Like much of the Mountain West, northern Nevada is a mecca for the great outdoors. But while the treasures of Yosemite and Lake Tahoe are well-known (and well-trafficked), there are plenty of campgrounds within an hour's drive of Reno that are scenic, easy to access and tend not to be booked out way in advance, making them ideal for spontaneous weekend trips when you want to get into nature and have some fun.
Photo: Gorgeous views at Mount Rose Campground
Davis Creek Regional Park
Closest to Reno is Davis Creek Regional Park. Seated just below Mount Rose, the park is amply tree-covered and abounds with hiking trails heading up the mountain and creeks and streams rushing down. While some freeway noise may be audible in the distance, the park still feels deep in nature. It is primarily geared toward small sites for tent campers, though there is space for smaller RVs as well as a group RV area, all of which are without hookups.
Often overlooked for its proximity to Reno and the freeway running through Washoe Valley, Davis Creek nevertheless is a top-notch campground that typically has plenty of availability.
Photo: Hiking at Davis Creek Regional Park
Mount Rose Campground
Heading up the mountain on the Mount Rose Highway is the new Mount Rose Campground. Like Davis Creek, this small campground favors tent campers and those with small trailers –again, without hookups – but it is an amazing location, just across from the hiking and mountain bike trails at Mount Rose and the Tahoe Meadows.
While it won’t be as booked up as some of the more popular Tahoe campgrounds and there are first-come, first-serve options, because of its prime location and limited number of sites, you will have to reserve in advance or hope for good luck with this one. You can always head to Davis Creek if it is full. Also, because it is so high up (9,300 feet), there are only a couple of months that it is completely open and you should expect cold nights and winds year-round. But for a truly Alpine experience that will allow you to sleep on Mount Rose, this campground can’t be beat.
Boca-Stampede Campgrounds
En route to Truckee are two large reservoirs, Boca and Stampede, which are favorites among Reno locals who enjoy boating and kayaking.
While the campgrounds are popular, because there are so many campgrounds around the reservoirs, you’re bound to find a spot somewhere if you are flexible or don’t mind trying for a first-come, first-serve site. At Boca there’s Boca Rest, Boca Spring and Boyington Mill campgrounds, and at Stampede you also have Emigrant Group and Logger Campground.
Both reservoirs are worth a visit, but Boca is the smaller of the two, so it’s favored by small boats and manual watercraft, while Stampede is prized by those who want to get in a full day of speed-boating.
Photo: Boating on Stampede Reservoir
Frenchman Lake and Lake Davis Campgrounds
Frenchman Lake and Lake Davis are a bit more of the beaten path than Boca/Stampede reservoirs, and they provide great views of the wide expanses of forest around them.
Both northeast of Reno, they provide plenty of options for boating, kayaking and water sports as well as extensive trail systems and everything else camping has to offer. Since both reservoirs have multiple campgrounds, you are sure to find an opening somewhere.
Frenchman Lake has Frenchman, Big Cove and Cottonwood Spring campgrounds, while Lake Davis, farther up the road, has Grizzly, Grasshopper Flat and Lightning Tree campgrounds.
With all these campgrounds within an hour of Reno, you’d be hard-pressed to get bored camping, even if you’re just keeping it local.
