Beatty serves as a gateway to Death Valley National Park at an elevation of 3,307 feet, providing significantly cooler temperatures than the valley floor. The area receives less than 5 inches of annual rainfall with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F, while winter nights can drop below freezing. Camping options near Beatty range from full-service RV parks to basic dispersed camping on surrounding Bureau of Land Management land.
What to do
Visit Rhyolite Ghost Town: Located just 4 miles west of Beatty, this early 1900s boom town offers historic ruins and photo opportunities. "We enjoyed our stay here... convenient to Death Valley NP and the ghost town of Rhyolite," noted a camper at Space Station RV Park.
Explore Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge: About 30 minutes from Beatty, this desert oasis features rare endemic species and boardwalks. "The main reason we stayed here was so that we could visit the nearby Ash Meadow Wildlife Refuge. This place is a must see! The largest oasis in the Mohave Desert. There are miles of boardwalks that take you around some springs and a very nice Visitor Center. And it's free!" shared a visitor staying at Longstreet Inn Casino & RV Resort.
Observe Wild Burros: The free-roaming burros often wander through Beatty and some campgrounds. "The park had everything we needed for our over night stay. Love the town and seeing the burros wander around freely," one camper mentioned about their experience.
What campers like
Cooler temperatures: Beatty sits at a higher elevation, providing relief from Death Valley's extreme heat. "Beatty, NV was about 20 degrees cooler than Death Valley. If you want to stay out of the valley while visiting this is a great place to do so," noted a visitor at Space Station RV Park.
Affordable camping options: RV sites near Beatty, Nevada offer good value compared to staying inside the national park. "We stayed here for two nights, one night in the RV park and one night in the hotel... The night we were there the campground was only about half full so we were able to pick a site that was away from everybody else," explained a camper at Longstreet Inn.
Convenient access to supplies: "Super clean toilet! Has full hookups and also a petrol station nearby which is quite convenient. The laundromat is only for customers and it only accepts quarters (cheap)," reported a guest at Space Station RV Park.
Local dining options: "We walked to the Happy Burro where we had a cold beer and chatted with some friendly locals," shared one camper about Beatty's small but appreciated food scene.
What you should know
Highway noise affects some parks: RV sites near Beatty often experience road noise. "You will hear the Highway noise unless you use ear plugs... Water, electric, sewer, in a gravel parking lot," noted a camper at Beatty RV Park.
Limited shade available: Most campgrounds in the area have minimal natural shade. "This is a desert floor campground... The ground is hard, so bring a mallet to stake your tent down," advised a camper at Furnace Creek inside Death Valley.
Check-in timing matters: "Check in time is from 12pm-8pm, we reached at 8 sharp straight from death valley, the staff was kind enough to guide us to our campsite and brief us although it was near the end of his shift," shared a visitor about their arrival experience.
Water taste varies: The mineral content in local water can be high. "They have water/sewer too, but you'll want to filter the water because of the taste," noted a camper at Stovepipe Wells.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Some Beatty area RV parks offer swimming pools, critical during summer months. "For $10 per person you get a pool and shower pass for all day! The pool is awesome, spring fed warm water," shared a camper at Furnace Creek Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: "We even saw a couple of wild burros," reported one visitor, noting the area's unique wildlife that children often enjoy spotting.
Consider temperature extremes: Summer camping can be challenging with children. "We decided to come here one year in early September last year and it was still pretty hot even at night. We were tent camping and it was difficulty to sleep due to the heat."
Evening entertainment: "The moon was spectacular!" noted a camper at Space Station RV Park, referencing the excellent stargazing opportunities in the area for family night activities.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: Site proximity varies considerably between RV parks near Beatty. "We were in so close, our awning almost reached our neighbor's RV. Such close quarters generates quite a wind channel between the coaches," reported an RVer at Beatty RV Park.
Electric reliability: "The first two sites we tried had bad electrical setups. The breakers wouldn't lock in place, and kept flipping back to the tripped/open state," warned a visitor at Stovepipe Wells Village RV Park, suggesting RVers should test hookups before fully setting up.
Gas price planning: Fuel costs increase significantly inside Death Valley. "Gas here was almost 2$ cheaper than in Furnace Creek (about 25 miles away)," noted a camper comparing costs at Stovepipe Wells.
Rough access roads: Some access roads require careful driving. "The natural bridge (very rough road) and the 8.5 round trip hike to wild rose peak which was very challenging," mentioned a visitor detailing their explorations from their campsite.
