San Juan Dispersed Campground

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping is free, and it is open from May to October. San Juan Dispersed Campground is a National Forest campground near Austin, Nevada.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Austin, Nevada

Wildflowers in Copper Basin, northern Elko County, in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which the campground sits inside. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0

Managed by: National Forest
Access road: Dirt
Shade: No shade

San Juan Dispersed Campground sits inside Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail (San Juan Trailhead): San Juan Dispersed Campground sits at the San Juan Trailhead, the access point for the Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail through the Toiyabe Range.

Getting a site

Managed by: National Forest
Reservations: None, first-come
Fee: Free

Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-26

What's there

✓ Fire rings
✓ Pets allowed
✕ Potable water
✕ Toilets

On site: Fire rings and pets allowed. No potable water and no toilets.

Rules

Stay limit: 14 days in a 30-day period
Pets: Allowed

Source: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-26

Access and cell service

Access road: Dirt
Shade: No shade
Elevation: 7,283 ft

39.1206, -117.2724 in Nye. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

San Juan Dispersed Campground is open from May to October , at 7,283 ft.

Sources: fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-26; maps.campendium.com, accessed 2026-09-26

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at San Juan Dispersed Campground?

No. San Juan Dispersed Campground is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at San Juan Dispersed Campground?

Camping at San Juan Dispersed Campground is free.

Is there drinking water at San Juan Dispersed Campground?

No. San Juan Dispersed Campground has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.

Are dogs allowed at San Juan Dispersed Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at San Juan Dispersed Campground.

When is San Juan Dispersed Campground open?

San Juan Dispersed Campground is open from May to October.

How long can you stay at San Juan Dispersed Campground?

The stay limit at San Juan Dispersed Campground is 14 days in a 30-day period.

Is there cell service at San Juan Dispersed Campground?

Probably not: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows no 4G LTE or 5G from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon at or within about half a mile of San Juan Dispersed Campground. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it.

Who manages San Juan Dispersed Campground?

San Juan Dispersed Campground is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around San Juan Dispersed Campground

fishypedia.com · 10 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Groves Lake, whose mapped center point is 10 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Groves Lake fishing on fishypedia.com.

Hot springs nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

The nearest hot spring to San Juan Dispersed Campground, in a straight line: Spencer Hot Springs (hot spring, 26 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

First-come Kingston Campground Kingston · National Forest

More campgrounds: camping near Austin and campgrounds in Nye.

Sources

apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-26
fs.usda.gov (name), accessed 2026-09-26
fs.usda.gov (toilets, water, fireRings, petsAllowed, shade, season, notableFeature), accessed 2026-09-26
maps.campendium.com (elevationFt, accessRoad), accessed 2026-09-26
fs.usda.gov (stayLimit), accessed 2026-09-26
broadbandmap.fcc.gov (cellCoverage), accessed 2026-09-27

Photo credits

Photo 1: Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0

First-come, first-served Free

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