Dayton State Park Campground sits at approximately 4,200 feet elevation in Nevada's high desert environment between Carson City and Virginia City. The area experiences significant temperature swings, with summer highs frequently reaching 95°F and winter temperatures dropping below 20°F. Campers in dispersed areas need high-clearance vehicles as most access roads deteriorate significantly after rainfall or during spring thaw periods.
What to do
Fishing access: Carson River runs through Dayton State Park Campground, offering fishing opportunities without leaving the park. "Great central location with lots of wildlife and amenities," notes one camper, highlighting the access to outdoor activities directly from your site.
Wildlife viewing: Wild horses can be spotted at Washoe Lake State Park Campground, approximately 15 miles west of Dayton. "Wild horses roaming camp, quiet & clean," reports one visitor who appreciated the unexpected wildlife encounter during their stay.
Historic exploration: Fort Churchill State Historic Park provides preserved ruins with interpretive trails located 25 minutes east of Dayton. "Great little campground with plenty of shade for all nestled among ancient and stately cottonwood trees. Lots of birds and wildlife to observe as well. Close to the Fort Churchill historic fort for interest too," mentions a visitor who camped at the nearby Samuel Buckland Campground.
What campers like
Shaded sites: Despite the high desert setting, many campers value the shade trees at Samuel Buckland Campground. "Great little campground with plenty of shade for all nestled among ancient and stately cottonwood trees," writes one reviewer who appreciated the relief from the desert sun.
Winter camping options: Loop A at Washoe Lake State Park remains open with power hookups during winter months. "Winter camping is available on Loop A with full power hookups on a first come, first serve basis. Bathrooms are open all winter. Hiking is nice right from the campground and wild horses graze not far away," explains a winter visitor.
Dispersed camping views: For those willing to tackle rough roads, Reno View Dispersed camping area offers panoramic vistas. "There are a few sites about 4 miles back on an unmaintained road. The first turn off has the best view with somewhat flat ground for a tent," shares one camper who found the challenging access worthwhile.
What you should know
Access challenges: Many dispersed camping areas require appropriate vehicles. At BLM Flattop, "The road starts out as a nice, easy fire road, gets a little rocky, and then by mile 6 or 7 it goes full blown rock garden. SxS's were going through it slowly, if that helps," warns one visitor who couldn't reach the camping area.
Highway noise: Dayton State Park Campground experiences significant traffic noise due to its proximity to Highway 50. "The campground is typical - flat for parking and tents. Bathrooms with flush toilets. It's very close to US HWY 50, and the road noise reflects that," reports one camper.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites lack water and sanitation facilities. At Reno View Dispersed camping, "Views are unreal but would not suggest walking barefoot, tent camping or bringing dogs up here. The bottoms of our shoes looked like a warzone and when we laid down in our tents we were pricked by goatheads," cautions one visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Spacious sites: For families needing room to spread out, Gold Dust West RV Park in Carson City provides more amenities. "Nice paved RV Park away from the bustle of the casino but close enough to walk over for a meal. The laundry room is decent size with 8 washers and 8 dryers, everything is in working order," notes a visitor who appreciated the clean facilities.
Swimming access: During hot summer months, families can cool off at Silver City RV Resort's pool, located 20 miles from Dayton. "This RV resort is situated in the middle of everything! Close to Lake Tahoe, Reno, Virginia City and more! Showers were clean. Sites were level and pull through," reports one family who used it as a base for regional exploration.
Cabin options: For families wanting to camp without tents or RVs, Virginia City RV Park offers cabin accommodations. "Great location and great store that had basic needs. Views overlooking the cemetery were pretty cool," notes one visitor who stayed for a family reunion.
Tips from RVers
Water availability: RV water spigots at Dayton State Park may be shut off during winter. At Washoe Lake State Park, "Water at the campsites was still shut off for winter but the water at the dump station was turned on. Only one loop was open for winter. We paid $25 instead of the full $30 required for an out-of-state vehicle at a hookup site," explains one RVer who visited during shoulder season.
Dump station closures: Check dump station status before arrival. "RV dump is closed 'until further notice'. Right off Hwy 50 so expect noise. Compared to other state parks along Hwy 50, this one is a dump," warns one RVer about Dayton State Park.
Generator-friendly options: Virginia City RV Park allows generators if you need power. "Clean and extremely small sites. The climb up to Virginia City (elevation is over 6100ft) was beautiful in our 39 ft DP, but the site was small," notes one RV camper who navigated the challenging mountain roads to reach this campground.
