33 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several free dispersed camping areas surround Mount Charleston in the Spring Mountains, about an hour from Las Vegas. Lovell Canyon, Champion Road, and Wheeler Pass Road offer primitive dispersed campsites with no amenities. Most require a permit and allow both tent and small RV camping. Harris Springs Road provides additional options with a mix of pull-off spots suitable for various vehicle types.
Access varies significantly by location and season. Champion Road has multiple sites scattered along both sides of a maintained dirt/gravel road. According to one visitor, "The sites are all pretty big and have lots of level areas for tents. The road is drivable with 2 wheel drive but it may be tricky taking any campers further back than the first few spots." Harris Springs Road, while steeper, remains navigable for most vehicles. A review noted, "Harris Springs Rd isn't paved but it's very nice and wide, no washboard, and easy to drive on." Elevation provides significantly cooler temperatures than Las Vegas, often 10-15 degrees lower, making these areas popular summer retreats.
"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."
"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."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Maybe 6 sites accessible for a travel trailer. Spectacular views and lots of space between campsites. 30 minutes from shopping/restaurants. Free for 14 days."
"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."
"Rough road to access, but accessible with 2wd. Plenty of flat spots. A decent amount of trash laying around. Close to town."
"Absolutely amazing spots close to town but far enough at the same time. Minimal cover from the wind is the only drawback. 3 bars 5g with ATT and booster, pulling 300mbps with redzone wireless."
TravelerI just passed by on my way to Callville Bay Campground. The entrance gate was closed. I passed by at about 4 pm. I don't know for how long, or why. Just thought I'd post that it was closed when it seems like it should've been open.
ScoutThis is closed 10/26/26
ScoutGreat campground - quiet and accessible, paved road in, though a bit far (20 min). Fit my 22ft camper just fine.
Just wanted to let everyone know that I just tried to pull in last night, May 18th, and it is apparently closed due to extreme heat until October 1st.
Good luck finding another site this summer everyone.
GuideHad no problem finding a spot with my rwd. Bugs were a bit crazy but it's that time of year. Unless you get really far back you'll likely experience a lot of road noises through the night, but otherwise perfectly fine area to boondock.
Zero services; no trash or toilets.
LegendOkay so I am all for BLM, but people trashing areas are not ok! I love the new system they have built here It is still free, 14 days. But they have 51 sites, some are just tent sites, some are Rv, some are car. This is only phase 1 and they are still working on extending and leveling sites. Yea some are right on the road and others are tucked away. There are maps of where the sites are as they aren’t all Lumped together. Camp hosts were amazing and informative. Will be back we stayed in site 1. Huge and on our own, no through traffic.
TravelerWe didn’t make it all the way to the pin, because there were at least 10 spots before we chose one. Good road, we had a camper van but saw RV that did fine. Very level spots, great view of desert/mountains, good stars (though you can see the glow of Vegas). Spotty but decent Verizon coverage
GuideBeautiful-we took the good dirt road to our site. After we picked up an entire garbage bag of trash, (yeah seriously) we settled in to get as level as possible with our sprinter van. We had to get a bit creative to get sort of level. We could hear a bit of highway road noise, but mostly quiet. We lucked out based on other reviews of folks being loud and blasting music. Was a nice way to escape the heat.
TravelerHad a super easy time getting a spot here with my rooftop tent. Lots of other campers but super quiet and still had good privacy!
GuideMaybe 6 sites accessible for a travel trailer. Spectacular views and lots of space between campsites. 30 minutes from shopping/restaurants. Free for 14 days.
Dispersed camping near Mount Charleston, Nevada offers significantly cooler temperatures than the surrounding desert, sometimes 20-25 degrees lower than Las Vegas. Most sites sit at elevations between 6,000-8,000 feet, creating a pine forest environment that contrasts sharply with the Mojave Desert below. Fire restrictions frequently change based on seasonal conditions, with complete bans common during summer drought periods.
Hiking nearby trails: From Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping, access multiple hiking paths with varying difficulty levels. According to Caroline D., "Red Rock is located 30 minutes from this spot or 1 hour from Las Vegas," making it convenient to combine camping with day hikes at nearby attractions.
Wildlife viewing: Wild donkeys roam freely around Harris Springs Dispersed, providing unexpected wildlife encounters. One camper noted, "Lots of wild donkeys in this area! Also, a dog adventure company hauls in van loads of dogs from Vegas to run free here which is a fun thing to see!"
Stargazing opportunities: Find excellent night sky viewing at Mack's Canyon Dispersed, especially during weeknights when fewer campers are present. Mark D. mentioned the location has "panoramic views for sunrise and sunset" and "cell service was excellent" if you need to check star charts.
Temperature relief: The elevation provides welcome temperature drops, particularly in summer months. At Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping, Cole P. shared, "Needed a place to beat the heat while passing through Vegas, was a good 20 degrees cooler. If you have 4x4 and some clearance you can offroad to some pretty interesting spots up the mountain."
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed sites offer substantial separation. At Champion Road Sites, Arthur W. noted, "It's a short access road down and up with several areas to park and camp. Beautiful forest areas and nice and quiet."
Accessibility to supplies: Wheeler Pass Road camping remains close enough to town for supply runs. According to Robert, "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."
Road conditions vary significantly: Champion Road Sites has challenging access points that require careful navigation. Charlie C. warns, "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."
Permit requirements: Most Mount Charleston dispersed camping areas require permits, which can be obtained at the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway. Check current regulations as they change seasonally.
Limited flat terrain: Many sites have uneven ground. At Mack's Canyon Dispersed Camping, Ryan F. notes, "The terrain can be rocky and is almost always uneven, with limited flat ground, so finding a truly level spot for a tent can take some extra effort."
Bring extra warm layers: Even summer nights get chilly at elevation. At Mack's Canyon Dispersed, Gustavo O. experienced unexpected weather: "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."
Choose front sections for easier access: When camping with kids, stay in the front sections of dispersed areas. Brittney C. from Wheeler Pass Road Dispersed advises, "Literally free!!! Cell service, dispersed, dirt roads, close to stores and everything in between."
Watch for wildlife: Keep food secured as wild animals frequent the area. At Spring Mountains Dispersed, campers regularly report seeing deer, wild burros, and various bird species.
Site selection for larger vehicles: The first sites at Champion Road can accommodate RVs, but interior sites cannot. Loren W. shares, "Found a good spot here to bring the RV. There were a few fire rings already built. Great views and easy to access."
Road grade considerations: Harris Springs Dispersed offers surprisingly good access despite initial appearances. Laura M. explains, "We made it to this spot easily in our 26ft class c. Don't let the big steep road fool you. Harris Springs Rd isn't paved but it's very nice and wide, no washboard, and easy to drive on."
Leveling challenges: Bring additional leveling blocks as most sites have some slope. At Spring Mountains Dispersed, Felix S. advises, "Height of your rig could limit site selection. Even with high roof Sprinter we had some issues with low branches."
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 60 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Mount Charleston, NV?
TheDyrt.com has all 33 dispersed camping locations near Mount Charleston, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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