The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Laughlin, NV

385 Reviews

The desert landscapes surrounding Laughlin, Nevada offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Mid-Basin Cove in Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides walk-in tent sites along the shoreline with dispersed camping opportunities. Windy Point Campground near Kingman, Arizona features tent-only camping at higher elevations approximately 11 miles off paved roads. BLM Wild Cow Springs Recreation Area, also near Kingman, offers established tent campsites with basic amenities in a mountain setting. Havasu Heights provides primitive tent camping options with minimal facilities but convenient access to nearby towns.

Road conditions vary significantly between tent campgrounds in the region. Windy Point Campground requires high-clearance vehicles due to steep, winding dirt roads with loose gravel. According to campers, while technically possible in 2WD vehicles, an SUV or truck is strongly recommended. Most tent sites feature dirt or gravel pads with minimal grading. BLM Wild Cow Springs provides picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets but no drinking water. Flash floods present a seasonal hazard in desert areas, particularly during summer monsoon season. Campers should check for temporary closures before traveling, especially in Lake Mead areas where flood control monitoring occasionally restricts access.

Sites farther from town offer deeper seclusion and reduced light pollution. One camper noted that Windy Point Campground provides "a place of quiet and solitude" with excellent valley views from elevated tent sites. Temperature differences can be substantial, with campers reporting up to 15-20 degrees cooler temperatures at higher elevation campgrounds compared to Laughlin. BLM Wild Cow Springs Recreation Area features well-spaced tent sites that provide privacy between campers, with tree coverage offering shade and wind protection. Visitors to Havasu Heights mentioned minimal crowding when camping farther from main access roads. For backcountry tent camping enthusiasts, the surrounding mountains offer hiking opportunities with primitive tent sites available for those willing to venture beyond established campgrounds.

Map showing campgrounds near Laughlin, NevadaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Laughlin, Nevada (7)

Show More
Showing results 1-7 of 7 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Laughlin Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Laughlin, NV

3 Photos of 7 Laughlin Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Laughlin, NV

385 Reviews of 7 Laughlin Campgrounds

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2018

    Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    Great Place To Camp In The Desert

    We wanted to check out ZZYZX but there was no camping there so we had to explore other options. Really wanting to be as close to the dried salt lake area where you can literally yell out and hear your voice echo for miles we discovered Hole-In-The-Wall. It sounded a bit funny considered it was in the middle of the desert and everything is like a hole in the wall as you pass through miles and miles of nothingness, but we gave it a shot and were very pleased.

    It is a first come first serve campsite but when we were there that wasn't an issue there were only a few campers. It made for a quiet night in the desert where we were surrounded by low laying vegetation and views of the mountains around. It looked like a pretty large campground overall with lots of sites each with a picnic table and fire ring.

    There was no potable water when we were there and only pit toilets. Pretty basic, no hook ups and no showers.

    It was pleasant though and I would say it made us happy that we had stumbled upon it. It was $12 fo the night for our site and I did notice that those having the senior card could get a discount, so something to look forward to when I get older!!

    It was pretty no frills camping. But since we always come prepared we had firewood ready to go and were able to enjoy setting up then venturing over to ZZYZX to check out the "abandoned" site, which is actually partially used as a research facility and partially a ruin of times passed. Really unique experience from every angle.

    TIPS:

    • Pack extra water since there is none available and if you are interested in a shower make sure you have an outdoor shower bag already filled before you arrive.

    • While you can have a generator they do have a quiet hours policy for other guest. The campground is so quiet at night and everything echoes in the canyon.

    • Do not camp in washes because even though it seems dry when rain comes it quickly moves across the desert and will flood these areas and create very scary conditions.

  • C
    Oct. 17, 2020

    Davis Camp Park - Mohave County

    Waterfront campsites

    Loved being able to set up our Napier Sportz tent with our Subaru at the river's edge on the Colorado River just outside of Bullhead City, Az. (across from Laughlin, NV). So clear! Lots of families with jet skis, which we found entertaining although noisy. We just parked our beach chairs in the water as it was hot!! Bath and showers ok, but a hike up the stairs. Pet friendly, too!

  • P
    Apr. 30, 2018

    Mid Hills Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    Winter Camping Without the Snow

    Having camped here twice this year, it's a favorite of mine. Temps are decent, even in January (mid-30s for lows) and perfect in April. Tree cover is still a bit sparse and hiking options are limited, but it's a great place to set up camp and do absolutely nothing. Normally, water is available, but they are revamping the water system and the result is that there is no water available at the campground until Spring 2019, so be sure you bring plenty with you.

  • Kyle V.
    Jul. 8, 2018

    Windy Point Campground

    Remote campground where you wouldn’t expect to find one.

    Although you can make it to the campground in 2wd, I wouldn’t take a car. SUV/truck preferred. Tent camping/car camping only, no RV sites at all. The road is steep, winding, dirt with loose gravel 11 miles off the paved road. Camp sites have a great view because of the elevation. picnic tables and fire rings in each site as well as many trash receptacles and clean toilets. no other amenities. Rough off-roading in the areas surrounding the campground leading to old mining areas. Awesome views, we went in June when it was probably 110 degrees at the base of the mountain, mid 90s up at the camp site.

  • Charlie C.
    Mar. 23, 2021

    Wild Cow Springs Campground

    Amazing Place

      Let me start off by saying I made it to this spot in my Kia Niro with its front wheel drive. Not the worst dirt road I've encountered but very steep in some parts and I would not recommend going to this site in the snow unless you have 4 wheel drive, snow chains and experience. I didn't go in the snow but I could imagine. One slip and you're in serious trouble. That out of the way, this place is GREAT!

      On the drive up you go through a sleepy little town half way up the mountain, the views along the drive are stunning. Bring plenty of supplies and know its about a 40 min drive each way to get more.

       Lots of wildlife in the area, was a little concerned about bears in the area as it looked like they had some scratching posts right around our campsite (pictures posted) but didn't end up seeing a one.

       May be pretty tight for a larger RV as sites are pretty small. Vaulted toilets were very well maintained. I will go back!

    -Chuck

    P.S. Don't forget, always leave the area better than you found it!

                LEAVE NO TRACE!

  • Edwin M.
    Jan. 22, 2022

    Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    Such a cool place to camp

    We stayed here for two nights both of which were quite windy so stake down your tent extra tight. The views here are definitely what make this place worth it to camp at. The Ring Loop trail is also a blast. Theres potable water available and we payed a total of $24 for two nights here. I would definitely visit again.

  • T K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2021

    Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

    Beach and regular campsite open

    Visited today and seen the primitive camping area (no hookups) was currently closed. The regular campsites with full hookups was open. Maybe with weather, and less campers is the reason for closing the overflow/primitive side. Only 1 RV today and all the other sites open. Beach was crowded on both sides. Was still able to get a spot on the water and set up canopy. Still favorite spot in Laughlin/Bullhead City area.

  • Ashlee L.
    Apr. 20, 2018

    Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

    Gorgeous scenery and quiet, SUPER windy

    Pros: very quiet campground, with sites that are some distance apart. Absolutely breathtaking scenery - this campground is in the valley between hills and the undeveloped land around the campsites is covered in an amazing variety of cacti. The cost is also reasonable at $12/night. The tent sites are nicely designed with a large tent pad, a picnic table, and fire ring. The visitors' center is very close up the road, and they have flush toilets and water, as well as a very small gift shop, but not really anything else.

    Cons: The only way to get to the campground is driving for about a 1-2 hours on unpaved roads, which are rough in some spots. Once you get there, there are only pit toilets and no sinks or showers. There is usually potable water in the campground, but that was also unavailable during my visit because of drought conditions (however that info was easily found on the website and I was prepared for that). But by far the worst thing about this campground was the wind. It was breezy all day, which was fine, but at about 9 or 10 pm at night the winds picked up to about 30-40 mph sustained through the whole night, with gusts of ~50 mph. It definitely caught myself off guard, and by the looks of the remaining tents the next morning it caught a lot of other campers off guard also.

    If the conditions are like that most of the time (possible since it's in a valley?), I wouldn't tent camp there again because it wasn't relaxing at all. But if that was a fluke or I had an RV, I would consider another stay there. There were a lot of ORVs in the area, and I think anyone who enjoys doing that would love this campground.

  • Colette K.
    Apr. 25, 2018

    Cottonwood Cove Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground, near Lake Mohave, NV

    Ranger Review: Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios at Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW

    Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground is located 14 miles east of Searchlight, NV, on the shores of Lake Mohave. The decent into Cottonwood Cove is quite dramatic (about 2900 ft), for which the roadside cactus can attest, as the types of cacti change even with the slightest elevation change.

    The "lower" in Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground's name characterizes it's lower elevation compared to the "upper" campground, which naturally has higher elevation.

    Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground is included in Lake Mead National Recreation Area campgrounds, and keeping with their custom, all sites are first come first serve. The Cottonwood Cove area has low elevation, at about 650 feet above sea level, which means it gets very hot during the late spring, summer, and early fall months.

    Only a few of the 45 sites have shady cottonwood trees, and there are only uncovered picnic tables, so come prepared with a shade canopy for much needed relief! There are beautiful views of Lake Mohave, three very clean restroom buildings (no showers), water on taps, and fire rings at every site. There is an RV dump station located near the entrance to the Upper Campground (although the Upper Campground is closed).

    The Lower Campground is situated behind a hill, which obstructs cell service. Walking only a short distance to the marina area, you'll find a strong 4G signal. The park service provides fee-based internet at the campground, but we didn't try it.

    Cottonwood Cove has a full service boat marina, gas, motel, RV resort (with full hook-ups), watercraft rentals/supplies, sandy beach, and shaded picnic tables with BBQs.

    Here's a drive-along tour of Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground: https://youtu.be/s6AQ6KqtxPg

    Overall, we enjoyed our stay at this campground. It was a peaceful place, with jackrabbits, a couple of hungry ducks, many songbirds, and the stars at night were bright & beautiful. 4 stars (not 5 stars due to lack of provided shade).

    PRODUCT REVIEW

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. While camping at Cottonwood Cove Lower Campground, we tested Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios (model T51).

    https://midlandusa.com/product/x-talker-t51vp/

    Camping in an isolated area behind a large hill was the perfect place to review these radios. However, with the hill as an obstruction our range was limited. [Note: We also tried these radios at home, and our maximum range was 3 small neighborhood blocks. Perhaps to achieve the maximum range of "28 miles," you'd need to be on the open ocean on a calm day or out on a very flat prairie.]

    Here's a video demonstration of the Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios:

    https://youtu.be/ocCEzY-MgUc

    As you can see in our review video, we compared the Midland radios with a very inexpensive set. Midland's quality is far superior.

    The Midland's instruction booklet is easy to follow, buttons are easy to operate, radio is comfortable to hold, and the belt clip is very tight (exercise care unlatching to prevent breaking). And… the NOAA Weather Radio scan was our biggest surprise, as you'll see in this video:

    https://youtu.be/nZvTipRcln8

    The radios can be charged while positioned on the charging stand or via a charging cord plugged directly into the radio and to an electrical source (such as a portable power bank).

    Overall, we are very impressed with the clear reception and convenience of the Midland X-Talker Two-way Radios. We are looking forward to using these radios during our future no-cell service camping, fishing, and hiking adventures. 5 stars

Guide to Laughlin

Tent camping near Laughlin, Nevada reveals a diverse desert ecosystem with significant temperature variations between river valleys and mountain campsites. Summer temperatures in lowland areas regularly exceed 110°F while higher elevation sites can be 15-20°F cooler. Flash flood danger exists year-round but intensifies during summer monsoon season (July-September) when storms develop rapidly over desert terrain.

What to do

Explore unique landscapes: Arizona Bay in Lake Mohave offers shoreline tent camping with swimming access. Vault toilets and drinking water are available, making it suitable for weekend stays.

Off-road adventures: Wild Cow Springs Recreation Area features excellent hiking trails through pine-covered mountains. As camper Lyle F. notes, "Hiking and views for days. Clean vaulted toilets and well maintained site. Each site has a table and fire ring as well as parking for one, sometimes two vehicles."

Land sailing: Ivanpah Dry Lake attracts wind sports enthusiasts. According to Michael D., "Ivanpah is a world-renowned spot for land sailing. The BLM has set the playa aside for use only by non-motorized vehicles and the lake is fantastic! All types of land yachts, kite buggies and other wind-powered craft sail there."

What campers like

Mountain solitude: Providence Mountains State Recreation Area provides exceptional seclusion for tent campers willing to venture away from established areas. One camper shared, "We laughed as loud as we wanted and sang even louder. This place was perfect to act a damn fool."

Temperature relief: Higher elevation campgrounds provide natural air conditioning during hot months. At Wild Cow Springs, Miranda T. reports, "The sites are well spread out so each camp has privacy," which contributes to the comfortable atmosphere even during warmer seasons.

Dark skies: Tent camping sites around Havasu Heights offer minimal light pollution for stargazing. "There's not a lot of light pollution so you can get great stars and moon pictures," mentions Bare Soul W., highlighting an advantage for night photography enthusiasts and amateur astronomers.

What you should know

Road access challenges: Many tent camping locations require appropriate vehicles. For Windy Point Campground, Crystal C. warns, "I would recommend a 4 Wheel Drive especially after any weather. You can make it in your 2 Wheel Drive but lets just say I wouldn't even think about trying it again."

Weather considerations: Flash floods close camping areas with little notice. At Ivanpah Dry Lake, "The area is closed and no vehicle movement is permitted when the surface is wet - you'll probably get stuck if you try."

Alternative access points: Some campers find unofficial routes to popular areas. At Windy Point, Brayden C. suggests, "Tried to camp here on May 20, 2019 and couldn't access the site because it requires a legitimate 4x4 with big tires... Our group of 4 instead followed big wash rd to the top and there was a fire pit already there."

Tips for camping with families

Best seasons: Mid-Basin Cove offers beach camping ideal for families during spring and fall when temperatures moderate. Matt R. explains, "Mid-Basin cove is more secluded than its sister site up the road but much more secluded and enjoyable. Dispersed camping on the beach, fires and pets allowed."

Safety precautions: Pack extra water (1 gallon per person per day), sun protection, and create shade structures at exposed sites. Cell service is unreliable at most tent camping locations.

Site selection: Arrive early to secure sites with natural shade. Most family-friendly tent camping spots fill quickly on weekends from October through April when temperatures are moderate.

Tips from RVers

Access limitations: Most tent camping sites near Laughlin have restricted RV access. At Havasu Heights, Savannah A. explains, "I full time in a class c and flat tow my Jeep and was able to get about half a mile off the main road for my own slice of heaven."

Level sites: Finding flat tent pads can be challenging. "There are lots of flat areas for easy setup, but there are also quite a few areas that would be challenging to level. Depending on your rig you may want to walk the area first."

Proximity benefits: Tent camping locations provide strategic access to multiple destinations. According to Steven S., Havasu Heights offers convenience: "Bullhead one way lake havasu the other," making it a good base camp for exploring the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Laughlin, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Laughlin, NV is Mid-Basin Cove — Lake Mead National Recreation Area with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Laughlin, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Laughlin, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring