Mount Charleston, NV is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Mount Charleston. Find the best campgrounds near Mount Charleston, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"Prefect place to get away from Vegas. Many places for camping and easy to pull a trailer. Main road mostly paved. Other roads were dirt but well maintained and manageable."
"There were plenty of people camping out here last night but we found a private turn off with epic Mountain View’s. Paved road with dirt road turn-offs. No facilities. Many spots had fire rings."
"When you pull into the empty turn around and onto the dirt road you could be immediately disarmed."
"Everything else on the trail was kind of tight. It wasn’t terribly cold but it started snowing overnight! Woke up to 2 inches of snow and witnessed a gorgeous winter wonderland from my tent."
$50 / night
"NO facilities at all. No water, no trash pickup, and no toilets. Bring Everything and pack it all out.
If there are fire restrictions, PLEASE don't light campfires."
"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."
"Spent the night in a campervan here. Keep an eye on the GPS, the coordinates are correct, but Google maps switches the location on you once you start the directions. Ended up at the ski resort at Mt."
"When you pull up to the campsite, you will immediately be intimidated by the steep and windy road up the cliff to access the campsites."
"Started in Parump on Wheeler Pass Road and headed up Northeast until the Wallace Canyon Road turnoff. Beautiful desert drive that ends in pines. Saw close to ten mule deer off the road."
"If you hike far enough you can end up near Lovell canyon. Everything here is amazing and nice and cool.
Here are my star ratings based on my lifestyle and what I like."
"We went further up near intersection of 157 and 158. Lots of open spots and almost no one around. Height of your rig could limit site selection."
"After a near disastrous attempt at finding a spot in the Champion Rd area (thought we would get stuck on that road) we came back down the hill and found this nice spot that was very easy to get to in our"
"Great TMobile and Verizon. 1 mile from highway behind Home Depot in open dessert criss crossed by multiple dirt roads. Scout ahead! Full of city services and a welcoming community."
"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. "
"Mack’s Canyon Campground is a convenient and easily accessible spot just outside of Las Vegas, making it a popular choice for campers looking for a quick escape from the city. "
"If wheeler pass camp is flooded, try coming to this hidden spot. Looks like other people already began camping here since there was multiple fire pit put together."
"Campedboff dirt road where GPS sent me. There were some facilities I didn't have time to explore. Parked in day use area near dawn didn't get any grief. Was up late for full moon."
ScoutNO facilities at all. No water, no trash pickup, and no toilets. Bring Everything and pack it all out.
If there are fire restrictions, PLEASE don't light campfires. After years of drought, this place is a tinderbox. Your mistake could easily trap people further up the canyon with no way out. It is Illegal for a reason.
The first mile is an easy dirt road, suitable for RV's and Campers.
The rest of the way is a fairly rough forest road - heavily rutted in places, with some steep drops. I wouldn't take anything but the smallest trailer back here, but it's perfect for tents.
That being said; my AWD Subaru Outback made it there and back with no problems.
Beautiful and cool during the summer - gorgeous stars at night.
LegendCamping review: Dispersed camping just South of the refuge. There are lots of dirt roads off the main road outside of the refuge that you can camp on. There are little turn offs and cut outs for you to pull up in. Ideal for car camping or RV's. The main road heading into the park on the South side of the refuge so you can easily get into the park by foot or via the dirt roads.
You will need to look at maps to make sure you aren't on private property. The road going into the refuge is fine to for overnight stays, but if you want extended stays, you can go to Funeral Mountains Wilderness, which is across the main road on the way into Death Valley and stay up to 14 days for free.
Ash Meadows is a BEAUTIFUL refuge filled with wonder. A literal Oasis In the Desert. In this refuge you will find many endangered pupfish swimming along in the many warm springs in the refuge. They are federally protected so you will need to keep your distance. You can also see Crystal Spring. Crystal Spring pumps out over 2800 gallons of water a minute form an underground warm aquifer. It is also cerulean blue due to the limestone breakdown in the water.
There is also the incredible Devil's Hole located in the refuge. This is a geologic wonder of the world. It is a hole int he base of a mountain that is filled with the clearest water and the famous Devil's Hole Pupfish. These guys are incredibly close to extinction and live in a crazy environment. The Devil's hole is known the world over as a dangerous diving spot. Many divers have been lost in the underwater maze and no one even knows how deep it is. Some divers have even died trying to find out. Anywhere in the world if there is a large scale geologic shift (earthquake), it registers in this hole and the water will splash about like a wave pool.
The entire location is hike in only. You will need a map and check for permits at the visitor's center.
Travellers Autobarn Kuga Campervan Gear Review(Driving)
While out volunteering over a week for the Audubon Bird Counts, I was able to evaluate the AWESOME Kuga campervan. Since I was gone for 7 days, I broke my evaluation up into sections where the most important features of the van were utilized. If you want to see the rest, check out my reviews for **Pahranagat Wildlife Refuge, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Desert Wildlife Refuge, and Big Dune Recreation Area. **
This company is awesome, they come from Australia and New Zealand and we are super excited to have a truly affordable rental camper van in the United States! You can rent out different sizes and get an array of gear with them. This is perfect for music festivals, road trips, and for camping in extreme weather.
Check them out here: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com/campervan-rv-rentals/kuga-campervan/
Guide
Beautiful mountain. In the summer months I’d like to camp higher up. This site is about half way up the mountain and the quick difference going from Vegas through the desert and ending up on top of a lush green mountain side nestled below overhanging peaks is amazing. I always seem to arrive during the night which is something I need to correct, don’t do that. Especially if you are a first timer and have zero knowledge of an area.
When you pull into the empty turn around and onto the dirt road you could be immediately disarmed. The second you pull off the road you notice gang symbols spray painted on the tree’s (sad) and a lot of empty beer cans. It could be alarming but if you continue up the dirt road it clears up. Really beautiful sites all around. I went in February and got some nice slow flurries which was a nice treat. Problem was that is snowed through the night and I woke up to about three inches. When you’re going in its all down hill, exiting with snow reminds me why I need 4 wheel drive. Enjoy the photos, I will be back!
-Chuck
P.S. Don’t forget, always leave the area better than you found it!
LEAVE NO TRACE. P.S. Don’t forget, always leave the area better than you found it!
LegendPrefect place to get away from Vegas. Many places for camping and easy to pull a trailer. Main road mostly paved. Other roads were dirt but well maintained and manageable. Lots of turn offs to disperse camp from main road. Be cautious, there were a couple of groups of campers off the main road that were target shooting into the woodline. If you come across the Red Rock canyon area. Rocky mt gap is the trail you can take to come across the mt in a high clearance 4wd vehicle. Mainly a jeep or something not to wide/long. My truck couldn't get pass some tight areas, so had to turn around.
TravelerA great quiet and peaceful place - a smooth dirt/gravel road that was easy to navigate with a little car.
There were pull off spots, basically individual camp sites for each person. There were others camping, too, including RVs and camper vans. They were nearby but not visible. We drove back in until we came to an empty spot.
Quiet and peaceful all night. Great flat area for setting up the tent. Low cell signal, but consistently available.
GuideI’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.
LegendLiterally 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
TravelerLots of great spots. There were plenty of people camping out here last night but we found a private turn off with epic Mountain View’s. Paved road with dirt road turn-offs. No facilities. Many spots had fire rings.
TravelerThis area is very close to amazing red rock hiking. Once you turn onto the Lovell Canyon Road, you go up about 3 miles and turn left. I went through a few sites, went up to a small dirt road, turned right, went down a very, very narrow road to find this site. Gorgeous sunsets, beautiful sunrises, is very quiet and not many critters at all. The turn off into this camping area can be quite busy that’s why it’s best to continue on through those first 10 sites until you find a small dirt road and turn right to find more seclusion. You can hear people but you can’t see them.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Mount Charleston, Nevada, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the hustle and bustle. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those looking to escape into the wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find dispersed camping on Mount Charleston?
Mount Charleston offers several dispersed camping options. Mack's Canyon Dispersed is a popular choice with multiple sites accessible by 2WD vehicles, though you can only drive so far in. This area has no facilities, so bring everything you need and pack out all trash. Another option is Champion Road Dispersed Campsites, located about halfway up the mountain, offering beautiful views of lush mountainsides and overhanging peaks. The stark contrast between the Vegas desert and the mountain environment makes this area particularly appealing. Remember that fire restrictions are common due to drought conditions, so always check current regulations before planning your trip.
Is there free camping available on Mount Charleston?
Yes, free camping is available on Mount Charleston and surrounding areas. Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping offers numerous free sites with many accessible pull-offs from the main paved road. Located about 3 miles up Lovell Canyon Road, this area features stunning mountain views, sunsets, and sunrises. Wheeler Pass Road Dispersed is another free option with cell service and dirt roads. This area has become popular for both short-term campers and some longer-term visitors. Both locations have no hookups or facilities, so come prepared with everything you need and follow Leave No Trace principles.
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Mount Charleston, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Mount Charleston, NV is Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping (Spring Mountain) with a 4.5-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mount Charleston, NV?
TheDyrt.com has all 31 dispersed camping locations near Mount Charleston, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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