NEVADA
FREE CAMPGROUNDS

Rest areas: Overnight parking is permitted unless posted otherwise.

Wal-Mart stores. Unless posted, RVers may spend the night for free in any Wal-Mart parking lot. For a list of Wal-Mart stores that do not permit free overnight stays, click here.

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Austin
The BLM's Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Site is 24 miles east of Austin right along U.S. 50, and offers 14-days of free camping in its pinyon-pine and juniper-studded, 14-site campground with a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. This is a very convienent, quiet stop for anyone heading east or west through Nevada on "the Loneliest Road in America." Pit toilets and drinking water are available. It's at 6,500 feet, so not a good stop in the winter, although the campground is open. -- THE EDITOR

Beatty (east of Death Valley)
"Twenty-nine miles south of town on U.S. 95 at its junction with Nevada Route 373 is a large rest area with a can toilet, picnic tables and trees. The last time we were there it looked like someone may have been building an RV Park. A restaurant and small business strip offering limited services is across Highway 95."
-- M. BOILEAU (12-99)

Carson City
The Carson Nugget Casino, located downtown on U.S. 395 (the main drag) offers free RV parking in a designated lot. It's only a block from the casino and the state capitol complex, and within easy walking distance of downtown shops and tourist attractions. -- THE EDITOR

Dayton
There's free overnight parking in the rear parking area behind the "Dayton Depot," a small, locals-style casino. Right across the street is a state park and the Carson River. The quaint downtown area is a few minutes' walk away. Dayton is about 15 miles east of Carson City on U.S. 50. -- F. GUZAETTA

Ely
The Holiday Inn allows free parking for 2 nights. Additional nights are $9.75 each --PAT AND SYLVIA
June, 2000 opdate from readers Jim & Cherie: "Please include the fact that the Holiday Inn offers FREE FULL HOOKUPS not just a free stay. They also include use of the pool, spa & exercise room. We were treated very warmly and think this is a worthwhile stop/detour."

Fallon
About 25 miles east of town along U.S. 50 -- the "Loneliest road in America" according to Life Magazine (it's not) is Sand Mountain Recreation Area, where there's a free BLM campground right next door to a huge sand dune. But beware, this is a popular place for dune buggy enthusiasts, so bring your ear plugs. By the way, an old Pony Express station is nearby. Check it out -- THE EDITOR
Also: See Hazen below

Overnight stays are permitted on some city streets, like the intersection of Keddie and North Maine (no typo) You'll find large open lots with easy access in and out with a small country store half a block away. It's only for overnight parking! -- DUTCH

Gold Point
This wonderful ghost town is between Beatty and Goldfield, 16-miles from the junction Highway 95 & 266 behind the "notorious" Cotton Tail Ranch. Sheriff Stone and partner Red Dog are always happy to see RVers. Hookups by donation or dry free camping. Stay as long as you like. The town is restored to original look. Shuttleboard, pool, large library tables to sit and talk or play cards. See an original museum, post office, and store as they were left. Very quiet with great views. For "real" fun get initiated on Herb's daily "wild water runs" to a 2000 gallon "fill em up" BLM water tank: "rough riders" only allowed -- Yeeha! -- PENNY AND PAUL

Hawthorne
The El Capitan Casino offers free overnight camping for RVers just a one-minute walk from the casino, which has 24-hour free coffee. A free dump station is provided. Fifteen miles north of Hawthorne. conveniently located along U.S. 95 and on the shore of Walker Lake, are two free Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campgrounds with magnificent views of the ancient lake. -- THE EDITOR

Hazen (near Fallon)
Tiny Hazen (pop. 25) is 45 miles east of Reno on U.S. 50 Alternate. The owner of John's Antique Shop writes, "You can crash out at my place for a few days and I'll even throw you a power cord if you buy something from my shop. I have room for two big RVs. If you come in at night, pull in front of the shop as close to the building as possible or real close to the east side. Please shut off all engines so we don't irritate the neighbors." -- THE EDITOR

Henderson
See Las Vegas

UPDATE 5-29/00 from a reader named Frank: "Henderson Nevada city fathers, in April 2000, passed a new city ordinance that no longer allows free RV parking at the Jokers Wild Casino or any casino parking lot for overnighters. It's enforced too."

Jackpot
Barton's Club 93 in the center of town offers free RV parking. -- THE EDITOR

Reader Walt Gamble added 9/99: Free hook-ups are available to the lucky 8 or 10 who get there first; free showers are there for anyone who stops. It's walking distance to the Club 93 casino and only a three or four block drive to other casinos in Jackpot. 

Lake Mead (Overton)
Stewart Point is a great spot with lots of room right on the shoreline of Lake Mead. If heading South from Overton, Nevada, go 3.6 miles past the turn off to Overton Beach and turn left on a county road for one and a half miles. If heading north from Henderson, Nevada, go 6.4 miles past the turn off to Echo Bay and turn right. There is no sign on the highway for the turn off to Stewart Point, so the turn is easy to miss. Free dump and water are available at the Overton Beach Marina complex. Turn left at the marina complex entrance. The dump station is on the left just before entering the marina RV park. -- DON BLAKE

Lake Tahoe
EDITOR'S NOTE: We found this item in a news group: "Just wanted to share with all of you that while visiting Stateline at south shore Lake Tahoe, we found signs in casino parking lots that read,"No RV Parking." However, the Horizon Hotel and Casino had an area of their parking lot marked for RV parking. Let me tell you, there were plenty of RVs there too. I told my wife as we were going from casino to casino, let's go do our gambling in the Horizon since they allow RV parking." -- DAVE T.

Editor's response: Tahoe's south shore casinos have been militant about ejecting RVers attempting to stay the night for free in their parking lots. So this is good news.

Las Vegas/Henderson
South of Henderson (a Las Vegas suburb) near the intersection of U.S. 93 and 95, the Railroad Pass Casino permits overnight RV stays in its parking lot, although, notes reader Emmy Hemhock, "finding a spot there is getting hard as the lot gets pretty full by 4 or 4:30p.m. The lot also slopes quite a bit." At the north end of Las Vegas along U.S. 95, the Santa Fe Casino also attracts a large overnight RV crowd. I don't know the official policy of either of these casinos regarding overnight stays, but when I drove by early one '99 March morning, many RVers were overnighting in the parking lots.
-- THE EDITOR

"I saw a lot of rigs parked right between the Excalibur and the Luxor when I was in Las Vegas last November." -- MELANIE (7-00)

MORE CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES IN LAS VEGAS

Lathrop/Amargosa Valley

Big Dune has good places to dry camp for free. This site north of Lathrop Wells about a third of the way to Beatty on U.S. 95, is popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts who also camp in the area.

Laughlin
Starting at the top of Casino Drive, Harrah's has designated an RV parking area across the street from its casino. There are no hookups, but there's plenty of room. Other popular free spots include a similar parking lot across from the Golden Nugget Casino. Many full-timers stay up to a month at a time for free. Another popular spot is along a ridge above Casino Drive with an incredible view of the Colorado River. One of the less attractive free places is the parking lot of the Colorado Belle casino. It's pretty much a parking lot, though. There are no picnic tables and you're close to the noisy street. The Riverside Hotel/Casino is another option: arrive early at the parking lot and you might get a spot along the fence with a river view. -- MARIO (2-00)

The Avi Casino, located approximately 10 miles south of town along the Colorado River at 10000 AHA Macav Parkway, allows parking on their paved lot. Also, overnight parking across the highway on a dirt lot. There is a full service CG located here. Water and dump facilities are also located by the gas station/convenience store with a small fee charged. -- J MATTER (11-99)

The Gold River Casino allows free overnight stays. -- THE EDITOR

The Big Bend State Recreation Areas is five miles south of Laughlin on the Needles Highway. Nine RV sites are along the Colorado River, no hookups. It's not free, but close. Camping is $3 a night, and there's a one-time $3 park entrance fee. Open year round. Info: 702-298-1859. -- THE EDITOR

Mesquite
Free overnight stays are permitted in the parking lot of the Casa Blanca casino on the south end of town, just off Interstate 15. -- DON BLAKE

Overton (Valley of Fire State Park)
Our favorite site is about four miles south of Overton, near the east entrance to Valley of Fire State Park. It is very popular area, referred to by locals as "Poverty Hill," although I have seen some very expensive motorhomes there. The camping area spreads over at least a square mile. I have never seen less than 20 to 25 rigs set up there, sometimes more than 50. -- KELLY (12-99)

Also for Overton: See Lake Mead

Rachel
"If you are into Area 51 and aliens, stop by the A'le' Inn on the "Exterrestrial Highway" (state route 375) in tiny Rachel. They have a 12 space RV park but if you ask in the A'le' Inn (cafe/bar) they will let you park out near the highway for free. We were there in April and by evening, five other RVs were there for the night. Great hamburgers at good prices, too." -- PAT AND SYLVIA

Reno/Sparks
The Nugget Casino in Sparks (alongside I-80 a few miles east of Reno) has set aside a special RV parking area, and has generously permitted overnight stays for years now. A few years back they even delivered a complimentary morning newspaper, but no more. The casino is beautiful, and just a short walk away. Check out the HUGE salt water aquarium. -- THE EDITOR

The Boomtown Hotel and Casino, a five-minute drive west of Reno on I-80, has a full-hookup pay campground, but plenty of RVers hole up each night for free in a big parking lot on the west end of the casino. The Hilton casino will allow you to stay for a couple of days for free in the north lot. Also, Rail City Casino (take the 4th Street exit off I-80 westbound, turn right and it's right there. Stay in that ( west ) lot -- THE EDITOR

NOTE FROM READER, JANUARY 2001: "Since KOA took over the campground at the Reno Hilton security has been asked to enforce the municiple code 18.12.090 which prohibits use of a RV for sleeping and dwelling purposes in parking lots within the city limits. They will place a notice on your windshield informing you of the law. However, like Wal-Mart stores in Reno, if you're staying for a few hours, and are discreet...you'll be left alone." -- Bill & Donna McDonald

MORE CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES IN RENO

Searchlight
"There's a large gravel lot across from the casino on the corner where the road goes to Nipton, Calif. We have stayed there several times at different times of the year for six years now and no one has ever said anything. It's level, but there are almost always trucks with engines running. But it works for a place to sleep." -- E. HEMHOCK

Tonopah
North of town about 13 miles on U.S. 95 is a quiet and clean state rest area where a sign announces that stops of up to 18 hours are permitted. Many RVers routinely stop here because commercial campgrounds in Tonopah are scarce (especially in the off-season). The rest-stop's restrooms are clean, and, if memory serves me right, there was even piped-in music the last time I stopped -- a real surprise in the middle of nowhere. -- THE EDITOR

In the town of Tonopah we found that Banc's Casino welcomed RV parking and that many motorhomes were in the lot and were permitted to stay overnight. There are no facilities except in the casino. R. HENDRICKS (11-01)

Wendover
The Red Garter Casino advertises free overnight parking for RVs in its dirt parking lot. Warning: level spaces are hard to come by. -- THE EDITOR

Yerington
Casino West Casino, right in the middle of the little town, offers RV camping for $5 a night, with water and electric hookups provided. -- THE EDITOR