers close by and then a jeep safari came through!! All good though and stunning location."

    "Very little noise from the nearby state route, though there was more light pollution than we expected. For its proximity to Vegas (1/2 hour) and LA (4.5 hours), it was a hidden gem!"

    3. Kokoweef Dispersed Camping

    3 Reviews
    Nipton, CA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 252-6100

    "My 2 wheel drive ford transit barely made it. I wouldn't return without a 4wd truck. There is also no service on t mobile or Verizon. Cool to see the joshua trees, though! GPS: 35.441418, -115.507145"

    "This location was secluded and quit when I was there in January. There are at least six nice flat spots with fire rings. There were two burros in the area which were fun to witness."

    5. Dispersed-jean/roach Dry Lakes

    16 Reviews
    Jean, NV
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 515-5000

    "Just a short way outside of Las Vegas stands an area known for a very unique and signature piece of art "Seven Magic Mountains" just off I-15 toward California a small turn off leads to a huge piece of"

    "Didn't have to drive as far aspin. Saw RV and others on left after signs. Few turnouts then none. Big dump trucks coming out. One flashed brights at me idk why."

    6. Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    32 Reviews
    Cima, CA
    30 miles
    +1 (760) 252-6100

    $25 / night

    "The only thing that might remind you of civilization is the distant glow of interstate trucks moving along the highway which cuts through the Mojave National Preserve some 30 miles distant. "

    "Situated on a high vantage point the sites offer options to observe the vastness of this desert plain."

    7. Mid Hills Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    15 Reviews
    Cima, CA
    25 miles

    $20 / night

    "Look for a spot on the outside of the loop - some of them have amazing views out over the adjacent hills.  I highly recommend this campground."

    "views of the surrounding mountains."

    8. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - Red Rock Campground

    71 Reviews
    Blue Diamond, NV
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 515-5387

    $12 - $80 / night

    "Great campground really close to Vegas (at night you can see that light beam from the Luxor)."

    "This campground is an easy few miles outside of the suburbs of Las Vegas."

    9. Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping (Spring Mountain)

    56 Reviews
    Blue Diamond, NV
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 515-5000

    "It's a beautifully rugged area, lots of pull of camp sites spread around. Can be busy and harder to find spots, but further back should have spots."

    "This is a great little getaway outside of las vegas and pahrump. After a few miles in, you hit some trees and cooler weather. Stayed for one night, but will definitely be going back."

    10. Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort

    42 Reviews
    Henderson, NV
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (702) 260-2000

    "Oasis is a great location to spend a night or two if you want to jaunt into Vegas for bit. It’s also very central as an overnight for heading into Utah or Nevada from SoCal."

    "This place is an Oasis, away from the hustle and bustle. Refill propane on-site. The only negative thing is they do not provide valet trash pickup(as mentioned by a staff member)."

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Recent Reviews near Nipton, CA

719 Reviews of 110 Nipton Campgrounds


  • e
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Cottonwood Cove Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Great for access to lake Mohave

    Beware you also need to pay entry to Lake Meade recreational area. View from campsite itself isn’t great, mostly gravel hills, but the campground is a short walk from the lovely lake Mohave. Campground has clean, flush toilets. Some issues with rusty/dirty drinking water taps and animal faeces in some of the pitches. Overall fairly basic for the cost

  • e
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - Red Rock Campground

    Beautiful campground near vegas

    Easy to access from vegas but feels remote to the city! Beautiful scenery. Would recommend for tents to have the walk in site which is 2 min walk from carpark. Drop Toilets were very clean. Plenty of drinking water. Make sure you drive further into red rock because it’s gorgeous!!

  • e
    Oct. 15, 2025

    Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    If you visit the mojave desert visit this campsite!

    Gorgeous location, and a spacious quiet campsite. Great for stargazing! There are drop toilets which are very clean and plenty of drinking water near every site. There is a great 0.5mile walk to a visitor centre which has lots of info and wifi. If you visit ensure you enter through the road from the south - it has tarmac. The north road to enter is 15miles of washboard so is somewhat unsuitable for 2 wheel drive car

  • Kate S.
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Laughlin Avi KOA / Journey

    Dirty, Bad Water, No Wifi

    Stayed 3 nights. Mold in showers and mildew on shower curtains. You can tell they don’t clean the stall walls or scrub around the shower base because there is mold and gross stained calcium everywhere and marks on the stalls from water and dirt didn’t change from day to day. Water pressure was terrible in bathrooms; had cold showers most of the time. Campground manager has a Trump flag so that should tell you a lot. Office was closed during open hours. Laundry hours not ideal when you’re out all day at the beach. Wifi never worked but they claim they have it. Talked with other campers and they said it has never worked for them. Signal but it doesn’t stay connected. Surprised this place can even carry the KOA brand name. It’s so poorly maintained and dumpy.

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    King's Row RV Park

    Decent Place to Stay for a Good Price

    We stayed here for one night with our pop-up camper while passing thru Vegas. The park was about a 15-20 minute drive to The Strip depending on traffic. The park was quiet and we had no issues at all. We noticed security on the grounds at night. The manager was nice and helpful. We stayed in site 542 which was at the end of a row. The site was a little small but good enough for our stay. The bathhouse was clean and the showers were hot with good pressure. The laundromat was great. The park wi-fi had a good signal at our site.

  • Hans V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Arizona Charlie's Boulder RV Park

    Vegas...

    Closely spaced pads, backing up to the (open) parking garage. Frequent airplanes. 28 dollars extra for "early check in" (12:40). Bathrooms close at 10pm due to walk-ins and they mentioned they normally didn't take popups (we have a self-contained A-frame but prefer to use bathrooms when the kids are sleeping inside). Bathrooms are nice "family" bathrooms though. Very strict regulations (e.g. sewer hose needs to be supported as in the picture, why!?). Mostly aimed at self-contained big rigs as most places in Vegas. It is that we needed a stopover, and was a nice opportunity to visit Vegas , but wouldn't recommend staying in a smaller RV in Vegas

  • teresa D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    King's Row RV Park

    Kings row rv camp

    Good spot, the manager is very Nicea and helpuful. Too far from the city main attractions.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    KOA Sam's Town Las Vegas Nevada

    Vegas

    Great location for Vegas. Store, pool, jacuzzi, laundry and propane for sale. Dog runs and sites. Sam's Town Casino for food, drinks and gaming.

  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping (Spring Mountain)

    Lovell Canyon - BLM Land

    BLM land: first come, first served. Close to Vegas for supplies. Primitive campsites, mile heigh views. Can be busy during holidays and events but fairly quiet most of the time.


Guide to Nipton

Camping near Nipton, California, offers a unique experience in the Mojave Desert, where you can enjoy stunning landscapes and starry nights. Whether you’re looking for a quiet spot to unwind or an adventurous getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the beautiful trails around the area. One camper mentioned, “The rings loop trail was amazing!!” while camping at Hole in the Wall Campground.
  • Stargazing: The clear desert skies provide a perfect backdrop for stargazing. A visitor shared, “Only a few other campgrounds we have been on our trip could beat the stars at night” at Hole in the Wall Campground.
  • Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for local wildlife. One reviewer noted, “Even saw a tarantula!” during their stay at Mojave Cross Dispersed.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the sites. A review stated, “Bathrooms are pit toilets but didn't smell and were as clean as they could be” at Hole in the Wall Campground.
  • Scenic Views: Many enjoy the breathtaking views. One camper said, “Amazing views! Visitor centre and walks nearby” while visiting Hole in the Wall Campground.
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Campers often mention the peacefulness of the area. A review highlighted, “We barely saw another human the entire time we were there” at BLM Knob Hill Primitive Camping.

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Many campgrounds, like Mojave Cross Dispersed, do not have drinking water or toilets, so plan accordingly.
  • First-Come, First-Serve: Some sites operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. A camper advised, “You might have to arrive early to get a good site” at Mid Hills Campground.
  • Weather Considerations: Be prepared for strong winds and temperature changes. One camper warned, “We had to pull down our awning because the wind was extremely strong overnight” at Hole in the Wall Campground.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with hiking trails and open spaces. A family shared, “Our 3 boys had a blast camping and hiking” at Hole in the Wall Campground.
  • Safety First: Check the weather before heading out. One camper cautioned, “A warning to tent campers to check the weather before camping there” at Hole in the Wall Campground.
  • Bring Supplies: Since some campgrounds lack amenities, make sure to pack enough food and water. A visitor noted, “We brought our own water” at Mid Hills Campground.

Tips from RVers:

  • Road Conditions: Be aware that some roads can be rough. One RVer mentioned, “The drive here can be a bit rough if you come down Cedar Canyon” at Mid Hills Campground.
  • Space for Larger Vehicles: Check if the campground can accommodate your RV size. A review stated, “Not many spots to be able to turn around with a trailer or larger rig” at Mojave Cross Dispersed.
  • Cash Payments: Some campgrounds require cash for payment. A camper advised, “Just bring exactly $12 in cash with you to pay at the stand” at Hole in the Wall Campground.

Camping near Nipton, California, is a fantastic way to connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’re in a tent or an RV, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful desert landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Nipton, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, Nipton, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 110 campgrounds and RV parks near Nipton, CA and 47 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Nipton, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Nipton, CA is Mojave Cross Dispersed — Mojave National Preserve with a 4.8-star rating from 22 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Nipton, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 47 free dispersed camping spots near Nipton, CA.

What parks are near Nipton, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Nipton, CA that allow camping, notably Mojave National Preserve and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.