Epic Great Basin National Park Camping Guide, including front country campgrounds, how to make a reservation, what to expect, and more.
Great Basin National Park Camping Guide
Camping in Great Basin National Park is a great way to enjoy the epic dark skies in the park. Great Basin NP is a designated International Dark Sky Park! The campgrounds are nicely spread throughout the park, making it easy to pick a campground based on the hiking trails you plan to enjoy or the area you want to explore.
Wheeler Peak Campground is at the highest elevation campground in the National Park System and is next to the Bristlecone Pine Trail and Wheeler Peak Trailhead. This campground is excellent for acclimating to the high elevation before heading out on these hikes to reduce the effects of elevation sickness.
The developed campgrounds are located in the park's main section near Lehman Caves and Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Check-in at the Great Basin Visitor Center for any information on events in the park. They have excellent night sky interpretive programs offered throughout the year.
Lehman Cave tours are offered with reservations, which are highly recommended. When we did our cave tour, the entire day was booked. The National Park Service runs the campgrounds. The best time to visit Great Basin National Park is summer when most campgrounds are open. While the park is open year-round, the campgrounds are typically open during the summer.
The campsites are more primitive as you will only find vault toilets in the campgrounds. The only flush toilets are at the park's visitor centers. This also means there are no partial or full hookups, wifi, or cellular service.
Personally, this makes a fun and relaxing camping experience and a chance to get away from it all and relax. Say goodbye to the enormous crowds from the big national parks as you get the opportunity to see wildlife in the campground, such as mule deer and turkey.
Great Basin National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Great Basin National Park does not charge an entrance fee!
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Lower Lehman Creek Campground
Location: Located along Wheeler Peak Drive
Number of sites: 11
ADA Sites: The campground has one ADA campsite (Site #1). The Restroom is ADA-accessible.
Reservations?: No, this campground is open as first-come, first-served.
Campground amenities: Potable Water is available spring through fall, weather permitting.
GPS Coordinates:
39° 0' 59.2452" N
114° 14' 23.0172" W
RVs allowed?: Yes, There are a limited number of pull-through sites for RVs and trailers.
Generator Hours: 8 am and 8 pm
Click here for more information on Lower Lehman Creek Campground
Upper Lehman Creek Campground
Location: Off of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
Number of sites: 23
ADA Sites: The campground has two ADA campsites (Site #2 and #18) Restrooms are ADA accessible. Reservations? Click here to make a reservation at Upper Lehman Creek Campground. You can reserve up to 30 days in advance.
Campground amenities: Each site offers a picnic table and fire ring, along with potable water and pit toilets nearby
GPS Coordinates: 39° 0' 47.5128" N 114° 14' 55.8600" W
RVs allowed?: RVs and trailers are permitted on Lower Loop. The RV and trailer maximum length on the Upper Loop is 24 feet.
Generator Hours: 8 am and 8 pm
Click here for more information on Lower Lehman Creek Campground
Wheeler Peak Campground
Wheeler Peak Campground is at the top of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive at 9,886 feet in elevation. It is a great campground if you plan to explore the Ancient Bristlecone Pines trail and Wheeler Peak Trail. You can get acclimated to the elevation before heading out to see the Bristlecone Pine Grove.
Location: Top of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
Number of sites: 37
ADA Sites: This campground has some ADA campsites
Reservations?: Click here to make a reservation at Wheeler Peak Campground. Reservations are available from late June through Labor Day Weekend.
Campground amenities: Each site has campfire rings and grills, and there is no potable water, or pit toilets
GPS Coordinates:
39° 0' 39.2760" N
114° 18' 15.8400" W
RVs allowed?: Yes, Maximum length of 24 feet. Neither towing nor towed vehicles exceeding 24 feet in length are accommodated along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive or at Wheeler Peak Campground.
Generator Hours: Generators may only be used between 8 am and 8 pm.
Click here for more information on Wheeler Peak Campground.
Baker Creek Campground
Location: 2.9 miles down a dirt road from the main road in the park. Baker Creek Campground is open Memorial Day-Labor Day (weather dependent)
Number of sites: 37
ADA Sites: ADA accessible campsite is Site #4, #21, and #28. Restrooms are ADA accessible. Reservations?: No, all sites are first come first served.
Campground amenities: Water is available spring through fall, weather permitting.
GPS Coordinates:
38° 59' 8.6280"
N 114° 14' 35.9160" W
RVs allowed?: RVs and Trailers allowed on Lower Loop. RVs and Trailers over 24 feet are not allowed on Upper Loop.
Generator Hours: 8 am and 8 pm
Click here for more information on Baker Creek Campground.
Grey Cliffs Campground
Location: Near the Lehman Caves visitor center off of a dirt road
Number of sites: 16
ADA Sites: There are 2 ADA Accessible campsites. On Loop C, site C3 is accessible. As well as A8 on Loop A. Both sites are located next to accessible restrooms.
Reservations?: Click here to make a reservation at Grey Cliffs Campground. You can reserve up to 30 days in advance.
Campground amenities: Each campsite has quite a bit of space along with picnic tables, outhouses, and barbecue brassieres.
GPS Coordinates:
38° 59' 22.8998"
N 114° 13' 16.7999" W
RVs allowed?: RVs are not permitted due to space constraints.
Generator Hours: n/a
Click here for more information on Grey Cliffs Campground.
Snake Creek Campground
Snake Creek Campground is open May-October (Weather dependant)
Location: Along the Snake Creek River, located on the south-eastern side of the park
Number of sites: 12, Sites to choose from include, Monkey Rock, Squirrel Springs, Pinnacles, Eagle Peak. The Shoshone and Johnson Lake trail sites are a short 0.5 mile hike from the parking lot at the end of the Snake Creek Road.
ADA Sites: Monkey Rock, Squirrel Springs, and Trailhead restrooms are ADA accessible.
Cost per night: There are no camping fees
Reservations: All sites are first come first served.
Campground amenities: Tents must be placed within 30 feet of the site's picnic table and/or fire ring.
GPS Coordinates:
38° 55' 31.3716" N
114° 15' 5.4432" W
RVs allowed?: Due to the nature of the road, RVs, trailers, and other large vehicles over 30 feet are not allowed on Snake Creek Road.
Generator Hours: 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m
For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!
Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando
Don't forget to pack these items!
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
Lodging near Great Basin National Park
The majority of lodging for Great Basin NP can be found in Ely, Nevada about an hour from the park. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ely - We stayed in this hotel during our last visit to the park and it was great. Free continental breakfast, a free manager's reception, and a fireplace in the lobby. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a gym and a 24-hour business center.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ely - Free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour gym are just a few of the amenities provided at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ely, an IHG Hotel. Treat yourself to some rest and relaxation at Steam Room, the onsite spa. In addition to a 24-hour business center and a steam room, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Hotel Nevada - We stayed in this historic casino hotel during one of our trips to the park. It is definitely a historic hotel.
Additional Great Basin National Park Information
Complete Guide to exploring Great Basin National Park - Information about Great Basin National Park, including activities, camping, hiking, and more!
Top Things to Do in Great Basin NP - List of the park's most popular attractions and what not to miss!
Great Basin Star Train Trip Report - Find out what it was like to ride on the Star Train with Great Basin NP Park Rangers. Top things to do in Great Basin NP - All of the top attractions you do not want to miss while exploring the park.
Great Basin Star Train Nevada - Explore the night sky aboard the Great Basin Star Train as Park Rangers from the park bring out telescopes and help visitors see planets, constellations, the Milky Way, and more!
Lehman Caves Guide - Coming Soon
Check out all of the Nevada National Parks, along with neighboring National Parks in Oregon, National Parks in Idaho, Utah National Parks, California National Parks, and Arizona National Parks
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