This location may be closed or operating with restrictions.
Please let us know if this location is open.
Please let us know if this location is open.
Government Wash Dispersed Camping
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Write a Review Government Wash Rd. Boulder City, NV 89005 702-293-8990 Official WebsiteGPS: 36.1309, -114.8369
Overview of Government Wash Dispersed Camping
The National Park Service closed the Government Wash portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area to motor vehicle access and overnight camping Aug. 1, 2024. Full Details
Entrance fee into Lake Mead National Recreation Area applies. Visitors can purchase a 7-day or annual pass.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101.
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by camper-907897 on 2/23/2024
Longest RV Reported: 44 feet (Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel)
Reported by BandLOnWheels on 3/4/2023
Pad Type dirt
Elevation 1,213 ft / 369 m
Max Stay 15
Tent Camping Yes
Discover a smarter way to RV with Roadtrippers
All your Campendium favorites and more are now in Roadtrippers.
Q&A - Ask the Community about Government Wash Dispersed Camping
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 702-293-8990
nicdom13 asked on 3/25/2021
It says it's free, but then it says permit required. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Flyswadder asked on 5/29/2023
Where's the potable water in the rec area. Lots of folks say they have it, none say where.
Reviews of Government Wash Dispersed Camping 75 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 44 Users
Last reported 10/30/2024
Confirmed by 27 Users
Last reported 11/2/2024
Confirmed by 19 Users
Last reported 2/23/2024
“CLOSED EFFECTIVE AUG 1, 2024”
Reviewed 7/29/2024
| RV Length: | 34' (Fifth Wheel) |
|---|
Overall Rating
NPS Press Release The National Park Service is closing the Government Wash portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area to motor vehicle access and overnight camping beginning Aug. 1, 2024. Government Wash Road and 8.0 Mile Road—access roads into the Government Wash from North Shore Road—will be blocked, and motor vehicle access int... more
NPS Press Release
The National Park Service is closing the Government Wash portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area to motor vehicle access and overnight camping beginning Aug. 1, 2024.
Government Wash Road and 8.0 Mile Road—access roads into the Government Wash from North Shore Road—will be blocked, and motor vehicle access into the area will be prohibited. Hiking, biking, and shoreline access by boat for recreation within 100 feet of the shoreline will remain available.
https://www.nps.gov/lake/government-wash-area-information.htm?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3fYJyDx3wbA7K4pX_bOcxDpmAiOqjNL7v1Kj8m9SvUirNSK5dzddaDrhQ_aem_L2b95mqAgOEDX8qABvXq1Q
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“RV Campers have basically made it a town”
Reviewed 2/23/2024
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| Site Number: | None |
Overall Rating
It’s ok if you aren’t looking for piece and, quite or, privacy. If you’re camping in a tent or car forget about it. People in buses RVs have made this place there permanently housed home. Oh if you have a car don’t try and park overnight on the pavement the nicely Ranger will wake you up bright early telling you to go past the red cone... more
It’s ok if you aren’t looking for piece and, quite or, privacy. If you’re camping in a tent or car forget about it. People in buses RVs have made this place there permanently housed home. Oh if you have a car don’t try and park overnight on the pavement the nicely Ranger will wake you up bright early telling you to go past the red cones but guess what there isn’t any spots because you got ignorant homeless Van campers and, RVers living out here. One don’t bring your kids it’s not safe two spend the extra $20.00 go to Las Vegas camp ground you’d be better off. Two the people that are out here live here so remember that. Two it’s sad that others have ruined the experience for others or, have no curiosity anymore. The ramp is closed the bathrooms where gross and, you got dirty old men trying to talk to the teenagers out here so no I would not recommend this camp ground. The Rangers need to give the same curiosity to all campers not just RVers this isn’t a RV only camp ground!
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T 5G
Verizon 5G
T-Mobile 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great place close to Vegas”
Reviewed 1/10/2024
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 10 |
Overall Rating
Road in is paved until parking lot, not maintained. Then Gravel. Have seen a lot worse. You can stay at the beginning with spots next to the road. Further in are nicer spots , scout ahead and find one of the level ones. Some go in until the lake, adjust to your vehicle and your comfort level. Do not drive in areas with deep tire tracks... more
Road in is paved until parking lot, not maintained. Then Gravel. Have seen a lot worse. You can stay at the beginning with spots next to the road. Further in are nicer spots , scout ahead and find one of the level ones. Some go in until the lake, adjust to your vehicle and your comfort level. Do not drive in areas with deep tire tracks, had to help getting a camper out, but they are easily identifiable. Cars passing usually go fishing,
Dumpster is nice. Free with park pass.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
T-Mobile 4G
Spookteam would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Since Stay At Lake Mead”
Reviewed 10/28/2023
Overall Rating
Basically quiet. You can find better spots far off to get away from people. Better to have a 4x4. You can easily get stuck if you don’t in some areas. Stayed 3 nights. Had great sun for solar. Left due to high wind warning for Lake mead.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Lots Of Space, Lots Of People”
Reviewed 4/17/2023
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 0 |
Overall Rating
I drove 2 miles in from the paved road. There are lots of people closer to the road and it starts to thin out as you get further in. Roads were fine. I just went slow. Quite a few cars driving out after dark until about 9:00, then was quiet and dark.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Loved It ”
Reviewed 4/16/2023
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 15 |
Overall Rating
Absolutely beautiful! Saw the mixed reviews but had no problems at all, saw nothing sketchy. Loved exploring Hoover dam, lake mead, and Vegas. Dumpsters at the front. Wide open spots. The wind never stopped.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T 5G
Verizon 5G
amberx13 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Wide Open, And Lots Of Camping Areas”
Reviewed 4/9/2023
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 10 |
Overall Rating
We arrived before the Easter weekend. It did seem busy, but we took it for a holiday weekend. We made it out quite a ways, without 4WD. But when you go down further, you will need 4X4. Salt or gypsum ground very deep in areas and not level what do ever. You will encounter washboard roads down below. You are a good Mike from the water. ... more
We arrived before the Easter weekend. It did seem busy, but we took it for a holiday weekend. We made it out quite a ways, without 4WD. But when you go down further, you will need 4X4. Salt or gypsum ground very deep in areas and not level what do ever. You will encounter washboard roads down below. You are a good Mike from the water. There are places around the lake, and even Las Vegas lake, is near by. Their runoff makes a great little stream to cool off in.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
T-Mobile 5G
Fishchaser would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good Roads & View”
Reviewed 3/25/2023
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|
Overall Rating
Nice roads and view. It was a bit crowded. The area we stayed appeared to have other campers who stay on a semi-permanent basis. Great location & views, but if we come again, we’ll go to one of the dispersed area a couple miles farther east. Had a coyote walk by in the morning.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Relatively easy access, free with national park pass.”
Reviewed 3/21/2023
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 6 |
Overall Rating
32 foot class A with dolly tow. Relatively easy access but watch out for large potholes in the main parking area. Most of the unpaved roads were hard packed and we were able to traverse them without difficulty. 45 minutes from Los Vegas and the hoover dam, 20 minutes from Henderson. No water in large parking lot, however ther... more
32 foot class A with dolly tow.
Relatively easy access but watch out for large potholes in the main parking area. Most of the unpaved roads were hard packed and we were able to traverse them without difficulty.
45 minutes from Los Vegas and the hoover dam, 20 minutes from Henderson.
No water in large parking lot, however there are options for water or dump nearby.
Great hiking trails that are dog friendly.
Boondocking areas had lots of broken glass and I found several rust nails, so watch out.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
T-Mobile 5G
Jackson-Grey would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful landscape, remote outside of Vegas ”
Reviewed 3/20/2023
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 14 |
Overall Rating
Very secluded spots with pull off options along the road as you drive. There are a few different paths, but at a certain point our Class A couldn't make it any further. However, we were still very close to the lake. I saw several others go further with more off-road ability. The road was pretty bumpy, but take it slow and you'll be ok.... more
Very secluded spots with pull off options along the road as you drive. There are a few different paths, but at a certain point our Class A couldn't make it any further. However, we were still very close to the lake. I saw several others go further with more off-road ability. The road was pretty bumpy, but take it slow and you'll be ok. No major potholes or hairpin turns. There are dumpsters on the way in/out and vault toilet bathrooms at the end of the dirt road when it turns to pavement. You can access Lake Mead from most sites with a short walk. Hoover Dam is nearby as well as Arizona hot springs so be sure to check those out while you're in the area.
$25 pass required per vehicle so not totally free, if you aren't towing your vehicle they will make you pay for two.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Page 1 of 8
13 reviews
noted 11/2/2019
Boosted:
40 / 15 ATT
50 / 10 Verizon
20 / 15 TMobile
14 reviews
3 reviews
Dry Camping With Friends at Lake Mead Recreation Area
We got our generator fixed, so we can dry camp again! After taking Meriwether into the shop in Lake Havasu City on Friday morning, we were out of there right after lunch (more on that repair–and what...
8 reviews
Paddling Hoover Dam and Enjoying Lake Mead – Government Wash Review
After leaving Lake Havasu I headed to Willow Beach for a weekend to meet up with the BHC Adventures group I found on meetup.com for an overnight kayak from Hoover Dam down Black Canyon. Willow Beach...
283 reviews
Government Wash Improved – Aluminarium
This is our 5th time we’ve stayed at Government Wash at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The first two times we trekked across the bumpy terrain to camp close to the wat...
163 reviews
Just Finding Our Way: A Slice of Quartzsite
There are a couple things I like to do in a situation like Government Wash. Further from the entrance is usually better and away from the road to the destination - in this case, the main road to the bo...
283 reviews
Lake Mead Boondocking - Aluminarium
Yesterday we moved from Red Rock on the west side of Las Vegas to Lake Mead on the east side. In addition to it having a phenomenal view, it’s free and we also have cell service (Red Rock didn...
Contact us to update this listing.
Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Recreation
- fishing
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- pull thru
Facilities
- restrooms: flush
- trash
Pets
- pets
Nearby RV Rentals
In partnership with
Nearby RV Rentals
In partnership with
4 Reviews
2022 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Forest River RV Sunseeker LE 2850SLE Ford
$190 /night | Sleeps 7 Guests
2 Reviews
2020 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Thor Motor Coach Freedom Elite 22FE
$180 /night | Sleeps 5 Guests
13 Reviews
2023 TRAVEL TRAILER
Dutchmen RV Coleman Lantern LT Series 17B
$74 /night | Sleeps 5 Guests
New Listing
2023 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Forest River RV Solera 32DSB
$245 /night | Sleeps 8 Guests
41 Reviews
2019 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Thor Motor Coach Freedom Elite 22HE
$119 /night | Sleeps 5 Guests
17 Reviews
2022 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Thor Motor Coach Chateau 22E
$139 /night | Sleeps 6 Guests
Please select a reason for flagging this item: