Best Dispersed Camping near Orovada, NV

On a recent trip to Reno, (June 2021) we stayed here once on the way down and once on the way back. While there were a few RVs each time we used the location, mainly big trucks shared the large space. 

I gave it 4-stars because only because one night the idling trucks and off again on again refer units made for a restless night. The second time it was quieter, but still several idling trucks all night.  Nearest town is McDermitt, with fuel and a small casino on the Oregon border about 20 minutes away from the rest area, going North towards or South from.  The rest area is about a half hour or so North of Winnemucca, Nevada. 

There are pit-toilets and a dumpster on the site, and two small picnic tablets under a shelter with a historical marker between the tables. As this is immediately off the highway, there were vehicles driving by or stopping all night long, but those vehicles were generally not a bother.

As we were a self-contained 5th wheel, we didn't use either the bathrooms or the tables other than walking are the grounds to see what was there. The rest area is all black-top right off the highway (Highway 95, the Veteran's Memorial Highway, North or South). It had a really nice view of the area from the location. Along the east edge of the large paved parking area, it is lined with K-Rails. And fenced off to the land beyond the parking area except for access at the North East end of the parking area to take public lands towards the mountains.

This is a BLM camping spot. The entrance to the recreation area marks the beginning of a gravel road which leads back about 2 miles. The road was fine for us to drive on in our 2WD. We counted 10 campsites with around 3 vault toilets, no showers along the 2 mile stretch. Camp sites are free. We saw two dumpsters and no water. We got in around 2pm on a Friday and it was pretty full. We snagged the last campsite, site 10, before the road turns into a more treacherous dirt road which marks the end of the camping area, and atvs were driving down this section along with hikers. Campsite 10 was large- could probably fit 3-4 tents- with a table. Next to a stream and in a field of aspens. Was beautiful. However, most of the spots to pitch were a bit slanted- nothing crazy but not flat. It was windy so we guyed our tent. One drawback was that we were right next to the entrance to hiking/atv area so got a fair amount of traffic coming through. We heard atvs coming through up until midnight. By the evening, folks who didn’t get a spot were starting to camp anywhere they could, on the hills, random spots along the side of the road, etc. Overall a nice spot for BLM camping with minimal amenities that gets busy on weekends.

We stopped here on our way through NV. We had a travel trailer and didn’t go all the way into what I think is a prettier part is the area. Most sites seem to have turnaround or drive through access but we didn’t look at all of them. site 3, is where we stayed. Nice picnic tables but it was too sunny to sit there past noon. It was next to the pit toilet so the smell did waft over. Pretty sunset but BOY was it hot and sunny. The other sites seemed to have a cooler climate and were closer to the creek, but didn’t have a view. I would stop Over again but be more adventurous and seek out a better cooler spot, closer to the creek. Site 5 looks really cool.

We boondocked here for one night on our way home from a 12 day camping trip. It was a little hard to figure out where to camp at first; just follow the road up past the day use area which has a pavilion, parking and pit toilet. A little bit after that the sites begin. The sites are spread along the road, sometimes a single camp site and sometimes a couple of sites next to each other. It was dusk when we arrived and we actually didn't see the first couple of sites - we realized the next day on our way out that we'd driven right by. Then we saw some that were occupied. We ended up at site 8. It's large but quite uneven. It took us a bit to level out our A-frame pop up camper. It was gorgeous there. Surrounded by hills, Birch trees, and the stream running behind. Our site had a picnic table, fire pit, and BBQ area. The pit toilet and large garbage were just across from sites 8/9. The pit toilet is ADA, very clean, and didn't smell bad.

We would happily have spent a couple of more days here if we hadn't had to return home.

This review is for Black Rock Desert, a BLM area to the West of this campground. As home to the famed Burning Man festival, its usually a serene desert when its not crowded with the Burning Man's 50,000 festival-goers. You can still see wagon tracks here from the Oregon trail! Word to the wise: there are no established campgrounds, but free camping is allowed throughout the park (probably why it's not on this site). One thing some people get confused by is that the sculptures that you've seen photos of are not permanent installations, they are only there during the festival-time.