Las Vegas, Nevada, might be famous for its over-the-top casinos, hotels, restaurants and adult shows, but the surrounding region offers a surprising amount of activities and attractions to keep outdoor and sports enthusiasts busy for at least a couple of days. Travelers who would rather lodge far away from the Vegas Strip will find that camping offers more affordable lodging closer to nature.
State Campgrounds
Many Las Vegas area state and regional parks offer tent and RV camping. As of 2010, state camping costs an average of $10 a night and $5 a night for seniors. State campgrounds all have restroom and shower facilities.
Valley of Fire State Park, located just 6 miles from Lake Mead and 45 minutes from downtown Las Vegas, has two campgrounds with a total of 73 campsites for tent and RV camping. RV sites with electric and water hookups are available.
At Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, there are 15-mile-long bike trails, 19 hiking trails, rock-climbing opportunities and RV and tent sites.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is situated in the Mohave Desert and has two campgrounds, one at Lake Mead and the other at Lake Mohave. There are RV sites with full hookups as well as primitive backcountry camping.
Private Campground
As a general rule of thumb, private campgrounds offer more services and amenities than their private counterparts, but they tend to charge higher nightly rates. As of 2010, private campground rates for a non-hookup site start at about $30 a night. Private campgrounds tend to cater to RV campers but some also have tent sites available.
The Las Vegas/Circus Circus KOA has RV and tent sites as well as cabin rentals, a pool, complimentary Wi-Fi, a snack bar, a hot tub and tours, for an additional fee.
The Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort is an RV-only resort offering many amenities and services, such as a spa and massage therapy, a pool, an 18-hole golf course, a convenience shop, a fitness center and a restaurant, and it is located just south of the Las Vegas Strip.
Another RV-only option, the Las Vegas RV Resort, offers guests complimentary Wi-Fi, full hookups, laundry facilities, a fitness center, a pool and clubhouse/meeting room.
Indoor Activities
If the Las Vegas sun gets too hot, active campers can head indoors. Thanks to Las Vegas' hundreds of hotels and resorts, there are dozens of high-quality spas offering massages, aroma therapy, facials and even acupuncture and yoga or Pilate's classes, perfect for those campers who want to take a day or two to focus on their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
The majority of four- and five-star hotels in Las Vegas have spas open to the public. If you want to burn some calories while having fun, head to a Las Vegas nightclub at a casino or hotel and dance the night away.
Other indoor activities include bowling, skating and tennis. In addition, area fitness clubs often offer daily and weekly passes for campers who would rather get their workout at the gym.
Outdoor Activities
Campers who would rather stay active outdoors have plenty of activities and attractions to choose from. For biking and hiking, head to Floyd Lamb State Park, Spring Ranch State Park, the River Mountains or Charleston Recreation area, home to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Because of its desert climate and unique rock formations, the Las Vegas area is ideal for rock climbing. Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, Black Canyon and the River Mountains are all excellent rock-climbing and mountain-climbing destinations.
Water-sports enthusiasts should head to Lake Mead and Lake Mohave for a day of sunbathing, swimming, boating and Jet skiing, and adventure sports lovers can skydive, paraglide or hot air balloon.
If you choose to camp during the winter months, go skiing or snowboarding at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort.
Camping Considerations
Nevada state parks operate on a first-come, first-serves basis, so you'll have to arrive early during peak season--holiday weekends, spring, fall, and early summer--in order to guarantee a campsite.
Private campgrounds tend to fill up quickly, so it's wise to book your site a few months ahead of time. As a general rule, families with young children will be happier at private campgrounds because they tend to have more amenities and services catering to children, such as playgrounds, game rooms, and sports courts and fields. Most Las Vegas campgrounds are open year-round.
If you plan to hike, bike, rock climb, mountain climb or spend a lot of times outdoors during your Las Vegas vacation, especially in the summer months, be sure to pack the sunscreen and a water bottle in order to avoid sun poisoning and dehydration.
Remember that the Las Vegas desert can reach more than 100 degrees in the summer, so outdoor activities should be limited to the morning or evening.
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