Map showing campground location near Nixon, Nevada

Camper submitted image from East of Pyramid Lake

East of Pyramid Lake

Bureau of Land Management's Humboldt River Field Office oversees this dispersed camping area situated on a dirt expanse just off the highway north of Nixon. The site consists of a large open area near distinctive tufa rock formations, with several narrower roads leading to more secluded spots for those with suitable vehicles. Campers can access the main area easily with big rigs, though sharp rocks become more common when venturing further from the paved road.

The camping area sits at 4,000 feet elevation with no natural shade beyond scattered sagebrush. Wind patterns can be unpredictable, making awnings challenging to maintain. Cell service reaches the area, with T-Mobile providing strong 5G coverage according to recent visitors. Fire pits exist throughout the site, though campers must bring their own firewood since no trees grow in the immediate vicinity.

Traffic noise from the nearby highway remains minimal, with most campers reporting they barely notice passing vehicles. Michael G. notes that "people keep it cleaned up," though some scattered trash is present as expected at dispersed sites. The rock formations provide hiking opportunities and climbing challenges for those interested in exploring.

Campers seeking developed facilities can find alternatives at Pyramid Lake Marina and RV Park, which offers full hookups and amenities about twelve miles west.

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Map & DirectionsEast of Pyramid Lake is located in Nevada near Nixon

Dispersed Camping

Coordinates

39.945177 N
119.380346 W

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Connectivity

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T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 10 users
Last on 6/9/26
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 8 users
Last on 6/9/26
AT&T
No Coverage

Connectivity

Presented by

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T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 10 users
Last on 6/9/26
VerizonLTE
Some Coverage
Verified by 8 users
Last on 6/9/26
AT&T
No Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Dispersed
Group

Features

For Campers

Phone Service
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Drive Time

54 min from Reno, NV
1 hr 19 min from Carson City, NV
2 hrs 57 min from Yuba City, CA

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Reviews8 Camper Reviews - East of Pyramid Lake

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

5.0

out of 5

8 Reviews

Campers regularly cited the spacious, flat sites with easy RV access and fascinating rock formations. Guests frequently mentioned the peaceful atmosphere with minimal traffic noise and ample space between campers.

Edith T.

Scout

Reviewed Mar. 23, 2026

Peaceful spot

Wide open space with interesting rock formations and a lovely view of the stars.

Month of VisitMarch

Michael G.

Scout

Reviewed Oct. 30, 2025

Off highway Quiet.

On another app this is call Mugwumps because of the rock formations. Easy to get into with big rig , just go slow . Big turnaround area. Fire pits already here. People keep it cleaned up. T-Mobile 5g 5 bar

Month of VisitOctober

John C.

Ranger

Reviewed Oct. 15, 2025

Quiet and flat.

This is a simple dirt area with a few spots to tuck away in. It is right off of the small highway and just few minutes north of Nixon. I was here on a coldish, rainy weekday and night, so it was empty except for one RV. It was a good place to do some easy (muddy) trail riding and take a lap around Pyramid Lake. I imagine it is quite hot in the summer. Spots are easy to get to, just be aware of sharp/jagged rocks as you move further off of the highway. Much of the surrounding off-road areas are closed to non-reservation people, so just pay attention to the signage to stay out of trouble with the tribal police. No vegetation other than sagebrush, so bring your own firewood/briquettes/etc. if you plan to have a campfire for grilling.

SiteNo numbers - open area.

Month of VisitOctober

(6) View All

John L.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 12, 2025

Perseid spot

Stopped by for the meteor showers that as it turns out may be obstructed by a full moon

Siten/a

Month of VisitAugust

Richard D.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 10, 2025

Nice flat area by rocks

About a half dozen spots to camp depending on how close together you want to be. Tonight only one other camper far apart. 4000’ altitude, 1-2 bars on Verizon.

Month of VisitJune

Joe K.

Guide

Reviewed Dec. 16, 2024

BLM land east of Pyramid Lake

So quiet and peaceful. Nobody else was here but me. Barely hear minimal traffic from the road. Sadly an overcast while I stayed one night, but I got to see the last full moon, winter moon, of the year rise from behind the mountain ridge in the north. Looked like the sun rising. I will be returning to star gaze on clear skies. Oh yeah, definitely weird rock formations to check out.

Month of VisitDecember

Shawn B.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2024

Middle of nowhere

Tried to go to the school bus thing but road got too technical so camped out near a mine, epic!

Month of VisitAugust

Laura M.

Legend

Reviewed May. 12, 2023

Great boondocking

This place is everything we look for when boondocking. It's quiet, open, easy to get to with our class c, flat(ish), cell service, and places to hike/walk around. There was nobody else around when we stayed here for 2 nights in May.

The road is nearby but barely visible and you can hardly hear the cars. The rocks (tufas) are really neat and fun to climb.

There's absolutely no shade so the sun makes it feel hotter than it is. And the wind comes through somewhat unpredictably so we couldn't keep our awning out.

It's surprisingly clean, I mean there's some trash which is to be expected, but not huge amounts of it.

There are a couple of little narrow roads you can take to find a more secluded spot, but I wouldn't attempt it unless your vehicle can handle it. There are a couple of random big dips to get past, and really there aren't very many camping opportunities past the big giant open area by the rocks. The big main area is huge and would easily fit several campers.

Great place to boondock!

Siten/a

Month of VisitMay

(7) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fires allowed at East of Pyramid Lake?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at East of Pyramid Lake, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does East of Pyramid Lake have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, East of Pyramid Lake does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at East of Pyramid Lake?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, excellent coverage for T-Mobile, and some coverage for Verizon.

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The Loneliest Road Trip

Delta to West Sacramento: 4 Day Road Trip

Build Your Trip

Map & DirectionsEast of Pyramid Lake is located in Nevada near Nixon

Coordinates

Connectivity

Connectivity

Access

Site Types

Features

For Campers

For Vehicles

DISPERSED CAMPING

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

Drive Time

2026 Explorer Giveaway

Are fires allowed at East of Pyramid Lake?

Does East of Pyramid Lake have wifi?

Is there cell phone reception at East of Pyramid Lake?