When I last updated you, we were boondocking outside of Ehrenberg, Arizona, and had just replaced our worn trailer tires after a fast leak event. As I planned our course northward this spring, I wanted to explore the HWY 95 route up the western side of Nevada.
Looking at the long-range forecast, I could see a spell of warm weather on the horizon, but we needed about a week more in lower elevations before we could hit the high desert. I decided to take us to a favorite spot near Death Valley called the “Desert Campsite The Pads”. The Pads is a free dry camping area about 25 minutes outside Death Valley National Park.
Along the way to The Pads, we overnighted at a Nevada rest stop near Cal-Nev-Ari after a lovely afternoon spent by the river in the Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area south of Laughlin, NV.
We camped at the Pads for nearly a week and did some hiking in the national park, including exploring Golden Canyon just below famed Zabriskie Point and driving through 20 Mule Team Canyon. Death Valley never fails to amaze! Check out these previous videos from a 2019 visit.
With the temps rising on March 24th, we packed up and headed up HWY 95 with a destination of Sportsman’s Beach BLM campground on Walker Lake in mind.
However, that would be a long drive, so we needed an overnight spot. Millers Rest Area just north of Tonopah fits the bill. A large flat gravel area to one side allows up to 18-hour stays. Perfect!
Along HWY 95, western Nevada is very rural, sparsely populated with expansive open scenic vistas. It is a friendly route for folks who love boondocking off the beaten path. Tons of places to camp, and being a popular truck route, lots of services along the way. Highway 95 is mainly two-lane, but very well maintained.
The only drawback is the elevation with some passes above 6000 feet; one needs to pay attention to the weather, especially in the early spring, late fall, and winter.
The next day, we only had a leisurely 2-hour tow to Walker Lake, with a quick stop in Hawthorne, Nevada, to fill our water tank and get groceries. So far, we are having a great time camping at Sportsman’s Beach on the shores of Walker Lake. At $6 a night, the cost is more than fair! We have explored a pair of museums in Hawthorne, grabbed a delicious burger at the Bighorn Crossing restaurant in Walker Lake City, and viewed wild horses and Big Horn sheep.
I have some photos, video clips, and information from our recent travels in this video. Hope you find it entertaining and/or informative. Stay tuned for what we get up to in April as we finish off our 2024/25 Snowbird Trip!
RV Snowbird Trip Update Video – March 2025
2024/25 Snowbird Trip Video Playlist
More Videos from Exploring Nevada
