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Camping

Established Camping

Mill Creek Recreation Area

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Mill Creek Recreation Area, near Battle Mountain, Nevada, is a straightforward campground that offers a peaceful spot for those looking to unwind. With sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire pits, it’s perfect for enjoying a cozy evening by the fire while listening to the gentle sounds of the nearby creek.

The campground features clean pit toilets and plenty of trash cans, making it easy to keep your area tidy. Visitors have noted the pleasant shade provided by cottonwood trees, which can be a welcome relief during the hotter months. One camper remarked, “The little babbling brook running behind the sites whispers you to sleep,” highlighting the serene atmosphere.

For those who enjoy birdwatching, this area is a haven for songbirds, thanks to the lush surroundings supported by the creek. While the campground is remote, it’s easily accessible from the main road, making it a convenient stop for travelers. Just be aware that some sites may be a bit uneven, so choose wisely when setting up camp.

Whether you're passing through or planning a longer stay, Mill Creek offers a quiet retreat with beautiful night skies and a chance to connect with nature.

Description

Bureau of Land Management

The Mill Creek Campground is a fantastic place to stop and have a picnic, talk a walk, listen to the creek or set up camp for a few days. Located roughly 30 miles south of Battle Mountain, Nevada, the Mill Creek Campground strikes a nice balance of being immersed in the outdoors but is close enough to town if you forgot something for the camping trip. The Mill Creek site was originally a CCC camp, Civilian Conservation Corps, which was a public work relief program developed to help with unemployed during the Great Depression. Through the course of its nine year in operation, 3 million young men participated in the CCC program, which provided them with shelter, clothing and food, together with a wage of $30 per month. The Mill Creek CCC Camp was eventually shut down when the program ended and was soon after identified as a recreation area and has been that way ever since. Today, roughly 30,000 people visit the Mill Creek Campground each year to enjoy the natural beauty and proximity to other incredible recreation activities available in northeastern Nevada.

Adventure is at Your Fingertips

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Location

Mill Creek Recreation Area is located in Nevada

Detail location of campground

Directions

The Mill Creek Recreation Area turnoff is located 20 miles south of Battle Mountain, Nevada on State Route (SR) 305 and is signed. From the turn-off you will travel four miles on a maintained gravel road to the recreation site entrance.

Address

50 Bastian Rd
Battle Mountain, NV 89820

Coordinates

40.35589393 N
116.99357982 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Dispersed
  • Group
  • Equestrian

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites

Reviews

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out of 5

20 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 14, 2024

Hidden gem!

We stopped for one night, it’s 4m off the main road. Hidden in a valley. Pit toilets but clean and serviced. It’s free! We loved exploring in the hills.

Siteno numered sites, but east sites get evening sun
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Jaime K., October 14, 2024
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Jaime K., October 14, 2024
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Oct. 10, 2024

Didn't like this campground

Along a small creek, sounds nice. Clean vault toilet. Picnic table in good shape, clean. Trash containers throughout campground. Okay scenery around campground. Compared to other BLM primitive campgrounds I camped at, the campsites in this campground are poorly maintained. Some sites, including ours, barely off the campground road. Not even sure if it was an open campsite at first. Nothing attractive about this campground. Unless you are an OHV enthusiast or in the area for hunting, I don't consider this campground to be a destination. Okay for a one night stopover.

Siteno site designations
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Fred S., October 10, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Fred S., October 10, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Fred S., October 10, 2024
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Oct. 6, 2024

Great little spot

We were just passing through, and it was a great option, the creek sounded so relaxing all through the night and it was a beautiful spot to wake up at. It felt very safe, and there were quite a few other campers

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by shana , October 6, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by shana , October 6, 2024
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2024

Neat Little Spot

Apparently people are reviewing the wrong campground. There are no showers or lake here. Just a nice peaceful campground in a small valley. Beautiful creek that flows close to most of the sites, wonderful sound to fall asleep to.

Most sites have picnic tables, grill or fire pit. Several sites are big enough to get a big rig in if needed. No hookups, pit toilets. Access via several miles of gravel but it was wonderfully maintained.

Site2
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Play button icon
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Samuel H., September 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Samuel H., September 30, 2024
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2024

Nice campground

Nice campground off the beaten path, next to a babbling little stream. Dry camping with pit toilets and picnic tables and fire pits.

Site3
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2024

Was fine

Typical RV park layout, sites were very close to each other. There were only 2 other campers and didn’t see anyone until we left in the morning. Was nice to walk the lake & hang out on the dock. Showers had hot water but were kinda gross. Tent sites had cabanas over the picnic tables with a storage box and light which was nice.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Julia V., August 14, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Julia V., August 14, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Julia V., August 14, 2024
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jun. 30, 2024

Nice basic campground next to a creek.

This campground was easy to find. You can see some of the spots from the little turn off road. Each site had a fire pit, a picnic table, trash can and a pole with a hook (where I think is a perfect place to hang the lantern). From what I could see, this isn't really any easy creek access. We didn't see THAT many cow pies, we didn't even see any cows. Haha. We did get a nice mother nature sponsored light show. See video.
During the breaking down of our campsite we found a scorpion. We carefully relocated it across the way. We also noticed the building of some new sites. They have pit toilets here.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Linda L., June 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Linda L., June 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Linda L., June 30, 2024
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 10, 2023

Great for what it is

Nothing spectacular but a nice empty and clean spot to stop.

2 bathrooms - one I saw was clean Multiple trash cans Multiple fire rings Sites have tables Stream going through, next to sites kept it a little cooler Some sites have good tree shade

I saw no cow poop as mentioned by someone else. There’s were a few cows about a mile before we got here.

Make sure you take 305 south from battle mtn to avoid 15 unnecessary miles on a dirt road.

You could fit a trailer here but bigger ones will have trouble. Super easy for vans and trucks.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by mp , August 10, 2023
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by mp , August 10, 2023
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by mp , August 10, 2023
Reviewed May. 31, 2022

bird haven

quiet, remote campground with clean running water from the creek which supports a grove of trees and plentiful songbirds

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Callista B., May 31, 2022
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Callista B., May 31, 2022
Reviewed Sep. 25, 2021

If you like 💩 this place is for you!

I’ll give it two stars because this place is free, but in this park a great deal of it has an enormous amount of cow and horse poop. Now, we are from the country, so we aren’t afraid of a little livestock poop, but this campground possesses about 1 turd per square foot. That’s a little excessive for us lol. Smells wonderful as well. No water or dump. Decent ATT. Many of the sites are severely unlevel, so we did not attempt to stay, but even if we could have leveled the wife would not have stayed here because of the level of manure and the flies created by them.

I don’t see other people mentioning the turds, so maybe they only graze there in September. Seasonal creek gone by this time of year as well.

SiteDidn’t stay
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed May. 12, 2021

Desert Camping with Creek

Great campground alongside a beautiful little creek. Cottonwood trees provide shade. Pit toilets, garbage cans, fire pits and picnic tables are provided.

Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Alison , May 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Alison , May 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Alison , May 12, 2021
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Mar. 20, 2021

Convenient, peaceful and free

Perfect place for an overnight rest on the way through Nevada. Only about 4 miles off of NV 305 on a well graded gravel road. Vault toilets, picnic tables, fire pits all in good condition. Oh, and a little babbling brook running behind the sites to whisper you to sleep.

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Shane B., March 20, 2021
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Shane B., March 20, 2021
Reviewed Jan. 12, 2021

Quiet, Pretty Campground

 We stayed here in December and it was completely empty which made it a little eerie. There was snow on the ground so we stayed at a site closest to the entrance/exit in case it snowed more and we had trouble getting the Cricket out.(It didn't snow and we were fine.) 

It is a pretty campground in a little valley. Super easy to get to from the main road and from what I could tell, lots of sites along a little creek. There were 2 or 3 toilets throughout the campground. 

Because we were there in December and the campground is in a valley, it did get dark super early. Because of that, we went up to the main road coming into the campground to go for a walk so we could get some of the last sun of the day. As others have noted, the stars at night were absolutely amazing.

Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Sarah S., January 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Sarah S., January 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Sarah S., January 12, 2021
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Sep. 28, 2020

SO QUIET

Volume: Zero Site Availability: Plenty Stars: Plentiful Cows: Definitely!

We pulled in at midnight not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. It’s about a 15 min drive down a dark but very smooth gravel road. When we arrived it was clean, there were plenty of sites available, it was super quiet (there’s no artificial lighting visible from anywhere), there ARE toilets. The site we chose didn’t have a GREAT spot for a tent so we set up on the concrete pad next to the picnic table.

Seriously the best night sleep we’ve had in a long time. The stars were amazing!

For a bonus learn about the World Human Powered Speed Challenge while you’re driving down the oddly flat and smooth Hwy 305 to get to Mill Creek!

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Nickolas A., September 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Nickolas A., September 28, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Nickolas A., September 28, 2020
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 3, 2020

Great night skies

Nice quiet location near Battle Mountain to rest for the night and enjoy really beautiful night sky. Our experience was very quiet with only three other people there. The creek is mostly dried out but provides a nice ambient noise. Really clean restrooms but not much else to do.

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Esther A., August 3, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Esther A., August 3, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Esther A., August 3, 2020
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2020

If you’re in the mood

This is a pretty little campground that was empty on a Friday night in mid July. Why? Because it’s 100 degrees and the bushes/small trees barely provide any shade. Also the creek has dried up. But there are toilets and the price is right.

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Thomas B., July 18, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Thomas B., July 18, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Thomas B., July 18, 2020
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jun. 26, 2020

Close to Battle Mountain, easy to get to

As said before, 20 miles S of Battle Mountain, and about 3-4 miles off NV-305. I camped there June 21, with only 1 other tenter. More shade & a pit toilet on the up-side(east). Beautiful little creek flowing by to chill the drinks. AMAZING dark skies at night.

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Greg B., June 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Greg B., June 26, 2020
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Greg B., June 26, 2020
Reviewed Nov. 8, 2019

Secluded campground

Take 305 south from Battle Mountain 20 miles. You’ll see the Mill Creek Recreation Area sign and turn left/ East. When you get to the stop sign, turn right. A couple of miles further and you’ll veer right at the entrance to the park. There are a number of level campsites near the creek, with BBQ and fire pits. There are two bathrooms, one on each end of the park. We were here on a Thursday in November and only one other camper in the park. For dark sky enthusiasts, this place is awesome. No services.

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Pamela D., November 8, 2019
  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Pamela D., November 8, 2019
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2018

Free Camping Desert Style

This was a great campground for free! Stayed here one night. About 10 tent spots and there were more for rvs. Each had a picnic table and grill. Pit toilet close by and great views!

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Aliyah B., October 17, 2018
Reviewed Jun. 10, 2016

Secluded, clean, quiet but smaller campsites

Came in for a late arrival but was nearly the only ones there in July. The sites were well marked. The vault toilets were clean and well maintained. It may have just been the site we picked in the dark, but the ground was a bit rutted and uneven for the tent and the tent footprint we had (4-6 person) actually was quite a bit larger than the flat spot so the stakes ended up in the weeds. We did get to see a fair amount of wildlife including marmots, turkeys, jackrabbits, and coyotes.

  • Review photo of Mill Creek Recreation Area by Joe K., June 10, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are fires allowed at Mill Creek Recreation Area?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Mill Creek Recreation Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Mill Creek Recreation Area?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is unknown, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is good.