'vegas advice???

[hopefully]

Hi guys,

I dont know if this is the correct place to post these questions so 'mods' feel free to move.

I will be traveling through vegas from june 27-28 and I have two questions,

1. Can anyone recommend camping nearby? either primitive or koa type cg's
2. My TV will be about ready for an oil change at that point, so does anyone know of a toyota dealership around the area (TV is still under warrenty and Im kinda a stickler about getting it changed at the steelership while still under warrenty)

Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.


Rich

[DrCrash]

The KOA is on the strip looked to fancy for us.

I can tell you the best buffet in the world is at the RIO andif your a
sea food lover they have it all including scalops mud bugs and lobstertails
all you can eat. The last time we were there it was 30 bucks a head

[goramsey]

Camp at Lake Mead. I think it is 10.00 per night. Boulder Bay campground is good because it is close to Henderson, NV for your dealership oil change as well. You will not find a better deal than that in the Vegas area. And there is a Smith's Market about 5 minutes from the campground in Boulder City, NV.

[48Rob]

As Gary suggested, Lake Mead is nice.
I like Red Rock Canyon, though it is slightly farther at 20 miles out.

Probably the most important thing to look for around Vegas at the end of June, is shade!

Rob

[deserthobo]

I googled "toyota dealerships in las vegas nevada" (without the quotes) and found a bunch - too many to list here. You shouldn't have a problem finding one to your liking. Good luck.

[Gary and Cheri]

We stayed at the KOA last July, it's a giant parking lot next to Circus Circus. With the eight foot walls surrounding it you are in a ready made preassure cooker. It will be 10 to 15 degrees above the city's temperature and if you don't have good air go somewhere else. Our Pet Cool was not enough.

Gary

[Jim.M]

if you don't need to be near the strip, the nearby spring mountains have some camping sites: http://www.ehow.com/list_5999242_campgrounds-mt_-charleston_-nevada.html.

All these sites will be around 8000' elevation, so will be cooler than the city.

If you really want to dry camp, just drive on any of the dirt roads on the BLM land surrounding the city, and set up camp where you please.

On the other hand, hotel prices could be so reasonable that you might want to skip the camping... I just checked station casinos and the cheapest was texas station, 3 nights from june 27 for $66 (total for all three nights).

There are probably even better(?) deals to be had.

edit: Just noticed you're staying either one or two nights... several places will offer you a hotel room for $25/night.

[nevadatear]

I am up in the north, so can't really answer your question, but suggest you also post over on the tearjeker site, as the Nevada directors, kathleen and Dave are from there as are many of the members.

[BrwBier]

Vally of Fire State park is about 50 miles north and is very nice with huge rocks surrounding the camp sites.
Brwbier

[hopefully]

This is all great advice,

Thanks for the heads up on the koa!

Spring mountains and cheap hotels are looking good right.

This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

[vreihen]

We stayed at the KOA last July, it's a giant parking lot next to Circus Circus. With the eight foot walls surrounding it you are in a ready made preassure cooker.

When I visited Vegas in late May many moons ago, the temperature in the hotel's parking garage at midnight was 99 degrees Fahrenheit. I can't imagine camping in a place that is exposed directly to the sun all day.....

[mkitchen]

Most of the camping areas are in the sun though Spring Mountain may have some cooler, shady spots. Spring Mountain is on the pass going from LV to Parump. There are a lot of good deals right now on hotel rooms and even better deals if you hit the area in mid week. The camp or RV parks that I have seen are full of huge RV's with coolers running constantly.

Do at least drive up to see Red Rock state park and the Valley of Fire along the edge of Lake Mead. Also don't miss Hoover Dam and seeing the new bridge the crosses over the dam. Even in the summer, there is lots to do and see in LV.
Mikey

[daveleb55]

All of the suggestions were great. We prefer camping at Calville Bay or Boulder Beach for the spring time. It has been a cool spring in Vegas so far.

The campground at Red Rock has closed for the season. There is very little shade at the campground and the sun can be deadly hot.

All the campgrounds at Mt Charleston are great. Cool temperatures and lots of shade and perhaps still snow on the ground. There was a record snow fall this year.

Down in the Laughlin area there is a state park that sits on the edge of the river called Big Bend Campground.

My advice is to stay away from the RV Parks most are concrete parking lots that offer little views or relief from the heat.

With all the above information from all, there are many choices for camping in and around vegas.

Rich send us a PM as you set up camp. We would love to meet you!

Kathleen & Dave
Nevada Chapter Tearjerkers.

[hopefully]

You guys have been great.

It looks like heading up around spring mountain OR a cheap hotel room are going to be our plan of attack.

Thanks a TON!

[hopefully]

Planning on Spring Mtn area (unless unbearably hot) in the higher elevations, have my apt to get oil changed...

Next question is which route to get from vegas area to crested butte area. I am leaning towards northern Arizonia, four corners rather than up through utah than east via rt 70.

Rt 70 would be 3 hours quicker (according to google maps), but we are in no rush and I think there would be alot more to see across arizonia and sw colorado... Actually, I think I have answered my own question???



I know that I will be traveling through there during probably the worst time of the year, but being a school teacher, i ONLY have my summers off.

Thanks a TON for all the good info. I have posted this question on THREE different forums and this is the only one have has given me plentiful and great advice!