- Searchlight
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Camping near Searchlight guide
Overview
South of Las Vegas near the California-Arizona border, Searchlight was once a mining town, but now attracts visitors with its proximity to Lake Mohave, Cottonwood Cove, and the Colorado River, which provides plenty of options for water recreation, including fishing, boating, and paddling. Nearby, Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness and the Dead Mountains Wilderness Area both provide options for outdoor adventures on land. While camping options in Searchlight are limited to RV parks and overnight RV parking, tent, RV, and primitive camping options can be found in nearby parks, recreation, and wilderness areas.
Where to go
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons and two lakes, Lake Mohave and Lake Mead. Lake Mohave and Cottonwood Cove is the closest to Laughlin and offers 200 miles of shoreline, and hundreds of secluded coves, along with hiking and biking trails. More than a dozen campgrounds offer some 900 tents and RV sites, along with vehicle, horseback, shoreline, and backcountry camping options.
California and Mojave National Preserve
Just over the California border, north of Needles, the mountains and deserts of Dead Mountains Wilderness offer options for primitive camping, hiking, horseback riding, rock hounding, and hunting. Further east, the Mojave National Preserve offers a vast open land with dramatic terrain of sand dunes, canyons, mountains, and Joshua tree forests, along with three developed campgrounds and plenty of backcountry for dispersed camping.
Arizona
RV parks can be found across the Colorado River on the Arizona side at Bullhead City. Campgrounds can also be found along Lake Mohave at Katherine Landing. At Moabi Regional Park, along the Colorado River at the California and Arizona state line, dispersed and developed campsites are available, along with fishing, hiking, boating, and off-roading. Further south, camping can be found at Lake Havasu State Park, near Lake Havasu City.
When to go
Searchlight’s location in the desert of southern Nevada means hot summers with soaring temperatures, making outdoor activities other than water play a bit dangerous. Spring and fall offer the best weather for outdoor recreation, including camping. The best time for largemouth bass is between March and June, striped bass is between April and November, and rainbow trout is between November and March.
