3 of the Best Campervan Campgrounds in the Las Vegas Area
Las Vegas is of course most renowned for its glittering neon lights, its dazzling casinos, and its wild nightlife. But did you know that the area around Las Vegas is full of natural wonders just waiting to be discovered? In your rented campervan or motorhome, you can explore some of the most beautiful and unique desert terrain anywhere in the USA. You also can park for a night and enjoy camping under the stars, surrounded by the tranquilly of vast, desolate landscapes.
1. Furnace Creek
The most well-known park close to Las Vegas is probably Death Valley, and the most famous campground in Death Valley is Furnace Creek. While many of Death Valley’s campgrounds are seasonal, Furnace Creek is open year-round. During peak season from October 15th-April 15th, reservations are available.
It’s not a cheap stay; as of the time of this writing, it costs $36 to park with a hookup ($25 if you have a lifetime pass). But the campground does have toilets, fire pits, tables, water, and a dump station. Perhaps the most important of these amenities is water—few places on earth are as hot or dry as this one gets.
At Furnace Creek, you are also parked conveniently right next to the visitor’s center and the golf course. There is a gas station here as well (one of the few you will find out here, so make use of it). You also are close to “The Oasis,” Xanterra’s resort in the park (it used to be called “Furnace Creek Resort”). Be sure to take a dip in the resort’s hot springs (which are always 82 degrees Fahrenheit), and think about taking a horseback ride to explore the foothills of the Funeral Mountains.
2. Valley of Fire Campgrounds
Valley of Fire State Park is not the most famous park in the Las Vegas area, but it is a very cool one with some epic hikes and some very unusual rock formations. While you are visiting the Valley of Fire, you can stay in either of two campgrounds.
Water and power hookups for campervans are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. At the campgrounds, you will also find restrooms, water, grills, and shaded tables. Be sure to drop by the nearby visitor center to learn more about the park’s history and ecology and to pick up souvenirs from your visit. Both campgrounds are open year-round.
3. Hole-in-the-Wall Campground
Another park where you can stay the night in your campervan or motorhome is the Mojave National Preserve. The Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is aptly named—it only has room for 2 vehicles and a maximum of 8 people. Enclosed by volcanic rock walls, it offers unparalleled seclusion, along with the convenience of pit toilets, portable water, picnic tables, trash receptacles and a dump station (there are no hookups or firewood). The site only costs $12 a night, making it a great deal.
Conclusion: The Campgrounds Around Las Vegas Are a Tranquil Reprieve From the Bustle of the City
While the neon lights of Vegas may have their allure, they really are nothing to the sparkling stars you can see in the desert, far from light pollution or the noise and chaos of the city. Let the world be your planetarium. You’ll never forget a night at any of these spectacular campsites.
