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Best Dispersed Camping near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

316 Reviews

Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers multiple free dispersed camping locations along its Arizona and Nevada shorelines. Government Wash and Eight Mile Dispersed near Boulder City provide drive-in access with some sites accommodating big rigs, while Kingman Wash requires navigating a 3.5-mile dirt road that becomes challenging in wet conditions. Stewart's Point offers lakeside camping with vault toilets but no other amenities. Several areas like Arizona Hot Springs and Black Canyon of the Colorado require hiking or boating to access.

Water access varies significantly between sites, with some offering direct beach camping. "The 3 mile dirt road in a Prius was not optimal but it happened. One or two hills on the way back were tough," noted one Kingman Wash visitor. Most locations have established fire rings but no services—pack in all supplies including drinking water and pack out all trash. Road conditions frequently require high-clearance vehicles, though determined visitors report accessing some areas in standard cars. The shoreline terrain tends to be rocky, with campers recommending water shoes for comfort near the lake.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Lake Mead National Recreation Area (40)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

200 Photos of 40 Lake Mead National Recreation Area Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

316 Reviews of 40 Lake Mead National Recreation Area Campgrounds

  • Jeff
    Jan. 4, 2021

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Dispersed Camping

    Great place to disperse Dry camp. Spots are scattered along the main road. You can camp close to the interstate or 3 miles away at the lake. The lake shore gets crowded. The road is bumpy but we saw cars all the way down to the lake. The sign recommends 4x4 high clearance vehicles. The mine road offers good views and a few camp spots. 4x4 is definitely recommended for this road. There is no garbage collection so pack it out. One vault toilet near the lake. Bring your own firewood. No trees for wood in this area. Wood can be purchased at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Campground Store. We spoted motor homers near the interstate, ground tenters, rooftop tenters, van campers and pull behind campers at the lake. We camped up the N Mine Road with our RTT trailer.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 25, 2024

    Valley of Fire BLM Dispersed Site

    Spacious and Convenient

    A very short but kind of rough road right off of Valley of Fire Hwy less than two miles from the Parks north entrance. Free boondocking with no amenities. Follow the road and find your spot! You can see the traffic going to and from the park, but it is not a nuisance. The park is technically closed from sunset to sunrise so the only traffic is the occasional camper, arriving at the campground within the park. There are so many trails and points of interest to visit inside and outside the park. I highly recommend paying the price to drive through the park and then through the Lake Mead national recreation area into Henderson, Nevada near Las Vegas. The road along Lake Mead is as beautiful as Valley of Fire is!

  • Alex B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2018

    Arizona Hot Springs — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Arizona Hot Springs Campground

    Arizona Hot Springs is located at Mile Marker 4 US 93 South Of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder City, NV 89005. Those directions will take you to the parking lot trailhead.

    Although it’s only a 6 mile round trip hike, make sure to bring plenty of water as it gets extremely hot in the canyon. A bathing suit and water shoes are highly encouraged as you will pass multiple hot springs (when I say they’re hot, they’re steaming hot). Here, you can relax for a little bit in the man made jacuzzi, or continue your hike until you hit a 20 ft ladder which you need to climb and then you’re minutes away from the Colorado river.

    Just an FYI,The hike itself is closed during the summer months.

    In terms of camping, once you reach the Colorado river, you will come across a beachy area. You can set camp here for the night. Just an FYI, it gets pretty crowded prior to the summer months so get here early in order to get a nice spot. First come basis, no reservation. Free of charge, can stay up to 15 days. Primitive campsite with limited fire pits available. However, the area is absolutely beautiful, and makes up for the primitive campsite with so many amazing options from dipping in the hot springs or jumping in the river to cool off.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2020

    BLM dispersed camping west of Valley of Fire

    Private boondocking site away from the clusters of other RVs

    We couldn't get a spot inside Valley of Fire State Park so we decided to boondock on the BLM land outside the park. We knew there were plenty of spots but a lot were out in the open where everyone can see you. We wanted a bit of privacy and wanted to feel like we were out in nature not just parked in an empty desert. We decided to go searching for a better option and went down a dirt road, crossing our fingers. Lo and behold we found what we feel is a primo campsite! It's just outside the park of a dirt road. The coordinates are 36.413656-114.616805 and there's actually 2-3 spots back there. The first one is the easiest for bigger rigs or regular cars. The other two are up steep, sandy hills that are more suitable for a Jeep or ATV. There are rock fire pits(but be careful about fire restrictions) to designate the camping areas. It's private with hills all around. You can faintly hear the road and if you need better cell reception hike up one of the hills. It's a fantastic private spot that felt remote and special. The ONLY negative we encountered was trash. We did a sweep and picked up a lot of broken glass bottles, some aluminum cans, a bunch of bullet casings, and other trash. And nearby there's an old washer or dryer that someone dumped and used for target practice. We didn't clean that up because obviously, that's just too big. Anyway, the spot is so close to Valley of Fire you can just head on into the park for hiking and day use or head back out to the freeway for more supplies. For us, this spot was absolutely perfect and we had zero troubles, but I can imagine if it rains or shortly after it's been raining that this particular spot might be terrible. DO NOT CAMP HERE IF RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2025

    Lake Mohave - Nevada Telephone Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Nice, quiet water spot w/limited spaces

    Beautiful area just outside of Laughlin, Nevada. Right on a Cove of Lake Mead. Four Mile unpaved Road to get down to the lake and anywhere between 15 to 20 camping spots depending on group size. Small boat launch for jet skis but not for bigger boats. Do not recommend trying to take anything bigger than a 35 ft RV down there. Two vault toilets and a garbage dumpster. Road is recently grated and other than a little bit of noise until 10:00 p.m., a great place for a night or several. Stay limit here is 7 days. I arrived Friday at 3:00 p.m. and found the last spot.

  • Brendan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Great place to stay

    We took our camper van down to the water. About 3 miles on the dirt road. Some spots are bumpy but we made it without ever getting stuck. Beautiful view. Worth it.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2019

    Black Canyon of the Colorado Dispersed — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    The River Between Two States

    Along this gorgeous stretch of the Colorado River downstream of Hoover Dam, you will find numerous backcountry camping options on both the AZ and NV sides, many with existing fire rings. In addition, you’ll find emerald green waters, hot springs/hot waterfalls, sauna cave, slot canyons and interesting features along the sides of the canyon.   All camping is first-come, first-served and no permit is needed.  Water can be filtered in an emergency, but it is the Colorado River; so we’d recommend bringing 1 gallon of fresh drinking water per person per day. Please Leave No Trace by bringing Wag Bags or other poop removal method, including your toilet paper. 

    **Weather & River Concerns: **

    • If you are camping in a wash, be sure to keep an eye on the weather as flash flooding is a major concern during the rainy season.  
    • We launched from Willow Beach marina (AZ side) and paddled up stream to the dam and back over 4 days. We had an amazing weather window, but have heard from locals that this place can be VERY windy (25-50mph), making it impossible to travel against the wind. 
    • When the dam releases, it can also make upriver travel quite difficult (not impossible but difficult depending on your boat and paddling skills). Also, the river can rise 4-6 vertical feet when the dam releases water from Lake Mead, so haul your boats at least 50 feet up the washes and don’t camp close to the water or you’ll find yourself floating downstream in the middle of the night.
    • Cell service in the canyon is very limited. We found a bit near the dam, but otherwise it was emergency calls only.

    Note: If you’ve never done backcountry kayak camping, hire a guide or go with a group. There are numerous companies taking groups down the river each day.

  • Rachel A.
    Jul. 6, 2020

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Basic but lovely proximity to the Hoover Dam

    We stayed here on our way to the Hoover Dam and had a fine time. Nothing fancy, super basic free camping on public lands. Highlight was our visit to the dam itself

  • bThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 9, 2025

    Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    4x4 needed

    This place for sure needs a high clearance vehicle. We came in at night and was hard to tell what were spots and which ones were occupied. Road is very rough so ended up staying near the beginning of this road. No amenities here.

Guide to Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Dispersed camping near Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning desert landscape. With various locations available, campers can find spots that suit their preferences for solitude and adventure.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Top activities while free camping near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Unique attractions for dispersed campers

Frequently Asked Questions

Is free camping allowed at Lake Mead, and where can I find it?

Yes, free camping is allowed at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in designated dispersed camping areas. Valley of Fire BLM Dispersed Site offers free boondocking with no amenities less than two miles from the park's north entrance via a short but rough road. BLM dispersed camping west of Valley of Fire provides additional free options with varying levels of privacy. Other free camping locations include Government Wash, Eight Mile Road, and El Dorado Dry Lake Bed. Remember that dispersed camping typically allows a 14-day stay within any 28-day period, requires you to camp at least one mile from developed areas, and pack out all trash.

Where are the best spots for dispersed camping at Lake Mead National Recreation Area?

Lake Mead offers several excellent dispersed camping locations. Arrowhead Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides remote lakeside camping accessed via a rugged, steep road (4x4 recommended). For those seeking shoreline access, Lake Mohave - Nevada Telephone Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers beautiful waterfront spots about four miles down an unpaved road with 15-20 camping spots depending on group size. Other popular dispersed areas include Government Wash, Stewart's Point, and spots near Valley of Fire. Most areas have no facilities, so come prepared with everything you need including sufficient water and waste disposal options.

What amenities are available at Kingman Wash dispersed camping area in Lake Mead?

Kingman Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a true dry camping experience with no amenities available. There are no toilets, water sources, trash services, or hookups of any kind. Spots are scattered along the main road, with options to camp either close to the interstate or about three miles away at the lakeshore. The lakeside area tends to get more crowded. The access road is bumpy and while passenger cars have made it to the lake, a high-clearance vehicle is recommended as indicated by signage. You'll need to bring everything with you, including sufficient water, and pack out all waste when you leave.

How close can I camp to Hoover Dam in Lake Mead Recreation Area?

Black Canyon of the Colorado Dispersed — Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers camping opportunities downstream of Hoover Dam along the Colorado River. This area features numerous backcountry camping spots on both the Arizona and Nevada sides, many with existing fire rings. Arizona Hot Springs — Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located at Mile Marker 4 on US 93 South of Hoover Dam, is another option though it requires a 6-mile round trip hike to reach. Security restrictions prevent camping immediately adjacent to the dam itself, but these nearby areas provide beautiful settings with unique features like emerald green waters, hot springs, and slot canyons.

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