A cottonwood tree with a tire swing marks the main site at McKinney Tanks Camp, a dispersed spot tucked just 200 to 300 yards off the highway near campgrounds near Tonopah. The access road is the first thing to plan around. Reviewers flag it as heavily rutted, and at least one suggests walking it before committing a vehicle. Once down, though, the site sits below the road grade and largely out of sight from passing traffic.
Two distinct areas give campers some choice in where to set up. The main flat under the cottonwood has room for about two vehicles and works well for tent camping, though reviewers note ant nests and active rodents overnight. A second, flatter area sits near a ruined stone structure. Nearby, a still-flowing spring and a scatter of old tin cans point to earlier use of the site. A high-voltage power line runs through the area, and some highway noise carries in, though several reviewers found it minimal.
"If you explore the surroundings a bit you'll find a ruined building, a still-flowing spring, and thousands of old tin cans," notes Seth T. Cell coverage is solid, with confirmed 4G on both Verizon and T-Mobile. Campfires are permitted, and pets are welcome. For campers who want more developed facilities, McKinney Tanks Dispersed, Toiyabe NF near Tonopah sits just southeast, and the Saulsbury Wash Rest Area Hwy 6 provides a no-frills roadside alternative a few miles east.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsMcKinney Tanks Camp is located in Nevada near Tonopah
Coordinates
38.10216556 N
116.910461 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GGood CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/20/26- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 12 usersLast on 7/20/26
AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 7/20/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/20/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 12 usersLast on 7/20/26
- AT&TNo CoverageVerified by 7 usersLast on 7/20/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Dispersed
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Phone Service
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
DISPERSED CAMPING
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
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if McKinney Tanks Camp needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 5 min from Las Vegas, NV
- 3 hrs 45 min from Carson City, NV
- 6 hrs 33 min from Visalia, CA
- 7 hrs 3 min from Fresno, CA
