Black Rock Desert; June 2016>>
We camped on the west edge of the alkali lake bed – pulling off at the 8 Mile Road – marked with a BLM sign. It is 8 miles north from Gerlach on Hwy 447 Gerlach is @ 108 miles from Reno – via I-80 west, head north on 447 out of Fernley past the south end of Pyramid Lake through Nixon, then Empire, then Gerlach. At varying points on this highway you are on reservation land, so be sure to watch for No Trespassing signs if you need to pull off the road or feel the urge to explore the rock formations. Watch for the Snoopy Rock on the west side of the highway! All supplies are available in Fernley, minimal services and supplies available in the other towns – including fireworks at the reservation stores – in case you would like to light off a Roman candle or two out on the playa (Nixon has gas and the usual convenience store stuff, Empire has a little grocery store, Gerlach has gas but no groceries). There is a pleasant park Water Tower Park with lots of shade – a good place to get cell service and cool off. No dump or fresh water facilities that we could see. Information on the area is available at the BLM office on the north end of Gerlach, just past the turnoff to highway 447. Water and dump stations only available in Fernley, so best to get all you need there. A plus of parking on the playa – no leveling needed 🙂
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Ummmm YES – anything you want – unlimited space and a flat surface lends itself to any activity you choose – just wear sunscreen and carry water! Watching a sunrise on the playa will provide you with one of the best meditation opportunities you may ever experience.
Grand Sierra RV park Reno, Nevada, September, 2016>>. Grand Sierra link
Located off Highway 395 southbound, take Mill Street exit, go left on Mill Street, then left again at Grand Sierra entrance – you turn right after the Bank of America parking lot, go past the reservoir and golfing pad on your right, then a left at the stop sign and wind around to your right to the RV park entrance. Off I-80 west, take the 4th Strret exit, turn right on 4th Street, right on Kietzke, left on Galletti, right on Glendale, then left at light to the entrance to Grand Sierra – then left at first stop sign, right at second stop sign – going past the main hotel building on your right – entrance to park is on your left. The secret to getting best price here is to go in and get a players card before checking in at the RV park – they are a Good Sam park, but give bigger discounts to players. Pretty much all casino RV parks give big discounts to player card holders. Warning: this park is not well maintained – and you cannot leave anything out in your site because there is a large homeless encampment across the river, and they roam around in the park at all hours. Security drives through once in awhile but doesn’t seem to deter anything – also, the homeless are loud during the night – yelling, shooting air guns, etc. The only reason we stay here is because it is centrally located for us when in Reno for errands and visiting- and we usually get free room offers that you can use at the RV park – you also get access to the pool and exercise room, and discounts at the spa, and there is a Starbucks inside the casino. No showers or bathrooms, but there are laundry facilities (open all the time so lots of non RVers seem to use it) but it is fairly clean and machines work well. The office sells some sodas, beer, ice water etc – not very comprehensive though – there is all manner of big box stores, malls and local businesses and restaurants in Reno and a Walmart across Glendale from the Grand Sierra. Sites are somewhat level – it’s luck of the draw – We usually try to get in the 400’s spots – pull through – some trees and closer to the hotel. It’s ok for a couple of days, and easy in and out from freeways, but there are other options in the area too. Verizon cell service good – wifi is spotty at the RV park, but strong in the hotel casino.
Spotted near or along the way: Other RV park options in the area are Boomtown Casino RV park (on I-80 west of Reno a few miles); Sparks Marina RV park; Rivers Edge RV park.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Not outside – exercise here is dicey – traffic, homeless, bad pavement, best to use the exercise room at the hotel – either get there very early or later in the morning – it is small and not a lot of machines so it is busy in the 6:30 – 9:00 am slot – it is open 24 hours (passcard gives you access to it and the pool). Speaking of the pool, you could swim laps!
Fort Churchill State Park, near Silver Springs, Nevada , September, 2016>>. Fort Churchill State Park link
Located off Highway 95 south, approximately 8 miles south of Silver Springs, entrance on right off of highway then go a couple of miles west, then a left at actual entrance to park – Museum and ranger office is on your left – there is a pay station at this point (also a cemetery of historical interest) – a paved road circles the ruins and “parade” area of the old fort – leading to day use and campground – follow the signs. Approximately 20 sites – dry camping, but water faucets located throughout the park, many right within the sites. Vault toilets, dump station. Fairly level – sites are dirt. No ice available. Wood available up at ranger office by museum. Trails to the river, to the river day use, and along the river to old ranch site and orchard with more day use spots, and around the ruins and info plaques. Watch for snakes in the spring and summer!!! Verizon cell service weak or nonexistent at campground, but if you take the trail to the river day use area, there is a picnic table there that we call “signal table” – at that spot you have full bars 3G – no clue why, but strong enough to do any surfing texting or calling. Nevada residents get discount on entrance fees. Supplies available in Fernley, less so in Silver Springs, Fifi’s mini mart on Highway 95 (about 4 miles north of campground) is pretty well stocked and always has beer and ice. Note: paid camping/entrance at Fort Churchill is good for entrance to Lahontan Reservoir State Park and vice versa – Lahontan Reservoir beach campground is popular with younger people and big groups, due to water access – usually pretty rowdy on the weekends. Also access to Lahontan River Camp on the east side of river off Highway 50 east, only has about 8 sites – and sometimes no water there, but quiet and on the low side of dam, so blocked from the sometimes horrendous winds in this area. River camp is also one of our favorites- access to river and lots of bird life to watch and an interpretive trail for a little exercise and a view. Both Lahontan beach campground and River camp are dry camping but have dump stations and flush toilets and showers. Verizon cell service at beach campground is spotty – nonexistent at river camp, but good service if you go on trail to top of hill/dam. There are some more dry camping spots on the east side of the reservoir if you want to be off by yourself, but the dirt roads to them are very rough.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Lots of trails to walk at Fort Churchill, and the paved loop around the ruins is good for a run – steep incline for a challenge in some spots. The sites are fairly spread out and private so you can do weights or tai chi in or near your site. The group area or handicap site are good for a flat cement surface for yoga etc. Lahontan beach campgrounds have some paved loops. River camp has the interpretive trail that gives you some uphill challenges and you can do the loops of that several times to get some distance, and lots of privacy for other types of exercise and meditation- there is a bench on the top of the hill that looks east – a great spot to watch the sun come up.
Sportsman’s Beach, near Hawthorne , Nevada, September, 2016>>. Sportsman’s Beach link
Located off Highway 95 south, approximately 10 miles north of Hawthorne. This is a BLM Campround – no maintained especially – approximately 30 spots, but we just pulled into the paved overlook at the top of the hill and paid the fee with no specific site #. Vault toilets and some shaded picnic tables in the camping and day use areas. Dry camping, vault toilets, no water or dump. Supplies available in Hawthorne, groceries, gas, etc. pavement is of course level, other sites are gravel and it is luck of the draw on how level. Great views over the lake and to the mountains east and west. Very strong Verizon cell service.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Yes – there are paved roads leading down to boat dock and some camping sites, that turn to dirt – and the big paved area at the top is level and open for pretty much any activity – get up early before the bugs come out though!
Miller’s Flat rest area, near Tonopah, Nevada , September, 2016>>. Free! Millers link
On Highway 95 south, the rest area is on the north side of the highway (there is a turn lane to enter if you are southbound) – it has a nice shaded and grassy area with trees, bathrooms, and tables if you are looking for just a short stop, but there is an RV/camping area in the back – the signs will lead you to it. Big gravel area – level, some water spigots by the trees, bathrooms close, dump station. There is a bit of highway noise, since this is a popular route for big trucks, but the nice thing is that big trucks are not allowed in the rest area – so they won’t be pulling in next to you running their diesel engines all night. It can be windy here, so be prepared for that, but the views are awesome and it usually isn’t very crowded. Verizon cell service was good. Supplies are available either back in Hawthorne, or in Tonopah approximately 10 miles south – groceries, hardware, a few restaurants, casino, etc.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
I guess – mainly either walking around the rest area or out into the desert, but this is probably a better place for weights or something stationary- if you get up early you could probably have the grassy area to yourself for some yoga or tai chi.
Amargosa Valley RV Park, Nevada , September, 2016>>. Amargosa link
On Highway 95 south, the RV park is on the rest south side of the highway (there is a turn lane to enter if you are northbound) – it is located behind the wooden structure that looks like a fort (soon to open as another gas/mini mart). Approximately 60 sites, full hookups, strong wifi, a clean central building with laundry, bathrooms and showers, and a dump station. Sites are fairly level and some have trees in between for a little relief from the desert sun. We were in Yellow 12 – it was fine. One site is pretty much as good as the other here – it is easy to have separation from other campers because it isn’t very busy – yet – but if Phil keeps doing such a good job, the word will get out and this will be a much more popular place! Minimal supplies available across the street at the “Alien” travel center, and gas, and a diner too with typical fare. And if you didn’t read the blog post that went along with this stop, be notified that there is a brothel attached to the travel center – it has a completely separate entrance, so you won’t accidentally end up there if you don’t want to. Lots of bunny ranch and alien souvenirs too. By this time (Oct 2016) the Fort Amargosa travel center will most likely be open and you can get gas and minimal supplies there too. Verizon cell service here is good.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
No area for a run or long walk here – there is a rest stop on the same side of the highway as the RV park, but it is small. Most of this area is fenced off in some way or another. You are better off to go visit Ash Meadows and walk around their developed areas to get your exercise for the day.
Spotted near or along the way: at Walker Lake 20 mile beach and Tamarack beach, in Hawthorne Whiskey Flats RV park, pull out south of Fort Churchill, Yerington RV park, at Schurz there is an abandoned travel center that advertised RV spots, south of Schurz is a large pull out on the west side of highway
Lakeside RV Park, Pahrump, Nevada , September, 2016>>. Lakeside RV park link
From Highway 160 south, through town, turn right on Homestead , enter on right, the check in building is at entrance, pull in left along curb and go in to check in. Approximately 150 spots, bathrooms, showers, laundry, wifi, swimming pool. All spots are full hookup, the park is a ring around a large lake- some are on the lake shore, they cost more. They offer Good Sam discount, 10%. Pretty much every spot can accommodate any size RV – they are prepared for the big rigs. Poured concrete, so very level. Strong Verizon signal. Each spot has a small grassy are next to it along with a concrete pad for a “patio” area. Plenty of room for extra car, and they don’t charge for extra car 👍🏿 check in building has a small store with various snack items and ice and sun merchandise, there is also a casino with restaurant in the complex, and gas and mini mart. The mini mart has large selection of supplies for food and drink, etc. A concrete walking circles the lake, and they rent pedal boats to use in their lake, and you can fish in it too. There is a small dock on the south end. By the pool there is a sandy beach area, but no swimming in the lake. We recommend reservations in the summer and then again later in the winter when snowbirds are on their way to Quartzite- we read a review that this place fills up on the weekends with Las Vegas and local campers and lots of kids for a close getaway – so keep that in mind when choosing a spot. Their online reservation system is a third party deal and warns that your picked spot is not guaranteed – so be aware of that too. It appears that there are some full timers here, but they are not many and not junky. Pahrump has multiple grocery stores and banks and restaurants – there are more casinos in town too. IMHO Best spots: 122 – next to overflow & with big yard – other best are 137 & 50. We were in 122.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Yes – the concrete walkway and the loops are perfect for walking and/or running – there were a few of us ladies making the rounds each morning, getting our steps in :). Depending on the size of your “yard” you have plenty of room for other exercising. There is a side street – “Thousandaire” Blvd, which looked like it didn’t have too much traffic that you could walk or run on for a change of scenery. And, you could swim laps in the pool for a change of pace.
Big Bend of the Colorado State Park, Laughlin, Nevada , October, 2016>>. Big Bend of Colorado link
South of Laughlin on Needles Highway, approximately 5 miles from casino area, park is on your left. 24 full hookup sites, first come, first served – spread out nicely, wide gravel flat pull throughs, all with concrete slab and picnic table, fire pit and BBQ stand under shade structure. Flush toilets and pay showers 25 cents for 3 minutes. This is one of our favorite parks – well maintained and the winter host, Elaine is awesome! Usually firewood is available – no ice. Many trails lead from campground through the tamarisk trees to day use area and to river via different paths. Day use area fee included with camping fee – really nicely developed large day use area with both beach and river access, paved areas, numerous shade structures, flush toilets, and a boat ramp. Supplies available in either Fort Mohave or Bullhead City. There are some convenience stores and a small grocery in Laughlin, but best to go to Bullhead City or Fort Mohave for Safeway, CVS, Walmart, Target, etc. NOTE: do NOT go to Smiths in Fort Mohave – horrible – dirty, unorganized, smelled like soured milk and rotting food all throughout the store. Verizon service is strong here.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Yes, lots – along with the numerous trails through the tamarisk, the loop in the campground is nicely paved and all the way to the day use areas and its numerous parking areas. There is also a concrete path through the shade structures in the day use, on the north side. In that area there are a few concrete pads that are empty – no table or shade structures, but flat even open space for yoga or Balletone or weights. The picnic table area at the very tip of the day use area is a nice place to exercise with a river outlook – great views especially at sunrise.
In town: Some casinos allow camping with RV in their parking lots – some charge some do not – you can always park your RV in their parking lots if you are just parking, like any car. In every case, your best bet is to get a players card, thats all they really want to see. Specifics for each place are below.
Riverside: Free RV camping in their parking lots – get a players card, check in with security and they give you permit to put in your front window – on main drag, so lots of traffic noise. Across the street is their RV park – $24-28 per night – no discount for having players card unless you gamble there a lot and have a gold or platinum card. Wifi: none unless you have gold/platinum players card.
Aquarius: No RV camping in their parking lot. Free strong wifi in coffee shop- “Duets” – sparse in other areas throughout the casino.
Edgewater: No RV camping in their parking lot. Wifi: none that we could find.
Colorado Belle: No RV camping in their parking lot. Wifi: none that we could find.
Pioneer: Free RV camping in their parking lots – get a players card, check in with security and they give you permit to put in your front window – on main drag, so lots of traffic noise. Wifi: only a pay as you go option.
Golden Nugget: Free RV camping in a small lot across the street only – get a players card, check in with security and they give you permit to put in your front window – on main drag, so lots of traffic noise. Wifi: none that we could find.
Laughlin River Lodge: Free RV camping across the street – tiered levels, also can be reached by going a little further south on Casino Drive, to top of hill, turning right at the light. We inquired at front desk if we needed to check in with anyone and they said no. The lines in the upper lots are marked for RVs – the casino used to be owned by a different company who used to charge, but as of this date (October 2016) no charge and no check in required – so we are assuming no limits. View and price are great, but FYI – close to busy roads, so traffic noise pretty much all night, and it can be windy up there. Wifi: free & strong in the casino – and there are many sitting areas on lower level perfect for surfing the Internet.
Harrahs: RV camping in lot across street from casino (by their gas station) $7 per night – and they have a dump station – close to Casino Drive, so traffic noise. Get a players card and check in at front desk for permit. Ask for a key to access the pool, workout room, and beach areas. Wifi: pay as you go.
Tropicana: RV camping in lot behind casino (to the east) $7 per night – and they have a dump station. Get a players card and check in at front desk for permit – since it is behind casino towers and parking garage, pretty quiet. Ask for a key to access the pool. Wifi: strong in pool area and by their deli.
Avi: This is an Indian Casino, about 15 miles south of Laughlin, off the Needles Highway to the left, on Aztec Road – which also leads you to Fort Mohave. Free RV camping in a dirt lot to the north of the casino. No frills here – dirt lot, not too level, get a players card and check in with security to get a permit. You are right next to a grandstand area – lots of people buy fireworks at the local convenience store and set them off in the area to the west of the lot. Wifi: free – fairly strong throughout casino and by movie theater.
💪🏽Can I walk/run/exercise here?
Depends on which one of these places you stay in – the ones right on Casino Drive, the main drag — pretty much your only option is to walk or run along it – plenty of sidewalk etc, and at the southern end, a BIG hill to climb for a challenge. If you are at the lot above Laughlin River Lodge or at the Tropicana, you will probably have more room/privacy to do other types of exercise. At the Avi, there is a paved trail along part of the river, and it is easy to run on Aztec Road – there is a dirt road that heads north from the grandstands – wide and level also good for long walk or run.
scenicRViews 