When you think of Las Vegas, camping might not be the first thing that comes to mind but there are actually some amazing camping spots just outside the Las Vegas strip.
When camping near Las Vegas though especially as a beginner there are many things you need to know in order to ensure that you have a successful camping trip which is what this article is all about.
We will go over the best places to camp with some of them even being free and also let you know what you need to bring and how to camp in the desert to make sure your Las Vegas camping trip is a success.
Where to Camp in the Las Vegas Area
While many people’s first inclination when camping in Las Vegas might be to hit up the local commercialized campground such as the Las Vegas KOA at Sam’s Town located right in the middle of Las Vegas. If you are looking for a truly amazing and unique camping experience then you need to skip these commercialized campgrounds and instead look just outside the city.
If you are going to camp in the Las Vegas area I would recommend focusing more on state parks and conservation areas to get the full camping experience such as Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead.
While these campgrounds located in state parks and conservation areas will usually not have conveniences such as hot showers, free wifi, or cable television they will allow you to have a much deeper and more personal connection with nature.
The camping spots we recommend on this list will allow you to truly experience all the splendor and beauty of the natural world around Las Vegas untouched by man.
Red Rock Canyon Campground
- Distance from Las Vegas: 20 Miles
- Cost to Camp: $10 – $20 Per Night for Individual Sites + (Additional $15 Entrance Fee Cost)
- Number of Sites: 66
- Reservations: To reserve a campsite click here or call 1-877-444-6777.
Red Rock Canyon Campground is just a short drive away from Las Vegas and offers picturesque views of the surrounding mountains and wide-open desert landscape.
The campground offers plenty of different camping options depending on your needs and has three different types of campsites including individual sites that can accommodate up to 10 people and two vehicles, group sites that can accommodate up to 20 people and 8 vehicles, and RV sites which have room for an RV and 1 vehicle.
As with most campgrounds located in state and national parks, there are no water, electric, or sewer hookups at any of the campsites in the campground and there are also no showers. However, the campground does offer drinkable or potable water as well as a vault or nonflush toilets in several locations throughout the park.
Each campsite at Red Rock Canyon Campground has a picnic table, grill, and campfire ring and many of them have shaded picnic tables to escape the hot desert sun.
To get a better feel for the campground be sure to check out the 360-degree video of the campground above.
Valley of Fire Campgrounds
- Distance from Las Vegas: 50 Miles
- Cost to Camp: $20 Per Night + $10 For Sites with Utility Hookups + (Additional $10 Entrance Fee Cost)
- Number of Sites: 73 Campsites Split Between 2 Campgrounds
- Reservations: All Campsites are First Come First Serve
There are two campgrounds located in the Valley of Fire State Park called Atlatl Rock Campground and Arch Rock Campground so if one campground happens to be full you can always check to see if there are any open spaces in the other campground.
To give yourself a better chance of grabbing a campsite for the night it’s best to show up no later than mid-morning to increase your odds of getting a campsite in the Valley of Fire.
Both Atlatl Rock and Arch Rock Campgrounds are surrounded by beautiful red rock formations and desert-scape that make camping here a truly unique experience.
The Atlatl Rock Campground has more amenities such as flush toilets, RV hookups, and showers. While the Arch Rock Campground is more of a primitive campground with no RV hookups or flush toilets and instead only has vault toilets and minimal amenities.
However, all campsites have shaded tables to get out of the Mojave Desert sun, grills, as well as access to water and restrooms.
Please note when camping in the Fire Valley Campgrounds that there is a 14 day limit on camping.
Lake Mead and Lake Mohave Campgrounds
- Distance from Las Vegas: 32 Miles
- Cost to Camp: $20 Per Night + ($25 Entrance Fee Good for 7 Days)
- Number of Sites: 893 Sites Split Up Between 14 Different Campgrounds
- Reservations: All Campsites are First Come First Serve
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is not only the first National Recreational Area in the US but also the largest as it encompasses an astounding 1.5 million acres of land.
While Lake Mead’s campgrounds are on a first come first serve basis, as you can see from above due to the sheer number of campsites and campgrounds you can usually find a spot pretty easily if you get there early enough.
There is a wide variety of camping at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave campgrounds from individual car camping or tent camping, group camping that can accommodate up to 30 campers at once, RV camping, or even backcountry camping.
From Boulder Beach to Echo Bay each campground has it’s own unique feel and vibe so one of the best things you can do is simply drive the area to find a campground the suites your needs and wants while camping.
Keep in mind while camping in the Lake Mead area that many of the campgrounds do not have electric, water, or sewer hookups nor do they have hot showers. Surprisingly though many of the campgrounds due actually have wifi which is a rarity when camping at national and state park campgrounds.
Free Camping Near Las Vegas
If you are looking for some free places to camp near Las Vegas you are in luck as there are actually quite a few options scattered around Las Vegas.
Keep in mind though that if you want to camp for free near Las Vegas, you will have to boondock camp which is camping outside of developed campgrounds with little to no amenities. In fact, when boondocking oftentimes your site might be nothing more than a small pull off on the side of the road. So if you are one that needs running water or toilets free camping in the Las Vegas area is probably not for you.
Below is a list of some of our favorite places to camp for free near Las Vegas.
Camping for Free at Lake Mead
While Lake Mead has a ton of paid camping options throughout the park they also have several really popular free boondocking camping areas as well.
Government Wash at Lake Mead
One of the most popular locations in the Lake Mead area for free camping is Government Wash because of its popularity though it can get pretty crowded.
This boondocking area is located off of Government Wash Road which is off of Nevada 167. While the road is paved leading up to the Government Wash camping area please keep in mind that much of the campground is not paved. In fact, there is a section of the campground that states that 4×4 vehicles are necessary beyond this point, so some of the gravel roads can get pretty rough and are not suited for all types of vehicles.
A really nice feature though and a rarity when it comes to boondocking is that this camping area actually has restrooms and a place to get water, as most boondocking locations have no amenities what so ever.
The Government Wash campground also has excellent access to Lake Mead allowing you to walk right down to its shoreline from the campground.
8 Mile Road
A less popular option but still a great place to camp for free in the Lake Mead area is 8 Mile Road which is about a half-mile away from the Government Wash campground.
While there are fewer campsites at 8 Mile Road compared to Government Wash most people don’t know about this camping area, so most of the sites are usually open.
This camping area is a true boondocking area though as there are no amenities at all. So it’s important to bring everything you need before setting up camp in this boondocking area.
Overall 8 Mile Road is a great free camping location near Las Vegas that offers terrific views of the surrounding mountains, desert-scape, and Lake Mead which surrounds the campground.
Camping for Free at Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Another great area to camp for free near Las Vegas is the Desert National Wildlife Refuge which is about 30 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
This wildlife refuge was originally created in 1936 to protect the bighorn sheep and natural habitats in the area. The wildlife refuge encompasses six mountain ranges, seven different unique wildlife habitats, and 1.6 million acres.
The great thing for campers though looking for a free place to stay is that this protected land also allows boondocking or free camping on the land.
If you are looking for some great free campsite in this wildlife refuge once you leave the visitor center at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge head right onto Mormon Well Road where there are a ton of great free campsite options.
Camping for Free at Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
Our last favorite free camping location near Las Vegas is an area called Spring Mountain National Recreation Area. Located just 45 minutes from Las Vegas the Spring Mountain area encompasses more than 316,000 acres with a wide variety of free boondock camping locations.
As with most boondocking areas, though most of the camping locations in the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area have little to no amenities. This means no running water, no toilets of any kind, and no electricity so if you are going to camp for free in this area you really have to be self-sufficient.
While there are many great free boondocking camping locations throughout the Spring Mountains one of the best camping locations in this area is a camp spot called Blue Tree Group Camp so be sure to check it out.
Tips for Camping in the Desert Near Las Vegas
While the desert can be a wonderful place to visit and camp there are some basic tips you need to keep in mind while desert camping to ensure your camping trip is a success.
Below are some of the most important things to keep in mind and remember when camping in the desert near Las Vegas.
Drink and Bring Lots of Water
When you are camping in the summertime near Las Vegas temperatures can actually reach well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit so bringing plenty of water is critically when camping near Las Vegas.
While it probably comes as no shock to you that water is important when camping in the desert due to the hot, dry, arid climate. Where people usually go wrong is that they simply do not bring enough water to meet their elevated hydration needs while camping in the desert.
While you might be accustomed to drinking 64 ounces of water a day in your everyday life or eight 8-ounces glass of water a day as most doctors and health authorities would recommend.
Usually due to your higher level of excursion while camping and thanks to the hot desert climate you should actually be drinking much more water than this when camping in the desert.
While hydration needs can vary from person to person depending on the amount of physical activity you’re doing while camping in the desert. It’s a good idea to try and drink as much as a gallon of water a day to keep yourself fully hydrated while camping in the desert.
Bring Warm Clothes
While it might be tempting to just pack shorts and T-shirts when camping near Las Vegas. Keep in mind that the temperature can drop substantially at night in the desert especially during the winter months.
During the winter months in the Las Vegas area, temperatures can often get into the 40’s at night and on average the temperature actually drops below freezing around 8 times a year.
So while you definitely want to bring warm-weather camping clothes you also want to bring cool or cold weather camping clothes as well to make sure you stay nice and warm during those cold desert nights.
Keep a Full Tank of Gas
While in the city you might be used to seeing a gas station on every other corner as you drive around town and frequently drive your car with less than a quarter tank of gas.
In the desert, it’s important to remember that gas stations can be much more sporadic and limited often requiring you to drive a 100 miles or more before you see one.
So while camping near Las Vegas and in the surrounding desert always try to keep your gas tank topped off and if you see a gas station even if you still have plenty of fuel go ahead and fill up as you never know when you might see one again.
Setting Up a Tent in the Desert
Proper tent placement is always important when camping but perhaps never more so than when camping in the desert.
The two worst enemies of your tent while camping in the desert is the blistering heat and sun as well as the wind. So when you are setting up your tent it’s important to keep both of these in mind.
While not always possible in the desert if you can place your tent out of the sun and in the shade that is the best possible scenario. While the desert landscape can be pretty sparse, look for large boulders and rock outcroppings that might provide some shade throughout the day.
The next thing to contend with when placing your tent is the wind which in the desert can be quite extreme at times.
While you will not be able to eliminate the nuisance of the wind all together while camping in the desert, by facing the front of your tent towards the prevailing winds and opening up your tents ventilation flaps you can help to minimize its effects on your tent.
Get to Your Campsite Before Dark
The desert can be a very dark place at night as there is usually very little ambient light or light pollution to speak of. This means when it’s dark in the desert it’s dark, making it extremely difficult to navigate around or do much of anything at night time.
So when possible try to make sure you arrive at your campground or campsite during the day to make it much easier to find your campsite and set up.
Have Backup Navigation
Over the years we have grown accustomed to on-demand navigation with GPS in our phones and cars but when camping in the desert it is always a good idea to have a backup and redundancy when it comes to navigation.
As the desert can be a very lonely and isolated place which is not a good area to become lost in.
Also, the desert is a very remote place so if you are someone that relies on your phone for navigation you could be in real trouble as cell phone coverage can be very spotty while in the desert, leaving you with no signal and no navigation.
So while it’s fine to use your car and cell phone for navigation while in the desert, it’s also a good idea to have some low tech backup navigation as well such as the National Geographic Road Atlas: Adventure Edition on Amazon.
If you want to know the best hiking trails around the Las Vegas area check out our article “The Best Las Vegas Hiking Adventures“.