Camping near Rachel

The only town in Nevada’s remote Sand Spring Valley, the tiny town of Rachel is located smack dab in the middle of NV State Route 375, also known as the Extraterrestrial Highway. The closest town to Area 51, the “UFO Capital of the World” is a popular destination for UFO enthusiasts and offers several UFO-themed sites such as the Little A’Le’Inn and the Black Mailbox, along with incredibly dark night skies and access to nearby ghost towns and historic mines. Camping options include RV and tent camping in town, along with dispersed camping in nearby wildlife refuges and in state park developed campgrounds.

Around Rachel

The only camping option in Rachel is at the Little A’Le’Inn, which offers tent and RV campsites (with full hookups). Several RV parks can be found near the town of Alamo to the southeast. A number of dispersed camping options can also be found along the Extraterrestrial Highway around Rachel, including at Queen City Summit, Gravel Pit, Black Mailbox, Horneys Rest Stop, and Powerlines Overlook.

Tonopah

At the northwest end of the Extraterrestrial Highway, the historic mining town of Tonopah offers access to rockhounding, hiking, biking, off-roading, the singing sand dunes of the Crescent Dunes, and several wilderness areas in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Camping options include several in-town RV parks with full hookups, as well as developed US Forest Service campgrounds, and primitive, dispersed, and backcountry options nearby.

Pahranagat and Desert National Wildlife Refuges

Southeast of Rachel, two national wildlife refuges offer opportunities to spot wildlife and other outdoor recreation. The Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge is home to hundreds of species of birds, hiking, and primitive lakeside camping around Upper Lake Pahranagat. Spanning 1.6 million acres,  the Desert National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge outside of Alaska, with bighorn sheep and other wildlife. A primitive campground and backcountry and dispersed car camping options are available.

Southeast Nevada State Parks

Several state parks in the southeast corner of Nevada offer diverse recreation and camping options. Explore the lush canyons of Kershaw-Ryan State Park, or the surreal landscape of slot canyons, spires, and hoodoos at Cathedral Gorge State Park. For water recreation, including fishing, swimming, and boating, and wildlife watching, head to Echo Canyon State Park and Spring Valley State Park. Developed campgrounds, with partial or full RV hookups and tent sites, can be found in all four parks

Rachel’s location in the south Nevada high desert means that spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons for weather, especially for outdoor activities. Summer is a popular time for campers to visit Rachel, and it’s a good idea to make reservations ahead of time. The ET Full Moon Race is typically held in August. Winter temperatures can dip below freezing, and snow does fall on occasion.