Camping near Las Vegas, NV

The Vegas camping experience extends well beyond the bright lights and sounds of the city. Located in the Mojave Desert at elevations ranging from 1,500-3,000 feet, camping areas near Las Vegas endure temperature swings of 30+ degrees between day and night. Several camping options outside the city sit at higher elevations where temperatures can be 15-20 degrees cooler than on the Strip, making them popular escapes during summer months.

What to do

Shooting sports: 30 minutes from Strip at Clark County Shooting Park. This facility offers rifle, archery, pistol, skeet, trap, and sport clay shooting. One visitor notes, "This shooting complex is a great facility for the gun and archery enthusiast, and has level, full hookup, pull through sites with a great view of the Las Vegas valley, at a tremendous value."

Desert hiking: Access mountain trails in multiple locations around Las Vegas. At Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping, visitors appreciate the outdoor access. "There's hiking nearby farther in the canyon and has never been an issue finding a spot for our Sprinter here," mentions one camper. The area provides cooler temperatures and hiking options away from city heat.

Rock climbing: Year-round options for climbers at various skill levels. A Red Rock Canyon visitor advised, "Great camp sites with shade, fire pits, tables, water and bathrooms near by. Very popular spot in April and May, show up early so you don't end up with a walk up site."

What campers like

Casino-free experiences: Campers appreciate finding natural settings close to urban amenities. One reviewer at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area shared, "Vegas is great, but it's not really my kind of town. I prefer getting out of the city and getting back to nature. Red Rocks is a great place to make that happen."

Temperature relief: Higher elevation camping offers escape from Vegas heat. A Lovell Canyon camper reported, "Needed a place to best the heat while passing through Vegas, was a good 20 degrees cooler." This temperature difference makes mountain camping locations popular during summer months when Strip temperatures regularly exceed 110°F.

Nighttime views: Light pollution varies greatly between camping areas. At Red Rock, one visitor noted, "At night, you could still see the light from Vegas but we had a pretty awesome view of the sky regardless." Many campgrounds balance city proximity with reasonable dark sky viewing.

What you should know

RV age restrictions: Some parks limit older models. At Hitchin' Post RV Park, a camper reported being turned away: "Would have loved to stay here but they only take 2000 and above travel trailers. We have a 1967 Airstream."

Aircraft noise: Expect flyovers, especially near Nellis Air Force Base. A reviewer at Hitchin' Post RV Park warned about "Proximity to Nellis AFB flyovers. Started at 7 am and were on/off all day. If you want a place to sleep in, this is not it."

Tight spacing: Many RV parks maximize capacity with minimal site space. At Thousand Trails Las Vegas, a visitor explained, "The spaces are very tight together partially because the occupants don't follow the site lines on the ground. We saw several that parked on the line and extended their slide outs into the area of the next RV'er, therefore, they were unable to extend their awning."

Reservation confusion: Always confirm bookings directly with campgrounds. One camper at Thousand Trails warned, "They don't send you anything as confirmation or reference. I made reservations 1-2mo in advance and called TWICE to make sure they had a spot saved for us and was reassured they did. And of course, we got there, and they 'had no record of our reservation.'"

Tips for camping with families

Pool access: Verify hours and availability before arrival. Not all Vegas-area pools operate year-round. A visitor to Las Vegas RV Resort noted, "Started staying here when KOA decided to only cater to peeps with a lot of $. Overall a very nice place with choices of very tight spots to very spacious sites depending on what you want to pay. Pool was being rebuilt when I was there."

Security considerations: Research neighborhood safety when booking family sites. Reviews often mention area concerns. One Las Vegas KOA Journey camper advised, "This RV park has everything! The spaces are large and mostly pull-through. There is lots of shade, which is very important in Las Vegas."

Dog-friendly amenities: Look for dedicated pet areas at RV parks. A visitor to Hitchin' Post RV Park was impressed with "one of the neatest things about this place was they have a dog run with a place to wash your dog it's the coolest thing I've ever seen. BONUS FOR US DOG PARENTS!"

Tips from RVers

Gate access: Check security protocols before arrival. At Circus Circus RV Park, a camper explained, "You have to call up and get a code to get in, and then have to make sure to remember it to get out otherwise you're calling up again."

Awning clearance: Verify site dimensions before booking. Trees and space limitations often prevent full extension. One visitor to Circus Circus RV Park reported, "Just a parking lot with full hookups. But location wise, you can't get much closer to the Las Vegas action."

Shuttle services: Use casino transportation to avoid Strip parking fees. At Las Vegas KOA Journey at Sam's Town, a camper appreciated that "The shuttle bus is large, air conditioned and comfortable and you don't have to worry about parking and paying the high fees to do so."