Camping in Nevada

A complete guide to camping in Nevada

Red rock formations in Nevada's desert landscape near Las Vegas

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Overview

Nevada camping exists in the gaps between mountain ranges. The Basin and Range geography defines the state's character: isolated mountain ridges separated by broad, flat desert valleys running north to south. Las Vegas anchors the southern end with Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead providing desert camping within an hour of the Strip. The eastern Nevada backcountry around Ely and Great Basin National Park offers the opposite experience, with alpine camping at nearly 7,000 feet in one of the least populated areas of the lower 48.

Northern Nevada around Reno and the Humboldt Range blends high desert with mountain terrain. The Ruby Mountains near Elko hold alpine lakes and ridgeline camping that surprises visitors who associate Nevada only with desert. The Black Rock Desert, home of Burning Man, returns to empty playa for the other 51 weeks of the year. Nevada's camping is defined by extreme dryness, temperature swings between day and night, and distances between supply points that test self-sufficiency.

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Best Seasons to Camp in Nevada

Spring

Mar-May

High 61°F · Low 49°F

The best desert camping window. Las Vegas area temperatures are comfortable in the 70s and 80s. Mountain campgrounds begin opening in May. Desert wildflowers bloom in wet years. Wind can be a factor across the basins.

Summer

Jun-Aug

High 80°F · Low 68°F

Las Vegas and the southern desert exceed 110 degrees. Desert camping is dangerous at low elevations. Mountain campgrounds around Ely, the Ruby Mountains, and Lake Tahoe enter peak season. Great Basin National Park provides alpine relief.

Winter

Dec-Feb

High 42°F · Low 30°F

Southern Nevada stays campable with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s. Las Vegas area campgrounds draw winter visitors. Mountain areas close under snow. Northern Nevada gets cold with occasional snow at valley floor elevations. January averages 34 degrees statewide.

Season	Months	Avg High	Avg Low	Conditions
Spring	Mar-May	61°F	49°F	The best desert camping window.
Summer	Jun-Aug	80°F	68°F	Las Vegas and the southern desert exceed 110 degrees.
Fall	Sep-Nov	61°F	49°F	Desert temperatures return to comfortable levels by October.
Winter	Dec-Feb	42°F	30°F	Southern Nevada stays campable with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s.

Source: NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals

Camping Regions in Nevada

Region	Terrain	Key Areas
Las Vegas and Southern Nevada	Desert	Las Vegas, Boulder City, Overton, Pahrump
Great Basin and Eastern Nevada	Mountain	Ely, Baker, Pioche, McGill
Reno and Northern Nevada	Plains	Reno, Elko, Winnemucca, Gerlach
Highway 93 Corridor	Desert	Pioche, Caliente, Alamo

Las Vegas and Southern Nevada

Desert · Las Vegas, Boulder City, Overton, Pahrump

Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire State Park, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area provide desert camping within an hour of Las Vegas. Red Rock offers a developed campground in a sandstone canyon. Valley of Fire has sites among red rock formations. Lake Mead adds waterfront desert camping. Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort near the Strip and Canyon Trail RV Park in Boulder City serve the metro area, with Red Rock Campground providing desert camping in the conservation area.

Great Basin and Eastern Nevada

Mountain · Ely, Baker, Pioche, McGill

Great Basin National Park near Ely holds Nevada's only alpine camping, with Lehman Caves and 13,000-foot Wheeler Peak. The surrounding Snake Range rises from sagebrush to bristlecone pine. Ely serves as the supply town. Remote and uncrowded, with dark skies among the best in the country. Ely KOA Journey and Valley View RV in Ely serve travelers heading to Great Basin National Park, while Grey Cliffs Campground near Baker sits closest to the park boundary.

Reno and Northern Nevada

Plains · Reno, Elko, Winnemucca, Gerlach

The Reno area accesses both the Tahoe basin to the west and the high desert to the east. The Ruby Mountains near Elko hold the Lamoille Canyon scenic corridor with alpine camping. Winnemucca and the Humboldt Range offer solitary desert camping. The Black Rock Desert playa stretches north of Gerlach. Bordertown Casino and RV Resort and Shamrock RV Park near Reno provide Tahoe-basin access, while Iron Horse RV Park in Elko serves the Ruby Mountains corridor.

Highway 93 Corridor

Desert · Pioche, Caliente, Alamo

The north-south highway connecting Las Vegas to Ely passes through empty basin and range terrain. Cathedral Gorge State Park near Pioche offers camping among eroded clay formations. Long stretches between services. The corridor represents classic Nevada solitude. Pioche RV Park and Campground and Horsethief Gulch Campground near Pioche, and Young's RV Park in Caliente provide the sparse but functional camping along this remote corridor.

Camping Tips for Nevada

Water is the critical resource in Nevada camping. Carry all the water you need for desert camping. There are no reliable water sources between towns in much of the state.
Temperature swings of 40 degrees between day and night are normal in the desert. A 90-degree afternoon can drop to 50 degrees after sunset. Pack warm layers even for spring and fall trips.
BLM land covers most of Nevada and dispersed camping is permitted nearly everywhere. No fee, no permit, no reservation. The 14-day stay limit is rarely enforced outside of popular areas.
Cell service disappears between towns throughout Nevada. Highways 50 (the Loneliest Road in America) and 93 have long stretches without service. Carry paper maps and extra supplies.
Flash floods are a hazard in desert washes from July through September during monsoon season. Never camp in a dry wash.
Rattlesnakes inhabit desert terrain statewide. Watch where you step and reach, especially near rock piles and brush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I camp anywhere on BLM land in Nevada?

BLM land covers the majority of Nevada and dispersed camping is permitted on most of it for free. Stay limits of 14 days in any 28-day period apply. No reservation or permit needed. Some areas near Las Vegas and Reno have more specific regulations. Pack out all trash and follow fire restrictions.

How hot does it get camping near Las Vegas?

Summer daytime temperatures in the Las Vegas valley and surrounding desert regularly exceed 110 degrees. Heat-related illness is a genuine danger from June through August. Spring and fall offer comfortable 70s and 80s. Winter camping is mild with daytime highs in the 50s and 60s.

Is Great Basin National Park worth the drive?

Great Basin sits five hours from Las Vegas and four from Salt Lake City. The park offers Lehman Caves tours, bristlecone pine groves among the oldest living things on earth, and alpine camping below Wheeler Peak. The night sky here is among the darkest in the country. The remoteness is part of the appeal.

What should I know about desert camping in Nevada?

Carry all your water. Expect extreme temperature swings between day and night. Never camp in a dry wash due to flash flood risk. Cell service is absent between towns. Tell someone your itinerary. Carry extra fuel, food, and a spare tire. The nearest services may be 100 miles away.

Where are the best dark skies for camping in Nevada?

Great Basin National Park has International Dark Sky Park status. The Massacre Rim area in northwestern Nevada was the first Dark Sky Sanctuary in the country. Most of rural Nevada has exceptional dark skies due to low population density. The further from Las Vegas and Reno, the darker the sky.