Free camping
Free camping in Nevada, on the public-land road network.
Zoom into the map below, click any purple forest service road, and open a pin in Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. Save spots for later — all stored on your device.
Last updated June 28, 2026 · Editorial maintained by Kimbo Campers
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Tiles: OpenStreetMap contributors (streets) · Esri World Imagery (satellite). National forest boundaries + forest service road network: USFS Enterprise Data Warehouse. National park boundaries: NPS Land Resources Division.
About
How free dispersed camping works in Nevada.
Nevada is the #1 BLM-acreage state in the country with about 48 million acres of BLM land — Red Rock Canyon NCA outside Las Vegas, Sloan Canyon NCA, Gold Butte National Monument, Basin and Range National Monument, the Black Rock Desert NCA, and millions of acres of less-named BLM corridors across the Great Basin. Federal forest land is comparatively concentrated: just one national forest (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, with 6.3 million acres — the largest NF in the lower 48), one national park (Great Basin NP on the remote NV-UT border), Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NPS-managed, spanning NV/AZ), and several smaller BLM National Conservation Areas. Free dispersed camping is allowed on most BLM and USFS land under the standard 14-day rule.
The rules vary by who manages the land. USFS dispersed camping in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest follows the federal default: pull off any forest service road into a previously-used site, camp up to 14 days in a 30-day window, pack out everything you packed in. BLM dispersed camping follows the same general framework across NV's huge BLM footprint. Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (within Humboldt-Toiyabe, just outside Las Vegas) is the iconic NV dispersed-camping anchor — though Mt Charleston search audience is also heavy with paid-lodging intent (Mt Charleston Lodge + Resort + cabins are private), so know which kind of trip you're planning. Great Basin National Park does not allow vehicle dispersed camping inside park boundaries; the 4 in-park campgrounds (Wheeler Peak, Upper/Lower Lehman Creek, Grey Cliffs) are paid + reservation. Valley of Fire State Park, often searched alongside free camping, is a state park with paid camping ($25-$35/night) — not free dispersed. Lake Mead NRA mixes paid in-park developed campgrounds (Boulder Beach, Echo Bay) with free dispersed on adjacent BLM perimeter roads.
The map below covers Nevada's public land. Click any purple forest service road for coordinates plus a one-tap link to Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. The map's centerpiece is the Spring Mountains corridor outside Vegas (Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon, Lovell Canyon — Humboldt-Toiyabe NF dispersed) plus the remote Great Basin / Snake Range area in east-central NV (Wheeler Peak, Lehman Caves). For Lake Tahoe-area camping, the California side (Eldorado NF + Tahoe NF + LTBMU) has dramatically more developed campgrounds and dispersed corridors — see our California page for the Tahoe map. NV's BLM-NCA areas (Red Rock, Black Rock Desert) appear primarily via the basemap rather than as polygon overlays — the /camp tool currently renders USFS + NPS polygons but not BLM NCAs.
By the numbers
Free camping in Nevada, by the numbers.
Public-land acreage, governance, and access facts for Nevada, sourced from the federal and state agencies that manage the land.
BLM-managed public land
~48M acres (largest of any state in the country)
Source: BLM Nevada State Office
National forests in NV
1 (Humboldt-Toiyabe — largest NF in lower 48)
Source: USFS Intermountain Region
Humboldt-Toiyabe NF acreage
~6.3M acres
Source: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
National parks in NV
1 (Great Basin NP on the NV-UT border)
Source: National Park Service
USFS / BLM dispersed stay limit
14 days in any 30
Source: 36 CFR 261.58 (USFS) and 43 CFR 8365 (BLM)
Great Basin NP annual visitors
~150K (low-volume NP, remote E NV)
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Lake Mead NRA
~1.5M acres (NV + AZ — NPS-managed)
Source: NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Red Rock Canyon NCA
~195,820 acres (BLM, 20 mi west of Las Vegas)
Source: BLM Southern Nevada District Office
Mt Charleston (Charleston Peak)
11,916 ft summit (highest in S NV)
Source: USGS
Rules at a glance
Dispersed-camping rules in Nevada, by land manager.
Quick reference for the rules across every public-land type in Nevada. See the FAQ + Permits sections below for the full version of each rule.
| Land manager | Dispersed allowed | Stay limit | Fees / permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| USFS — Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | Yes | 14 days in any 30 | Free dispersed (Spring Mtns developed CGs charge separately) |
| BLM — Public Land (48M acres) | Yes | 14 days in any 30 | Free dispersed (Red Rock Canyon NCA scenic loop has $20 vehicle entry — not for dispersed) |
| NPS — Great Basin NP | No (backcountry permits available) | Reservation-only at developed in-park CGs | $30 / vehicle 7-day entry pass |
| NPS — Lake Mead NRA | No (BLM perimeter outside park allows free dispersed) | Reservation-mixed at in-park CGs | $25 / vehicle entry pass |
| Nevada State Parks (Valley of Fire, Sand Harbor, etc.) | No | Reservation-only at developed CGs | $10 day-use · $25-$35 / night camping (Valley of Fire SP highest) |
Permits & passes
What you need to pay or carry in Nevada.
Most BLM and USFS dispersed camping in Nevada is free with no permit. These are the exceptions and add-ons by destination.
Great Basin NP entrance + camping
Required to enter Great Basin NP. 4 in-park CGs (Wheeler Peak, Upper Lehman Creek, Lower Lehman Creek, Grey Cliffs) reservable on recreation.gov.
$30 / vehicle 7-day pass · $20-$30 / night per CG site
nps.gov ↗Lake Mead NRA entrance
Required to enter Lake Mead NRA. In-park developed CGs (Boulder Beach, Echo Bay, Callville Bay, Las Vegas Bay) charge separately per night.
$25 / vehicle 7-day pass · $20-$25 / night per CG site
nps.gov ↗Red Rock Canyon NCA Scenic Loop
Required for the 13-mile Scenic Loop drive at Red Rock Canyon NCA west of Las Vegas. NOT required for free dispersed on the surrounding BLM perimeter — just for the loop itself + the Visitor Center. Timed-entry reservation in peak season (Oct-May).
$20 / vehicle (cars) · $10 / motorcycle · Timed entry $2 reservation fee
redrockcanyonlv.org ↗Valley of Fire State Park
Required to enter Nevada's largest state park (paid only — no free dispersed alternative inside). 2 reservable CGs (Atlatl Rock + Arch Rock).
$10 / vehicle day-use · $25-$35 / night camping
parks.nv.gov ↗Mt Charleston Wilderness backcountry permit
Free self-issued permit required at trailhead registers for overnight backcountry camping inside the Mt Charleston Wilderness. NOT required for dispersed camping on Forest Roads outside wilderness boundaries.
Free (trailhead registration only)
fs.usda.gov ↗BLM vs USFS
BLM vs USFS dispersed camping in Nevada.
Nevada is the most BLM-dominant state in the country by acreage — about 48 million acres of BLM vs only ~6.3 million acres of USFS (just one national forest, Humboldt-Toiyabe). But the keyword research found that NV's BLM audience uses destination names (Red Rock Canyon, Black Rock Desert, Mt Charleston-adjacent BLM) rather than the agency brand. The BLM-Nevada seed produced only one keyword containing 'BLM' (`blm land reno`, 110 vol) despite the massive acreage. USFS-Nevada is small in raw acreage but accounts for most of Nevada's pure-free-dispersed audience via Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA + the NE NV Humboldt-Toiyabe outpost (Ruby Mountains).
| Category | BLM (Bureau of Land Management) | USFS (US Forest Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Acreage in NV | ~48M acres (largest BLM portfolio in country) | ~6.3M acres (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, the only NV NF, largest NF in lower 48) |
| Typical stay limit | 14 days in any 30 | 14 days in any 30 |
| Typical fees | Free dispersed (Red Rock Canyon NCA scenic loop is $20 — separate from dispersed) | Free dispersed (Spring Mtns developed CGs charge separately) |
| Where it dominates | Black Rock Desert (Burning Man halo), Red Rock Canyon NCA perimeter, Gold Butte NM, Basin & Range NM, Pahranagat NWR boundary, Sloan Canyon NCA — most of NV outside the NF/NPS boundaries | Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA (outside Vegas — biggest cluster), Great Basin NP-adjacent (Snake Range), Ruby Mountains (NE NV near Elko), Jarbidge (NE NV near ID border) |
| Best season | Spring + fall for low desert (Vegas area, Mojave-adjacent); summer for higher BLM corridors (Black Rock playa hot in summer) | Summer at altitude (Mt Charleston high elev. + Ruby Mtns + Snake Range all snow-closed Nov-May above 7,000 ft) |
Frequently asked
Free camping in Nevada, answered.
Is dispersed camping legal in Nevada?
Yes. Dispersed camping is legal on most BLM land and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest land in Nevada, subject to the standard 14-day stay limit and the rules of whichever agency runs the specific area. BLM is the dominant land manager (~48 million acres, the largest BLM portfolio in the country) with free dispersed throughout. Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA inside Humboldt-Toiyabe is the iconic NV free-dispersed centerpiece. Great Basin National Park does not allow vehicle dispersed camping inside park boundaries — in-park developed campgrounds (Wheeler Peak, Upper/Lower Lehman Creek, Grey Cliffs) are paid + reservation. Valley of Fire State Park is paid camping only, not free dispersed (it's frequently confused with the free corridor across the program).
Where can I camp for free in Nevada?
Free dispersed camping in Nevada is concentrated in five regions. Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA outside Las Vegas (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF — Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon, Lovell Canyon corridors, summer-only above 7,000 feet). Great Basin / Snake Range on the remote NV-UT border (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF dispersed surrounding Great Basin NP; the park itself is developed-only). Red Rock Canyon NCA west of Las Vegas (BLM perimeter dispersed, day-use fee for the scenic loop itself). Lake Mead NRA backroads (NPS-managed but adjacent BLM perimeter corridors allow free dispersed). Plus the NE NV Humboldt-Toiyabe outpost — Ruby Mountains south of Elko, Angel Lake near Wells, and the Lamoille Canyon area (smaller audience but real free dispersed). Black Rock Desert NCA in NW Nevada (BLM, famous for Burning Man) is technically free dispersed but very remote with no facilities.
Where is Great Basin National Park?
Great Basin National Park sits in remote east-central Nevada on the Utah border — about 5 hours north of Las Vegas and 5 hours east of Reno, near the small town of Baker, NV (off Highway 50, 'The Loneliest Road in America'). The park surrounds Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft, NV's second-highest peak) and includes the historic Lehman Caves limestone cave system, the ancient bristlecone pine groves, and the alpine basin around Stella Lake. The park is small by NP standards (~77,000 acres, ~150K annual visitors), which means dispersed camping demand around it is also small. For free dispersed camping near the park, the surrounding Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (Snake Range) and BLM Spring Valley (immediately east) both allow standard 14-day dispersed. Great Basin's own developed CGs (Wheeler Peak, Upper/Lower Lehman Creek, Grey Cliffs) are paid and reservation-only.
Is camping at Mt Charleston free?
Mostly mixed — depends on which kind of accommodation you mean. Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA inside Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (just outside Las Vegas) DOES allow free dispersed camping on Forest Roads in Lee Canyon (Hwy 156), Kyle Canyon (Hwy 157), and Lovell Canyon (Hwy 160) corridors — standard 14-day USFS rule, no fees, pack out everything. But the most-searched terms ('mt charleston cabins', 'mt charleston lodge', 'mt charleston restaurant') refer to the private Mt Charleston Lodge and Resort — paid accommodations. The USFS-developed campgrounds at Mt Charleston (Hilltop, Fletcher View, McWilliams, Kyle, Dolomite, Cathedral Rock) are paid + reservation. The full picture: free dispersed exists, paid lodge/cabins/developed CGs are most-searched. Lower-elevation roads are year-round; high-altitude (above 8,000 ft) Forest Roads close November through May due to snow.
Do I need a permit for free camping in Nevada?
Most BLM and USFS dispersed camping in Nevada does not require a permit. Exceptions: backcountry camping inside Mt Charleston Wilderness (Spring Mountains NRA) requires a free self-issued wilderness permit at trailhead registers for overnight stays. The various BLM wilderness areas (Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness, Black Rock Desert/High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA) require trailhead registration for overnight backcountry. Great Basin National Park requires a $30 per-vehicle 7-day entrance pass plus reservations for in-park developed campgrounds. Red Rock Canyon NCA has a $20 vehicle entry fee for the 13-mile scenic loop (not for dispersed camping on the surrounding BLM perimeter). Valley of Fire State Park always requires entrance + camping fees. Lake Mead NRA charges a $25 vehicle entry pass.
Where is the best free camping near Las Vegas?
The best free dispersed camping within an hour of Las Vegas is the Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA corridor (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF — Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon, Lovell Canyon Forest Roads). Free dispersed allowed on most FR pull-offs outside the paid developed campgrounds, with the 14-day standard limit. The closest pure-dispersed corridors are off Highway 156 (Lee Canyon, ~45 min from Las Vegas) and Highway 160 (Lovell Canyon, ~50 min). For dispersed-but-with-day-use-fee BLM, Red Rock Canyon NCA (20 mi west) has a $20 scenic-loop fee but the BLM perimeter roads outside the loop allow free dispersed under standard 14-day BLM rules. For winter snowbird-style longer-stay dispersed, look further south toward the Lake Havasu / Quartzsite AZ area (see our Arizona page for the LTVA system).
Are there fire restrictions for dispersed camping in Nevada?
Yes. Nevada has lengthy fire seasons given the desert climate. Restrictions are set per BLM district and for Humboldt-Toiyabe NF independently, updated weekly during fire season (typically May through October). Stage 1 typically prohibits open campfires outside designated rings. Stage 2 typically prohibits all campfires plus most off-road vehicle use plus chainsaw and welding work. Stage 3 closes the land entirely. Sand Flats Recreation Area outside Moab bans wood and charcoal fires year-round (BLM-managed, not in NV though); the equivalent year-round-ban areas in NV include parts of Red Rock Canyon NCA during high-risk months. Always check the specific BLM district (Southern Nevada, Battle Mountain, Carson City, Ely, Elko, Winnemucca) and the Humboldt-Toiyabe district before lighting a fire.
Can I camp at Lake Tahoe in Nevada?
You can, but the California side has dramatically more developed campgrounds and dispersed corridors than the Nevada side. Lake Tahoe is shared between CA + NV; the CA-side hosts Eldorado NF, Tahoe NF, and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) with extensive dispersed camping. The NV side is mostly Nevada State Parks (Sand Harbor, Spooner Lake) — all paid — plus a small portion of the LTBMU that allows free dispersed. For the broader Tahoe camping picture (which side to stay on, which campgrounds are reservable, which corridors allow dispersed), see our California camping page. From an NV-only perspective, the NV-side Tahoe options are Sand Harbor SP (day-use only — no camping inside park; reservation required), Spooner Lake SP (camping by permit, limited), and the small slice of LTBMU dispersed terrain accessible from NV-28.
Featured regions
Where to look first in Nevada.
Five regions that account for most of the high-quality free dispersed camping in the state. Each one is a multi-day base.
USFS — Humboldt-Toiyabe (Spring Mountains NRA)
Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains NRA
Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (within Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, ~45 minutes northwest of Las Vegas) is Nevada's iconic free-dispersed-camping centerpiece. The corridor includes Lee Canyon (Hwy 156, north side — Forest Roads with dispersed pull-offs plus the paid Hilltop + McWilliams + Dolomite CGs), Kyle Canyon (Hwy 157, south side — Cathedral Rock + Fletcher View + Kyle CGs plus dispersed FRs), and Lovell Canyon (Hwy 160, further south — fewer developed CGs, more pure dispersed). Charleston Peak (11,916 ft) is the high point and a popular backcountry destination requiring a free self-issued wilderness permit. The lower-elevation roads stay open year-round; high-elevation FRs above 8,000 ft close November through May due to snow. Search-audience note: most Mt Charleston searches are for the private Mt Charleston Lodge + cabin rentals (paid) — separate from the free USFS dispersed.
36.27°N, 115.65°W
NPS — Great Basin (USFS — Humboldt-Toiyabe for dispersed)
Great Basin NP & Snake Range
Great Basin National Park is Nevada's only national park — remote east-central NV on the Utah border, ~5 hours from both Las Vegas and Reno (off Highway 50, 'The Loneliest Road in America'). The park surrounds Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft, NV's second-highest), the Lehman Caves limestone cave system, ancient bristlecone pine groves, and the alpine Stella Lake basin. ~150K annual visitors makes it one of the least-visited NPs. The park does NOT allow vehicle dispersed camping inside boundaries; in-park developed CGs (Wheeler Peak, Upper/Lower Lehman Creek, Grey Cliffs) are paid + reservation. For free dispersed near the park, head into the surrounding Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (Snake Range north + south of the park) or onto BLM Spring Valley immediately east — both allow standard 14-day dispersed.
38.98°N, 114.30°W
BLM — Southern Nevada District
Red Rock Canyon NCA
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is BLM-managed land 20 miles west of Las Vegas — the most-visited BLM unit in Nevada, with the 13-mile Scenic Loop drive being the photo-iconic experience. The Scenic Loop itself requires a $20 vehicle entry pass + timed-entry reservation in peak season. Free dispersed camping is NOT allowed inside the NCA's developed area, but the BLM perimeter roads outside the NCA proper (Calico Basin area, Lovell Canyon overlap with Spring Mtns, the Cottonwood Valley OHV area) DO allow standard 14-day BLM dispersed. Closest paid developed CG is Red Rock Canyon Campground (BLM, off Hwy 159, $20/night). The full picture: Red Rock is mostly day-use with a paid scenic-loop fee; free dispersed exists on the broader BLM corridor around it.
36.13°N, 115.43°W
NPS — Lake Mead (BLM perimeter for free dispersed)
Lake Mead NRA — backroads & perimeter
Lake Mead National Recreation Area spans NV/AZ around the Hoover Dam reservoir, ~30 miles east of Las Vegas. It's NPS-managed (~1.5M acres) with a $25 vehicle entry pass. In-park developed campgrounds (Boulder Beach, Echo Bay, Callville Bay, Las Vegas Bay) are paid and reservation-mixed. Free dispersed camping is NOT allowed inside the NRA's developed core but IS allowed on the BLM perimeter roads immediately outside park boundaries (north + east of the lake — Northshore Road perimeter, Eldorado Valley BLM south). Watch fire restrictions strictly here — the lower-elevation desert around Lake Mead has year-round fire risk and frequent campfire bans during summer. Worth knowing: water levels in Lake Mead have dropped dramatically (multi-decade drought), changing the boat-ramp access dynamics.
36.10°N, 114.30°W
Nevada State Parks (paid)
Valley of Fire SP corridor (paid alternative)
Valley of Fire State Park is Nevada's largest state park (~46,000 acres of red Aztec sandstone, ~1 hour northeast of Las Vegas off I-15). It's the most-photographed NV destination — Fire Wave, Elephant Rock, the Beehives, the petroglyphs — and a top-tier camping destination from a search-audience perspective (~29K combined keyword volume). It's also entirely PAID: vehicle entry $10/day, camping $25-$35/night at the two reservable CGs (Atlatl Rock + Arch Rock). No free dispersed inside park boundaries. For free dispersed in the same general area, head north onto the BLM Logandale / Overton corridor (north + east of Valley of Fire — standard BLM 14-day rules) or further north to the Gold Butte National Monument (BLM-managed, remote, free dispersed). Valley of Fire is on this page as an honest paid alternative — frequently searched alongside free camping queries, so worth documenting.
36.45°N, 114.55°W
USFS — Humboldt-Toiyabe (Mountain City, Jarbidge, Ruby Mtns RDs)
NE Nevada — Humboldt-Toiyabe outpost (Ruby Mtns, Angel Lake, Ely)
The northeastern Humboldt-Toiyabe NF outpost is Nevada's least-known but most pure-free-dispersed corridor. Ruby Mountains south of Elko (Lamoille Canyon + Ruby Crest Trail area — USFS dispersed pull-offs on Lamoille Canyon Road plus the developed paid Thomas Canyon CG). Angel Lake / East Humboldt Range east of Wells (USFS Angel Lake Campground + Angel Creek CG, plus dispersed FRs on the East Humboldt Range). Around Ely (Ward Charcoal Ovens SP for paid + Egan Range + Pine Forest Range BLM for free dispersed). The audience is small (~1,200 vol total) but the dispersed quality is high — these are some of the least-trafficked corridors in the entire program. Best season: May through October (high elevation, snow-closed winters). High-clearance helpful for some Ruby Mtns spurs.
40.65°N, 115.40°W
Camping Nevada in a truck camper
Will a slide-in camper handle the road network here?
Most Nevada free-dispersed roads in Humboldt-Toiyabe NF are graded gravel that any half-ton or midsize pickup can handle stock — Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon, and Lovell Canyon in the Mt Charleston area; the Lamoille Canyon road in the Ruby Mountains; and most of the Snake Range FRs around Great Basin NP. The deeper spurs into the Jarbidge Wilderness boundary corridors (NE NV, near the Idaho line), the high-altitude Charleston Peak trailheads, and the more remote BLM corridors (Black Rock Desert basin floor in particular — soft surface, washouts in spring) reward higher clearance + a lighter camper. Most NV BLM dispersed is desert two-track with hot summer temperatures — plan around the season + carry extra water (no surface water in much of the state).
A Kimbo 6 at 830 lb base dry weight is one of the lightest hard-side options for the small-pickup payload range; the Kimbo 8 (1,125 lb base dry) is the full-size option with a queen cabover and dedicated wet bath — both built for the kind of road network Nevada has.
If you already have the truck and you're trying to figure out whether a Kimbo fits it, the per-truck fit guide is the right next step.
Land managers
Who manages the land in Nevada.
The forests, parks, and recreation lands you can camp on across Nevada.
BLM — Nevada State Office
Manages ~48 million acres in Nevada — the largest BLM portfolio of any state in the country. Most of NV outside the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF + NP/NRA boundaries is BLM.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Southern Nevada District Office
Vegas-area BLM including Red Rock Canyon NCA, Sloan Canyon NCA, Gold Butte NM, and the broader southern NV desert lands.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Battle Mountain District Office
Central + north-central NV BLM including Toiyabe Range corridors and Lander/Eureka county dispersed areas.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Winnemucca District Office
NW NV BLM including the Black Rock Desert NCA + High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA + Wee Thump JT Wilderness.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Elko District Office
NE NV BLM around Elko + Wells + the Tuscarora Mountain corridor; complements Humboldt-Toiyabe NF in the same region.
blm.gov ↗
USFS — Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Nevada's sole national forest — 6.3 million acres (the largest NF in the lower 48). Spans most of NV's mountain ranges including the Spring Mountains NRA (Mt Charleston outside Vegas), the Ruby Mountains, Jarbidge, and the East Humboldt Range.
fs.usda.gov ↗
NPS — Great Basin National Park
Nevada's only national park (~77,000 acres on the NV-UT border). 4 developed campgrounds (Wheeler Peak, Upper/Lower Lehman Creek, Grey Cliffs); reservable on recreation.gov. $30 vehicle entry pass.
nps.gov ↗
NPS — Lake Mead National Recreation Area
~1.5 million acres around Lake Mead + Lake Mohave (NV/AZ). Multiple paid developed CGs (Boulder Beach, Echo Bay, Callville Bay, Las Vegas Bay). $25 vehicle entry pass.
nps.gov ↗
Nevada State Parks
Manages 27 state parks across Nevada including Valley of Fire SP (largest + most-photographed), Sand Harbor SP (Lake Tahoe NV-side), Cathedral Gorge SP, and Spooner Lake SP. All paid camping.
parks.nv.gov ↗
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
USFS-managed special-status area within Humboldt-Toiyabe NF covering the Mt Charleston / Spring Mountains corridor. Multiple developed CGs (paid) + extensive free dispersed on Forest Roads.
fs.usda.gov ↗
BLM — Red Rock Canyon NCA
BLM-managed conservation area 20 miles west of Las Vegas. $20 vehicle entry for the 13-mile Scenic Loop + timed-entry reservation in peak season. Adjacent BLM perimeter allows free dispersed.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Black Rock Desert/High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA
1.2M-acre BLM NCA in NW Nevada — site of Burning Man + the most remote dispersed-camping landscape in the state. Free dispersed; no facilities.
blm.gov ↗
Leave no trace
Pack out everything. Stay 200 ft from water. Use existing fire rings only.
Free dispersed camping survives because the people doing it leave campsites better than they found them. The 14-day rule, the fire restrictions, and the road closures all exist because previous visitors did not. Pack out trash. Bury human waste 6 inches deep, 200 feet from any water source. Use existing fire rings only and drown campfires until the ash is cold. Park on durable surfaces. Drive existing roads.
Last updated: June 28, 2026. First published June 28, 2026. Editorial maintained by the Kimbo Campers team in Bellingham, Washington — we've been camping Nevada public land for 9+ years and update this page when agency rules or seasonal access changes.