CampgroundsDB

Big Bend Campground

Its 15 sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), camping costs Single Site: $8 per night ($4 with a senior or access pass), and it is open from May to November. Big Bend Campground is a National Forest campground near Owyhee, Nevada.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Owyhee, Nevada

The historic marker for Gold Creek, Nevada along Gold Creek Road, near the ghost town site 5 miles south of Big Bend CampgroundGold Creek Road through an aspen grove in autumn color, about a third of a mile from Big Bend CampgroundA Forest Service sign on Gold Creek Road pointing the way to Big Bend Campground, about 2 miles south of itGold Creek Road in autumn about a mile south of Big Bend Campground
The historic marker for Gold Creek, Nevada along Gold Creek Road, near the ghost town site 5 miles south of Big Bend CampgroundGold Creek Road through an aspen grove in autumn color, about a third of a mile from Big Bend CampgroundA Forest Service sign on Gold Creek Road pointing the way to Big Bend Campground, about 2 miles south of itGold Creek Road in autumn about a mile south of Big Bend Campground1 / 4

The historic marker for Gold Creek, Nevada along Gold Creek Road, near the ghost town site 5 miles south of Big Bend Campground. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Managed by
National Forest
Max RV length
35 ft
Access road
Gravel
Cell service
No coverage

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

Gold Creek ghost town: A historic mining town site 5 miles south of the campground on County Road 745, within the Island Mountain Mining District; little remains after most structures were moved or torn down in the 1920s, but a plaque at the site gives its history. (en.wikipedia.org)

Getting a site

Managed by
National Forest
Reservations
None, first-come
Fee
Single Site: $8 per night ($4 with a senior or access pass)

Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-27

Sites and hookups

Total sites
15
Max RV length
35 ft
  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✓ Fire rings
  • ✓ Pets allowed
  • ✕ Potable water

On site: Toilets, fire rings, and pets allowed. No potable water.

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

Rules

Stay limit
No camping for more than 14 days in any 30-day period, forest-wide (Forest Order #04-17-24-04).
Pets
Allowed

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

Access and cell service

Access road
Gravel
Cell service, reported
No coverage

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T
No coverage at the campground; 4G LTE and 5G mapped about 0.2 mi away
T-Mobile
No coverage mapped
Verizon
No coverage mapped
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. 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. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

41.7656, -115.7015 in Elko. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Big Bend Campground is open from May to November .

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

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Big Bend Campground?
No. Big Bend 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 Big Bend Campground?
Camping at Big Bend Campground costs Single Site: $8 per night ($4 with a senior or access pass).
How many campsites does Big Bend Campground have?
Big Bend Campground has 15 campsites.
Is there drinking water at Big Bend Campground?
No. Big Bend Campground has no potable water, so bring all the water you need.
Are dogs allowed at Big Bend Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Big Bend Campground.
When is Big Bend Campground open?
Big Bend Campground is open from May to November.
How long can you stay at Big Bend Campground?
The stay limit at Big Bend Campground is No camping for more than 14 days in any 30-day period, forest-wide (Forest Order #04-17-24-04).
Is there cell service at Big Bend Campground?
Not at the campground on the FCC map, but AT&T shows 4G LTE and 5G about 0.2 mi away. 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 Big Bend Campground itself, and nothing from T-Mobile or Verizon within about half a mile. Visitor reports on record also say there is no service at the 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 Big Bend Campground?
Big Bend Campground is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Big Bend Campground

fishypedia.com · 8.7 miles

The nearest lake with a fishing page is Wildhorse Reservoir, whose mapped center point is 8.7 miles away in a straight line. Stocking record and species: Wildhorse Reservoir fishing on fishypedia.com.

reservoirfinder.com · 9.1 miles

Wild Horse Reservoir's mapped center point is 9.1 miles from Big Bend Campground in a straight line. Current water level: Wild Horse Reservoir water level on reservoirfinder.com.

Swimming nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

The nearest swimming hole to Big Bend Campground, in a straight line: Wild Horse Reservoir (swimming hole, 8.4 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

Not on record North Wildhorse Recreation Area Elko · BLM Season Not on record Fee Not on record Reservable Wild Horse State Recreation Area Elko · State Park Season Year-round Fee $15/night ($20 non-NV) First-come Wildhorse Crossing Campground Owyhee · National Forest Season May to November Fee Single Site: $5 per night ($2.50 with a senior or access pass) First-come Pine Creek Campground Jarbidge · National Forest Season June to October Fee Free

More campgrounds: camping near Owyhee and campgrounds in Elko.

Sources

Photo credits

First-come, first-served Single Site: $8 per night ($4 with a senior or access pass)
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