Best Equestrian Camping near Ely, NV

This is a popular stop near the town of Ely (a couple miles north off the highway; the closest town is actually McGill). Because of its proximity to a major thoroughfare, and I guess what northern Nevada would consider a major town, it seems like it fills up quickly. There isn’t a lot of privacy from neighbors because the foliage is limited and the landscaping is minimal, but it’s clean, relatively quiet, well run, and a good pit stop if you’re making a run across this area of the country.

Recommend that, if you know you’re coming in advance, you go ahead and make reservations at recreation.gov.

There are two pit toilets in a pretty good state of cleanliness. Potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings. Out of the eleven sites total, five are considered group sites and six are considered RV sites (you can car/tent camp here no problem, however).

Although it is not immediately evident at the entrance, there are two camping areas here.  One circle of 8 or 9(?) sites which surround a little pond nearer to the highway, and then second set of    5 or 6 campsites perhaps a half-mile away past an open gate.    I was travelling solo, just had a tent.    I approached Great Basin Park too close to sunset to arrange for tent camping, so this area popped up along my route.  I am so glad i stopped to check it out.  I found a spot before sunset, up in the "equestrian' area.   Other spots were occupied by some RV'ers but they were very nice.  The vault toilets are maintained.   The sites are not large but are well laid out and spaced apart, consisting of a fire ring, a grill, and a crushed-rock level area.   After dark I had excellent view of the starry skies.  Quiet neighbor campers.   Seemed safe.

Free BLM numbered designated sites. We read other online reviews about people making a camp site wherever they want and this happened during our stay. We witnessed this (see the picture) happen to our neighbor. Thursday evening a single male with CA tags comes flying thru the campground and whipped into our neighbor's campsite and pulls right in front of their picnic table with his truck and 5th wheel trailer. Our neighbor came outside (as did several other neighbors wondering what this guy was doing) and confronts the guy. He asks him "you're not going to park there are you?!?". The guy tells him "yes, I need to watch TV" and proceeded to pull out his satellite dish and plop it down. Our neighbor says "this is my site and you're blocking my view." The guy told him he didn't care and set up anyways. Meanwhile there were 2 other RVs camping at the entrance waiting for a campsite to open up. In 7 years of RVing the entire country I have never witnessed such rude and entitled behavior before! The town of Ely for supplies had some of the rudest characters we've come across as well which was very surprising for a small town. This campground might have been a hidden gem at one time but with too much Internet publicity it's very busy now. Constant cars coming and going at all hours especially racing to the upper level of the campground. It probably would've been more peaceful sleeping at one of the highway pullouts.