Kingman Wash ~ Lake Mead National Recreation Area

The Kingman Wash Road access point is located just a few miles east of ​Hoover Dam on Highway 93 and it is fairly well marked. When approaching it pays to keep the eyes peeled, because the traffic moves fast and it is easy to miss this exit in a blink of an eye. After getting off the highway, reading the signs at the start of the dirt road is important to do, especially for those who drive an oversize RV camper or haul a trailer. The reason why has to do with the dirt road grades being fairly steep going uphill to the crest of the pass, while the downhill run to the end point traverses an even more challenging incline. The steep downhill run may be a bit too much for heavy camper rigs, but all is not lost because dispersed camping is allowed in the hills along the way. Dispersed camping is what the Kingman Wash destination is all about and for those who camp next to the Lake Mead shoreline, there are few places that offer better scenic views in this entire National Recreation area.

The Kingman Wash Dispersed Camping Area only offers basic facilities and most of the established campsites are marked with a stone fire ring. Boulder City, Nevada is right across the dam and this is the best place to stock up locally, since there are no signs of civilization along Highway 93 all the way east to the Meadview exit where a dollar store can be found. Drinking water is not available at the campground, so hauling an extra few jugs is advisable, since there is plenty to explore at this end of the big lake.

The unique geology surrounding the Kingman Wash is fascinating to see and it is even more exciting to explore on foot. This campground is literally located just around the first bend coming from Hoover Dam, but this famous landmark cannot be seen from the campground unless a visitor climbs the peaks. The panoramic views do extend west across Lake Mead to Boxcar Cove and Boulder City Beach, so this shoreline vantage point is an excellent place to be when the sun sets. In fact, photographers relish the thought of camping at Kingman Wash, because some of the best sunset views in the entire Lake Mead National Recreation area can be captured at this spot. The cel phone data signal from Boulder City is extra strong at this campground, which is like the icing on the cake. Camping at the Kingman Wash certainly is appealing during the cool weather seasons, so be sure to keep this lesser known spot in mind when planning a winter tour!