Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Las Vegas? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Nevada camping adventure.
A large part of the Spring Mountains is remote and undeveloped. Visitors can venture out and set up camp in these remote areas with just a little planning from the guidelines below The best known areas in the Spring Mountains include Mack's Canyon, Champion Road, and Lovell Canyon but those can get crowded in warm weather. Dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads. Many people drive or hike out on Forest Service roads into the woods and find a clearing or a spot with a nice view or good shade. Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site. Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage. Dispersed camping is allowed outside a one-mile perimeter away from campgrounds and 100 feet from any stream or spring. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway. How to Pick a Campsite If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. If there is no existing campsite, then follow these Leave No Trace guidelines. - Camp on bare soil if possible, to avoid damage or killing plants and grass. Do NOT camp within 100 feet of any water source, as plants near water are especially fragile. - Do not camp in the middle of a clearing or meadow; try to make your campsite less visible so that other visitors will see a "wild" setting - Do not try to level or dig trenches in the ground at your campsite. Pick a tent site that is already level with good drainage. Going to the Bathroom in the Woods Dispersed camping means no bathrooms and no outhouses. That means extra care has to be taken in disposing of human waste. To dispose of feces, dig a hole six (6) inches deep at least 100 feet away from any water source. When you are done, fill the hole with the dirt you dug up and take your toilet paper with you to dispose of in a proper waste container. A ziplock bag is helpful for this. Never defecate or leave toilet paper on top of the ground since it could easily get into the local water source and contaminate it. Treating Your Water We used to be able to take a cup and drink directly out of the sparkling creek, a rushing waterfall, or a clear, deep lake. There is NO safe water source anymore. With an increasing population and visitation to the Spring Mountains, water sources have been contaminated with invisible micro-organisms that can make people very ill and even kill them in some cases. Giardia is a common contamination that has been spread through improper toileting and wild animals to many water sources. It will cause diarrhea, cramping, and other physical problems. The only way to ensure that water from any undeveloped source is safe is to treat it. That means heating it until it comes to a rolling boil, using water purification tablets or a water purification filter. Water from faucets in developed recreation areas has been tested and treated and is safe to use without treating.
A network of backcountry roads has been developed within the park to provide access to the lakeshore and other areas of interest that are off the beaten path. Approved roads are signed with a yellow arrow. The black number in the center of the arrow designates the road number. Driving on roads or trails not marked with the yellow arrow is prohibited. With hundreds of miles of backcountry roads, conditions can change without notice. Please travel on backcountry roads with caution. Driving off roads, in washes or cross country damages the fragile desert soil and is prohibited by National Park Service regulations. Please help preserve the park by staying on approved roads, respecting the rights of other visitors and carrying out all trash and litter.
$50 / night
Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as dispersed camping. Most of the remainder of public lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska). Campsite Selection Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
Dispersed camping allows you to “get away from it all.” Peace, solitude and adventure are some of the advantages to choosing an undeveloped campsite. Since there are no facilities, you must bring your own water, camp at least 100 feet from all water sources and dig a hole at least six inches deep for disposal of human waste. Remember all Forest rules and regulations apply even in dispersed sites.
Jean Dry Lake provides hundreds of miles of trails to the casual and expert Off-highway vehicle enthusiast alike. At the center of the area is the area's namesake, Jean Dry Lake. Although the name implies that the lakebed is dry, it has the potential of flooding and holding water long after a rainfall. After substantial precipitation events, the lakebed can hold several inches to several feet of water. Travel on the lakebed after a precipitation events is not recommended. Outside of the dry lakebed, motorized vehicle use is limited to existing roads and trails.ADA Access: No accessibility
8 Mile Rd Dispersed camping area is located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. This rustic campground offers a backcountry camping experience for those seeking to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the area. The campground does not provide any amenities, so campers must come prepared with all necessary supplies, including water and firewood.
Reservations are not accepted at 8 Mile Rd Dispersed camping area, as it operates on a first-come, first-served basis. It is important to note that there are no designated campsites, so visitors can choose their own spot within the designated camping area.
Legend
8 mile road is open to free dispersed camping for 7 days. There is a couple dumpsters about a 1/4 mile in but that is all for 2.1 miles of terrible washboard road down to the receding water line. No water, toilets, trash cans at beach areas. The limited beach areas tend to be hogged by folks trying to keep other campers at a distance. I found floating trash all along the shore, styerfoam, plastic bottles, ect. Ugh
Guide
Govt Wash is my favorite place to stay in the wintertime. Temperature is manageable without auxiliary heat in my van.. 70s in the day, not below 40 at night through January. Love the views of the lake. Feels so far out but only 30 mins to Vegas. Henderson for groceries and gas is very close. Lots of coyotes, even during the day. Be mindful of that if you have a dog along with you. Free dispersed camping here (with NPs Pass) with bathrooms and dumpsters at entrance. Washboard road isn’t too bad, and you get get pretty close to the lake even without 4x4. I loveeee being here. Sunsets and sunrises are awesome.
Traveler
a short jaunt from las vegas. we took the scenic route through lake mead national park. drove out on a sunday and had sites a plenty to choose from. Loved the off grid camping with majestic rock formations surrounding our camp which felt like beach sand beneath our feat. secluded and spectacular.
PACK IN PACK OUT
Legend
Official name is Snowbird Mesa per BOR maps. Wide open mesa flat, free boondocking, but no water, trash cans or toilets. Cell service on verizon and att was excellent, tmobile not so much. No signage posted with any rules or camping limits, but area rules note season is Oct 1 thru June 1. No camping in the summer season. Contrary to others saying this is BLM land, that does not appear to be accurate. Two apps that I use with ownership or management layers both show that this is not BLM or NPS...it is Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and a recent visit by a BOR ranger dropped off copies of the rules for this area (see photos). Area looks like a long term nomad camping area. Area is harsh rocky and limited for other things to do like biking and hiking.
Legend
We stayed at this spot for a week while volunteering with the Homes On Wheels Alliance. There must have been a hundred of us total, and there was plenty of room for all. We stayed on the edge, just off Mesquite Rd, very minimal off road driving. But you can keep going further back and there are so many open spots to choose from. This particular spot is huge and good for any size rig.
Good cell signal here for Verizon and ATT. It got windy every evening/night when we were there in mid October.
Heads up that there is a shooting range across the street and the shots are loud.
There's a county transfer station just down Mesquite Rd that takes recyclables (incl. glass!) and e-waste.
This is dispersed camping on BLM land so there are zero amenities or services so please help keep it clean.
Guide
Quiet, secluded spot between Las Vegas and Pahrump Nevada. First come, first served but it was very quiet when we were there. The Boondocking experience is my favorite part of camping/travelling and this was a great spot. Spent 2 weeks here and didn't come in contact with anybody! Other people were there but all well dispersed.
GPS Coordinates Latitude, Longitude: 36.0430242°,-115.6175106°
Our elevation was about 6,000 ft
No services but also no Fee (Free)
Hiking for days
TravelerWe arrived before sunset, full of small spots along the road, which allows everyone to have their own space surrounded by vegetation. We have a van, it is easy to leave the main concrete road to enter the pitches, some are bumpier than others. The sites I saw were clean with leftover campfire pits. I recommend this spot, it is specific to Death Valley and located 30 minutes from Red Rock or 1 hour from Las Vegas. For the night of May 2, no problem with the wind, very good weather conditions
Scout
This spot is about 4 miles from the more frequented and popular dispersed camping spot. This spot has at least 4 to 5 fire ring spots but a lot of garbage. Not a good place if you are looking to level a 20’ plus camper. We ended driving west about another 4 miles to the more “formal” dispersed camping on BLM.
Legend
As a budget travel blogger, you can’t beat a good find of a site. I tend to stray away from boondock camping because it isn’t really designed for the every day tent camper that I am looking to inspire to go on the road and try something new. Though I like primitive sites and will often do some back country camping, I also take into account that my followers don’t always. But this site was a bit different and made it worth checking out for my blog.
Free Camping usually doesn’t come with a functioning bathroom, but this one does along with lake access. So what is the kicker?? There has to be one right?
The first catch is free is only truly free if you have a National Park Pass, otherwise there is a day use fee which is charged as you enter the Lake Mead area. I have mine, so that means it was in fact free!! One of the only times this pass actually guarantees you any kind of camping related benefits.
The other, the road to the campsite is a little sketchy at times. When I went it was post a good rain which had settled a lot of the dust and while I was afraid it would have ruts from people driving out, it wasn’t bad, just a little washboard feeling. In a small car that carries very little weight I usually find these roads to shake and rattle me all over, however it was minimal so I made it down to the camping area.
This area is available to both tent and RV campers and is pretty open for those wanting to stay. When I was there I noticed there was no shortage of space available to me and I could select pretty much anywhere I want to be so I determined I would set up for my short daycation away from a couple of RVs which seemed to be traveling together.
I noticed that there were no other campers in tents but later after settling in and meeting my neighbors they told me there had been and those people had been a bit more noisy. I was happy to know that the RV group there wasn’t in that same mind set so it was going to be an enjoyable quiet time.
The outdoor space here is really nice. The beach is a mixed beach of harder sands and shells from when the lake used to be much higher and had a lot more life in the area. There are hiking areas all over Lake Mead so this is a great place to set your basecamp and move forward with adventures.
TIPS:
TravelerWe stopped here last night and came in after sunset. Tons of room when we came in. Great Verizon coverage-4 bars and plenty of speed. BLM land . Close to town for supplies as well.
Traveler
Perfect dispersed camping spot outside Valley of Fire State Park and close to Lake Mead. Either up the road is Poverty Flats, but we found this to be waaaay less crowded and equally awesome. We camped next to a little canyon which was fun to explore with the kiddo when we were just hanging around the campsite.
Ranger
One of many dispersed camping spots on Lake Mead. Stewart’s Point is midway on the west coast of the Overton arm of the lake, easily accessible from 167/Northshore Dr by turning onto Stewarts’s Point Rd. This is a dirt road that leads to the lake and many offshoots for plentiful dispersed spots right on or near the water.
GPS: (36.3740104, -114.3978818)
Upper sites are more level and packed, the roads and sites get sketchy and soft further down you go to the water.
There is a pit toilet here but no other amenities. There is free water, trash and dump station further south at one of several NRA campsites.
Good cell service, beautiful lake and scenery, amazing night sky and lots of donkeys braying day and night.
GuideWe 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.
Traveler
Mt. Charleston overall is a nice play to visit for the day to get away from the Las Vegas heat. As far as dispersed camping, come supplied and be ready to be self-sufficient. There are no natural water sources for extra water, no cell service in most areas, and no services outside of the small town on the main road. I prefer Mt. Charleston more as a day trip than an overnight trip. The hiking is great, but there is not much else to do beyond hiking. It does get snow in the winter time, which is a plus. There is skiing and places to go sledding in the winter.
Legend
Someone had told me we could do a little dispersed camping at Sloan Canyon, just outside of Vegas. In addition to many hiking trails this place has a pretty extensive area you can hike around to find some great views and camping.
We started out by stopping in the visitor center, which is little more than a mobile station at the beginning of the Petroglyph Trailhead with portable toilets. There wasn't a lot of information online about staying here only that it was in fact BLM land and it was accessible for those who are wanting to stay. To hike in we figured we needed a permit, but when we got there we just kind of got a puzzled look.
Finally a ranger helped us and told us that people do in fact hike in to camp dispersed but there was no permit. We hiked down the trail with our gear and about 2 miles in found a great spot just beyond the petroglyph gallery. It had a view of the mountainside and a great view of the sunset.
We settled in and enjoyed a quiet evening amidst the tall walls of the lower canyon. We had views of the larger mountain ahead but opted to not stay up higher because the winds get pretty strong I this area.
I will say that we were told you cannot set up in the petroglyph area because it is preserved, but it did make me realize that a lot of people probably don't follow this by the fact that there were numerous smaller trails leading through this area where people clearly are not remaining on the main trail. I think the most important thing about camping in a place like this is respecting the leave no trace rules. I you are visiting a place with such history and want to allow others to continue doing the same then you should respect the area you are in.
While this was a clean area for the most part you could see where some people hadn't respected the land the same way.
TIPS:
Guide
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!
Legend
One of the best things about Nevada and Arizona are the numerous areas which offer dispersed camping. There are a lot of BLM lands in the area as well as Recreational areas so it is really quite easy to find a place if you are willing to look. Since I have several full-time friends who spend the maximum of 2 weeks at each site before moving on, someone suggested I check this space out when I was on a trip to Nelson, NV.
It was along the same stretch of highway and not very far away at all. While it was vast and open, there wasn't a whole lot to really say about it other than just that, it is what you make it when you visit.
So what is the benefit of staying at one of these remote locations you might ask? It is about 45 minutes from Vegas, so that isn't terrible if you want to go into the city itself and explore, but part of what makes these spaces a bit more exciting is that they are removed from everything.
I took a moment when I was there to check the basics like what is there to do closely that does not involved the city itself. I could quickly see why my friends recommended this location because it was not far from Lake Mead Recreational Area in an area which was a non-pay station entrance, it was relatively close to Searchlight and not terribly far from Boulder City so if you did need supplies you could easily get out to get them without issue and I think the most intriguing was the proximity not just to Nelson Ghost Town, which is free, but also the many abandoned and never sealed mines.
Lots of activities in the area to keep you busy. Sure it doesn't have amenities but it was a perfect canvas for making the world around you all yours. The friend which recommended it also happens to meet up with other full timers at locations like this so they have a sense of community so I could see how something like this would be a perfect space for that kind of traveling community to set up and enjoy.
TIPS:
Be able to sustain fully off grid living. There is plenty of sunshine to keep your solar panels full.
Check out the surroundings and bring a motor bike if you have one to explore so you will not have more options for driving around some of the more remote areas.
Be careful of mines, though they are fun to explore, some of these are not as stable, I would check out the one just past Nelson which is more heavily trafficked and also stable.
Guide
April 22, 2018
This area is one of my favorite spots to go to at Lake Mead. In order to get there, follow road signs to Crawdad Cove, the road is loose gravel and dirt so be weary what vehicle you take, so roads require 4 wheel drive. The dirt road will split into a "Y" so stay left. None of the back roads are marked, so you might have to do some exploring. Just try to follow the water and stay on the larger dirt roads. Once you get to the lake there's a nice gravely Beach area and multiple places to set up camp (there are rock fire rings too). I wouldn't recommend camping there because it is a high traveled area, lots of people launch canoes/kayaks, and other boats there. However there are camping spots the entire way down to the water (you can literally pull off of the road and camp where ever you want, there's no assigned/numbered or reserved spots) and all along the banks of the river. If you get there early enough in the day you will avoid park entry lines and you can get a really good spot by the water!
There's lots of good fishing spots, and you can always see the fish jumping out of the water! You can also hike anywhere around here. I have two dogs and really enjoy hiking around and swimming. It's about a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas but worth it to let my dogs run around and swim in the water. If you do bring your dogs be cautious of coyotes in the area, I've seen a couple walking around the area during the day looking for food scraps, and packs of them howling at night.
We set up camp on the left side of the cove on top of a cliff, with a beautiful beach area below all to our selves. There were a couple of other people camping nearby as well. There were multiple places to cliff jump, and fish (bring water shoes because there is some broken glass). The sound is really amplified in this area so please be respectful of the other people around you. All of the sites are primitive, so no toilets or running water. Bring bathroom supplies (I'd recommend bringing baby wipes and hand sanitizer... And a little shovel 😉) and lots of extra water to drink and put out your fire. There is one drop toilet and two large dumpsters along the road but not close to the lake. The sunsets are breath taking and there's lots of different birds, animals, lizards, and flowers if you go at the right time of year. Bring sunscreen and a shade tarp as there is no shade out there.
If you have a non motorized watercraft you need to get a special sticker for it in order to use it at the lake. If you want more information you can ask the Park Rangers when you enter and they will give you some papers about your boats and where to obtain registration.
LegendSuper cool hidden gem in the desert that’s for sure. Summertime gets a little tooooo hot but it’s perfect any other time throughout the year. It’s all dispersed so find a spot you like and enjoy!! Free camping!!! Winner!!! Make sure you build a good fire ring and make sure to put your fire completely out. Safety first! It’s Always best to take care of Mother Nature. If you have a 4x4 you can get to a much secluded area. If you don’t which we don’t have a 4x4 but we can make it pretty cool places so we’re happy.
GuideOur first time camping on this free land. We call it free as we have a National Park pass and didn't have to pay to enter the park. So many spots to camp and set up your rig that no one was on top of you. Views of the water were amazing and the sunsets to behold! There are trash dumpsters at the entrance to the dispersed camping area and we saw BLM folks out patrolling. Many off road paths around to take your jeep or side by side. It does get hot here in the summer so would recommend coming in during the winter or spring
Guide
Drove through here looking for dispersed camping and saw a few sites but even better was the lake. The campsites themselves were gravel and pretty uneven but we expected as much. No coverage and little privacy for dispersed camping as all sites are right off the main gravel road. We swam for an hour and then departed to next campsite for more coverage as it’s 100+ degrees today.
Legend
Literally free.!!! Cell service Dispersed Dirt roads Close to stores and everything in between Now a lot of people are like living here full time and well good for them right? Shoot... not a bad situation. Anyway free camping just pull over and you are good. No hook ups or anything special just you and your rv of choice. What’s better than free? Also Next door is an rv place and you can dump and fill your water if you needed to. Huge area by the way and plenty of open desert
LegendNote that this area is free camping, however Lake Mead has an entry fee, unless you have a Senior Pass. Wide dusty washboard road to access, 2-3 miles. Dumpsters at top by Northshore hwy but nothing later, no toilets or other facilities. I would never haul a trailer in there. 7 day limit free camping. Cell signal great though.
Guide
Was looking to boondock Tacoma for the night - followed the Dyrt instruction and boom, amazing!!! Great views and great secluded spots
Guide
I’ve camped at Mack’s at least 3 times now. It doesn’t get old. Most of the campsites are accessible with a 2 wheel drive vehicle you can only get so far. The views are amazing and it’s just far enough away to see the Milky Way at night. There are no services so remember to leave no trace. 5 stars for this dispersed camping area.
TravelerWheeler Peak Rd is actually one of 4 roads that goes into this vast area.
There are several roads that some think give better access to campsites off HIghway 160 in town. Wheeler Peak Rd is south of town.
Best one might be Charleston Peak Rd. Turn east off 160 Highway by the Auto Zone store onto Panorama and go one block to Charleston Peak Rd turning right at the Chevy dealership.
This is paved road nearly all the way to campsites. When the pavement ends go straight ahead a block or two to campsites or turn to the left and go north toward the power lines. All BLM east of the power lines clear to the mountains.
Boondocked in this area 2 months with no complaints. Verizon Cellphone signal this close to town was very good as was my hotspot internet connection.
LegendWe 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
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Las Vegas, Nevada, where you can escape the city hustle and immerse yourself in nature. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, there's something for every outdoor enthusiast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Las Vegas, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Las Vegas, NV is Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping (Spring Mountain) with a 4.5-star rating from 52 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Las Vegas, NV?
TheDyrt.com has all 44 dispersed camping locations near Las Vegas, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
