Dispersed Camping Near Las Vegas | Lovell Canyon Road

Las Vegas is an attractive destination for many reasons. For starters, there’s the obvious abundance of fun to be had in the city plus events left and right. But there’s also decent winter weather, several great skateparks, it’s surrounded in surprising natural beauty plus there’s a major airport. Whatever the draw, we’re here to share another great option for dispersed camping near Las Vegas – Lovell Canyon Road. Lovell Canyon Road is located about an hour southwest from Las Vegas. The drive out here will present plenty of outdoor recreation but does not guarantee solitude. Read on to find out more about what to expect from dispersed camping on Lovell Canyon Road.

Quick Info: Dispersed Camping Near Las Vegas

Cost: Free

Ownership: Forest Service; 14 day limit

Directions: Click here to get directions to Lovell Canyon Road. From Las Vegas, follow I-15 S to exit 33. Merge onto NV-160 W for 24 miles then turn right onto Lovell Canyon Road.

Solar: Great

Water: No, stock up beforehand.

Miles from Town:

Cell Service: Yes

Road Conditions: Lovell Canyon Road is a nice paved road with several turn outs for dispersed camping. But there are many more camp spots located on side roads that are dirt and of varying conditions. Scout ahead.

Our Experience Camping on Lovell Canyon Road

Since we have travelled to, from and through the Las Vegas area several times now, we were excited to check out an area completely new to us. We’ve experienced several great areas for dispersed camping near Las Vegas and some that were just ok. We gathered all of the necessities for the trip while we were in town and headed southwest.

The drive to Lovell Canyon Road passes several recreation areas including some trailheads for Red Rock Conservation Area and Rainbow Mountain Wilderness. It climbs up past Mountain Springs and the turn onto Lovell Canyon Road is on the right hand side. It was a nice little perk that the Lovell Canyon Road was paved and in good condition.

Finding a Spot

Immediately, we started to notice cars and vans in hiding spots tucked into the trees. (Yes, trees!) As we continued we noticed numerous dirt roads branching off the main paved road. Since we had the trailer, we had to pass up the first few that didn’t look trailer friendly.

Note that if you continue on Lovell Canyon Road, there will eventually be a primitive campground with several spots but still no facilities.

Finally, we turned into a large pull out that appeared to have several spots with fire rings all bunched together. Knowing that weekends probably get busy with people looking for such opportunities for dispersed camping near Las Vegas there’s a good chance we’d get neighbors. So we walked up the dirt road and found several more camp spots. Then continued further up and there were even more. This is where we found a camp spot that we liked with a beautiful view of the snowy mountain in the distance.

We underestimated the uphill of the dirt road a bit but we finally made it to our spot. Be aware that the tree tops make the roads a bit more narrow than the appear. We scraped quite a bit but the solar panel survived unharmed. Now we just have to get back down but we’ll worry about that later.

What It’s Like Dispersed Camping Near Las Vegas

Once we got settled into our spot, we had a great view! And surprisingly cool temps. At about five thousand feet elevation, the temperature is much cooler than in Las Vegas. So keep that in mind that this can be a great place to escape the heat, or a surprisingly cold camping adventure in the cooler months. Luckily the forecast called for it to warm up nicely over the next few days.

One of the best parts about camping on Lovell Canyon Road was the natural beauty. The views are incredible in every direction. Makes you forget how close to Las Vegas it is. And we loved being back in the trees after being in the desert for the last couple months. It was especially cool to see the joshua trees growing right next to the junipers.

view of snowy mountains in lovell canyon

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While we were dispersed camping near Las Vegas, we realized that this beautiful area was no secret. By the weekend, there were several campers – tents, trailers, vans, and cars – in each turn out. Luckily, we went just high enough to not have close neighbors. It seems that if you are willing to get a good distance from the main road, you can still find some privacy.

On our walks on the dirt roads and washes, we did unfortunately spot quite a bit of trash. We ended up collecting a couple bags but it’s always sad to see. But overall, this is a nice area to check out for beautiful scenery, hiking opportunities, cooler temps and a nice free place to camp within a reasonable drive from Las Vegas.

Thanks for Reading!

We love discovering new spots to boondock and getting to know new areas. Experiencing new things is what this lifestyle is all about! Check out the articles below to see some fun camp spots that we’ve enjoyed along our travels:

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