Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Amargosa Valley? Find everything from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking with The Dyrt. Search nearby dispersed campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
These relatively undiscovered sand dunes offer an ideal recreation area for ATVs. These hills are a well-kept secret and mostly used by locals, but expect to find plenty of other off-roaders on the weekends. The Big Dunes cover five square miles and tower about 500’. Big Dune is home to sensitive plants and animals.
$50 / night
The NPS established nine campsites along Echo Canyon Road and six along Hole in the Wall Road. No camping is allowed along these roads, except with a permit in designated site. Permits can only be acquired in person at Furnace Creek Visitor Center (8:00 am to 5:00 pm) and Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station (intermittent hours). The free permits can be issued for stays of up to seven nights, but cannot be reserved in advance.
Roadside camping along these routes has increased greatly over the past decade. When campsites were full, people drove off road to create new sites. By limiting camping to designated sites, the NPS hopes that campers will be able to experience the solitude and quiet of the surrounding wilderness. Limiting the number and location of campsites will also reduce human impacts on the desert.
Permits are a way for park rangers to communicate with campers about Leave No Trace ethics, NPS regulations and other ways users can help protect the environment. Park staff compare usage information from permits with resource impacts on the ground to determine if use limitations are needed to protect the fragile desert. Permits are also valuable during search-and-rescue efforts. Backpacking and roadside camping permits are not required for any other area of the park, but they are encouraged.
Legend
We stayed at this spot for a week while volunteering with the Homes On Wheels Alliance. There must have been a hundred of us total, and there was plenty of room for all. We stayed on the edge, just off Mesquite Rd, very minimal off road driving. But you can keep going further back and there are so many open spots to choose from. This particular spot is huge and good for any size rig.
Good cell signal here for Verizon and ATT. It got windy every evening/night when we were there in mid October.
Heads up that there is a shooting range across the street and the shots are loud.
There's a county transfer station just down Mesquite Rd that takes recyclables (incl. glass!) and e-waste.
This is dispersed camping on BLM land so there are zero amenities or services so please help keep it clean.
Legend
Right before Death Valley if you coming from vegas and right after Death Valley if your heading to vegas!! They do have cement pads so that seemed really cool for it being BLM land… they have nice roads as well.
Here are my star ratings based on my lifestyle and what I like. I'm also a mother, dog mama, and a wife so it's not just me it's my crew and i. 1 star- AUTOMATIC relocate... the property is no longer there, trashed or/and I could never have my children there and I wouldn't ever think about staying no matter what. 2 star- Not really my jam, and would NEVER go to again... It probably more of desert life and not really my style for sure...Being from Vegas I can't stand being in the desert and I love the Trees and the Green more than anything. 3 star- Would stay there again in a pinch, but not really my style, the reason its not is because not enough family things to do, the scenery, or the location... but I would go again and feel safe having my kiddos here but only if I needed to in a pinch. 4 star- a really good rating for sure, maybe needed some improvements, minor things like being on top of each other, not a lot of privacy, but honestly little cosmetic things that aren't anything to sweat and would be back again for sure. 5 star- MY FAVORITE... love the location, safety, the surroundings, big camp spots available to fit toys for my kids to play, hammocks to hang, our big family tent, cases of firewood, our suburban or RV, etcccccc..... I would not only come back but would live if I could!!! Anyway thanks for reading and enjoy every moment like it's your last! CHEERS!
Legend
Literally free.!!! Cell service Dispersed Dirt roads Close to stores and everything in between Now a lot of people are like living here full time and well good for them right? Shoot... not a bad situation. Anyway free camping just pull over and you are good. No hook ups or anything special just you and your rv of choice. What’s better than free? Also Next door is an rv place and you can dump and fill your water if you needed to. Huge area by the way and plenty of open desert
Guide
I’ve camped at Mack’s at least 3 times now. It doesn’t get old. Most of the campsites are accessible with a 2 wheel drive vehicle you can only get so far. The views are amazing and it’s just far enough away to see the Milky Way at night. There are no services so remember to leave no trace. 5 stars for this dispersed camping area.
TravelerWheeler Peak Rd is actually one of 4 roads that goes into this vast area.
There are several roads that some think give better access to campsites off HIghway 160 in town. Wheeler Peak Rd is south of town.
Best one might be Charleston Peak Rd. Turn east off 160 Highway by the Auto Zone store onto Panorama and go one block to Charleston Peak Rd turning right at the Chevy dealership.
This is paved road nearly all the way to campsites. When the pavement ends go straight ahead a block or two to campsites or turn to the left and go north toward the power lines. All BLM east of the power lines clear to the mountains.
Boondocked in this area 2 months with no complaints. Verizon Cellphone signal this close to town was very good as was my hotspot internet connection.
Guide
My friend and I decided to hike Mt Charleston Peak in order to train for hiking Machu Picchu. Here’s a breakdown of the hike: 17 miles | 11,916 ft elevation | 8,241 ft prominence | Highest peak in Southern Nevada | 8th most prominent mountain in the U.S. | Most prominent mountain in Nevada. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.
In terms of camping, we decided to avoid the crowds, and camp on our way back, along the trail. Primitive/ dispersed camping available. Fire is allowed depending on the season, so check their website before hand. Pack-in-pack-out type camp.
LegendIts a little bit of a drive (4 miles) into the wooded terrain to get to the listed campsite. However, you can camp in multiple areas along the route. Just about anytime I head towards this site, you will see people tent or truck bed camping. On occasion, I will see a motorhome or pull trailer in the area. Most of the time, they are near the front entrance, as the road and openness for large rigs are more friendly. About a mile down the road is Sawmill trailhead. They have picnic areas and trails you can explore. Although, the current signage says not to camp overnight in the Sawmill area, you will see tents and rare times, small trailers (less than 20 feet) dispersed in the area. There are multiple nooks and private areas to disperse. As with any dispersed camping in this area or Sawmill, "No open fires." Just visited today and seen too many left over rock ring fires in the area. The usual from a long holiday weekend.
Legend
Great spot for dispersed camping. They have toilets near the front entrance. You will typically see small class c or pull trailers a little ways back, down the trails. No issues camping and people very respectful of other campers. Stayed during March and at night was almost freezing temperatures.
Guide
We stopped here overnight during our trek south. Super easy access via Valley View Blvd to the east side camp. We arrived at night so we couldn't enjoy any views. There is a small market (Martell Market) 7 minutes south that is open until 10pm and has just about everything you need for food and general supplies. Amargosa Valley 11 miles to the east offers gas and propane. Since we're not huge OHV enthusiasts, we only wanted to stay for a night since you will be in the middle of a bunch of moon dust. Gorgeous views and would overnight here in the future.
TravelerFor boondocking I find this spot convenient to town. Beautiful desert surroundings. Decent T mobile cell service.
TravelerI had planned to stay in the park when I visited early February 2021. All camping was still closed when I got there, so I found this dispersed camping site just outside of the park. It was easy to find, even though it was already dark. There were several other campers already out there, but there's enough space where it still felt somewhat private.
Basically this is an abandoned housing development, so it's super flat and easy to find and unoccupied space. Basically it's the pad where a house was going to be built.
There are no amenities, no water no bathroom no nothing. But it is so quiet! I stayed up late and when everyone went to bed it was the quietest I've ever heard. No road noise, no planes overhead, absolutely nothing. You don't realize what real silence sounds like until you experience it!
Definitely would recommend, cheap (free!), Easily accessible in any vehicle, great view of the desert and night sky!
ScoutCharleston is always the go-to during summer, as it’s 20 degrees cooler than it’s surrounding area. Dispersed camping is great - no utilities of course, but very quiet, not many other campers, and a great place for stargazing. We even saw a mule walking around in the morning. Forgot my trekking poles to set up as tent poles, but luckily, Charleston is one of the few places in NV with literal trees. Can be around a 20 min drive to whatever trails you’re interested in.
GuideA beautiful and remote area of Death Valley National Park “backcountry.” Be sure to research the Park’s rules for disperse camping.
Enjoy hours of exploring without seeing another person for days.
No facilities, No campfire pits,
ScoutLots of level sites for individuals or groups. Very close to town/shopping/gas so a great spot for first timers to test and fine tune their setup before heading for more remote boondocking adventures.
TravelerMt. Charleston overall is a nice play to visit for the day to get away from the Las Vegas heat. As far as dispersed camping, come supplied and be ready to be self-sufficient. There are no natural water sources for extra water, no cell service in most areas, and no services outside of the small town on the main road. I prefer Mt. Charleston more as a day trip than an overnight trip. The hiking is great, but there is not much else to do beyond hiking. It does get snow in the winter time, which is a plus. There is skiing and places to go sledding in the winter.
ScoutMack's is a good dispersed camp ground. No services. Pack out what your bring in!
Its a close drive from Vegas great for a quick get away. The road is a single road and pretty rough a 4x4 is recommended however a skilled driver might be okay in a 2x4. There are a number of existing sites along the road in and a open air camp at the end. All of the sites are good. Its quiet and peaceful. No fires. The park ranger actually checked to make sure we were aware of the fire restrictions. I assume this is due to the Mahogany Fire a couple weeks ago. Great spot for a nice quick get away from the Vegas heat!
ScoutThis campsite was probably the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced. In October it was warm with beautiful sunrise/sunset. Easy to set up a tent even in the dark. Multiple fire pits at most camp spots. I put the coordinates in maps on my iPhone and it took me right there. No WiFi but can be found within 10 minutes where there is a casino with gas and little market if need be. 5 or so minutes away from Death Valley Park. Save your money and stay here for free!
Scout
Nice place to stop and rest. Cell phone and internet available. Dispersed BLM dry camping.
TravelerThis spot is mainly set up for RVs or vehicle camping. There are a bunch of pull offs, the majority of which have concrete slabs to park on. Almost all have fire pits. I was tent/car camping. The ground is hard and can be rocky, depending on which spot you get. I put my set up in my car a few nights and slept in there. It was pretty busy, even in December, with RVs and trailers. I got there a little after dark every day and easily found spots, but I was also there in the middle of the week. Some of the slabs don't really have the clearest paths to them and others you have to drive through other sites to get to them. No facilities. Easy drive into the park and super easy to get to. There's no shade or really any tall veg to speak of, so you're hard pressed for relieving yourself, if you're primitive camping, and have no privacy, regardless. It was a decent spot to spend the night, but probably not good if you're planning to hang out at camp. Gorgeous surroundings, though. The night sky is to die for! Awesome place for star gazing or night photography.
LegendCampground Review: This was a pleasant surprise on the way back to Vegas from Death Valley. The description is pretty obvious, it is a LARGE sand dune with plenty of space to play on 4 wheelers and plenty of beautiful desert to set up tents or RV's.
Since it is a recreation area you will have to deal with generators and motors and lots of people from nearby towns coming out to play after work. It isn't far from Beatty which has amenities if you want to be close-ish to a town.
No services on site so make sure you are set up properly. The road to get out there is washboard dirt as well, so make sure you have good tires.*Not advised in Travellers Campervan*
The Dune itself is beautiful and a gorgeous spot for sunset or sunrise. It was cloudy when I was there so i didn't get that opportunity.
Travellers Autobarn Kuga Campervan Review(Sleeping and hanging out):
While out volunteering over a week for the Audubon Bird Counts, I was able to evaluate the AWESOME Kuga campervan. Since I was gone for 7 days, I broke my evaluation up into sections where the most important features of the van were utilized. If you want to see the rest, check out my reviews for **Pahranagat Wildlife Refuge, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Desert Wildlife Refuge, and Big Dune Recreation Area. **
This company is awesome, they come from Australia and New Zealand and we are super excited to have a truly affordable rental camper van in the United States! You can rent out different sizes and get an array of gear with them. This is perfect for music festivals, road trips, and for camping in extreme weather. Check them out here: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com/campervan-rv-rentals/kuga-campervan/
LegendThis site is excellent and should be explored fully to dig all the hiking opportunities. Three great spots to boondock, Mack's Canyon, Lovell Canyon, and Champion Road. All are great spots and far superior to the established campgrounds on the mountain (with the exception of Hilltop Camp but only because that site has hot showers). Access to trail heads and the spring mountain visitor center on the way in and out along the Kyle Canyon route. One of the top things to see is the bat colonies who come out at sunset and stay the evening. The stargazing is great as the forest is bristlecone and the canopy does not block the view of the Milky Way. We stayed two nights and had the place pretty much to ourselves mid week though I hear weekends can get crowded. Do not miss this spot. FYI it is typically much cooler on the mountain which is a short 47 minute drive from the site. It was 104 in the valley and 78 on the peak. An easy choice in the summer. Grooved to Reckoning on this trip and the book was Kybalion. Check them all out.
Scout
Quiet, remote BLM site. No amenities. 5 miles outside of Beatty, Nevada off of Death Valley Road.
Legend
Camping review: Dispersed camping just South of the refuge. There are lots of dirt roads off the main road outside of the refuge that you can camp on. There are little turn offs and cut outs for you to pull up in. Ideal for car camping or RV's. The main road heading into the park on the South side of the refuge so you can easily get into the park by foot or via the dirt roads.
You will need to look at maps to make sure you aren't on private property. The road going into the refuge is fine to for overnight stays, but if you want extended stays, you can go to Funeral Mountains Wilderness, which is across the main road on the way into Death Valley and stay up to 14 days for free.
Ash Meadows is a BEAUTIFUL refuge filled with wonder. A literal Oasis In the Desert. In this refuge you will find many endangered pupfish swimming along in the many warm springs in the refuge. They are federally protected so you will need to keep your distance. You can also see Crystal Spring. Crystal Spring pumps out over 2800 gallons of water a minute form an underground warm aquifer. It is also cerulean blue due to the limestone breakdown in the water.
There is also the incredible Devil's Hole located in the refuge. This is a geologic wonder of the world. It is a hole int he base of a mountain that is filled with the clearest water and the famous Devil's Hole Pupfish. These guys are incredibly close to extinction and live in a crazy environment. The Devil's hole is known the world over as a dangerous diving spot. Many divers have been lost in the underwater maze and no one even knows how deep it is. Some divers have even died trying to find out. Anywhere in the world if there is a large scale geologic shift (earthquake), it registers in this hole and the water will splash about like a wave pool.
The entire location is hike in only. You will need a map and check for permits at the visitor's center.
Travellers Autobarn Kuga Campervan Gear Review(Driving)
While out volunteering over a week for the Audubon Bird Counts, I was able to evaluate the AWESOME Kuga campervan. Since I was gone for 7 days, I broke my evaluation up into sections where the most important features of the van were utilized. If you want to see the rest, check out my reviews for **Pahranagat Wildlife Refuge, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Desert Wildlife Refuge, and Big Dune Recreation Area. **
This company is awesome, they come from Australia and New Zealand and we are super excited to have a truly affordable rental camper van in the United States! You can rent out different sizes and get an array of gear with them. This is perfect for music festivals, road trips, and for camping in extreme weather.
Check them out here: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com/campervan-rv-rentals/kuga-campervan/
LegendSuper cool little area for sure. We don’t have 4 wheel drive but we managed to get in and out just fine by going slow. It was crazy windy and our ozark black out tent held its way just fine. It’s totally dispersed so you have no hook ups. Pack out what you pack in This place is gorgeous when the sun sets and sun rises on the mountains. A little chilly at night but our heater did us good.
Here are my star ratings based on my lifestyle and what I like. I'm also a mother, dog mama, and a wife so it's not just me it's my crew and i. 1 star- AUTOMATIC relocate… the property is no longer there, trashed or/and I could never have my children there and I wouldn't ever think about staying no matter what. 2 star- Not really my jam, and would NEVER go to again… It probably more of desert life and not really my style for sure…Being from Vegas I can't stand being in the desert and I love the Trees and the Green more than anything. 3 star- Would stay there again in a pinch, but not really my style, the reason its not is because not enough family things to do, the scenery, or the location… but I would go again and feel safe having my kiddos here but only if I needed to in a pinch. 4 star- a really good rating for sure, maybe needed some improvements, minor things like being on top of each other, not a lot of privacy, but honestly little cosmetic things that aren't anything to sweat and would be back again for sure. 5 star- MY FAVORITE… love the location, safety, the surroundings, big camp spots available to fit toys for my kids to play, hammocks to hang, our big family tent, cases of firewood, our suburban or RV, etcccccc….. I would not only come back but would live if I could!!! Anyway thanks for reading and enjoy every moment like it's your last! CHEERS!
LegendIf you can hike to it well than you can camp in it. The further you go the more stunning it is. If you hike far enough you can end up near Lovell canyon. Everything here is amazing and nice and cool.
Here are my star ratings based on my lifestyle and what I like. I'm also a mother, dog mama, and a wife so it's not just me it's my crew and i. 1 star- AUTOMATIC relocate… the property is no longer there, trashed or/and I could never have my children there and I wouldn't ever think about staying no matter what. 2 star- Not really my jam, and would NEVER go to again… It probably more of desert life and not really my style for sure…Being from Vegas I can't stand being in the desert and I love the Trees and the Green more than anything. 3 star- Would stay there again in a pinch, but not really my style, the reason its not is because not enough family things to do, the scenery, or the location… but I would go again and feel safe having my kiddos here but only if I needed to in a pinch. 4 star- a really good rating for sure, maybe needed some improvements, minor things like being on top of each other, not a lot of privacy, but honestly little cosmetic things that aren't anything to sweat and would be back again for sure. 5 star- MY FAVORITE… love the location, safety, the surroundings, big camp spots available to fit toys for my kids to play, hammocks to hang, our big family tent, cases of firewood, our suburban or RV, etcccccc….. I would not only come back but would live if I could!!! Anyway thanks for reading and enjoy every moment like it's your last! CHEERS!
ScoutGreat spot to get out of the Vegas heat. Found a spot to setup my hammock to watch the stars at night. Was private and quiet. A lot of disperse sites and you can go anywhere with any vehicle if you drive carefully.
TravelerPretty secluded dry camping. Almost always can find a spot. The sites are all pretty big and have lots of level areas for tents. The road is drivable with 2 wheel drive but it may be tricky taking any campers further back then the first few spots
Dispersed camping near Amargosa Valley, Nevada, offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning desert landscape while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With various options available, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and explore the natural beauty of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Amargosa Valley, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Amargosa Valley, NV is Death Valley: Dispersed Camping East Side of Park with a 4.5-star rating from 23 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Amargosa Valley, NV?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 dispersed camping locations near Amargosa Valley, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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