Best Dispersed Camping near Mount Charleston, NV

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

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.

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:

• Bring a car if you are in an RV so you can disconnect and move around the entire Lake Mead area more easily. You can also look into a smaller motor bike, however these are not permitted in all areas.
• Bring batteries since there is no power you will want to make sure you have lots of batteries for your lanterns and flashlights, this is a true dark space at night.
• Get Your America The Beautiful Pass!! This is a park pass which allows you access to all national parks and recreation areas for one calendar year. They do have senior and military passes available as well but the standard pass is $80 a year. If you travel to even a couple parks you have more than paid for it in savings as it doesn't just allow you personally access but up to 4 people in your car!

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:

• Stop at the visitor center before closing hours to get a map and find out about the area. There are two routes to the area we were in and depending on your level of desired difficulty this hike can be easy or have some light scrambling.
• Remember this is a dark space so you will want to have your own light with you because there are several animals which roam at night and you will want to be able to see.

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

Super 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.

Our 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

Note 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.

Wheeler 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.

Wonderful dispersed camping. Good gravel roads and Picturesque views everywhere you turn. About 15 degrees cooler than vegas and good cell coverage

Free camping!! Horrible roads!!! Trash cans right when you pull in so that’s nice and a bathroom about half way down and if your at the water and. 10 minute drive to the bathroom. So overall a nice place to camp. Plenty of little areas to get some privacy or pull over and make it your spot! It’s dispersed so the choice is yours. Also today it was not packed a few cars down by the water so I can see this place filling up within the next few weeks all the way until the end of summer. It’s hot and it’s early April so make sure you pack plenty of water and food. Don’t forget your sunblock. If you have a 4x4 you can go explore a few other places that I’m sure are a bit more Private.

Oh I screen shotted my location, it shows we are in the water it’s actually desert and it’s the road down to the cove.

Great views for sunrise and sunset. Dispersed camping with plenty of space between sites. Rock fire rings but expect no facilities. We only stayed one night but would stay here again! Cell service was excellent.

My friend and I decided to hike Mt Charleston Peak in order to train for hiking Machu Picchu. Here’s a breakdown of the hike: 17 miles | 11,916 ft elevation | 8,241 ft prominence | Highest peak in Southern Nevada | 8th most prominent mountain in the U.S. | Most prominent mountain in Nevada. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

In terms of camping, we decided to avoid the crowds, and camp on our way back, along the trail. Primitive/ dispersed camping available. Fire is allowed depending on the season, so check their website before hand. Pack-in-pack-out type camp.

Its a little bit of a drive (4 miles) into the wooded terrain to get to the listed campsite. However, you can camp in multiple areas along the route. Just about anytime I head towards this site, you will see people tent or truck bed camping. On occasion, I will see a motorhome or pull trailer in the area. Most of the time, they are near the front entrance, as the road and openness for large rigs are more friendly.   About a mile down the road is Sawmill trailhead. They have picnic areas and trails you can explore. Although, the current signage says not to camp overnight in the Sawmill area, you will see tents and rare times, small trailers (less than 20 feet) dispersed in the area. There are multiple nooks and private areas to disperse. As with any dispersed camping in this area or Sawmill, "No open fires." Just visited today and seen too many left over rock ring fires in the area. The usual from a long holiday weekend.

Big dispersed camping site right on the southwest corner of Lake Mead. Being the nearest to the NRA entrance from Vegas it gets crowded, especially weekends and holidays. A lot of day-users come to fish. Also very hilly and rocky once you get off the main drag to find a better spot. Common to see 4x4s stuck on the rocky/sandy hills.

Views are pretty, sunsets are nice, and lots to do in the NRA. Lots of stone fire rings all over. There are dumpsters at the main lot. There are also water-fill, trash and dump stations at nearby campgrounds you can use for free.

Donkeys and coyotes everywhere. Supposed to be bighorn sheep, too, but we haven’t seen any here yet. Also gets quite buggy, flies, gnats and mosquitos. Good cell service. Not our favorite dispersed site but it has its charms, including proximity to nearby Henderson/LV, good scenery and good cell service.

There is a NRA entrance fee but free with the America Pass.

I’d give it 2 1/2 stars. Here on Veterans Day which happens to be on a Monday.... packed full. I decided to take the R-pod down a hill to the waters edge to get away and there were still people. LOTS OF TRASH. And I can’t stand that. Picked up a full garbage bag in a very short distance. The stars are for the water, and free camping. Easy access too I guess. Photo from my bed window tho.

Great spot for dispersed camping. They have toilets near the front entrance. You will typically see small class c or pull trailers a little ways back, down the trails. No issues camping and people very respectful of other campers. Stayed during March and at night was almost freezing temperatures.

This place is very busy during the summer months and people stay for quite a while so remember that…

But it’s free camping and that’s always a bonus. It’s dispersed with no amenities. If you can get to the waterfront of this place it’s awesome!

Wear water shoes and bring protection from the weather elements. It gets hot so pack a lot of water and sunblock.
Totally family-friendly, So bring rafts and fishing gear. You are still going to get the vegas city lights so a few stars are all you see… Killer sunsets Oh, and it’s super dark so pack a lot of light.

Here are my star ratings based on my lifestyle and based on what I like.

 I'm also a mother, dog mama, and a wife so it's not just me it's my crew and i. 1 star- AUTOMATIC relocate… the property is no longer there, trashed or/and I could never have my children there and I wouldn't ever think about staying no matter what OR it is not something our campers are on this is more of an Airbnb. 2 star- Not really my jam, and would NEVER go to again… It probably more of desert life and not really my style for sure…Being from Vegas I can't stand being in the desert and I love the Trees and the Green more than anything. 3 star- Would stay there again in a pinch, but not really my style, the reason its not is because not enough family things to do, the scenery, or the location… but I would go again and feel safe having my kiddos here but only if I needed to in a pinch. 4 star- a really good rating for sure, maybe needed some improvements, minor things like being on top of each other, not a lot of privacy, but honestly little cosmetic things that aren't anything to sweat and would be back again for sure. 5 star- MY FAVORITE… love the location, safety, the surroundings, big camp spots available to fit toys for my kids to play, hammocks to hang, our big family tent, cases of firewood, our suburban or RV, etcccccc….. I would not only come back but would live if I could!!! 

Anyway thanks for reading and enjoy every moment like it's your last! 

CHEERS!

Charleston is always the go-to during summer, as it’s 20 degrees cooler than it’s surrounding area. Dispersed camping is great - no utilities of course, but very quiet, not many other campers, and a great place for stargazing. We even saw a mule walking around in the morning. Forgot my trekking poles to set up as tent poles, but luckily, Charleston is one of the few places in NV with literal trees. Can be around a 20 min drive to whatever trails you’re interested in.

Total boon docking and rough roads. But it’s free and you can literally canon where you want... sooo eyyy if you need it than it’s here. At this location you can stay 7 days. It’s a hike to get to the water from here you can’t actually get down to the water so keep that in mind. For me I like the water so it’s not an ideal Spot for me.

Note if you need an actual bathroom at the entrance of government wash you have a bathroom. Included the picture