Dispersed Camping Near Great Basin National Park
It’s All Yours… Literally!!!!
Welcome to the high-desert, and the wide open country of the Great Basin. In this vast un-peopled place youll commune with coyotes, pronghorn and pygmy rabbits. Youll soak up a degree of silence that few places in the Lower 48 can offer. Youll experience a dome of stars made overwhelming by the neck-straining stretch of the horizons. Youll inhale the aroma of sage propelled on some of the cleanest air in the west. Youll discover trees which have experienced over a million sunsets, and otherworldly caverns shocking in form.You may also discover, the campgrounds of Great Basin National Parkfilled to capacity.
Camping opportunities abound, IF you come prepared
Leave It Better Than You Found It
Never dump your tanks or leave trash behind while boondocking. If you arrive to a campsite that was trashed before you, clean it up! It may not be your trash, but it is all of our responsibilities to keep this land clean, as public lands users. Anytime the BLM has to clean up a site, theyre using taxpayer dollars and already-strained resources to do a job that they never should have had to.
While the everyday RVer or traveler may not be able to do anything about permanent encampments on public lands, we can definitely do our part to leave things better than we found them for the next camper and not contribute to the problem.
Overstaying Stay Limits Negatively Impacts All Public Land Users
According to Ken Collum, Carson City BLM District Manager, People who want to use public lands are reluctant to go out where camps have been for a while, we are hitting the biggest areas that have the biggest impacts to public lands users.
Permanent encampments on public lands are often sprawling, leaving litter and human waste behind. These encampments are also associated with criminal activity, deterring other would-be campers passing through from spending the night.
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Rv Camping Blm Campgrounds
The Bureau of Land Management has over 400 BLM campgrounds, almost all suitable for RV camping. BLM manages vast land areas that are often little used, but these vast lands also offer solitude and outdoor recreation opportunities to RVers willing to explore.
The USA RV Camping Map on our home page has links to each individual states BLM information page. BLM manages lands in the western USA and Alaska and does not have offices in all states.
Free Nevada Rv Camping
Free Nevada RV camping locations are available almost everywhere in the state. BLM alone administers 67% of Nevadas land area. The USFS and NPS also have large public land areas they administer available for free RV camping. Free RV camping locations are usually primitive, which means there are no RV hookups.
ALAMO
The Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge offers RV camping as well as hiking and fishing.
AUSTIN
Twenty-four miles east of Austin is the BLM Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area. Free RV camping with no water or dump facilities.
BATTLE MOUNTAIN
20 miles south of Battle Mountain is the BLM Mill Creek Recreation Area. This campground offers 11 tent campsites, three RV sites, two accessible sites, one dual accessible vault-type toilet, a day-use area, tables, and grills. Open year-round. There is no drinking water and no fee.
BEATTY
While mostly located in California, Death Valley National Park also sits inside Nevada near Beatty. Regulated free RV camping is permitted within the park.
EUREKA 25 miles east of Eureka gets you to the turnoff for the BLM Tonkin Spring Recreation Area. 35 more miles of maintained gravel road will get you to free RV camping at the recreation area. Contact the Battle Mountain BLM District Office for more information. Very remote area.
INDIAN SPRINGS
Northwest of Las Vegas is the Desert National Wildlife Refuge. This 1.5 million-acre offers RV camping opportunities in a desert environment. Check their web site for details and Refuge maps.
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Permit Requirements And Fees
You must have a permit to use a designated LTVA between September 15 and April 15. The permit authorizes you to camp within any designated LTVA using those camping or dwelling unit indicated on the permit between the periods from September 15 to April 15. There are two types of permits: Long-Term and Short-Visit. The long-term permit is valid for the entire season or any part of the season. The short-visit permit is valid for 14 consecutive days, and may be renewed an unlimited number of times for the cost of the permit. LTVA users must pay the cost of the fee indicated on the LTVA permit, in U.S. funds only, before or upon arrival. The Bureau of Land Management will not refund permit fees.
Blm Land Map For Nevada
To take advantage of enjoying BLM land, you will need to first make sure that you are actually in the public area and not on private property. One of the easiest ways to do this is to use a map.
Supporters of the website receive access to a BLM map overlay to ensure you are taking advantage of free camping in Nevada legally. and receive access to this map, along with other helpful features.
Unlock pro campendium features
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Volcanic Tablelands Blm Land
Summary – Flat, open BLM land directly north of downtown Bishop with a beautiful 360 degree view of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. The perfect time of year for this campsite is spring and fall, when the surrounding mountains are covered in snow, but the valley floor is still warm.
You can set up camp anywhere along Casa Diablo Rd. We chose a spot roughly 2 miles in once the road plateaus to get the most of our visual surroundings.
Pros – Spectacular view, guaranteed availability & privacy, proximity to the Happy/Sad Boulders, a 40 min. drive to the Long Valley Hot Springs area, cell phone reception
Cons – Zero amenities, very exposed to the elements
Recommendation – The dirt surface of Casa Diablo Rd. is level and can be navigated by any vehicle . However the dust on the road gets deep in some areas. Keep your wheels turning, close your air vents and don’t follow cars too closely.
Most importantly, don’t set your campsite up directly downwind from the road, or where dirt is especially deep on the road. Any car passing by is going to kick up a lot of dust. We saw one campsite get absolutely punished.
Directions – From Bishop, take State Highway 6 north to Five Bridges Road, then take a left. Travel on Five Bridges Road 5 miles until it turns into a wide, well-traveled dirt road. Follow the dirt road up a hill to the BLM area. You’ll see a sign pointing you to Casa Diablo Rd. , which is the best place to camp.
Resources
Please Camp On Public Land With Care
The immense tracks of public land in the USA is a huge playground. Youll find a plethora of things to see and do, plus places to camp for little or no cost! Just remember it is our land to explore and enjoy. Please treat it as your own by cleaning up after yourself and others. Leave it better than you found it for the next RVers and the next generation.
You can learn more about the Bureau of Land Management and find BLM-managed lands on their website BLM.gov. Our comprehensive trip planner RV LIFE Trip Wizard also makes it easy to plan your route. You can even find BLM campgrounds as well as other points of interest. Use it with the RV LIFE App to get RV-safe GPS directions, and read tips and reviews from other RVers on RV LIFE Campgrounds.
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King Range National Conservation Area Lost Coast Ca
Explore Californias untamed coast. Once you step foot into the nations first conservation area, you are unlikely to see another soul. Overnight camping off the trailhead is limited to 30-60 people depending on the season, so nab your mandatory permit online ahead of time. With more than 42,000 acres of wild coastline and towering trees, there is plenty to keep you busy. $6/permit, blm.gov
And Now The Drawbacks
Its real outdoor camping. That means zero amenities whatsoever. Restrooms, running water, picnic tables, grills for barbecuing foodyou have to bring all of that swag yourself. Yes, youll be digging holes in the ground to poop . Youll be responsible for your own fire safety and packing out your own trash. Because youre staying in remote territory, roads in & out arent always paved or accessible for low-clearance vehicles. It means that people might not be around in case of emergency, and in the same context, it also often means no cell phone service.
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Enjoy Your Nevada Camping Trip
Nevada is an incredible state and dispersed camping is one of the best ways to enjoy its natural beauty.
My favorite free campsites above offer a little something for everyone, whether you camp in a tent, van, RV, or trailerand whether you prefer a free developed campground or the true dispersed camping experience.
Still have questions about free camping in Nevada? Send me an email at:
Blm Closing Sections Of Public Land In Nevada Indefinitely
Starting April 1, 2021, the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada is closing some public land areas in Washoe and Lyon counties to camping for an indefinite period of time.
The closures affect large areas of BLM land near Golden and Sun Valleys, an an area near Mound House off of Highway 50.
While these areas are being closed to camping, they are still open for public day use for hiking and other outdoor recreation.
Carson City BLM District Manager, Ken Collum, says these areas are seeing an uptick of people living in unofficial camps for extended periods of time. These permanent camps not only negatively impact the land, but other public land users.
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Sandy Valley Road Boondocking
Address
Elevation: 1417
Management: Public Bureau of Land Management
The road in is Dirt and .6 miles from a paved road. Kingman Wash is open Year Round. There are 1-5 Nevada booondocking spots at this location and the maximum RV length is 45 feet. You may stay 14 Days at Kingman Wash. Just off of the highway exit, there is room for 1, maybe 2 rigs in a pad about .3 miles down the dirt road. Great option for those wishing for a quick stop or those with rigs that cant make it all the way down to the water. Any length trailer should be able to get in here, as long as you know how to back it in
How To Find Camping Spots On Blm Land
Finding campsites on BLM land can be confusing. How do you know who owns the land youre considering, or whether camping is allowed in an area? Fortunately, there are apps and resources to help you find an amazing BLM campsite.
Bureau of Land Management Website
The best information comes from the BLM itself. Search for camping areas on the BLMs website and maps.
Bureau of Land Management Field Offices
Ask managers at your local field offices about nearby camping areas. Managers can provide advice personalized to your experience and RV, as well as advise on current conditions. Field offices are great resources if youre not sure if the area youre considering is accessible to RVs. You can find an areas local field office on the BLM website.
Campendium
This campground review website includes developed and dispersed BLM campsite listings that are popular among RVers. Each listing includes management information for the campgroundlook for BLM below the listing name. Members can overlay the BLM map in a search to easily identify which public camping is BLM-managed. Reviews provide information from fellow RVers about accessibility, cell phone signal, and other characteristics.
FreeCampsites.net
This review website lists free campsites and who manages them. Many of the listings are not accessible to RVs or vehicles. Read the reviews to determine if a site is reachable by RV.
iOverlander
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What To Know Before You Go Overlanding On Blm Land
Before you head out to go overlanding in Nevada, you need to be prepared with knowledge of the land, gear, a plan for the length of your trip, and a vehicle that can handle unpaved roads.
RelatedThe Ultimate Guide to BLM Camping With Your RV
There are no camping fees or special permits required for overlanding on public lands in Nevada. You can simply set up camp wherever youd likeas long as its within the boundaries of designated public land. Roadpass Pro members can plan road trips using the public land map overlay feature on Campendium. You can also do research online with the Public Lands Interpretation Association.
BLM managers set a 14-day camping limit within a period of 28 consecutive days for dispersed campingmeaning camping in an area without amenities like water or toiletsso you need to plan your trip accordingly. Following the 14 days, a person and their personal property must relocate to a site outside of at least a 25-mile radius, says Miles Gurtler, a BLM recreation planner.
RelatedHow to Conserve Water When RV Camping
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Gurtler also says to practice know before you go, which includes knowing what gear to bring with you. Pack a first aid kit and basic emergency survival gear like a map, compass, waterproof fire starter, knife, and a whistle. Check weather conditions ahead of time and survey the land before you set up camp.
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Finding Blm Rv Campgrounds
The BLM Website will get you to information about it’s developed BLM campgrounds. The website will guide you by state to the various BLM Field Offices, and each Field Office has links to it’s campgrounds. There are a few BLM campgrounds that allow reservations, and you might try searching for them at ReserveAmerica.com.
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Common Questions About Camping On Blm Land
What is BLM camping?
BLM camping is camping on public lands or in developed campgrounds managed by the Bureau of Land Management. You can BLM camp in an RV or tent.
Is BLM camping free?
Most dispersed BLM camping is free, but some areas or developed BLM campgrounds charge a nightly fee.
Can you boondock on BLM land?
You can boondock on most BLM public lands, however, some public lands restrict camping, so check with your local BLM field office to ensure recreation is welcome.
How long can you camp on BLM land?
Most BLM camping areas are limited to 14-night stays within a 28-day period. Stay maximums can vary, so check with your local BLM field office to confirm.
Camping Near You Find A Free Campsite
Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we’ve got you covered. You can simply use your smart phone’s GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast.
Our community provides the best free camping information available. Free campgrounds can be hard to find. Freecampsites.net makes it easy. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip.
This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. We are community driven, and while we will be adding many free camping spots, we hope that you will add some of your favorite camping places as well. By sharing camping information freely, we can all spend less time researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping. If everyone contributes a few campsites, we’ll all have more places to go camping.
Please come back and let us know what you find!
We are not actively seeking Wal-Marts, truckstops or other parking lots and will not be adding very many of these. There are enough Wal-Mart and truck stop directories out there already. However, if a member of the community finds one of these locations to be useful for overnight RV parking and creates an entry, we may approve the listing.
Please come back and let us know what you find!
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Pick Your Campsite Wisely
Know your comfort level in the wilderness and choose wisely. The best campsites Ive ever stayed at have ALL been on primitive/BLM land. At the same time, for brand new outdoorsmen and women with families, this may not be the best option. If you decide to go and youre new to this, read and have a copy of the instructions below.
Remember to LEAVE NO TRACEbe respectful of the land, and only bring in what youre able to pack out.
Soldier Meadows Hot Springs Black Rock/high Rock Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area Nv
While the Black Rock Desert is best known for hosting Burning Man, Soldier Meadows is an oasis in one of the most rugged and remote parts of the state. Retrace the steps of early pioneers and Native Americans as you travel the 169 miles northeast from Reno. Once you arrive, slip into the nearby natural hot springs for a relaxing soak. If the main pool by the parking lot is full, meander down the creek to find one of the dammed up sections that fit your fancy or follow the dirt road south to the secluded Hidden Spring. Free, travelnevada.com and blm.gov
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