Great Basin National Park - United States

About Great Basin National Park

RV quick facts for Great Basin National Park

Featured RV rentals for Great Basin National Park

Delivery Only

Jayco Travel Trailer

2022 • New listing

$135 USD /night

Best time to visit Great Basin National Park

Late June through September is the prime window for RV travel, when the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is fully open and all campgrounds are accessible. July and August bring warm days, cool nights at elevation, and full visitor services, though afternoon thunderstorms are common. Shoulder months of May, early June, and October offer cooler temperatures and fewer visitors, but the upper scenic drive and high-elevation campgrounds may be closed due to snow. Winter visits are limited to lower elevations only.

Things to do at Great Basin National Park

• Lehman Caves Tour Easy

  RV parking available

  Lehman Caves is a richly decorated marble and limestone cave system explored on ranger-guided tours from the visitor center. Tours must be reserved in advance and RV parking is available at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Tour routes involve stairs, low ceilings, and cool temperatures year-round. nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/permits-reservations.htm

• Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive

  This paved 12-mile drive climbs from the valley floor to nearly 10,000 feet, with overlooks and trailheads along the way. The upper portion has tight switchbacks and is not recommended for vehicles over 24 feet. The road is open seasonally, typically late May through October. nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

• Bristlecone and Glacier Trail Moderate

  This hike leads to a grove of ancient bristlecone pines, some of the oldest living trees on Earth, and continues to a small rock glacier beneath Wheeler Peak. The trailhead at Bristlecone parking area has space for standard vehicles; larger RVs should park at lower lots. The round trip is roughly 4.6 miles with about 1,100 feet of gain at high elevation.

• Alpine Lakes Loop Moderate

  The Alpine Lakes Loop is a family-friendly trail that visits Stella and Teresa Lakes in a glacially carved basin. It begins at the Bristlecone trailhead near the top of the scenic drive and runs about 2.7 miles. Expect cool temperatures, patchy snow into early summer, and thin air above 10,000 feet.

• Wheeler Peak Summit Trail Strenuous

  This strenuous climb reaches the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak with panoramic views across Nevada and Utah. The trail is about 8.6 miles round trip with roughly 2,900 feet of elevation gain. Start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms.

• Stargazing and Dark Sky Programs Easy

  RV parking available

  Great Basin is designated an International Dark Sky Park and offers some of the darkest skies in the contiguous United States. Summer astronomy programs run at the Astronomy Amphitheater, and the parking area accommodates RVs. The annual Astronomy Festival draws stargazers from around the region.

• Baker Creek Road and Trails Moderate

  RV parking available

  Baker Creek Road is a graded gravel road leading to lower-elevation trailheads and a campground suitable for many RVs. Popular hikes from this area include Baker Lake and the Johnson Lake loop. The area offers a quieter alternative to the Wheeler Peak corridor. nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

• Lexington Arch Moderate

  Lexington Arch is a six-story limestone arch in the remote southern section of the park. Access requires a high-clearance vehicle on a rough road, so most RV travelers tow or drive a smaller vehicle in. The hike to the arch is about 3.4 miles round trip and moderately steep.