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Best Cabin Camping near Great Basin National Park

36 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Several cabin rental options exist near Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada. Whispering Elms Motel, Campground & RV Park in Baker offers basic cabin accommodations within close proximity to park entrances. The Ely KOA, located about 70 miles from the park, provides more amenity-rich cabin rentals with air conditioning, heat, and small refrigerators. Cabins typically include beds and basic furnishings but minimal kitchen facilities. "The cabin had air and heat along with a small fridge. The porch had a nice swing to enjoy," noted one visitor about the Ely KOA cabins.

Cabin options range from rustic, simple structures to more comfortable accommodations with electricity and climate control. Most require advance reservations, especially during summer months when Great Basin National Park experiences peak visitation. Pet policies vary by location, with some cabins permitting dogs for an additional fee. The Bates Family Ranch also offers cabin accommodations, receiving positive reviews for its unique setting. Visitors appreciate the proximity to park attractions, with one reviewer commenting, "Very convenient for visiting Great Basin NP. Camp hosts were nice, other campers were very friendly."

Most cabin rentals provide beds with mattresses but require guests to bring their own linens, pillows, and towels. Cooking facilities are limited, so visitors should plan to bring camp stoves or use outdoor fire pits where permitted. On-site camp stores at locations like the KOA offer limited supplies and snacks, but comprehensive grocery shopping requires traveling to larger towns. Bathrooms and showers are typically shared facilities maintained by the campground. Winter visitors should confirm heating capabilities and seasonal closures before booking, as temperatures in the Great Basin region can drop significantly at night even in summer months.

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Best Cabin Sites Near Great Basin National Park (4)

    1. Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    13 Reviews
    Baker, NV
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 234-9900

    "The highlight is that it is located across from the entrance to Great Basin National Park. What a location! Probably depending on where your spot is but there may not be any WiFi."

    "We had wanted to camp near to Great Basin National Park, but decided against trying for something in the part, as we did not want to boondock for that many days."

    2. Ely KOA

    21 Reviews
    Ely, NV
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-3413

    "There are tons of RV spots as well as a tent area and some cabins."

    "I stayed in one of the cabins for 4 days and it was great. It has air and heat along with a small fridge. The porch had a nice swing to enjoy! The bathroom was clean and showers clean and hot."

    3. Bates Family Ranch

    1 Review
    Baker, NV
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (801) 787-6675

    4. Schellraiser

    1 Review
    Ely, NV
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 293-0848

    $60 - $125 / night

    "Booked through Airbnb. Great place to stay with a variety of camping, tent, or tiny house options."

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Cabin Reviews near Great Basin National Park

36 Reviews of 4 Great Basin National Park Campgrounds

  • T
    Oct. 3, 2020

    Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    Dusty but so close to Great Basin National Park

    The spots are large enough, lot of dust as there is no grass, just gravel. The highlight is that it is located across from the entrance to Great Basin National Park. What a location!

    Probably depending on where your spot is but there may not be any WiFi. Cell phone service for us worked well though.

  • Reuben
    Jun. 20, 2023

    Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    Rustic and dusty, but everything worked fine and it has a BAR!

    We had wanted to camp near to Great Basin National Park, but decided against trying for something in the part, as we did not want to boondock for that many days. The TINY town of Baker has two small RV parks, and Whispering Elms was our choice.

    It is a facility that is far from glamorous. The grounds are mostly dirt and weeds and the worst part about staying here was indeed the dust that got kicked up everywhere. The sites are kind of close together, and there's nothing like picnic tables or really any kind of amenities to beautify the place. It is quite humble. The bathhouse was pretty rustic, BUT, everything worked great. Nice hot showers, regular cleanings, plenty of paper products. No complaints. The electric we used was clean. Water pressure was good. Hook ups were convenient and close to each other.

    Service was nice. We mostly interacted with Dakota and Sam; both were friendly and helpful. No issues there. And please note, the building where you stop to check in is ALSO A BAR! With a respectable tap selection of Nevada beers, a beer case full of interesting beers and some unusual bar selections too. We hung out there a little bit three days, just sit at a table and chat and have some drink service. I was so surprised to find a bar here!

    Great Basin is way off the beaten path; I'm not sure my travels will ever take me this way again. But if we do come this way, and want to stay near the park(5 miles from Whispering Elms to Lehman Caves visitor center; less than a mile to the regular visitor center), I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. Just drive slow to avoid kicking up dust.

  • Kim K.
    Jun. 20, 2017

    Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    Whispering Elms

    Nestled in the sleepy town of Baker, NV lies this tiny little campsite. So small that I didn't even notice it as I rolled up to the Great Basin National Park. I actually showed up pretty late..about 7PM, so I wasn't that surprise that the park was full. It was on my way out of the park that I came upon this little hidden spot. 

    The site actually caters more to RV's and has a few cabins, but the staff were sympathetic to my lateness and gave me a site for my tent. 

    The downfall is that it sits on a busy road that is near to the highway but they offer toilets, a shower and a bar!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2020

    Ely KOA

    Standard KOA with a few surprises

    This place is giant! There are tons of RV spots as well as a tent area and some cabins. We stayed here to visit Great Basin National Park because the weather was going to be too cold to camp in the park safely without hookups for us. We also used this KOA as our midway point to dump and refill our water between campsites without water. It had what we expected of a KOA - friendly staff, full hookups, easy level pull through sites, a playground, store, etc. The surprises for us: no pool (not that we wanted one), adorable neighbor goats, and two dog parks areas (one with grass). Our dog loved the dirt dog park. It was great giving him a chance to run around off leash for a bit on our trip since everywhere we went he had to be on-leash. The goats were a fun surprise, too, since we love watching goats.

  • Shad G.
    Jun. 25, 2020

    Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    Not sure it could be better

    This park was the only place we could get reservations near Great Basin National Park. Driving a few hours to get there we didn’t want to risk not being able to have someplace to stay so we stayed here. The park was in pretty good shape. The bathrooms and showers need some work and they were full of some weird bugs. The managers were friendly and made sure we had what we needed to have a good time.

    I don’t have pictures from the campsite, but Great Basin National Park is worth the visit. Take time to drive up and do the hikes and explore Lehman caves.

  • Peter F.
    Aug. 17, 2023

    Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    Spartan but Adequate

    This park is a little dusty, weeds between sites, and facilities are kind of dated. However, everything worked fine, it’s well priced, and very close to the Great Basin National Park. if you look at your site as simply the base camp for your adventures, this will be fine. Even has a bar and a nice outdoor restaurant.

  • Deborah B.
    Jul. 9, 2018

    Ely KOA

    awesome campground!

    I absolutely love this campground. I stayed in one of the cabins for 4 days and it was great. It has air and heat along with a small fridge. The porch had a nice swing to enjoy! The bathroom was clean and showers clean and hot. NIce quIet campground and also has a nice country store. I can't waIt to go back again this weekend!

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 25, 2024

    Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park

    Rustic, a bit dusty, big trees and a super nice manager

    There were two of us in RVs. We stayed in spots 3 and 5.  We were able to park so that both of our RVs opened to make the area in-between us as the common area.  There are several big trees so we had some shade some of the time.  Rustic and a bit dusty, but for a base camp it fit the bill.   We were there in end of June 2024.  The weather was in the high 90s so we were so glad we had full hook-ups.  We did not use the bathrooms so I have no comments about them.  We did use the laundry room and they had several nice washing machines and dryers.   All spots were sold out on the weekend so make reservations early.  Jen, the manager, is super nice and friendly.  Note about Lehman Caves:  Lehman caves were amazing. Make sure you make reservations early and purchase your tickets for the tour of the caves before you get there.  Several people that just showed up were not able to get tickets to go inside Lehman Caves.

  • kristin S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2020

    Ely KOA

    All the basics you need

    It’s a KOA Journey, so, close to a “major” road (RT 93), which was very quiet despite proximity. It’s got nice views across the street, so if you’re on the first row of campsites, you’ll get front row seats. The spaces are quite close together, so privacy is minimal, though everyone was very respectful and quiet during quiet hours. Nice spot for access to Great Basin NP (which is a jewel, btw). Lots of options for fishing, kayaking, and other outdoor activities nearby too. We went to Cave Lake and were not impressed but... maybe it was just the wrong time of year (end of May). Sites are mostly level and big-rig friendly, hookups on site were reliable!

Guide to Great Basin National Park

Cabin accommodations near Great Basin National Park provide visitors with shelter options beyond traditional tent camping. Located in eastern Nevada where temperatures can fluctuate dramatically between day and night, these structures offer protection from elements while maintaining proximity to park attractions. Most cabin rentals require advance reservations, particularly from May through September when visitation peaks.

What to do

Explore Lehman Caves: Visitors staying at Whispering Elms Motel, Campground & RV Park benefit from its strategic location. "Very convenient for visiting Great Basin NP. Only 5 miles from Whispering Elms to Lehman Caves visitor center; less than a mile to the regular visitor center," notes Reuben.

Enjoy night sky viewing: The park offers exceptional stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. One camper at Schellraiser mentioned, "Booked through Airbnb. Great place to stay with a variety of camping, tent, or tiny house options." The dark skies make astronomical observation ideal.

Visit nearby Cave Lake: Travelers using rental cabins as a base can explore beyond park boundaries. "Fun riding for rzr and close to Beautiful Cave lake," reports David G. about staying at Ely KOA, which serves as a hub for regional exploration despite being 70 miles from Great Basin.

What campers like

Cabin amenities: Rental cabins range from basic to comfortable. "I absolutely love this campground. I stayed in one of the cabins for 4 days and it was great. It has air and heat along with a small fridge," shares Deborah B. about Ely KOA cabins.

Proximity to park entrances: Cabins provide convenient access to park attractions. A visitor at Whispering Elms noted, "Nestled in the sleepy town of Baker, NV lies this tiny little campsite. So small that I didn't even notice it as I rolled up to the Great Basin National Park."

Shower facilities: After hiking, clean shower facilities rank high on camper priorities. At Bates Family Ranch, visitors appreciate the "little oases in the middle of desert" atmosphere, with one guest commenting, "Took the cave tour that was so fun. Kirsten was a great tour guide."

What you should know

Reservations essential: During peak season, cabin rentals fill quickly. "All spots were sold out on the weekend so make reservations early," advises Kenyon at Whispering Elms.

Limited services: Baker has minimal services, with one camper noting, "Nearest convenience store and gas station was 15 minutes away (Border Inn)." Stock up before arrival.

Variable site quality: At some properties, site quality varies considerably. "Our site (24) is crappy. No trees, back by the car charger, motel. Electric doesn't work on 30 amp, had to use an adapter to use 50," reports Anita J.

Road conditions: Expect gravel and dirt roads at most cabin locations. Robert R. notes about Ely KOA, "If they get the dust under control, I would have left 5 stars."

Tips for camping with families

Consider amenities for children: When booking cabin rentals with children, look for properties with play areas. "This place is great it has a pool, playground, so many family activities," reports Brittney C. about Ely KOA.

Bathroom cleanliness: Family-friendly facilities maintain clean bathrooms. Skyler M. at Schellraiser appreciated that "There is a bathroom/shower trailer that was very clean and being able to take a hot shower was nice."

Educational opportunities: Some properties offer educational experiences for children. At Bates Family Ranch, a visitor enjoyed "the cave tour that was so fun. Kirsten was a great tour guide and love hearing the stories of her family exploring it."

Tips from RVers

Site size considerations: When booking cabins alongside RV spots, note size variations. Ray & Terri F. report, "We are full-timers in a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow. We stayed in site 24 for 2 days in early June."

Connectivity details: Cell coverage varies by location and carrier. "AT&T coverage was good, with 4 bars of 5G and speeds up to 8 MB/s. We had access all 3 western DISH satellites and Starlink had speeds up to 11 MB/s," notes one Whispering Elms visitor.

Hookup reliability: For those alternating between cabin stays and RV camping, hookup quality matters. Jennifer T. observed at Ely KOA, "Open area with several pull thru's for big rigs. They have a decent little store with drinks, snacks, and novelty items."

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there cabins available inside Great Basin National Park?

Great Basin National Park does not offer cabins inside the park boundaries. Visitors seeking cabin accommodations will need to look to nearby towns. One popular option is Ely KOA, which offers cabin rentals with amenities like air conditioning, heat, and small refrigerators. While these cabins aren't inside the park, they provide a comfortable alternative for those who prefer not to camp in a tent or RV. Some cabins even feature porches with swings. Be aware that Ely is about an hour's drive from the park, so plan your day trips accordingly.

How far are the nearest private cabins from Great Basin National Park entrance?

The nearest private cabins to Great Basin National Park entrance can be found at Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park, which is located directly across from the park entrance in the small town of Baker, NV. This proximity makes it an extremely convenient base camp for park exploration. The facility offers motel accommodations alongside its camping options, though it's described as rustic rather than luxurious. The location is ideal for visitors who want immediate access to the park while having accommodations with basic amenities.

What lodging options are available near Great Basin National Park?

Several lodging options exist near Great Basin National Park to suit different preferences. In Baker, NV, Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park offers motel rooms alongside RV and tent camping sites just across from the park entrance. For those willing to stay farther away, Bates Family Ranch provides a reservable option with basic facilities. Additionally, Ely (about an hour from the park) offers more developed accommodations, including hotels and the KOA with cabins and RV sites. For visitors preferring to stay within the park, Great Basin National Park itself has several campgrounds, though these are primarily for tent and RV camping without cabin facilities.

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