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Best Tent Camping near Searchlight, NV

422 Reviews

Tent camping locations near Searchlight, Nevada include several dispersed and established sites along Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Mid-Basin Cove offers primitive tent camping with boat-in, drive-in, hike-in, and walk-in access options within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Eight Mile Dispersed Camping provides free tent camping with a 7-day stay limit.

Access roads to many tent campgrounds in the area require caution. Eight Mile Road features extreme washboard conditions that challenge even high-clearance vehicles. As one camper noted, "The road is rough, you definitely cannot camp here in the rain. It's a wash...so that would get dangerous." Most tent sites lack amenities like drinking water, toilets, or picnic tables. Mid-Basin Cove permits fires and allows pets but offers no restroom facilities or potable water. Campers must pack out all trash, though Eight Mile Road has dumpsters at its entrance.

Lake Mead tent sites provide varying levels of solitude depending on location and season. Mid-Basin Cove is described as "more secluded than its sister site up the road" with dispersed camping directly on the beach. Water access varies significantly between locations, with some sites positioned near shorelines while others require substantial hiking to reach the water. Tent campers should prepare for challenging desert conditions, with limited shade and occasional extreme temperatures. Cell service is generally strong throughout the area, particularly at Eight Mile Road, where one review mentioned "half to full cell service/wifi all the way to the water." Wildlife sightings are common, with coyotes frequently observed near camping areas.

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Best Tent Sites Near Searchlight, Nevada (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Searchlight, NV

35 Photos of 7 Searchlight Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Searchlight, NV

422 Reviews of 7 Searchlight Campgrounds

  • Daphne W.
    Nov. 21, 2021

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Great Place to Camp!

    Great experience. I arrived late at night and was still able to check in with a pay stub. Even though it’s mid/late November the weather was great! Just take a cool weather sleeping bag and you’ll be good.

    This campground is reservable 15 days in advance, but if you missed that deadline, there is first come-first serve camping as well. There were many spots open when I came. When you get here, scout for a spot, remember your site number and license plate info, and then go back to pay at the pay stub center (at the entrance of the campground).

    Its $20 a night to camp here. BRING CASH! :)

    No showers, just bathrooms.

  • Amy G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    In the desert, but feels cozy somehow

    We landed in Vegas and headed straight out of the city to this campground.  I booked it online, not ever having seen it in person, but I'd stay again in an instant. 

    We had site 23 - very shaded and "green" - site 24 (not ours) was very open to the desert. 

    There is a no generator section meant for tents, but we didn't stay there as it seemed fully booked so I picked an RV/tent site at the far end.  And it was lovely.  The site was in the middle of a turn around, so we were in the "donut center" so to speak and it was quiet, shaded and beautiful.  Lot of palms and oleander that gave a lot of privacy. A short walk to the bathroom (hundred yards maybe?) but they were clean and the toilets were the flush kind, not pit kind. Drinking water was available too. There were fire pits at each site and a picnic table. Our site - and I assume most - were dirt/sand mix that made for easy tent set up.  But don't count on getting your stakes into the ground. There were a lot of small rocks around the site - obviously used by many campers to "stake out" the tent with.  We did so as well. 

    The campground as a whole was a short drive off the main road, but very easy to get to. 

    Absolutely I'd stay here again.

  • 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.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2019

    Boulder Beach Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Nice Blend of Shade & Sun on the Shores of Lake Mead

    After 4 glorious days kayak camping along the Black Canyon, we moved our basecamp to Boulder Beach and spent a couple of days getting reorganized to hit the road further north. Since the wind was too strong to get out on the lake, we opted to bike along the path that runs next to the campground.  This gorgeous path is well-utilized by area cycling groups, and they are some of the most courteous and safe cyclists we’ve ever come across. 

    Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and all the sites are paved and level.  Don't normally love paved campgrounds, but the wind is so strong at times that it would be a total dust storm without them. All sites have a nice view of Lake Mead, but there is no water access to the lake from the campground. The bathrooms have running water and are kept clean and well stocked, but there are no showers. Water spigots are scattered throughout the campground and there is a sewage dump for RV’s. Most of the sites are designed for large RV’s, but there were some tent campers there as well.

    Closest town is Boulder City, about 16 miles away, and has everything you need. There is strong cell service in the campground, and free wifi.

  • Les W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2021

    Eight Mile Dispersed Camping near Government Wash — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    Another great spot!!

    Did a day trip here, looking for other areas to be able to set up my mobile office. Awesome views, and half to full cell service/wifi all the way to the water! Water was clear and could see decent sized fish in the shallows. Another start in the boon-docking sash! Only caveat is the trash! Come one fellow campers, whatever happened to picking up and leaving no trace?

  • 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.

  • Theresa R.
    Nov. 3, 2020

    Las Vegas Bay Campground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area

    The best so far!

    This is by far the best national Park campground we have stayed at. They have planted lots of trees in the campground for shade in the middle of the desert. So from the highway you come in at, it looks like a little oasis in the middle of the desert. We arrived on Wednesday and had about 3/4 of the campground to choose from. There were fire rings, picnic tables, and a trash dumpster, plus clean restrooms. There is a dump station and also fresh water to fill your freshwater tank. No hook ups, so bring everything you need. Highly recommended!

  • 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.

Guide to Searchlight

Tent camping near Searchlight, Nevada, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $8

Local activities to enjoy while tent camping

Tips for tent camping near Searchlight

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Searchlight, 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 Searchlight, NV?

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

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