Best Dispersed Camping near Silver Springs, NV

Dispersed camping near Silver Springs, Nevada includes several free, primitive sites on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands. Primary options include Scout Camp at Fort Churchill along the Carson River, dispersed areas across from Fort Churchill State Park, and BLM land near the Truckee River in Mustang. These locations provide basic access to natural settings without developed facilities. Additional dispersed camping can be found at Reno View and BLM Flattop, though these sites are farther from Silver Springs.

Many access roads to these primitive sites require careful navigation and are best suited for higher-clearance vehicles. The road to Scout Camp has been reported as washed out, while paths to Reno View and BLM Flattop feature rough, rocky terrain that may challenge standard passenger vehicles. Most sites have no drinking water, restrooms, or trash service, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with some areas permitting campfires in existing rings while others prohibit fires completely due to dry conditions. Camping on BLM land typically allows stays up to 14 days.

Campers seeking these primitive areas should expect varying experiences across sites. Scout Camp offers shade from cottonwood trees along the Carson River, while other locations provide open terrain with minimal natural shelter. Visitor experiences range significantly, with one camper noting that "Scout Camp is on the Carson river and within the tall cottonwoods. Camp in the shade or out in the open if it's very windy as the trees can shed branches." The Reno View site provides dramatic overlooks but comes with challenges, as one visitor reported: "Views are unreal but would not suggest walking barefoot, tent camping or bringing dogs up here." Wildlife sightings are common, with coyotes frequently observed at multiple camping areas.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Silver Springs, Nevada (18)

    1. Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

    4 Reviews
    Silver Springs, NV
    6 miles

    "Camp in the shade or out in the open if it’s very windy as the trees can shed branches. Garbage collection and pit toilets. Nice trail along the River."

    "So beautiful, open, and feels safe. Late March is hot in the day and a little cool at night. Family friendly."

    2. Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill

    4 Reviews
    Silver Springs, NV
    5 miles

    "Since COVID has closed all state and national parks to camping, we were happy to find this BLM land for an overnight."

    "Map coordinates are a bit off. Quick and easy place to pull off for a night. Very flat, hard dirt area perfect for a tent and easily driveable."

    4. BLM next to Truckee River, in Mustang

    3 Reviews
    Sparks, NV
    23 miles

    "To close to the train tracks and highway"

    5. Reno View Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Virginia City, NV
    26 miles

    "The first turn off has the best view with somewhat flat ground for a tent. Very rocky ground and a little windy so ground tents might be tough. RTT and campervans are perfect for this spot!"

    "I would not drive it with any vehicle other than SUV/Truck. DO NOT bring up an RV/Trailer. you’ll regret it. we stayed and car camped. an awesome view of the lights of Reno."

    6. BLM FLATTOP

    3 Reviews
    Virginia City, NV
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 885-6000

    7. BLM - Water Tank Road Dispersed

    7 Reviews
    Sparks, NV
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 861-6500

    "Tucked off, dirt road with enough seclusion and privacy to feel comfortable at night. Be forewarned that the road is super rough and you will definitely need a car with more clearance to get up it."

    8. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Dispersed Camping

    6 Reviews
    Fallon, NV
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 423-5128

    "Stillwater NWR has a number of designated dispersed camping sites with pit toilets and trash bins. Free. All dirt roads but roads are OK."

    "I agree with the previous reviewer, however I think the coordinates are way off."

    9. East of Pyramid Lake

    6 Reviews
    Nixon, NV
    40 miles

    "This place is everything we look for when boondocking. It's quiet, open, easy to get to with our class c, flat(ish), cell service, and places to hike/walk around."

    "Sadly an overcast while I stayed one night, but I got to see the last full moon, winter moon, of the year rise from behind the mountain ridge in the north. Looked like the sun rising."

    10. Twenty Mile Beach Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Hawthorne, NV
    49 miles
    Website

    "This BLM site is 1 of 3 along the west side of Walker Lake. This is the northernmost BLM campground along Highway 95. Follow the signage along the highway."

    "There is no shade anywhere around, so if you're tent camping in summer be prepared to get up early. The sun and heat had us out of bed by 6am, taking down the tent."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Dispersed Camping Reviews near Silver Springs, NV

64 Reviews of 18 Silver Springs Campgrounds


  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2023

    Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

    Gorgeous Riparian Forest

    Scout camp is on the Carson river and within the tall cottonwoods. Camp in the shade or out in the open if it’s very windy as the trees can shed branches. Garbage collection and pit toilets. Nice trail along the River.

    As of October 2023 the access road to scout camp was washed out. But there is dispersed camping on the terrace to the south.

  • J
    Jun. 24, 2021

    Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill

    No Go for Class A due to rotted access roads

    We drove thru both Fort Churchill State Park Campground and Scout Camp near by. We were looking for a place to camp for the night. We have a 36ft class A with a tow. Fort Churchill Campground is not accessible if you love the paint job on your rig. For lower profile campers it would be ok. Narrow dirt roads with sage brush to scratch you and overhanging low tree branches to ruin solar and a/c.

    Scout camp access is deeply rotted so our Class A couldn't safely get in there, otherwise there would have been plenty of space for us.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2023

    Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Dispersed Camping

    Awesome landscape w/ terrible camping

    Stillwater is visually spectacular and there are tons of birds, if you’re in to that sort of thing. The road in is very well maintained and any vehicle should be able to make it, unless there’s snow. But if you’re looking to camp (like tent and sleeping bag), then this isn’t the place for you.

    There are only two designated “overnight parking” areas, which are both next to the vault toilets. You could park an RV or a van here and be fine. But the only place to pitch a tent that’s not next to a main road is super loose sand. I can understand there being no fire rings being that it’s a wildlife conservation area, but there is zero demarcation of where you should pitch a tent.

    Overall, cool place to visit and take pictures but not a great overnight destination.

  • Precarious J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Feb. 6, 2025

    BLM Land near Pyramid Lake - Dispersed Camping

    The closest accessible blm near Pyramid Lake.

    The pin is the starting point of blm land in that area. There is at least one drivable pathway deeper into blm land. I think more. I'll find out tomorrow. I was driving around trying to find access to blm land and found it. I used a public lands app to verify it is blm. The boundary barley crossed over 447. A perfect access point to blm land. My cell service was bad. I use boost mobile, but I've heard Verizon isn't very good in the area as well. If it works for you it's convenient.

  • Kailey C.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2020

    Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill

    Alternate free camping next to the state park!

    Since COVID has closed all state and national parks to camping, we were happy to find this BLM land for an overnight. There are no services and the ground is a little bumpy/sandy but we were able to get around just fine in our camper van. There was a makeshift fire ring at our site, but it was so windy and dry brush everywhere that we didn't want to attempt to use it.

    We for service on both Verizon and Sprint! Had some coyotes track around our van over night so make sure you keep everything inside!

  • sThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Tahoe Dispersed Camping

    Great New Spot

    The turn off to the dirt road was 300 ft past where the app said it was. Once we got deeper into the forest my gps wasn’t on the the route depicted on Dyrt, but it’s a fun trail. We went in about a mile in our RAM Promaster converted van then turned around and took a big flat spot closer to the road.

  • ron R.
    Oct. 12, 2024

    Peavine Road Dispersed Camping

    Complete trash dump

    It's sad where we have this public land to camp on and people just dump tons and tons of trash and abandoned cars and demolished cars on the property would not recommend going. There's some more BLM land about 15 to 20 minutes north on Red Rock road.

  • Genevieve R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Peavine Road Dispersed Camping

    Lots of trash and shells

    I live 10 minutes away, so I checked it out. It's sketchy driving in with a lot of trailers and cars along the road closer to the main road. There may or may nor have been people in them. We didn't see people walking around except one guy who was walking his dog on the dirt road and another guy nearby with a table next to his car. Maybe he was flying a drone. The dirt road was very rutted in a few areas. No big deal, but I was in my Jeep Trailhawk 4x4. I didn't have my trailer with me. The view of the city is great, but that's it. The area to pull off is not that big, so I think it would be crowded with more than 2 other trailers. It wasn't windy at all when we were there, but I'm sure it could be because it can be very windy in this area. I wouldn't stay here unless I absolutely had to for the night. I did hear gunshots in the distance. We only stayed a few minutes to take a few pictures. No amenities like fire rings or tables.

  • Ariel & John  W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful, clean, quiet

    Stillwater NWR has a number of designated dispersed camping sites with pit toilets and trash bins. Free. All dirt roads but roads are OK. When we were there in April/May 2020, we were the only ones camping in the Refuge. Camped on Division Rd.

    All sites were clean and quiet. Level. Some of the lakes are paddleable depending on season and there are lots of hiking trails and interpretive trails.

    Tons of birds, waterfowl, deer, coyotes, beavers. Amazing sky with mountains in the background.

    About 20 min from Fallon for supplies. Would stay again.


Guide to Silver Springs

Dispersed camping options near Silver Springs, Nevada include both riverside locations and high-elevation desert sites on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Most sites sit at elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, experiencing cold winter nights and hot summer days with minimal shade. Free camping availability varies seasonally with fire restrictions typically in place during summer months when temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.

What to do

Wildlife viewing along waterways: Scout Camp at Fort Churchill provides access to riparian habitat along the Carson River where visitors can observe diverse bird species. "Right off the main road with minimal traffic noise. So beautiful, open, and feels safe. Late March is hot in the day and a little cool at night. Family friendly," notes one camper at Scout Camp at Fort Churchill.

Historical exploration: Visit nearby Fort Churchill State Historic Park to view preserved ruins from the 1860s. "Site had a pre-made fire pit. There's a few spots here to choose from, although if you're looking for privacy they are somewhat close together... Overall pretty good for a nights stay, especially if you're in to history!" reports a visitor to Scout Camp.

Star gazing: The minimal light pollution at East of Pyramid Lake offers exceptional night sky viewing. "So quiet and peaceful. Nobody else was here but me. Barely hear minimal traffic from the road. Sadly an overcast while I stayed one night, but I got to see the last full moon, winter moon, of the year rise from behind the mountain ridge in the north. Looked like the sun rising. I will be returning to star gaze on clear skies."

What campers like

Quick access from Interstate 80: Travelers appreciate BLM next to Truckee River, in Mustang for convenient overnight stops. "The camp spot is great for an overnight camp spot when driving on I-80. Easy to get to, quiet enough. Not a recreation destination," shares one camper. Another notes it's "Just off of 80 @ the Mustang exit, east bound side. Industrial area, so trucks going by, mostly during the day, but occasionally throughout the night."

Privacy at remote sites: Free camping near Silver Springs at Reno View Dispersed offers isolation for those willing to navigate rough roads. "There are a few sites about 4 miles back on an unmaintained road. The first turn off has the best view with somewhat flat ground for a tent. Very rocky ground and a little windy so ground tents might be tough. RTT and campervans are perfect for this spot!" explains one visitor.

Unique desert landscape: Unusual rock formations create distinctive camping environments. At East of Pyramid Lake, a camper shares: "The rocks (tufas) are really neat and fun to climb. There's absolutely no shade so the sun makes it feel hotter than it is. And the wind comes through somewhat unpredictably so we couldn't keep our awning out."

What you should know

Road condition challenges: Access to many dispersed sites requires careful vehicle selection. At Reno View Dispersed, campers warn about difficult roads: "The road is a beast. I would not drive it with any vehicle other than SUV/Truck. DO NOT bring up an RV/Trailer. you'll regret it." Another visitor notes, "2wd or RV would be tough but perhaps doable depending on the driver. Tough road for sure."

Seasonal weather extremes: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with minimal shade while winter nights drop below freezing. Be prepared for sudden weather shifts and strong winds, particularly at exposed sites.

Limited facilities: Most free camping areas near Silver Springs lack basic amenities. Bring all necessary supplies including water, toilet paper, and waste bags. "Pack everything out, there was a lot of trash I had to pick up that was left behind by others," reports a camper at BLM Flattop.

Tips for camping with families

Choose riverside sites for activities: Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge offers wildlife viewing opportunities for children. "Stillwater NWR has a number of designated dispersed camping sites with pit toilets and trash bins. Free. All dirt roads but roads are OK. Tons of birds, waterfowl, deer, coyotes, beavers. Amazing sky with mountains in the background."

Pack extra water: No reliable water sources exist at most sites, and summer temperatures make dehydration a risk for children. Plan for 1-2 gallons per person per day.

Consider safety at remote locations: Cell service varies widely across dispersed camping areas. Some sites like East of Pyramid Lake offer "1-2 bars on Verizon" while others have no connectivity, requiring advance emergency planning when camping with children.

Tips from RVers

Length restrictions: Most free camping areas near Silver Springs have limited space for larger vehicles. At Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill, one RVer cautions: "We drove thru both Fort Churchill State Park Campground and Scout Camp near by. We have a 36ft class A with a tow. Fort Churchill Campground is not accessible if you love the paint job on your rig. For lower profile campers it would be ok."

Surface concerns: Many dispersed sites have loose sand or uneven terrain. "The rest of the roads leading down toward Lake Walker is loose gravel and sand in which I recommend having a four wheel drive vehicle. My class C got stuck and had to be wenched out," warns a camper at Twenty Mile Beach.

Limited turnaround space: Plan your approach carefully at narrow access roads. "Scout camp access is deeply rotted so our Class A couldn't safely get in there, otherwise there would have been plenty of space for us," notes an RVer about the Fort Churchill area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Silver Springs, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Silver Springs, NV is Scout Camp at Fort Churchill with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Silver Springs, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Silver Springs, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.