Best Tent Camping near Amargosa Valley, NV

Desert landscapes surrounding Amargosa Valley, Nevada offer tent campers several primitive and established options within reach of Death Valley National Park. Emigrant Campground provides tent-only camping with 10 designated sites at 2,000 feet elevation, offering cooler temperatures than the valley floor. DeathValley Camp near Amargosa Valley features walk-in tent sites with basic amenities including drinking water and picnic tables. For those seeking more seclusion, Summit Well Road offers dispersed tent camping on public lands with fewer restrictions but minimal facilities.

Tent camping surfaces throughout the region consist primarily of hard-packed desert soil and gravel, requiring sturdy tent stakes and careful site selection. Most primitive tent campsites lack potable water, so campers should bring adequate supplies for their stay. High clearance vehicles are recommended for accessing backcountry tent camping areas like Carpenter Canyon, where rough dirt roads extend 12 miles to reach secluded sites. Fire restrictions are common throughout the area, particularly during summer months when temperatures soar and wildfire risk increases. Vault toilets are available at established campgrounds but absent at most dispersed sites.

The elevation difference between tent campgrounds creates significant temperature variations. According to reviews, Emigrant Campground can experience strong winds that have dislodged unsecured tents. One camper noted that at higher elevations like Mahogany Flat (8,000 feet), nighttime temperatures can drop to 12°F even when valley temperatures remain high. Stargazing is exceptional at most primitive tent sites due to minimal light pollution. Campers frequently mention the lack of shade at lower elevation sites, while higher locations offer more comfortable summer camping. Early arrival is essential at popular tent-only campgrounds, as one visitor reported: "Many people arrived just before sunset but were not able to get a spot because this filled up so quickly."

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Best Tent Sites Near Amargosa Valley, Nevada (10)

    1. DeathValley Camp

    1 Review
    Amargosa Valley, NV
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (503) 550-0712

    $25 - $120 / night

    "The campsites are located next to the vines and includes a composting toilet& picnic table."

    2. The Wild Mustang

    1 Review
    Pahrump, NV
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (219) 487-7203

    $20 - $40 / night

    "It had amazing views and total privacy. You really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, in the best way.

    The host was kind and responsive."

    3. Summit Well Road

    2 Reviews
    Beatty, NV
    28 miles

    "Good open spaces. There is some garbage but overall good spots to stay when visiting Death Valley for dog owners."

    "Seemed like a perfect spot just outside of Death Valley. It is coyote country and wild donkey country too lol, so be careful at night. Easy to find spots, recommend a 4x4."

    4. Pahrump Land in the middle of Mojave Desert

    2 Reviews
    Pahrump, NV
    31 miles
    +1 (725) 208-7900

    $10 / night

    "This Mojave Desert escape is perfect for your overlanding basecamp or just relaxing with all the space you need.  Check them out and share some pics from your stay!"

    5. Mack's Canyon Dispersed

    15 Reviews
    Mount Charleston, NV
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (912) 441-2518

    $50 / night

    "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."

    "As we SUV camp (and not 4x4) we didn't head a long way in, but discovered numerous locations that were easy to get to, but still secluded.

    Very few cars, and a nice getaway."

    6. Emigrant Campground — Death Valley National Park

    9 Reviews
    Darwin, CA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 786-3200

    "limited sites, each with a picnic table, access to water and flush toilet. very nice spot and the higher elevation provides cooler temperature."

    "This is a free campsite for tents only. However, several people brought in their car campers & just set up a tent."

    7. Carpenter Canyon

    5 Reviews
    Mount Charleston, NV
    46 miles

    "Ripped one of the side steps off the truck😬 High clearance is a must. Didn’t see a single person the whole way in and the scenery is very dull until you get into the canyon."

    "12 Mile Drive in.  Moderatley difficult trail without 4WD.  Small spring/pond nearby."

    8. Mahogany Flat Primitive Campground — Death Valley National Park

    4 Reviews
    Darwin, CA
    47 miles
    +1 (760) 786-3200

    "The trail up to this campground is very rough. there was signs after the kilns for 4x4 only. However, we did see a little car mob up this road, like they had done it before."

    "This camp spot is nearly perfect.  Very remote, epic views, solitude. Only thing I was surprised to see were so many other campers at this spot.  Was busy for middle of the week.  "

    9. Mack's Canyon Dispersed Camping

    2 Reviews
    Mount Charleston, NV
    45 miles

    "The sites themselves are quite spacious, which is a big plus if you’re setting up multiple tents or bringing along larger vehicles and gear."

    10. Thorndike Primitive Campground — Death Valley National Park

    1 Review
    Darwin, CA
    47 miles
    +1 (760) 786-3200

    "Surrounded by desert in the middle of nowhere, this place is heaven!! We came here to get away from everyone and exactly that we did. We can’t wait to come back."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Amargosa Valley, NV

397 Reviews of 10 Amargosa Valley Campgrounds


  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2018

    McWilliams Campground

    Summer Is So Much Better In The Mountains

    You can take that heat from Vegas and completely forget you are in Nevada when you travel just outside the city and to McWilliams Campground and Mount Charleston area. But because of this break in the heat all summer you have to make reservations, even though they say there are walk up sites I wouldn't suggest banking on them to be there.

    This campground is dry camping but with the setting of the mountains it hardly seems like any kind of inconvenience. There is a nice bathroom facility here without showers but plenty good for enjoying this place it is heated which makes for a lot better user experience especially I assume during winter months.

    When I was there I saw a lot of RVs and Tents alike all pulled into spots and comfortable. While I didn't seem boxed in and overcrowded I did speak to someone who said when it is filled with more RVs it tends to get a little claustrophobic feeling.

    Sleeping in a tent here I noticed that I could hear my neighbors pretty easily until around 11 p.m. after that it got pretty quiet and short of a few animal noises here and there it was silent. Temperatures dipped considerably at night so even though it was summer, in a tent I was finding I needed a little more cover than expected and pulled out the sleeping bag for some warmth.

    Something I loved about this site was the set up for campers with the fire ring and table. The slab around the ring gives you a flat surface if you have camp chairs and also allows you do better manage your space and keep debris out of your fire.

    TIPS:

    • Bring a light or headlamp. Not sure if it really doesn't have light or if it was just burned out, I didn't check again, but the bathroom was dark at night so you want to have a way to see.
    • Bring Cash or Check they didn't accept cards for the $25 nightly fee.
  • Denny B.
    Jul. 9, 2018

    Hilltop

    Amazing Views If You Know Which Sites

    This was my first time camping at Hilltop. I reserved online, which is great, so when I got there I just pulled into the spot. The camp host came by and asked for either my ID or the reservation.

    I stayed in Spot 1, which is nice if you want to be a little secluded, but I did have a lot of traffic noise when trucks or loud motorcycles came by. The tent area was level and smooth, which was a big help when Tent #1, which set up beautifully in my living room, refused to, in spite of much coaxing and cursing. I had to drive back into town and buy Tent #2, which was watertight even when the rain came pouring down.

    There is no running water in the campground. Spigots have been capped, and where there once were showers, there are now portable toilets. In the larger group areas, they (and the trash bins) fill up fast, but less so in the remainder of the campground. Walk a little bit farther and you'll likely find a cleaner portable. This campground is very tent friendly.

    If you want truly incredible views, reserve spots 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18. 22, or 23. All are on the outside edge overlooking the valley below. There are also deer that graze when the campground is quieter, and nearby access to a lot of hiking areas.

  • Ashlee L.
    Apr. 20, 2018

    Texas Springs Campground — Death Valley National Park

    Nice quiet campground with good scenery

    Pros: Reasonably priced, fairly quiet campground that is close enough to Furnace Creek w/out being in the thick of it. Great scenery surrounding the campground. Modern toilet/sink facilities and potable water.

    Cons: Weird site designs - the site boundaries are not clear, so I had no idea which picnic table or fire ring belonged to my site or my neighbors because they seemed to be situated right on the edge of some of the sites. Almost no shade (which is a given), and the campground is very dusty covered in sharp edged cobbles. This is obviously not something they can control, but you'll want to keep it in mind if tent camping - definitely bring 1 if not 2 heavy duty tarps for under any tents, and I would recommend a canopy or awning of some kind. The oddest thing to me, however, is why they would go to the trouble of installing flush toilets and sinks, but not go one extra step and have showers. Even cold-water only coin-op showers would be awesome, and much appreciated at the end of a hot day hiking!

    Given all of the above, however, I'd probably choose to camp here again if I was in the park. :)

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 1, 2023

    Texas Springs Campground — Death Valley National Park

    Desert Camping with Access to Amenities Nearby

    All of the campgrounds in the valley are glorified parking lots, some more obviously than others. Texas Springs holds our favorite distinction, “No generators allowed!” This alone makes it worth the short drive up the hill, but it’s also got a little bit more charm than the open acres down the hill. The open sky makes it the perfect place to rely on your solar power as there are no electrical hookups here.  Within walking distance of the Visitors Center, the hotel, grocery store, gas station and restaurants, all contained in the Ranch at Death Valley, it’s a great base camp for your park adventures. 

    The simple bathrooms have flush toilets and hand washing sinks, great dishwashing sinks with good tasting potable water are just outside of the bathrooms. The sites are stacked pretty tightly together, so there’s not a lot of privacy and there is zero, I mean zero, shade. All of the palm trees are down at the resort, but the scenery is all mudstone, sand and gravel, and it is lovely.  Climb up the hill a short way and you can see clear across Badwater Basin and Panamint Mountains to the west. Sunrise is as lovely as sunset. 

    This is Death Valley afterall, so come prepared to set up a canopy but be careful of wind- we saw many shade structures destroyed and discarded in the dumpsters. Mobile service was pretty spotty, we had Verizon which seemed to have a good signal in the morning until more people woke up and then everything slowed down. Service throughout the park was pretty spotty. Showers (and use of the pool) and wifi are available at the Ranch for an hourly or daily fee. 

    Biking, hiking and even golf are just a few of the activities available nearby, but pay attention to Park warnings about heat. Pets are not allowed on any of the trails and only allowed to be walked on roadways, because of the hot conditions found on some of the trails. We visited in February/March and found some of the canyons pretty uncomfortable, even that early in the spring.

  • Gustavo O.
    Jun. 3, 2019

    Champion Road Dispersed Campsites

    Single night Solo

    Drove up in a Camry to get away for Memorial Day; I had a blast! There were plenty of sites and first few had enough room for an RV. Everything else on the trail was kind of tight. It wasn’t terribly cold but it started snowing overnight! Woke up to 2 inches of snow and witnessed a gorgeous winter wonderland from my tent. Make sure to check the weather and or bring snow chains! Bring a camping spade and pack your trash out. Leave no trace!

  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 9, 2024

    Furnace Creek Campground — Death Valley National Park

    Furnace Creek Campground

    Overall, I enjoyed my stay at this campground. Sites have fire rings, picnic tables and level asphalt drives. Rest rooms are not modern but they are always clean. I only gave 4 stars because there are no showers.

  • Elizabeth G.
    Mar. 28, 2022

    Furnace Creek Campground — Death Valley National Park

    Nice and breezy in the winter

    My brother and I stayed here in January 2022 and loved it! It was surprisingly chilly but the tent only loop was nice and peaceful with only a few other campers there. The restrooms (no showers) were clean and there’s a dish washing sink for camper to clean their dishes with. Camping was cheap (I can’t remember the exact amount but it wasn’t a lot). It was first come first serve though.

    Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table. Sites are pretty level. There isn’t that much privacy which is to be expected since it is the desert. Either way, very nice campsite! I’d definitely come back

  • Brittany N.
    Jun. 20, 2017

    Mahogany Flat Primitive Campground — Death Valley National Park

    What a View

    Stayed at this campground in 2012. Mind you this was my FIRST real camping trip, I was utterly excited. The trail up to this campground is very rough. there was signs after the kilns for 4x4 only. However, we did see a little car mob up this road, like they had done it before. The road took us to just over 8,000ft elevation. Small campground, but cozy. Drop toilet close by that doesn't get serviced too often because of location. You could see telescope peak and the trail was just off the campground. Campsite had picnic table and a fire ring, thankfully. It was FREEZING when we went. Lets just say I was not prepared for how cold it was going to be. It got down to 12°F and lets just say I had just a "normal" camping sleeping bag. The view down to the valley was gorgeous. We hiked up a little ways.. maybe 3/4 a mile the telescope peak trail, then turned back. We orginally had come up to see something that was happening in the sky that late evening ( 1-2 am-ish), but by 9pm it was too cold to stay up, even with a fire going.

    The campground was about 80% full which was surprising since it was pretty solitary out that way.

    Free to camp.

    First come, First Serve.

  • L
    Apr. 3, 2022

    Texas Springs Campground — Death Valley National Park

    Just OK and Crowded

    We camped here because it was one of only 2 NPS campgrounds with tables and fire rings and it was first come first serve. The campground was full both nights we were there. We arrived in the morning and were able to get two sites next to each other. The sites are very close together, so don't expect any privacy. If you are looking for peace and quiet and some stargazing, this place is not for you. People shining their flashlights all over, headlights turning on when they opened their car doors, people driving around after dark and headlights shining in our eyes. Totally ruined the stargazing. There was one car that kept coming and going in our loop. I finally realized that they were driving down to the restrooms. Too lazy to walk two blocks! Restrooms were clean and had running water. There is also a no generators rule. I would not return to this campground.


Guide to Amargosa Valley

Tent camping near Amargosa Valley, Nevada, offers a unique blend of stunning desert landscapes and well-equipped sites, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Tent campers should check out unique activities

  • The secluded Mack's Canyon Dispersed offers stunning views and a peaceful environment, perfect for stargazing and enjoying the tranquility of nature.
  • For a more adventurous experience, Carpenter Canyon provides a rugged drive-in access and the chance to explore beautiful canyons and streams.
  • Mahogany Flat Primitive Campground serves as an excellent base for hiking Telescope Peak, with breathtaking views and cooler temperatures at higher elevations.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $20

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Amargosa Valley, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Amargosa Valley, NV is DeathValley Camp with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Amargosa Valley, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Amargosa Valley, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.