- Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
The best camping in Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, NV
Explore historic beehive ovens and the Great Basin landscape at this remote Nevada park.
The best camping in Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, NV
Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park adventure.
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T
Tim
November 2025
18 ft Class B
With pets
Super easy place to spend the night. Price was right, full hookups with a shower and laundry facility. Baker is a hip little town. Grocery/book store across the street has nicely curated groceries for small store.
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Jayme
November 2025
20 ft Class B
Janille's place is perfect. Well maintained. Clean bathrooms. Everything was easy and worked perfectly. Thanks Janille!
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Anne
November 2025
32 ft travel trailer
With pets
This location is ideal if you’re traveling across Nevada. It was very quiet and had full service, in addition to clean bathrooms and showers. I would certainly stop there again if I were in the area.
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GlenNpen
October 2025
17 ft travel trailer
With pets
There is no gate btw. It’s just behind the baker fuel stop.
We dry docked and it was fabulous. Love the fact they are not gouging us with cost. Lovely clean restroom and shower ($3). Laundry also available. Right on the road but it’s very quiet road.
Full hooks ups were available.
Definitely camp here again if passing.
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Joseph
October 2025
33 ft Class A
Nice site !! Level gravel, new utilities , very open & quiet. The laundry & bathrooms were exceptionally clean. Easy access to the NP. Communications were informative & clear. Be aware that there is a large white dog that limps with a bad front paw that frequents the area that is super friendly & gentle but appears abandoned; he apparently belongs to the owner & regularly wanders around a lot & is fine.
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May
October 2025
Tent
Easy to find, clean restroom/facility. Felt safe as a solo traveler.
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Alisha + Thomas
October 2025
19 ft campervan
With pets
We had a wonderful overnight stay at Baker Fuel and RV on our way to Great Basin. The skies were beautifully dark and absolutely filled with stars — such a peaceful spot to unwind after a day on the road.
The RV sites were super clean and well-kept, and the showers were a highlight — hot water, great pressure, and nice privacy. You can tell the owners take pride in keeping things tidy and comfortable.
Highly recommend this spot if you’re passing through or planning a visit to Great Basin. We’ll definitely stay again
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Michael
October 2025
22 ft travel trailer
We have a travel trailer and this was a nice small campground with everything we look for in a site . A perfect spot to explore the area. I like small towns and you can’t get much smaller.
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R
Rolling
October 2025
45 ft toy hauler
What a nice spot even with the shut down it was still worth it
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Jeff
October 2025
28 ft travel trailer
With pets
Very clean and quiet.. we stayed in the RV section and found the utility hook-ups are in great condition. The site was level and spaces are roomy.
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MIKE
October 2025
38 ft toy hauler
We enjoyed our stay. It was surprisingly quiet.
If I were to give cons to the site it would be, Site 3 was not very level. We couldn't move picnic table closer to the front door of rig due to mounds of dirt causing table to be very unlevel. The sewer hookup was rather far away from our hook up, but it did work. Although, the sewer connection is way to high out of the ground, and I couldn't get a slope to sewer to drain tanks well.
I do have a question about the large pipe you have towards the street with a sign that is very outdated, and I am surprised it is still there. My understanding SNWA abandoned their effort to tap in the aquifer back in 2020!
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Andy
October 2025
35 ft travel trailer
With pets
These are very simple but level camp sites with well-maintained full hookups. The location is convenient to the national park visitor center and to the handful of businesses in town. The sites are easy in & easy out, even for big rigs, and a dumpster is conveniently located. There's an unattended 24-hour gas station on the same lot that carries diesel and is also easy access for big rigs.
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Iris
October 2025
25 ft travel trailer
For us, this was the perfect spot to stay for exploring Great Basin National Park. Its proximity to the park was why we chose it. We received quick communication from the host with all the check-in info. When we arrived we were able to pull right in to our site and setup—no need to check in with anyone. The site was fairly level, we had to level a small amount. The power, water, and sewer hookups worked perfectly. We were in site 5 closest to the bathroom building, but that was not an issue. The view out our back window of the basin and distant mountains was worth it. The view at sunset was stunning. The little 2-pump gas station at the front of the property was a non-issue. We were never bothered by any noise from the station or bathroom. The Bristlecone General Store is a quick walk away and it is adorable. It’s a great place to grab a snack and coffee. The sky at night was beautiful. We drove up the park road at night to get away from the town lights so we could do some stargazing. Will 100% stay here again.
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Steve
October 2025
27 ft travel trailer
RV spots are easy back in for any length big rigs. Full hook ups great. Easy for our 27 foot ball mount trailer. The bathroom showers are new remodels and very very clean. 2 nights stay in Baker was quiet. I would stay again.
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annette
October 2025
27 ft travel trailer
Camp site was perfect, quite, full hook ups, two clean newly remodeled large showers and bathrooms. Great place! Highly recommend, especially for cold temps at Great Basin campgrounds.
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Catherine
October 2025
Tent
Easy access to park. Bathrooms showers and LAUNDRY!
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Noah
October 2025
19 ft campervan
Easy self-service situation! Clean facilities. After vacating my spot I rode down the rode to a forest service road that went all the way up to the Park. Very cool spot, will keep in mind when I come back this way!
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C
Camille
October 2025
1 night at Schellraiser
Amazing views! Great stay! Brian was a great host :) Highly recommend staying a few nights if you can!
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R
October 2025
Tent
With pets
Bathrooms and showers were amazingly well kept for ones that are public. Recommend
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K
Keianna
October 2025
With kids
We absolutely loved camping here! The tent was set up so nice and way more roomy than expected. The views were incredible and we got to see the Milky Way one night we were there. We are already planning for another trip!
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Other options near Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
The best camping in Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, NV guide
Overview
About
Located in eastern Nevada’s Egan Mountain Range near Ely, highlights of the park include the six giant beehive-shaped stone ovens. Used from 1876 to 1879 to produce charcoal to process silver, they were later used as a shelter for travelers, including supposedly bandits. Visitors can explore these well-preserved ovens, go hiking, mountain biking, fishing, wildlife spotting, and stargazing the dark night skies, while OHV trails provide access to BLM land. There’s one developed campground inside the park, with campsites for tent and RV campers (no hookups), along with picnic tables, fire rings, BBQ grills, pit toilets, and seasonal water.
Notable campgrounds
The Willow Creek Campground offers 14 sites for tent and RV campers, and includes one ADA site.
- Best for RV campers with large rigs: Two pull-through sites are ideal for larger RVs.
- Best for tent campers and small RVs: 12 campsites are available for campers with tents and smaller RVs.
- Best for groups: One group area offers space for groups to overnight, and can be reserved in advance.
Tips for snagging a campsite
- Arrive early in the day, especially during peak periods, since all campsites are first-come first-served.
- If your travel plans are flexible, try visiting during the week and during off-peak and non-holiday times.
- If you’re traveling with a group, you can reserve overnight accommodations in the group area.
When to go
The park is open all year for camping and day use. Summers are the most popular time for visiting the park. Water is only available between May and September. The park is open at all times of the day, which makes it a great place to visit at night to see the stars in the incredibly dark skies. Visit in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Winter snow can impact road conditions and access.
Know before you go
- Bring everything you need with you, as there are limited amenities in the park. Supplies are available in Ely.
- Do not climb on the ovens, as it’s not safe and can cause damage.
- The park is located at a high elevation of between 7,000 and 8,000 feet; be aware of potential altitude issues.
- Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash less than six feet in length.
- A Nevada fishing license is required.
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