Ely anchors Nevada's mining history and serves as the gateway to Great Basin National Park's ancient bristlecone pines. RV travelers discover 29 parks in our directory, from budget spots to full-service sites that launch hikes, train rides, and stargazing trips. Park here to chase Pony Express trails and Lehman Caves without city crowds.
Ely pulses with Wild West grit. Ride steam locomotives on the Nevada Northern Railway, a National Historic Landmark. Hike to Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, cone-shaped relics from 1870s smelters. Drive the Pony Express Trail or summit Schell Creek Range for panoramic views. Tour the oldest hotel in Nevada, built in 1923 on Aultman Street.
RV parks turn Ely into your high-desert base camp. Ely KOA Journey delivers WiFi for digital nomads at $52 a night. Cave Lake State Park's Elk Flat Campground draws anglers and families for $18 per night amid trout-filled waters. Ward Mtn. Campground at Murray Summit fits groups, pets, and big rigs with pull-throughs, dump station, and rates from $12 to $75. Budget hunters pick Ward Mountain Campground for $10 nights. Prospector Hotel and Casino lures gamblers starting at $17.
Ely shines as a mining boomtown and gateway to Great Basin National Park. Steam trains rumble from the Nevada Northern Railway, a living museum. Historic sites like Ward Charcoal Ovens and the Pony Express Trail draw history buffs yearly. Campers use it as a launchpad for Lehman Caves tours and bristlecone pine hikes under dark skies.
Find 29 RV parks in our Ely directory, including Ely KOA Journey, Cave Lake State Park - Elk Flat Campground, and Ward Mountain Campground. Most cluster within 20 miles along US-50 or US-93, near Great Basin entrances. Amenities range from WiFi at KOA to dump stations at Ward Mtn. Campground.
Yes, Ward Mtn. Campground explicitly welcomes pets with pull-through sites and group areas. Other spots like Ely KOA Journey often allow dogs; check listings for leashes and fees. These parks sit amid open ranges perfect for walks near Cave Lake or Ward Charcoal Ovens trails.
