Primitive camping options exist throughout Great Basin National Park and surrounding areas, providing alternatives to developed RV parks. The region sits at elevations from 5,000 to over 13,000 feet, creating diverse camping environments with extreme temperature variations. Cell service remains inconsistent across the area with functional coverage primarily near border towns and larger communities like Ely.
What to do
Night sky viewing: Upper Lehman Creek Campground offers excellent stargazing opportunities. "Night sky is perfect for stargazing. High elevation can be a problem but worth it if you can handle it," notes one visitor. The lack of light pollution makes astronomy activities a priority for many campers.
Cave exploration: Lehman Caves tours require advance reservations as they frequently sell out. One visitor to Whispering Elms Motel, Campground, & RV Park confirms: "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."
Hiking access: Grey Cliffs Campground puts visitors near Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive trailheads. "You're in easy reach of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, which I highly recommend. The trails at the top of that drive are spectacular," reports one camper. Many trails prohibit dogs, requiring planning for pet owners.
What campers like
Creek proximity: Multiple sites at Upper Lehman Creek offer natural water features. "Sites are situated near the creek and no matter which one you're at the bathroom is just a short walk away," explains one camper. The sound of flowing water provides natural white noise for sleeping.
Private sites: Sacramento Pass BLM Campground offers free camping with substantial site separation. "Each site is an established site, with a covered picnic table & firepit. Each site is spaced out also. There's 2 bathrooms & a dumpster," reports a visitor. The sites include dedicated tent pads at many locations.
Clean facilities: Despite the remote location, facility maintenance receives consistent praise. "The bathrooms were very clean and the grounds immaculate. Easy to get to and the store well stocked," notes a visitor to Ely KOA, which offers additional amenities like a pool and playground approximately 70 miles from the national park.
What you should know
Water availability: Many campgrounds lack running water, particularly in primitive areas. "No water is available at the campground, water can be obtained at the Visitor Center," explains a Grey Cliffs visitor. Visitors should bring container capacity for their entire stay or plan visitor center stops.
Seasonal road closures: Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive typically remains closed until late spring due to snow. "Because of the big winter in 2019, the scenic road was not yet open, so we walked up it for a few miles to enjoy some long range views of the desert valley (Great Basin) below," reports an Upper Lehman Creek camper visiting in April.
Rocky terrain: Tent setup can be challenging in certain campgrounds. "The ground is so rocky it became very difficult to drive a spike into the ground far enough to work and not bend them. Do not bring a large tent, the pads are small," advises a Grey Cliffs visitor. Bringing extra-sturdy stakes or freestanding tents improves setup success.
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options: Great Basin Desert Camping & RV offers Airbnb rooms alongside RV sites. "Nice little campground to stay at while visiting Great Basin National Park or passing through. Has five RV full hookup sites with five additional dry camping sites. There's also three Airbnb rooms as well," notes a recent visitor. These rooms provide alternative accommodations for families unprepared for extreme weather.
Playground access: Facilities with child-friendly amenities cluster in Ely rather than Baker. "My daughter (8) loved the playground," reports an Ely KOA visitor. The 70-mile distance from the national park makes this better suited for multi-day itineraries rather than day trips.
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings occur frequently near certain campgrounds. "Deer everywhere, lots of vegetation and many of the sites are shaded," describes one Upper Lehman Creek camper. Morning and evening hours typically offer the best wildlife observation opportunities.
Tips from RVers
Sewer hose length: RV parks near Great Basin may have unconventional hookup configurations. A visitor at Great Basin Desert Camping & RV advises: "A heads-up: the sewer drain is at the very back of the site, so you'll need extra long hoses. For our rig, we used three connected hoses to reach, so come prepared!"
Internet connectivity: Despite limited cell service, satellite options work well in the open terrain. A camper at Border Inn Casino & RV Park reports: "AT&T coverage was good, with 2 bars of 5G and speeds up to 7 MB/s. We had access all 3 western DISH satellites and Starlink had speeds up to 12 MB/s." The border location provides better service than sites within the national park boundaries.
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds feature sloped sites for snow runoff. "One issue to note is that most of parking pads are not very level (to help with snow melt) in the upper campground, so it made it quite challenging to level our little camper," explains an Upper Lehman Creek visitor. Bringing extra leveling blocks helps address this common issue at rv parks near Great Basin National Park.
