Paul C.
Guide
GuideSun Resorts RV Park
Great traveling trough stop.
Stayed one night. Easy off and on the highway. sites level so can stay hooked up if you want. Clean sites.nothing fancy.
Best Camping in Nevada: Desert Sites to Mountain Campgrounds
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Nevada's diverse camping landscape spans from full-service RV resorts in Las Vegas to remote dispersed camping in the high desert, covering more than 500 campgrounds and campsites across the state. Atlatl Rock Campground at Valley of Fire State Park offers established sites with electric hookups and modern amenities, while Lovell Canyon provides free dispersed camping in more primitive settings. The region includes a mix of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, state parks, and private campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several locations offering year-round access despite Nevada's extreme temperature variations.
Road quality varies considerably throughout Nevada's camping areas, with many dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. Most established campgrounds like Cathedral Gorge State Park and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area maintain paved access roads, while backcountry camping often involves navigating unmarked dirt roads. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F at lower elevations, while mountain campgrounds offer relief with temperatures 20-30 degrees cooler. Fire restrictions are common during the dry summer months, particularly in desert areas. A visitor noted, "Roughly 30 minutes from the main highway, tucked away in a canyon past some quarry work and ranch land. Roads in the campsite are slightly overgrown, but 4WD should not be needed though consider high clearance."
Campers consistently mention Nevada's dramatic landscape views as a primary attraction across various sites. Those seeking solitude appreciate dispersed camping options like Water Canyon Recreation Area, which provides a more secluded experience than developed campgrounds. Valley of Fire and Cathedral Gorge receive particularly high ratings for their striking geological features. Several reviewers highlighted the contrast between daytime heat and comfortable evening temperatures at higher elevations. A camper described one mountain location: "Visited June 22nd it was 110 in the city but up here at 7700 feet it was a nice 85-90 during the day and a cool 65-70 at night." Many camping areas feature minimal light pollution, creating exceptional stargazing opportunities throughout the state.
Best Camping Sites in Nevada (496)
1. Atlatl Rock Campground — Valley of Fire State Park
93 ReviewsOverton, NVWebsite+1 (702) 397-2088$10 / night
"The fee system feels a little confusing but it's basically $15 park entrance fee, $10 more dollars to camp, and another $10 for hookups (50&30&20 power and water only, free dump and water (and"
"Next time we are in Nevada we will be back here!"
2. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area - Red Rock Campground
75 ReviewsBlue Diamond, NVWebsite+1 (702) 515-5387$12 - $80 / night
"Summer time might not be the best time to try to camp in southern Nevada but with mild fall and winter this campsite leaves a lot of options for those looking for an outdoor adventure."
"We had our own toilet, was clean, there are no showers but water was available by a tap outside. Abundant Parking."
3. Boulder Beach Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area
70 ReviewsHenderson, NVWebsite+1 (702) 293-8906$20 / night
"Being Nevada it was pretty hot and humid next to the lake, but it was actually a good place to camp with plenty of birds, nice flowers and easy access to the lake for swimming, boating, and such."
"Took my kids and my mom camping for a little vacation away from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. I chose Boulder Beach campground as it was our first time and didn't want to be too far from home."
4. Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping (Spring Mountain)
60 ReviewsBlue Diamond, NVWebsite+1 (702) 515-5000"It's a beautifully rugged area, lots of pull of camp sites spread around. Can be busy and harder to find spots, but further back should have spots."
"Quiet, secluded spot between Las Vegas and Pahrump Nevada. First come, first served but it was very quiet when we were there."
5. Water Canyon Recreation Area
45 ReviewsWinnemucca, NVWebsite+1 (775) 623-1500"Sites are well layed out and sit right next to a small creek. Nice play to stay when driving through Nevada."
"This was a roadside pull off close to a little stream. The road was busy throughout the night and morning. I arrived at 10:30pm and got one of the last two spots on a weekday."
6. Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort
43 ReviewsHenderson, NVWebsite+1 (702) 260-2000"Oasis is a great location to spend a night or two if you want to jaunt into Vegas for bit. It’s also very central as an overnight for heading into Utah or Nevada from SoCal."
"This place is an Oasis, away from the hustle and bustle. Refill propane on-site. The only negative thing is they do not provide valet trash pickup(as mentioned by a staff member)."
7. Las Vegas KOA Journey at Sam's Town
41 ReviewsHenderson, NVWebsite+1 (702) 454-8055"During our recent trip to Las Vegas, we chose to stay at KOA Sam's Town, and our experience was positive overall."
"Sorry tent campers Nevada doesn’t allow us!!! So make sure you are prepared for a different option such as lake mead or red rock."
8. Welcome Station RV Park
36 ReviewsWells, NVWebsite+1 (775) 752-2736$25 - $42 / night
"Compared to the surround areas, this place was truly an oasis in the desert as others have said. The hosts were super nice."
"In the middle of the Nevada desert along I80, there's a nice RV oasis for a stopover for travelers. "
9. Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge
37 ReviewsAlamo, NVWebsite+1 (775) 725-3417"Stopped here short of intended destination due to lateness of the hour and long drive. Great sites along the lake with tables and fire rings and fireplaces."
"We got in on a Thursday night right around 6:30 pm."
10. Cathedral Gorge State Park Campground
35 ReviewsPanaca, NVWebsite+1 (775) 728-4460$10 - $25 / night
"One of the best hidden gems in Nevada! Great camping with clean restrooms and well maintained campgrounds. Plenty of good trails nooks and crannies to explore. Highly recommended!!"
"Nice little campground located in the Cathedral Gorge State Park in Eastern central Nevada. Sites are first come first serve. Each has Electrical hook ups, but no sewer/dump facilities."
Recent Camping Photos in Nevada
505 Photos of 496 Nevada Campgrounds
Cedric S.
Toiyabe National Forest Old Mill Campground
Dexter I.
North Pinnacle Campsites — Great Basin National Park
Scotti M.
Vanderbilt Rd. Dispersed
Brittany N.
Muddy Mountains
Niki S.
Desert Pass Campground
Chuck M.
Three Mile Playa - Black Rock Desert
Patrick G.
Sparks Marina RV Park
Duranne C.
Topaz Lake Recreation Area
Steve M.
Lake Mohave - Nevada Telephone Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Gustav H.
Tamarack Beach
Cedric S.
Eight Mile Dispersed Camping near Government Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Recent Reviews in Nevada
3024 Reviews of 496 Nevada Campgrounds
- J
John H.
TravelerOld 93 BLM - Dispersed Camping
Pass thru the gate.
Once you get past the gate follow the gravel road. Seems to have been grated recently. We pulled in to one of cattle water trough areas. Didn’t go all the way to the creek but with rains during the day we wanted to be safe than sorry. Verizon has two bars 5 g. Plenty of flat spaces for setting up. Areas without brush seem to be scarce. But satellite looks promising near the creek.
David H.
ScoutHumboldt National Forest Thomas Canyon Campground
Wonderful campground.
This is a beautiful well maintained Forest Service campground.
We pulled in late afternoon, mid-week in June and were able to find a fairly level site next to the stream.
The bathrooms were clean. The trash bins were full, but not over full yet.
There were several sites still open, but were for tents or vans. We only saw 2-3 that would fit our truck and camper.
Definitely want to come back.
- TTim S.Traveler
Lower Lehman Campground — Great Basin National Park
Brand new lower segment
Odd sites are adjacent to the creek with nice babbling sound. 1-9 are upper and have more tree coverage. Some of the new sites 10+ are very exposed. Best creek abutment is 3 (but not level), although I could not evaluate 5 and 9 properly because of campers. Curiously, there was no host. Many of the reserved sites were never occupied during our two night stay. We had no indication from the campground that we had reserved our site, 11.
New yard hydrants were NOT functional. Old ones were rendered inactive and taped off.
Lower bathroom was fantastic and brand new. Upper smelled awful, from afar.
David W.GuideWater Canyon Recreation Area
Great BLM campsites spread out along a well maintained road
My van is level on a gravel parking space adjacent to a trail head. The sites are maybe 100 yards apart. The trail follows the stream up and down the aspen lined canyon. The picnic tables are sheltered by a metal roof about 25’ by 25’. There is a large metal grill for wood or charcoal. It makes this site perfect for a larger group.
Looking west from the site I can see the valley holding Winnemucca and the I-80 corridor. Beyond that are some fairly large mountains, with another range maybe 40 miles beyond. (my guesstimate)
Mariah H.TravelerDave Deacon Campground - Wayne E Kirch Wildlife Management Area
Awesome free site, near warm springs
Spent a few beautiful days here!! Great private & FREE (the best) campground. No utilities. Really close to the hot/warm springs creek and not far from a lake launch point. Would love to come back soon!
Thomas H.ScoutBoulder Beach Camp Grounds
Nice location, but too many downsides...
While the campsites were well-prepared(in the campground's infancy), the sites now in 2026 generally are not clean/maintained. Plenty of space in most sites, level concrete platforms, picnic tables, fire pits. Plenty of cigarette butts everywhere, non-raked surroundings, etc. Bathroom facilities were incredibly odorous. Neighbors did not understand the 10pm silence notice, even after knocking on the door to the trailer and asking them to silence generators...which ran all night and into the next morning as we left after 9am...we were tenting, so it was very loud. Although the location seems perfect, we cannot recommend this campground.
- CChristian R.Guide
Humboldt National Forest Angel Creek Campground
Unique Place
The site we chose was the last one (I think 18) and it was very spacious with a nice placement for tents, and settled between aspen trees. However, the wind can be intimidating for tent campers as it went crazy once the sun set plus everything is spaced out so you have to drive to get to the water spout. On the bright side it has a lot of life, there was a massive beetle at night, a big toad by the water spout, birds, nests, and in the morning I was chased by a wasp for like 20 minutes. There was also what appeared to be lightning at night. Then we woke up to hearing thunder, which was also nice. I do have to add that while I did not visit the bathroom, my friend did and said that the one next to our site was not that bad. Thankfully this place is just above 6000 feet elevation and it did not get cold despite the clouds. This place was truly a gem in Nevada, and allowed me to experience something besides the typical desert I'm used to here.
- AAdriana A.Guide
Moon Rocks Camp
Limited areas for camper vans
The place is really beautiful. There are many roads to explore but they are quite sandy. I tried to stay in the staging area which has very nice views of the rock formations but it is not leveled at all so I moved to the smaller staging area, closer to Reno. I really needed to have cell phone signal and it was too spotty but the moon rocks. Beautiful drive to get there too.
Guide to Nevada
Camping in Nevada offers a unique experience with stunning landscapes and a variety of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or a place to explore, Nevada has something for everyone.
What to do
- Explore Nature: Check out the beautiful scenery at Clark Park. One camper mentioned, “Located just around the corner from a full service Maverick truck stop, this quiet RV Park is a convenient stop along I80.”
- Hiking and Wildlife Watching: At Mill Creek Recreation Area, you can enjoy walking around the lake and spotting local wildlife. A visitor noted, “Was nice to walk the lake & hang out on the dock.”
- Hot Springs: Don’t miss the chance to soak at Spencer Hot Springs. One reviewer said, “Beautiful views and love the Burro visits at dusk.”
What campers like
- Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A review for Bob Scott Campground stated, “Flush toilets, some shade, BBQ grills and picnic tables.”
- Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peacefulness of places like Hickison Petroglyph. One camper shared, “Good for 2 days. Trash, and pit toilets available. Free for 14 days.”
- Convenient Locations: Campgrounds like Austin RV Park are appreciated for their accessibility. A visitor mentioned, “Convenient and cheap in the middle of Nevada.”
What you should know
- Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Mill Creek Recreation Area, lack drinking water and electric hookups. A camper noted, “Showers had hot water but were kinda gross.”
- Seasonal Access: Certain campgrounds, such as Big Creek Campground, are only open from May 15 to November 1. One reviewer said, “Gets busy on holiday weekends but decent during the week.”
- Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife. A camper at Spencer Hot Springs mentioned, “We woke up to the sound of wild burrows and coyotes.”
Tips for camping with families
- Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like East Campground — South Fork State Recreation Area that have amenities for kids. A reviewer said, “Plenty of space for the kids to run around and bike around the campsite.”
- Plan for Activities: Make sure to have activities planned. One camper at Coyote Cove noted, “The area offers opportunities for water sports of all kinds.”
- Pack Snacks and Drinks: Since some campgrounds lack markets, it’s smart to bring your own food. A visitor at Bob Scott Campground mentioned, “Water is listed as non-potable.”
Tips from RVers
- Check Hookup Availability: Make sure to verify if the campground has electric hookups. A reviewer at Clark Park said, “The sewer, water, electricity and cable TV hookups are all in great working order.”
- Be Prepared for Tight Spaces: Some RV parks, like Austin RV Park, have tight parking. One camper noted, “Tight parking spaces. Full hook up.”
- Consider Off-Peak Times: To avoid crowds, try camping during the week. A visitor at Big Creek Campground shared, “Gets busy on holiday weekends but decent during the week.”
Camping in Nevada can be a fantastic adventure if you know what to expect and plan accordingly!
Frequently Asked Questions
What desert camping options are available in Nevada?
What desert camping options are available in Nevada?
Nevada's desert landscape offers numerous camping opportunities across the state. Front Sight Campground provides a massive flat area for dispersed camping on BLM land, though campers should be aware of the adjacent active gun range. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Dispersed Camping offers a remote desert experience with views of snow-capped mountains and marshes where wildlife like white pelicans can be observed. For those seeking amenities in the desert, RV resorts like Desert Skies in Mesquite provide full hookups with spacious sites. Other desert camping options include Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas, Lovell Canyon for cooler high-desert camping, and numerous BLM lands throughout the state that allow free dispersed camping with varying levels of accessibility.
Where are the best places to camp in Nevada?
Where are the best places to camp in Nevada?
Nevada offers diverse camping experiences across the state. For those seeking an escape from Las Vegas heat, Fletcher View provides cooler temperatures just 40 minutes from the city, with temperatures ranging from 64°F at night to 78°F during the day. Water enthusiasts will appreciate Government Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which offers beautiful waterfront dispersed camping, fishing opportunities, and scenic sunsets. Other notable options include Valley of Fire State Park for dramatic red rock formations, Cathedral Gorge for unique erosional features, and Big Creek Campground near Austin for creek-side camping surrounded by aspens. Nevada's camping options range from developed campgrounds with amenities to remote dispersed sites on public lands, providing something for every type of outdoor enthusiast.
What are the differences between northern Nevada camping and other regions?
What are the differences between northern Nevada camping and other regions?
Northern Nevada camping differs significantly from the southern region in several key aspects. In northern Nevada, Humboldt National Forest Angel Creek Campground represents the more mountainous terrain and forested landscapes typical of the region. These higher-elevation campgrounds offer relief from summer heat and showcase aspen groves and creek-side settings. Big Creek Campground near Austin exemplifies this with its location in a beautiful canyon filled with aspens. Northern Nevada generally experiences cooler temperatures and more seasonal variation than the southern desert regions. While southern Nevada camping often centers around Lake Mead, Valley of Fire, and desert landscapes with year-round accessibility, northern sites may close seasonally due to snow. The north also offers more opportunities for creekside camping, wildlife viewing, and fall foliage experiences compared to the stark desert beauty of southern Nevada.
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