Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping
Image from The Dyrt camper Matt W.
Lovell Canyon Dispersed Camping is one of the best known areas for dispersed camping in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, locally known as Mount Charleston, west of Las Vegas. In addition to being quiet and secluded, this area offers much wildlife and scenic beauty during the day.
Over 60 miles of hiking trails are available at any time of the year. The Lee Canyon Ski Resort is available all year round with skiing available in the winter and scenic chairlifts in the spring and summer.
Beautiful trees and hiking! Camping was quiet and safe.Laurie
Hoover Dam Lodge Hotel & Casino
Did you know that many casinos allow overnight parking for RVs? This can be a great solution for areas without Harvest Hosts locations or for those without the capacity for longer boondocking stints. Oftentimes, parking at a casino is similar to parking at a Harvest Hosts location in that you must patronize the business in exchange for the nights stay. Even if you dont gamble, many casinos have a restaurant on site. This casino is located just over 30 minutes from the Strip. The paved parking lot for this casino can accommodate RVs of any size. The coordinates are: 36.0103, -114.7825.
Las Vegas National Golf Club
Our first stop sits right in the heart of Las Vegas, and just ten minutes from the strip, making this the closest camping area. The Las Vegas National Golf Club is rich with history. This golf club was the set of the movie Casino. It has also housed famous visitors in the past such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and Sammy Davis Jr. Not to mention, this course has hosted a number of LPGA and PGA events. Tiger Woods himself has even golfed here and came out one under par. Visitors have the opportunity to play this 18-hole championship course and also dine at The Rat Pack Bar and Grill. This Harvest Hosts location has three reservable, pet-friendly spaces for RVs of any size.
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Free Dispersed Camping Near Las Vegas: 3 Fun Areas
There are several great options for free camping near Las Vegas. A few are even within a 30 minute drive to the city.
My first two dispersed camping spots I stayed at were in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge which are north of Las Vegas. There is also free camping in the Spring Mountain Wilderness to the west.
If you want to know how I find my free camping areas, read my step-by-step guide in this article.
The Desert National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 2,300 square miles and is the largest refuge in the U.S. outside of Alaska. Its a great location for the winter months.
The nearby Spring Mountain Wilderness is also available for free camping. The higher elevation provides cooler temperatures in the summer. And as you gain in elevation, you tend to get some more tree coverage to escape the summer heat.
It also has some great hiking opportunities.
Best Free Camping In The Las Vegas Area
While casinos and neon lights come to mind when most people think of Las Vegas for those that love camping they know that the Las Vegas area is one of the best places for camping and free camping.
Below we have listed some of our favorite spots to camp for free in Las Vegas as well as some things you need to know about camping for free in the area.
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Nevada Dispersed Camping Rules And Regulations
Please, please, please treat Nevadas public lands with respect.
Its vital we minimize our human impact when dispersed camping on BLM land and in national forests by following the 7 Leave No Trace principles.
Although all seven are important, perhaps the most critical is to pack out all your trash. Dispersed campsites almost never have trash cans so you need to plan ahead to pack out all of your trash, including food waste and human waste.
Left-behind trash and improperly disposed human waste is one of the major problems our public lands face.
If youve been dispersed camping anywhere in the past few years, youve no doubt encountered trash, toilet paper, and maybe even human waste in once pristine campsites.
Using a cat hole is one method of using the bathroom in the woods although I strongly recommend packing out your waste with a WAG bag or a portable toilet .
Its up to us to keep our public lands clean and open for all to enjoy. Cleaning up after yourself and otherwise treating these lands with respect is key to keeping them open and available to all.
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Valley Of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is likely the most sought-after location for camping near Las Vegas. The park is the largest and oldest in the State Park system. The 40,000-acre park features stunning Aztec sandstone, slot canyons, petroglyphs, petrified trees, and endless hiking opportunities, among unique geological formations.
The park features two campgrounds with a total of 72 campsites, some with hookups. Each site contains a shade armada, picnic tables, and a grill. Restrooms are available along with potable water and a dump station. Check out RV LIFE Campgrounds for more information on this campground.
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Free Camping At Desert National Wildlife Refuge
The last place for great free camping near Las Vegas is the Desert National Wildlife Refuge which is only about 30 minutes away from Vegas. This wildlife is massive encompassing over 1.6 million acres and is managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Much like the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area this wildlife refuge is federally protected lands that allow for free dispersed camping.
While there are no hookups at any of the campsites as with most boondocking sites there is actually 24-hour access to restrooms and water at the Desert, Fish, & Wildlife Refuge. The campsites themselves are very primitive that consist of hard-pack gravel for parking and camping on and thats about it.
While dispersed camping is allowed throughout the wildlife refuge some of the best free camping spots are located off of Alamo Road and Mormon Well Road.
Keep in mind this is another free camping area that does have many dispersed camping restrictions as well a 14-day stay limit for the number of camping days you can stay before having to leave the wildlife refuge.
For even more great information about free camping at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge check out this YouTube video.
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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Why Youll Love Las Vegas Koa At Sams Town
While you can easily be at the strip in minutes without even starting up your RV, you dont even have to leave the campground to get the Vegas experience. Sams Town has a full blown casino a large, Vegas-style pool, a waterfall park, an in-house movie theater with 18 screens, and even a 56 lane bowling alley. Stroll through their idyllic indoor garden, grab some food at their buffet or Mexican cantina, and then enjoy a daily laser light show and live entertainment. Youll find the full range of RV services and more, and they even run regular promotions for lengthy stays.
Location
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Red Rock Canyon Campground
The best campground near Las Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon Campground which will allow some of the best views and best spots for camping.
The Red Rock Canyon Campground is two miles from the recreation areas Visitor Center and has more than 60 camping areas.
The vast majority of these are individual locales however, there are a couple of RV and enormous gathering destinations.
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This camping area is essential, and there are no hookups, dump stations, or showers.
You can track down vault toilets and drinking water nozzles all through the camping area. Visiting Red Rock Canyon is probably the best thing to do outside Vegas, and it has the absolute best setting up camp close to Las Vegas.
The singular standard camping areas have barbecues, fire pits, and outdoor tables, and many locales have concealed regions to shield you from the desert heat.
Discussing the hotness, this camping area is shut throughout the mid-year between Memorial Day and Labor Day because of outrageous temperatures.
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Free Camping On The Shores Of Lake Mead + The Hoover Dam
One of the most memorable nights camping I have ever experienced was the night my husband and I camped at a free campground on the shores of Lake Mead outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Lake Mead is a National Recreation Area, and part of the National Park Service. We had a beautiful view and some interesting company! If you are looking for a night of camping you will never forget, check out Kingsman Wash in Arizona. Im excited to tell you all about it!
A beautiful view on our drive into the camping area
How to Get There:To access the camping area at Kingsman Wash you take Kingman Wash Road, also known as NPS Road 70. The road is a maintained backcountry road off Highway 93 south of Hoover Dam in Arizona. The road runs for roughly 3.5 miles to the shore of Lake Mead. This was a very short drive from the Hoover Dam.
The amazing Hoover Dam
- The road into the camping area
- Our Spot
Budget Travelers It is FREE, after all Groups of Friends Travelers looking to meet people Anyone who can deal with loud rowdy neighbors
- A look at the car we drove
- Yoga on the shores of Lake Mead, you can see some of the other campers in the background.
The Lake Mead Marina, where we stopped for food and drinks at, The Boat House.
The best view to wake up to after an amazing night!
- A gorgeous sunset over the Hoover Dam
- Very impressive!
- A look down from the Hoover Dam
Much Love & Happy Travels,
Mcwilliams Campground Another Great Camping Site In Las Vegas
Less than an hour outside Sin City, youll find McWilliams Campground in the Mt. Charleston area. Nestled within the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, this is a beautiful place to camp near Las Vegas.
8. McWilliams Campground, another great camping site in Las Vegas
McWilliams Campground is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors while also having the convenience of flush toilets and drinking water. Keep in mind there arent any showers or RV hookups.
While staying at a single or double-family campsite, you can enjoy biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding among the ponderosa pines. This area is also home to the Bristlecone Trail, one of the best hikes in Las Vegas. McWilliams accepts reservations and allows pets, and your campsite comes with a picnic table, BBQ grill, and fire pit.
- Number of campsites: 75
- Price: $25/night
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St Valentines Day Massacre Wall
The bullet-riddled wall from the St. Valentines Day Massacre, bloodstains enhanced for your viewing pleasure.
A usual Chicago day, a Valentines Day, usually set aside for romance and sweet nothings, a trap was set that put seven mens criminal careers to an end and thrust Al Capone into the public eye and the sights of the feds.
The trap that culminated the violent feud between two Chicago gangster heavyweights was actually fairly straightforward. Invite the North Side Irish Gang out in full Valentines Day regalia as the first step. Second step: Position them in a sitting duck position against a wall. Step three is to depress and hold the trigger.
Red Rock Canyon Campground The Best Place To Camp In Las Vegas
Visiting Red Rock Canyon is one of the best things to do outside Vegas, and it has some of the best camping near Las Vegas. The Red Rock Canyon Campground is two miles from the parks Visitor Center and has over 60 campsites. Most of these are individual sites, but there are a few RV and large-group sites.
1. Red Rock Canyon Campground, the best place to camp in Las Vegas
The individual standard campsites have grills, fire pits, and picnic tables, and many sites have shaded areas to protect you from the desert heat. Speaking of the heat, this campground is closed during the summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day due to extreme temperatures.
Also, this campground is quite basic, and there are no hookups, dump stations, or showers. You can find vault toilets and drinking water spigots throughout the campsite. Still, you cant beat the gorgeous red sandstone of this park because there are so many fun things to do in Red Rock Canyon.
- Number of campsites: 66
- Price: $10/night
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Free Dispersed Camping Near Red Rock Canyon
You can camp for free all along Lovell Canyon Road near Mountain Springs . You simply follow 160 through the canyon, then turn right on Lovell Canyon, and choose your perfect spot. We had excellent cell service while there, plus Joshua Trees, and great views. There are miles and miles of dirt trails you can hike or mountain bike on as well, which is a nice added bonus.
Where To Camp Near Las Vegas
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 . But, as you know, you won’t have a great time. We urge you to try the below suggestions.
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Resources For Free Camping In Nevada
Finding free camping in Nevada can be an intimidating task. Whether youre tent camping, on wheels, or on foot, these resources can help you find free camping near your destination.
- The Dyrt makes it easy to find dispersed camping in Nevada . Put Nevada in the search bar. Under type, select dispersed. Each listing includes a rating and reviews, detailed description, list of features, images, weather report, and geographical data.
- is a familiar tool for finding public lands in Nevada. The green areas often indicate public land, but be sure to do further research on the area youre looking for.
- The National Geographic Road Atlas Adventure Edition has maps showing public lands. Its a great physical resource to keep in your car, pack, or RV.
- If youre traveling by RV, Boondockers Welcome lists free places to park on private property. For a small fee, you can find listings on Harvest Hosts, Overnight RV Parking, and rv-camping.org.