5 Awesome Campgrounds for Families in Nevada

5 Awesome Campgrounds for Families in Nevada

Camping is a favorite summer activity for many families. Nevada has some amazing scenery that needs to be explored, and some of the most family-friendly camping locations in the region. Explore one of these five great campgrounds for families with children the next time you get the urge to camp with little ones! 

1. Cathedral Gorge State Park, Panaca, NV

The scenery in this long, narrow valley in southeastern Nevada is breathtaking. It is a great place to take pictures and see the natural wonder that is the sandstone. There are 22 camping spaces that offer a picnic table, grill and shaded dinning area. The nightly charge for camping is $7, so it is also really budget friendly! There are a few spaces with power if you travel in an RV instead of with a tent. There are also two special handicapped spaces that offer regular bathrooms and power. There is a longer four-mile path to see all the caves, but for smaller children there is a much shorter one-mile loop. 

2. Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe, NV

The Cove is a great place for first time campers because there are so many different options as far as where you can stay goes. You can camp, bring an RV that needs hook-ups, rent a cabin, or stay at the resort. Even if you start out in a tent and find that isn't working out as you expected, it is usually easy to get into a cabin or room. This is one of the nicer beach areas in the state, too. There are cruises if you want to explore the waters with a little one. They also have horseback riding for families and a wide range of weekend tours that are family friendly.

3. McWilliams Campground, Las Vegas, NV

This family-owned campground is well maintained and a fun family break from the fast paced Las Vegas strip. It is great for tent camping as each camping space is level and clean. They also offer many options for RV spaces and for those needing power.

The owners are extremely friendly and accommodating. They remodeled many of the camping spaces over the last year and everything is state of the art. The location is also a bit milder weather-wise than the true high desert just outside of Las Vegas. This often means it is 10 to 15 degrees cooler there and easier on the kids. They can enjoy things like riding bikes or hiking without the intense heat.

4. Lake View Campground, Ely, NV

Located at Cave Lake, this campground is an oasis in the desert. The lake is gorgeous and the fish are stocked so there is a great chance of catching something. The area hosts some very fun family activities each summer including their famous bathtub races and the “Fire and Ice” show. The 32-acre reservoir is a favorite for family fishing and boating. They also have a variety of easier walking trails that are good for even the smallest family members. There are well-maintained camping spaces for tents, and rentals of both cabins and yurts.

5. Beaver Dam State Park, Panaca, NV

Of the five campgrounds listed, this is by far the most rustic. The park is right at the border of Utah and has a great variety of greenery than many expect in Nevada. Wildlife is everywhere at the primitive camping spot, but there are also enough comforts for most families. The camping spaces can accommodate a trailer and this is how many tend to use this park. There are spaces that are tent friendly as well. The hiking trails for the most part are pretty easy and family friendly. While this area is open year round, they only offer drinking water services April through November. Although it is rustic, this is a popular spot for things like family reunions because of the accommodations for groups. There is a shelter that holds about 60 people and plenty of camping around it for those who like to travel with other families.