Free Camping in Nevada

200 sites across 6 federal and state land agencies. 1 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

Bureau of Land Management sites

131 sites. Bureau of Land Management camping rules →

  • Arrow Canyon Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Dune
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bloody Shins Trail System
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Lakes Threshold Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Host
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 1
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 10
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 11
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 12
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 13
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 14
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 15
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 16
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 17
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 18
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 19
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 2
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 20
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 21
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 22
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 23
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 24
    Developed· Indexing
  • Campsite 25
    Developed· Indexing
107 more Bureau of Land Management sites in Nevada.

Bureau of Reclamation sites

2 sites. Bureau of Reclamation camping rules →

National Park Service sites

17 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Boulder Beach Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Boulder Beach Group Campsites
    Developed· Indexing
  • Callville Bay RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cottonwood Cove RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dump Station
    Developed· Indexing
  • Echo Bay Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Echo Bay RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Great Basin National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Great Basin Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Grey Cliffs Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lake Mead RV Village
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lake Mead Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Las Vegas Bay Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lehman Caves Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lower Lehman Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

38 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • (Closed) Hemenway Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • AEZ Town Hall
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alternative Energy Zone (AEZ)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alum Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Angel Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arch Rock Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Atlatl Rock Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Berry Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Bend of the Colorado Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bird Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bob Scott Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Conechella
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp SnoHo
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Swing City
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chariot Project BRC
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chief Mountain West Trailhead
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chimney Reservoir Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cleve Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Columbine Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Dave Deacon Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Desert Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Desert Pass Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Eagle Peak Campsites
    Developed· Indexing
14 more PRIVATE sites in Nevada.

US Forest Service sites

8 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • (LAKE ALPINE) SILVER VALLEY CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Angel Lake (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Angel Lake Picnic Area Day Use Pass
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ash Canyon Trailhead
    Developed· Indexing
  • East Creek Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • FOXTAIL GRP PICNIC AREA
    Developed· Indexing
  • Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters
    Developed· Indexing
  • MCWILLIAMS
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

4 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Desert National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fallon National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lahonntan National Fish Hatchery Complex
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Nevada

How long can you camp on public land in Nevada?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Nevada is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Nevada have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Nevada right now?
Fire restrictions in Nevada change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Nevada state office page and the USFS Nevada forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Nevada?
Dispersed camping in Nevada means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. BLM land in Nevada carries most of the dispersed sites. USFS national forests in Nevada allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Nevada?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Nevada with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Nevada prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Nevada?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Nevada when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Nevada are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Nevada in winter?
Winter access in Nevada depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Nevada often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Nevada?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Nevada do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Nevada?
Coverage in Nevada varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Nevada sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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