We hear a lot of contention about camping in and around Las Vegas. After all, it's not really a camping town. With over 150,000 hotel rooms, everyone can find accommodations for the night within their budget. But camping isn't always about budget. It's about campfires and smores, full moons and starlit skies, nature, silence, relaxation, proximity to outdoor opportunities, the list goes on.
As a result, we looked into the different camping options around Las Vegas. We identified six locations to recommend. Only two of these locations are established campgrounds that you can reach in any vehicle type. The number of sites available is limited, so you should reserve your spot in advance. The rest offer dispersed camping off dirt roads. You may see other campers there, but you'll always find a spot to set up your tent.
Without further ado, here are our findings.
Scroll down for or skip to our list of campsites in and around Las Vegas.
A note for vanlifers and those sleeping in their vehicle: Las Vegans get suspicious when they see a strange vehicle parked overnight on or near a residential street. It's hard to practice discreet camping in this town. It's OK if you want to overnight at a parking lot that allows for this practice (Walmart, for instance). But, as you know, you won't have a great time. We urge you to try the below suggestions.
Kingman Wash - Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Location: 1 mile south of the Nevada/Arizona line at Hoover Dam. See GoogleMaps
Getting there: Take I-11 south across the Hoover Dam Bridge and into Arizona. Exit 2 to Kingman Wash and follow the dirt road for 3 miles to its terminus.
Camping fee: Free
Amenities: There's a pit toilet at the intersection with Fortification Hill Rd. No other amenities. No cell phone reception. Bring your own toilet paper and lots of drinking water
Type of campsite: Dispersed camping. Set up tent on the rocky beach wherever you'd like or sleep in the car
Ease of access: Dirt road with very sharp rocks. High clearance with good tires recommended. Perfect winter camping. No shade. Too hot in summer!
Outdoor opportunities nearby: Water sports at Lake Mead, visit Hoover Dam, boating at Willow Beach, hike to hot springs
Lake Mead also maintains a few RV parks and campgrounds all along its western shore. Some of the campgrounds have WiFi, showers, and drinking water. However, they are far from any outdoor opportunities other than boating and swimming. See the Lake Mead park page for a complete list of campgrounds and amenities around the lake.
Red Rock Canyon Campground
Location: Across Hwy 159 from Calico Basin. See GoogleMaps
Getting there: Take the Charleston Blvd exit off Hwy 215. Proceed west for 3 miles. Turn left onto Moenkopi Rd and continue 1 mile to the campground
Camping fee: $20/night
Amenities: Pit toilets and drinking water available. Poor cell phone reception.
Type of campsite: Established Campground. Reserve your spot in advance at recreation.gov. Windy. Stake down your tent. Closed in summer.
Ease of access: Paved road all the way
Outdoor opportunities nearby: Red Rock Canyon NCA
Off-road across from Red Rock Canyon NCA
Location: Near the intersection of Hwy 159 and 160. See GoogleMaps
Getting there: From the intersection with Hwy 159, drive 0.5-mile west. Turn left onto a dirt road. Continue driving past the BLM boundary.
Camping fee: Free
Amenities: None. Bring lots of drinking water. Use poop bags and dispose of your waste responsibly. Good cell phone reception.
Type of campsite: Dispersed camping. Set up tent or sleep in the car off the road in previously used areas
Ease of access: Dirt road with very sharp rocks. High clearance with good tires recommended. Perfect winter camping. No shade. Too hot in summer!
Outdoor opportunities nearby: Red Rock Canyon NCA
Lovell Canyon - Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
Location: About 20 minutes west of the entrance to Red Rock Canyon NCA Scenic Drive. See GoogleMaps
Getting there: Take Blue Diamond Hwy 160 toward Pahrump. Proceed 3 miles past Mountain Springs Saloon and turn right onto Lovell Canyon Rd
Camping fee: Free
Amenities: None. No cell phone reception. Bring lots of drinking water. Use poop bags and dispose of your waste responsibly.
Type of campsite: Dispersed camping. Set up tent or sleep in the car off the road in previously used areas
Ease of access: Dirt road with very sharp rocks. High clearance with good tires recommended. Might be snowy in winter. No shade. Very hot in summer but tolerable for short stays.
Outdoor opportunities nearby: Red Rock Canyon NCA, Rocky Gap Jeep Trail, Little Zion hiking trail
Fletcher View Campground - Mt Charleston
Location: On the way to Cathedral Rock in the Mt Charleston area. See GoogleMaps
Getting there: Take Hwy 95 North to Exit 96 and turn left onto Hwy 157, Kyle Canyon Rd. Proceed 18 miles to the campground
Camping fee: $33-58, depending on type of site
Amenities: Flush toilets and drinking water available. Tolerable cell phone reception.
Type of campsite: Established Campground. Half of the spots can be reserved in advance at recreation.gov. The other half is first-come-first-served and goes quickly.
Ease of access: Paved road all the way. Open year-round. Gets snowy in winter and very hot in summer, but tolerable.
Outdoor opportunities nearby: Hikes to the peak of Mt Charleston, Cathedral Rock, and Griffith Peak, among others
Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Location: Across the highway from Mt Charleston. See GoogleMaps
Getting there: Take Hwy 95 North past Exit 96. Proceed 9 miles and turn right onto Corn Creek Rd and continue 4 miles to the refuge boundary
Camping fee: Free
Amenities: None. Bring lots of drinking water. Use poop bags and dispose of your waste responsibly. Spotty cell phone reception.
Type of campsite: Dispersed camping. Set up tent or sleep in the car off the road in previously used areas
Ease of access: Dirt road with very sharp rocks. High clearance with good tires recommended. Lower elevations are perfect for winter camping. No shade.
Outdoor opportunities nearby: Mt Charleston area, Hidden Forest hiking trail
Campgrounds a little farther away from Las Vegas
McWilliams, Hilltop, and Mahogany Campgrounds - Mt Charleston area
Desert Pass Campground and other dispersed camping options in higher elevations of Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Valley of Fire State Park Campgrounds
Lake Mead Campgrounds off the Northshore Rd
If you need more information and directions to any of the campgrounds mentioned please don’t hesitate to contact us!