Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Nipton? Finding a place to camp in California with your tent has never been easier. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
While the campgrounds at Mid Hills and Hole-in-the-Wall accommodate a maximum of 8 people and 2 vehicles per site, the Black Canyon Equestrian & Group Campground (located across the road from Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center) is ideal for larger groups. The campsite is available to groups of 15-50 people and reservations are required. Call (760) 252-6101 to make a reservation up to 12 months in advance. NO WATER AVAILABLE AS OF APRIL 2021. Campers must fetch water at nearby Hole-in-the-Wall Campground.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
Situated on the shores of the Colorado River at Nevada’s southern tip, Big Bend of the Colorado River includes about two miles of sandy shoreline. Because the park is downstream from Davis Dam, the river is clear and cool year round. Popular activities are camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and bird watching. The variety of waterfowl and shore birds that make this park home include mallards, coots, herons and geese. Hawks, roadrunners, quail, hummingbirds, doves and owls are also abundant in the park. The nearby town of Laughlin offers the amenities of a Nevada gaming town.
$30 / night
Traveler
Great spot to get away quiet every park with plenty of amenities
Scout
This is the worst RV park ever they are infested with cockroaches there's no maintenance whatsoever at the property they don't pick up trash they don't maintain sites they don't mow the grass for the pets it's utterly disgusting the bathroom showers are disgusting patched up drywall crumbling from the shower nozzles. Overall people in the office are rude when you make suggestion.
Legend
Full hookups but did not get cold water this time of year. Close to action. Casinos, food and shopping.
ScoutYou have shared some good information so far. I would like to get more information about this place. Thank you so much for sharing.
Traveler
Traveling across country, Jeep camping. Spot was perfect and beautiful. Could have been off the road a bit more considering the amount of traffic for such a remote spot. Make sure to wear shoes as there are thorns. Also be ready to wake up to critters (mice? Chipmunks?) running across your exhaust, chewing on their dinner.
Traveler
After climbing the giant hills out of Baker, my 1984 Vanagon was ready for a rest. We pulled off at Bailey Road and it was quickly dirt road, but certainly manageable for any SUV or Truck. After about 10 minutes (3.1 miles) there were campsites. Plenty of spaces and spread out. HOT in the late spring but overnight temperatures were excellent at about 65F.
Traveler

Scout
Great campground for either tents, trailers, class A or C motorhomes. Quiet and close to Colorado River
Guide
Just 10 miles down a great, stereotypical, paved desert road off of I-15 you’ll find an unmarked turnoff as the road curves. The turnoff quickly becomes a dirt road that runs straight for miles. On the right side is the Mojave National Wilderness and on the left is the Mojave National Preserve where camping is allowed in designated areas only. These are marked pretty well and can easily accommodate groups (see “camping” below). The road is easy (see “Approach” below) and I’d feel comfortable taking a 2wd sedan to at least the first campsite which is only about 200m from the road. Fires are allowed in fire pits only which both sites I saw have.
Camping There are two designated dispersed campsites that I saw. I didn’t drive much past the second site though the road wasn’t difficult. The sites are well established and well marked. Some places look like they could be campsites but they are marked as “No Camping.” Look for the established areas with a fire pit that have the designated camping signs. They are located next to rock formations that help block the wind and give you a place to get on top of to look around. Watch out for snakes! The first one is maybe 200m down the road on the left. It has a driveway leading to a circular area so it would be good for a pull through camper or two. It’s large enough for a few campers, I’d say, or several vehicles. Pretty ideal if you had a horse trailer (there is not water source) as across the site is a good equestrian/hiking trail. I chose this one because it was actually smaller and I didn’t want to take up the larger second site. The second site is visible from the first but not close enough to interact much. The rock formation is larger, it’s more hidden from the main road, and has more space for vehicles. Better for a group - even a large one. Check the sign on the way into the preserve to make sure fires are allowed that day. Firewood can be purchased at the market in Baker.
The Approach and Ace Test The exit off of I-15 is convenient - stop in Baker immediately on the right for supplies then right across the interstate is Kellbaker Rd - the paved road that goes through the Mojave. After the mile 10 marker, the road turns right and in the middle of the turn is an unmarked paved driveway. Turn onto that driveway and it becomes a sandy dirt road that runs straight. There are some signs that say “No Motor Vehicles” and “No Camping” but these signs are talking about not leavening the road. You’re fine if you stay on the road. There are some pull offs that look like campsites but they will have rocks across the path and have signs saying no camping. Look for the designated camping signs and pull offs with a fire pit. This road does pass the Ace test for me (Ace was my 216 VW Jetta that I took on roads like this often); however, there are a couple spots toward the second campsite and beyond that I, personally, would do with Ace but if you’re less comfortable, the first campsite is maybe 200m in and any car could make that easily.
Activities The trails are well marked and one can explore the Lava Tubes which is just across the dirt road and easy access. It’s hot even in spring so bring a lot of water - more than you think you need. WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES. I had a fire and it was great to sit, relax, and stargaze. There isn’t a lot of light pollution so on a clear night, it’s awesome. Further down the paved road, there are other things like more Lava Tubes, some mines, and a trail you can drive along to check out water tanks. I like this camp area because it’s isolated and out of town but close enough to get supplies while allowing access further into the preserve. You can also go check out the World’s Largest Thermometer in Baker as well as an Alien kitsch shop and a few restaurants.
Weather I was there towards the end of April and it was in the 90’s and sunny during the day, a hot breeze coming from the west. At night, it was clear and starry and a low around 65.
Cell Service and Other Services I had 3 bars of Verizon LTE and was able to text and send videos and do some of my remote work. There are no amenities; however, Baker is just 10 miles away and has a few gas stations and a market that have pretty much everything from laundry detergent to firewood.
Guide
Great spot just before Hole in the Wal About 1/4 mile down a road marked “4x4 high clearance only.” But if you’re just hitting the campsite you can make It in a lot less. There’s a turn around there for people towing trailers. No facilities, just a fire ring, red rock peaks and quiet. Absolutely stunning.
ScoutLots of spots, but the area is trashed. Garbage all over the place and used tires, looks like folks use this area as a dump. Also looks like there are some folks living in a fifth wheel near the highway.
Guide
This place is great. It’s is beautiful. Everyone from the marina to the RV park we’re very helpful and friendly.
Legend$80 RV, $45 tent camping with No shade, CG is not even on the lake. Total crazy stupid ripoff by a pvt hospitality company leasing the NPS camping area.
Traveler
Apple Maps wouldn’t get me here. Use google maps instead.
This is just a little pull off from Old Highway 93. Had to level my truck because there isn’t any flat ground and there unfortunately is a fair amount of trash.
That being said the views are amazing and it’s extremely secluded if that’s your jam!
Decent Verizon and T-Mobile coverage. Made it up here in 2wd but there are a few spots where clearance will be your friend.
Guide
We stopped here and ended up staying for a week. Jennifer and Jaimi are winderful ladies. They went above and beyond to help us with the area. The maintenance man had to change water spicket and had us going in 15 minutes.
Scout
This Place is awesome after 7 years still love it #66
Legend
This campground is open September through June and all sites are dry camping. There is a separate area for RVs, trailers, and vans but many camper vans (including ours) were in the tent section. The camper pads in this area are dirt/gravel and not all of them are level but we made it work. Each site has a fire ring, BBQ grill, and picnic table. Some of the sites (but not all) have a covered picnic table and the table is located on a cement pad.
There are more than sufficient vault toilets sprinkled throughout the campground and all the ones we used were clean. No showers. No dump station.
The hosts were great – they are from Minnesota, and it is their third year at this campground. They made daily rounds and were very friendly.
This campground is located just outside the park and therefore not subject to the park fees. You will need a timed entry for the 13-mile scenic drive from October through May (but if you enter before 8 am, you will not need it). We had only a fleeting one bar of Verizon cell service. Make sure you make reservations as the campground was full on a Monday night in mid-November.
Traveler
Scenic campground. Clean, quiet and very nice people, Great place to spend a night and see the lake in the morning.
Guide
When we first got here there was no available water ( main water line break) and the bathrooms were closed and they had set up several portable bathrooms. They quickly fixed the water line on day two and bathrooms were re-opened and water was available at the sites. No hook ups, but worth the $20 a night ( must be done online), quiet, peaceful and only a couple other campers here. Walking distance to Lake Mojave ( Sandy beach looks beautiful when you walk up to it, but then you see all the rusty battle caps, bottles, some broken glass, fishing line and trash about) where there is a marina with a store ( pricey as you’d expect). Camp sites aren’t very big, but I had no problem with my 19ft trailer. They have 45 sites ( loops around for easy turn around at top of campground) and ours was level. No camp host here, but service truck drives through at about noon everyday. Trash bins available. Regular flush bathrooms were pretty clean ( no showers).The nights ( sun down here at 4:30pm) are awesome and star gazing is amazing and you can hear coyote’s in the distance. A few palm trees and some sites have nice shade. We had such a nice experience here, we decided to stay an extra night!
Legend
Nice little campground in desert-quiet.
Scoutlived here 2 years and it is the best park in az, staff go out of there way to make me welcome here. wifi with t-mobile is excellent, 300 dn and 100 up. low park monthly rates.
GuideWe live in Vegas and took a day trip to fish a little and check out the RV sites. I tried to book a space but this place is so popular they didn't have any open weekend spots until March 2024. We did book a site for April. Plan to fish here more before our camping trip in April. I have been here before and rented a canoe for a few hours. Emerald cove is amazing. The restaurant serves good food and the people working in the store are very friendly and helpful.
GuideSpent 4 days here last month and going back next week. Great place to stay during the off season when not crowded. There are 8 spaces with a river view but only have water and electric. Used the park showers to keep from filling our black tank. I do recommend this place.
Traveler
This is a park in which most of the people live at. The spot we got was on a big parking lot with hook ups but nothing more. It was near the main street which is very noisy.
ScoutAmazing Riverview is the water was great clean nice bathrooms were very clean was impressed will go again
Scout
We came in December and even with the cold weather we really enjoyed the MTB trails directly behind the RV park. Short walk to shopping. The park was very clean and the people super nice.
Traveler
Stayed here for one night in July. We were afraid that it will be extremely hot, but the night was surprisingly cold. Only a free other campgrounds we have been on our trip could beat the stars at night. Even though the site is in the middle of the desert, everything is perfectly clean and you even have water.
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.
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
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Nipton, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Nipton, CA is Sloan Canyon - Dispersed Camping with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Nipton, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Nipton, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
