Best RV Parks & Resorts near Alamo, NV

We stopped here for lunch to check it out as a potential spot for the future. So we didn't actually camp here but we looked around, took pictures, and made a plan for our return. First thing is that since this place is free and beautiful it fills up quickly. We arrived around 11:30 am and there were spots available but they were all taken by the time we left after our lunch. However, there is another free boondocking spot across the highway near the refuge entrance, so if you arrive too late to get a spot you could camp at the boondocking spot for one night and then try to get a campsite at the refuge the next day. It was October when we were there and the weather was cool and the leaves turning. Just gorgeous scenery and the campsites are literally right next to the lake. Lots and lots of water fowl. There are nice trails around the area too but be careful at the lower parts of the refuge because hunting is allowed there. The refuge consists of two lakes and a marsh. Parts of the lakes are muddy, which is probably how the place gets it's name. There are sites big enough for RVs and sites where only tents are allowed. None have hookups but they do have picnic tables. The road noise might bother some people. And the entire park is dirt roads, not paved. Parts of the road are narrow, so caution must be taken when passing other vehicles.

We stopped in to review the campground for a future trip, pulling a 34 ft travel trailer with no problems. It’s located on a gravel road with a small portion washboard surface. Good for kayaking until October 1st. Then, closed to boating for the season. No swimming, no hookups. Fire rings available to use, but must bring your own firewood. There’s a trail at the south end of the lake. There are a few spaces for small vehicles only, but we found open choices today to fit our trailer. The highway runs along the campground, so there is road noise. We’d like to come back in a different season.

There are natural springs and the flora is gorgeous!!! The short overlook trail is absolutely stunning. Our trip was in Fall so the colors were amazing. We camped for only one night but had a good visit and plan to return since this is a very nice place. This is a small first come, first serve campground with electric hookups, restrooms, and more. Each site has a picnic table, BBQ, and fire pit. The picnic table has shade and there are trees around the campground. There are showers but I didn't use them to verify they work well or are warm. There are water spouts, for use but not to hookup. There is a dump station at the park entrance but no sewer hookups. We got the last spot in the campground, it fills up quickly and people came after us who had to leave to find another place. Lesson: arrive early in the day probably between 10am-1pm will get you a spot. The campground is at the park entrance and is 0.8 miles from the main park area where the playground, wading pool, grassy areas, and most trail heads are. That main area is also where you will find maps and the stamp to use on your Nevada state parks passport. When we came the wading pool was empty. But I guess during summer it's a nice refreshing place for children to play. There are two spots to play horse shoes and one for volleyball. The playground equipment is old but usable. Cellular service is better up at the main park area than at the campground but the campground does offer wifi for a fee. Just outside the state park is a grazing area with cows and just past that is the railroad- you may hear the train from your campsite. We liked that but I'm sure some people wouldn't. Animals in the area we saw: turkey, rabbits, kangaroo rats, frogs, and various butterflies. The camping price is$15 per night without hookups,$25 with hookups OR if you get the state park all access pass then camping is free and you just pay$10 for the hookups if you use them. Read up on the Nevada State Park website for more details.

Campground Review: This lake is incredible! It is on the road to Cathedral Gorge State Park and filled with wildlife! We were there for the bird count and it took all day just to count the birds on the lake. 

There are fifteen lakeside campsites are available along Upper Pahranagat Lake. Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. They are free, but there is a donation box at the registration kiosk if you want to leave some support for the Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge reserved sites for our group participating in the bird count service project. So be aware that you might want to have a back up plan if the sites are full since there is no reservation channel.  Several of the sites can accommodate multiple tents, camping trailers, or RVs. No electrical, water or sewage facilities are available. There are vault toilets. 

Visitors may stay for a maximum of fourteen days within a 31 day period. Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. Generators are allowed, but if the generator is noisy it should be shut down overnight to respect other campers. Fires are allowed only in provided grills and fire pits. 

Non-motorized boats or boats with electric motors are permitted on Middle Marsh Unit and Lower Lake throughout the year, and on Upper Lake from February 1 through September 30. Upper Lake is closed to boating October 1-January 30. Due to fragile habitats, the use of boats, rubber rafts, or other flotation devices is not permitted on the North Marsh at any time. Watercraft must be in compliance with all applicable state and federal rules. Trailer launching is not permitted. To prevent the spread of invasive species, only car-top watercraft are permitted.

RV’s / Trailers won’t like the road out there.

1st come. Sites 2 and 3, 4 and 5 are good for a RV ours is a class A with tow 55ft. Also at the end of campground 13, 14, 15 are back in sites for a longer rig with a roundabout to turn and get back out. Picnic table and fire pit and bbq. No services, no fees for 14 days. No Atv, etc. Vaulted toilets. No services, there is a dumpster at the turn in from highway onto Upper Lake Road. 3 miles into Alamo is gas, great little grocery store and Chester's Chicken. Pritchett RV has dump station, propane fill. Camp host actively monitors the goings at this Campground. Fishing for bass, crappie, catfish. We were here May 2021, gnats and mosquitoes but only in late evening, fun to watch the bats hunting for their dinner.

After a long, hot, WINDY ride down the ET Highway, I was ready for a stop.  I found this place via The Dyrt.  A bit difficult to find the actual entrance, to the north of the camps.  The Visitor Center, to the south, was closed.  The camps are rather exposed, but right on the water's edge.  Most were filled, as it is 'first-come' camping.  I was able to share spot #3 with a big motorhome in #2.  Pretty cute extremes in camping.  The camp host was kind, and had no problem with me setting up a clothes line for drying my sweaty gear.  Pit toilets are only at the two ends of the camping area, so plan ahead.  It was about a 5-minute walk from #2, for #2.  Quite a few bugs got me during the evening hours, but not too bad.  Fun to watch the Mexican free-tail bats come out in the evening.

Alamo is an oasis in a otherwise long stretch of road. Park is family owned and operated, clean and neat bathrooms. Recommend and will stay again.

This campground has super small sites that are close together and offer little to no "camp privacy". I would say that this is more of an RV/trailer friendly campground than tent-friendly. There are tent pads at a couple of the sites. Each site offers fire rings, grills and covered picnic tables. There is flushable toilets and free showers available which is super nice.

The more we explored this park, the more awesome things we found. Close to the day use area, there is a horseshoe pit and a very nice volleyball court. There are a couple short hikes super close to the campground also, that offer beautiful views of the fall foliage. I highly suggest visiting this in the Fall as the colors were amazing.

It’s about a 2 and a half 3 hour drive outside of Vegas depending on how fast you’re going. If you drive past the sign, you missed it! You pull in off the highway and just pick a spot. I’ve been here 3 maybe 4 times. This is the first time I wasn’t alone, but there was enough distance between the sites that I didn’t mind it. There is a couple of fire rings and old picnic tables. No water hookups, bathrooms, or cell service. Nearest gas station is about 30 miles in either direction. The road in is a bit rocky, but not too bad.

Ranger Review: GCI Pod Rocker at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, near Alamo, NV.

CAMPGROUND REVIEW 

Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, 9 miles south of near Alamo, NV. This campground is absolutely gorgeous and FREE!! However, nothing is ever really"free," so the price you pay is tolerating the noise from the very close US 93 highway. Noise diminishes at night, as there's very little truck traffic. At the time of this writing, Interstate 15 is detoured to this highway en route to Utah(until Spring 2020). All sites are first come first serve.  Each site has a picnic table, grill, fire pit, and a view of Upper Pahranagat Lake. Sites were clean& tidy in spite of no camp hosts. There are very few amenities: No water and a few scattered vault toilets. There is a handicap accessible site at the end of the long campground road with a paved stretch of sidewalk that goes to the south end of the lake. At the south end, there is a telescope for viewing wildlife and a park bench. We fished in the kayak a bit, but there were no bites. The landscaping is beautiful, with song birds always chirping. There's also a loop trail around the lake and another trail to the visitor's center. 

Campground highlights:  https://youtu.be/Gch2ndb3t4Y

PRODUCT REVIEW 

As a ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. While camping at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, we tested the GCI Pod Rocker. 

https://www.gcioutdoor.com/rockers/pod-rocker/ 

GCI Pod Rocker looks very sharp and is well constructed. However, it seems to be more suited for a heavier person. For a lighter person, the rocking motion takes some work, unless the chair is positioned on a downward sloping hill. Sets up quick and easy, has a little drink holder pouch, and it has nice storage case with shoulder strap. 

Pod Rocker in action:  https://youtu.be/MnZ4hCHwrXY

In summary, we loved camping at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, but with no water the stay was brief. However, adding this fun chair to our camping gear made our stay extra comfy!

This small BLM trail head campground is a hidden gem. There are a few level areas, overall most spots you can level your rig with ease. Clean volt toilets and a couple of 55 gallon trash cans, no water or dump. We were here at the end of March, it was quite and only a few campers. We stayed a week.

We got in on a Thursday night right around 6:30 pm. We knew we were going to be cutting it close and in our 26 foot rig out of the 10ish spaces that could fit us (some spots are only for vans or tents) only 2 were left so we suggest getting here earlier. We found a space that was available next to another camping couple who were very kind. They were pulling a Bighorn maybe a 28 ft with slides and we both fit in spots 2 and 3 with ease. The road heading in is incredibly washboarded. Stick to the left side of the road if you want a slightly less bumpy ride. Scenery was gorgeous. Lots of shade for Nevada. Amazing view of the stars too! You are close to the highway but at night the road settles down and it was not a problem for us. Being so close to the lake be prepared to be inundated with bugs at night time if you have any lights on at all. Also, people do not seem to pick up after their pets (maybe even themselves?) as the closer you get to vegetation the more poop you’ll see alongside the grass/bushes. Overall, we enjoyed our stay here. It is a donation only park and it is first come first serve! We arrived Sept 17th around 6:30 pm with only two spots left and right after we pulled in another van and camper pulled in so I’m pretty sure it was full by 7 pm. Temps were low 60s at night and 85 when we arrived up until about 8:30 pm! Each site is spaced far enough apart where you aren’t necessarily on top of each other (except for our site which was meant for two rv’s)! There are also picnic tables, grills and fire pits at each site.