Lake Mead National Recreation Area
RV Guide

Introduction

Spread over more than 2,000 sq. miles, Lake Mead National Recreation Area is the perfect place for all kinds of recreational pursuits. As the first and largest NRA in America, this park features fascinating landscapes such as canyons, valleys, mountains, and two vast lakes, all of which attract a staggering number of RV campers and visitors annually.

Within Lake Mead NRA, there are 900 plant species, 500 wildlife species, and 24 rare and threatened species. In addition, there are 9 wilderness areas, 23 historic structures, over 1300 recorded archaeological sites, as well as two Traditional Cultural Properties. You see now why Lake Mead NRA has to be your next RV holiday destination?

Opportunities to have fun abound in this park. You can decide to swim in any of the park’s two lakes, hike on 15 easy-to-very strenuous trails, angle for a wide variety of fish, or just relax in your campsite. Abundant bird species in the park mean bird watchers are in for a treat. Boaters and canoeists are also not neglected, and neither are scuba divers! Biking, hunting, and nature viewing/photography are other ways you can stay active in the park.

With the many camping options available in the park, you are guaranteed a fulfilling time at Lake Mead NRA.

Park Alerts (3)

[Information] Lake Mead NRA has transitioned to a cashless fee collection system

Lake Mead NRA has transitioned to a cashless fee collection system, accepting only electronic card payments for entrance, lake use, and campground fees. Entrance stations will continue to sell passes only with credit card.

[Information] Helicopters conducting geotechnical assessments in the Las Vegas Wash area

The Southern Nevada Water Authority will conduct geotechnical assessments in the lower wash of Las Vegas Wash beginning 1/8/2024. Due to the inaccessible locations, drill equipment will be airlifted by helicopter and may cause noise disruption.

[Park Closure] Launch Ramp Conditions

Get the most current launch ramp and water elevation conditions

RV Rentals in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Transportation

Driving

Lake Mead NRA, located east of Las Vegas, consists of sites and attractions that are easily accessible by RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles on well-maintained paved roads. As a result, you’ll have no difficulty locating and accessing the park. Only the backcountry roads in the park are dirt and gravel, best accessed via 4-wheel drives. Within the park, driving off road, cross country, or in washes is prohibited.

Parking

There are so many parking options within Lake Mead NRA as the park features numerous designated parking lots distributed around the campgrounds and sites of interest. The RV campsites within this park also have room for vacationers to park their rig when camping. Moreover, overnight parking services are available.

Public Transportation

There are no public transportation services to Lake Mead NRA, however, there are tour operators that provide transportation to the park from resorts and attractions in Las Vegas.

Campgrounds and parking in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Campsites in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Reservations camping

Willow Beach Campground

Willow Beach Campground in Lake Mohave Area features 29 pet-friendly campsites that can accommodate RVs/trailers and 9 campsites for tents only. 28 campsites in the campground are equipped with full hookup options (electric, water, and sewer hookups) for RVs, as well as a picnic table and fire grill.

Facilities in the campground include showers, laundry, restaurant, gift and convenience store, and Wi-Fi. A fishing pier, boat launch ramp, and Marina are also available.

RV length limit at the campground is 40 feet and all the campsites are available by reservation.

First-come first-served

Katherine Landing Campground

Katherine Landing Campground in the Lake Mohave Area consists of 173 pet-friendly campsites that can accommodate RVs/trailers and tents up to 35 feet. All the campsites are available on first-come, first-served basis and maximum stay in the campground is 30 days.

There are no RV hookups within the campground, however restrooms, showers, dump station, and Wi-Fi are on hand. Campsites have fire grills and picnic tables. Laundry facilities are available nearby. Some areas in the campground are wheelchair accessible. Maximum stay in the campground is 30 days.

Cottonwood Cove Campground

Cottonwood Cove Campground in the Lake Mohave Area consists of 145 pet-friendly campsites within three loops. All the campsites can accommodate RVs/trailers and tents and are available on first-come, first-served basis. RV/trailer length limit in the campground is 35 feet.

There are no RV hookups within the campground, however drinking water and restrooms are available. Each campsite has a fire grill and picnic table. Maximum stay in the campground is 30 days.

Temple Bar Campground

Temple Bar Campground in the Lake Mead Area features 71 pet-friendly campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers up to 35 feet. There are no RV hookups within the campground, but restrooms, and a dump station are available. Each site features a picnic table and fire grill.

All the sites in the campground are available on first-come, first-served basis only, and you can stay up to 30 days at a time. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am.

Las Vegas Bay Campground

Las Vegas Bay Campground in the Lake Mead Area features 84 pet-friendly campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers up to 35 feet. There are no RV hookups within the campground, however, restrooms, toilets, Wi-Fi, and dump station are available. Each site features a picnic table and fire grill. A wheelchair accessible area is also located within the campground.

All the sites in the campground are available on first-come, first-served basis only, and you can stay up to 30 days at a time. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am.

Echo Bay Campground

Echo Bay Campground in the Lake Mead Area features 37 pet-friendly campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers up to 35 feet. There are no RV hookups within the campground, but restrooms, drinking water, and dump station are available. Each site features a picnic table and fire grill. A boat ramp is also located within the campground.

All the sites in the campground are available on first-come, first-served basis only, and you can stay up to 30 days at a time. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am.

Callville Bay Campground

At Callville Bay Campground in the Lake Mead Area, there are 52 pet-friendly campsites that can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers up to 45 feet. There are no RV hookups within the campground, however, a number of amenities such as restrooms, dump stations, Wi-Fi, and running water. The campsites in the campground are equipped with a fire grill and picnic table.

All the campsites in the campground are available on first-come, first-served basis only, and maximum stay at one campsite is 30 days. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am.

Boulder Beach Campground

Boulder Beach Campground in the Lake Mead Area features 148 pet-friendly campsites within four loops. All the campsites can accommodate tents and RVs/trailers up to 45 feet. There are no RV hookups within the campground, but water spigots, restrooms, Wi-Fi and firewood are available. Each site has a picnic table and fire grill. A camp store is also located within the campground.

All the sites in the campground are available on first-come, first-served basis only, and you can stay up to 30 days at a time. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am.

In Lake Mead RV Village at Boulder Beach, park concessionaires offer 115 RV sites with full hookup options (electric, water, and sewer hookups), all of which are reservable.

Seasonal activities in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Fall

Scuba Diving

Lake Mead NRA is often touted as one of the best places to enjoy scuba diving in the world, thanks to Lake Mead and Lake Mohave which are top freshwater lakes. Offering a broad range of depths and submerged sites that are ideal for both the novice and technical diver, the lakes in the park are popular among scuba diving enthusiasts. The lakes’ waters are prone to fluctuations, so the conditions of the dive locations in the park change regularly.

Hiking

Lake Mead NRA features 15 trails that add up to about 68 miles and vary in difficulty from easy trails that well-marked and contain only few obstacles to very strenuous trails that features steep elevations over difficult terrain and long distances. RV campers are presented the opportunity to explore the diverse ecosystems within the park on foot and view the open rock formations and colorful vistas that make the park a premier camping destination. So, hikers of all skill levels find the park thoroughly engaging and enjoyable. Set your mind on hiking on the eastern Mojave Desert!

Summer

Swimming

Although there are no designated swim beaches or lifeguards on duty at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, swimming is still a well-loved and enjoyable activity at Lake Mead NRA. You’ll find swimming areas in the park where you can take a dip in Lake Mohave at Cottonwood Cove, Princess Cove, Cabinsite cove, North Arizona Telephone Cove, and South Arizona Telephone Cove. At Lake Mead, Boulder Beach features a swimming area.

It is strongly recommended that swimmers have lifejackets on when swimming in the park’s waters. There are lifejacket loaner stations at Boulder Beach and Cottonwood Cove.

Spring

Boating

One of the most popular activities at Lake Mead NRA is boating, an activity encouraged by the waters of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. The vast waterway in the park is open to navigation by RV campers who can explore and enjoy the water, as well as pick any desired cove to relax in.

Safe boating practices are recommended on the lakes in the park for all who wish to engage in such recreational pursuit. RV campers can come with their own boats to the park or rent a boat from any of the marinas in the park.

Fishing

A wonderful pastime at Lake Mead NRA that has more than 290 sq. miles of water surface is fishing! Anglers easily find a favorite fishing spot in the park and make big catches. Rainbow trout, sunfish, catfish, striped bass and crappie are some of the regularly caught fish in Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are also commonly caught in the park.

You can fish from watercraft, fishing piers or the lake shore in the park. As Lake Mead NRA lies within two states (Arizona and Nevada), anglers are required to bear in mind and be guided by the specific fishing regulations applicable in each state.

Winter

Bird Viewing

Despite being sited in a desert region, there are more than 240 bird species that have been recorded at Lake Mead NRA. These bird species are found within the different habitats in the park. The Hoover and Davis Dams, for example, serve as home to many kinds of shore and water birds in the park. Insect-eating birds are also found where vegetation flourish around the lake shore.

Another contributing factor to these diverse and abundant bird species is the fact that the park lies on the north-south migration route of many birds.