Government Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

as of feb 2026, govt wash is reopened. 51 designated campsites all fcfs, no reservations. camping is free but NO WATER. toilets are scattered around, dumpsters at top by the host site. no hookups. The main camping access road is dry dusty and will affect many if the campsites. on my visit it was a dust storm and i declined to camp here. The nps needs to consider some dust abatement treatment on the main dirt access road, imo

We loved using government wash when we came in to Vegas to visit family but starting August 1st 2024 they have permanently closed government wash.

Due to the number of homeless encampment, trash and crime, the Government Wash and 8.0 Mile Road is now closed indefinitely. Barriers are being raised. Park Rangers are clearing any remaining persons. Please do not go there with RVs or vehicles.

Hiking and biking are available but you will not be able to take a RV or vehicle in. 

REFERENCE: https://www.nps.gov/lake/government-wash-area-information.htm#:~:text=Key%20information%20for%20visitors,beginning%20Aug.%201%2C%202024.

Great spots for rv Close to lake Lots of people fishing Road is graded with camping spots or drive further rough road wild spots

Was very interested from the beginning of reading for what applies to the camping app

This is Government Wash. On a weekend it’s pretty crowded. I’ll be here during the week. We’ll see how it is then.

Got here in the early evening and just picked the first spot big enough for my rig. I’m going to go scouting out a better location.

Lots of RVers and van lifers. Great views and windy nights. AT&T service was usable.

Lots more campers and even tents here in the wash now. But it still isn’t real crowded and is still quiet and dark at night for star gazing. Still a favorite.

We decided to bypass this one. Road in is very bumpy, and the day we scouted it out, it had a very transient feel vs. Campers stopping over. Just gave me that little voice saying nope. Verizon worked well. Some trash, a lot of broken glass in the sites we stopped at.

Spent the maximum amount of nights before taking off, we loved it here! Great Verizon service, toilets at the parking lot, several dumpster locations, and easy access to Lake Mead made this a place worth revisiting. The dust was a bit much, but that's too be expected. The road in was fairly rough in some spots, but our low-clearance rig made it just fine. Once you're in the park you can fill up on water and empty your tanks at nearby Las Vegas Bay campground. Will definitely stay again!

It's a beautiful area with views of lake mead and the surrounding mountains. There are usually a lot of people here, but there is plenty of space to spread out. There are bathrooms, kinda gross, but typical for a campground. A welcome break from the crowded city RV parks of Vegas.

Lots of spaces able to accommodate all sizes. Good cell service as well. Check out our video review: https://youtu.be/tteLGCqtAGI

Decent roads push out across and over the wash, giving you many great places to post up and spend some days or just drop a boat in. Coyotes sing at night, pretty harmless just be smart with your food and waste.

Scouted this location looking for an area to camp with cell service and wifi so I could work during the day. This was it! Great cell reception, and using hot spot has perfect wifi to work! Great views and will definitely as this to our camping go to list.

Beautiful sunsets near waterline. Tent and/or vehicle camping only in this lower area. RV camping up on hill side. Fishing good. Hiking good. Lots of birds and some coyotes. Watch your small pets! Facebook SNORR (Southern Nevada Off Road Recovery) if you get stuck in any soil. They will get you out free but please donate anything you can after.

Broken glass every where on our campsite. Stays hot day and night so not recommend for summer. People drive fast and kicked up dust everywhere .

Govt Wash is my favorite place to stay in the wintertime. Temperature is manageable without auxiliary heat in my van.. 70s in the day, not below 40 at night through January. Love the views of the lake. Feels so far out but only 30 mins to Vegas. Henderson for groceries and gas is very close. Lots of coyotes, even during the day. Be mindful of that if you have a dog along with you. Free dispersed camping here (with NPs Pass) with bathrooms and dumpsters at entrance. Washboard road isn’t too bad, and you get get pretty close to the lake even without 4x4. I loveeee being here. Sunsets and sunrises are awesome.

I've camped here on and off since 2015.  I feel like it's gotten better recently in terms of groups of loud partying people doing doughnuts in the parking lot at the entrance.  A few years ago we had a person literally stumble into our camp and almost fall into our fire… but I haven't had anything strange like that happen in the past year.  I believe the rangers have been cracking down on people in this area, which is very nice.  The views of the lake are breathtaking.  I've camped here 4 or 5 times in the past year and it was very quiet and peaceful.  There can be some traffic in the early morning due to people coming going down to the shoreline to fish, but it's not a terrible amount of noise.  My neighbors to my site were also nice.  

If you have dogs, beware of the coyotes.  There are a lot of them here.  Some are skittish and will run away from you, but some have lost their fear of people because people have been feeding them.  Keep your dog leashed at all times.

So once you pull in you see a massive parking lot with a bathroom and plenty of trash cans throughout, then you literally decide which road you want to take and they all take you to the lake! a lot of people are pulled over camping in the dirt area and there’s a lot of people down by the lake there’s not a spot you can’t find so I doubt you would ever strike out here because there is plenty of areas to pull over, park and camp. It’s obviously disbursed! I haven’t seen a vehicle, truck, RV, or camper that hasn’t made it down to the water if you feel more safer parking higher up and dropping your RV or travel trailer and driving down to the water that’s also an option!!!! Super cool little area for you to launch your kayaks or stay on the edge and fish. make sure you wear sandals water shoes or tennis shoes because it is very very rocky. Cool little coves for kids to play in as well.

Oh and it’s freeeeee

We outfitted our travel trailer with solar so we can RR at dispersed sites like this.(free roam camping.) WINDY

Is it a beautiful desert landscape or is it a semi-lawless post-apocalyptic landscape littered with broken glass? Both.

Primitive camping, no services.

It was great, 10 / 10 would stay again.

Big dispersed camping site right on the southwest corner of Lake Mead. Being the nearest to the NRA entrance from Vegas it gets crowded, especially weekends and holidays. A lot of day-users come to fish. Also very hilly and rocky once you get off the main drag to find a better spot. Common to see 4x4s stuck on the rocky/sandy hills.

Views are pretty, sunsets are nice, and lots to do in the NRA. Lots of stone fire rings all over. There are dumpsters at the main lot. There are also water-fill, trash and dump stations at nearby campgrounds you can use for free.

Donkeys and coyotes everywhere. Supposed to be bighorn sheep, too, but we haven’t seen any here yet. Also gets quite buggy, flies, gnats and mosquitos. Good cell service. Not our favorite dispersed site but it has its charms, including proximity to nearby Henderson/LV, good scenery and good cell service.

There is a NRA entrance fee but free with the America Pass.

Our first time camping on this free land.  We call it free as we have a National Park pass and didn't have to pay to enter the park.  So many spots to camp and set up your rig that no one was on top of you.  Views of the water were amazing and the sunsets to behold!  There are trash dumpsters at the entrance to the dispersed camping area and we saw BLM folks out patrolling.  Many off road paths around to take your jeep or side by side.  It does get hot here in the summer so would recommend coming in during the winter or spring

Access limited due to low water. And covid 19

Great temp great sunsets

The road is paved until the end but you can manage easy with a 2 wheel drive vehicle. I parked right along the water but beware, there are lots of bugs. The water can be chilly since Lake Mead is very deep but in the spring and summer the water is really nice to wade in.

Plenty of spots for fishing. Bring a chair, sunscreen, bug spray and water. The water is a bit calmer since most of the boats go on the other side of the lake.

I would recommend going around the sunrise or sunset because colors are quite stunning.

Our trailer is able good for off roading which led us to a beautiful camp site! We stayed for a week and enjoyed every second of it. We had an amazing view, friendly neighbors! However our site was pretty distant from others which I liked a lot. Wonderful place! I would definitely go again!

Completely off grid but 40 mins to downtown Vegas. Great views, easy access to the lake. Cell service is good for hotspotting. Coyotes are in the area so keep an eye on pets. There is a 15 day limit and then you have to move atleast a 1/4 mile and 90 days a year total camping time. Rangers and Game Warden frequent the areas. It is truly my fav camping area around Vegas. Some areas require 4x4 but plenty of spots do not and have access for smaller vehicles.

I’d give it 2 1/2 stars. Here on Veterans Day which happens to be on a Monday.... packed full. I decided to take the R-pod down a hill to the waters edge to get away and there were still people. LOTS OF TRASH. And I can’t stand that. Picked up a full garbage bag in a very short distance. The stars are for the water, and free camping. Easy access too I guess. Photo from my bed window tho.