The phrase “Las Vegas camping” seems contradictory, but as RVers we really do get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Nearly every year my husband and I head to Sin City to enjoy it from the comforts of our home on wheels. Here’s why it never ceases to amuse and entertain us.

Las Vegas RVing is Cheap, Easy and Fun

Gambling isn’t our thing, but we love great entertainment, food, drinks and parties. Las Vegas is all of the above and then some. As a bonus, it has great RV parks with easy access to the Strip or Downtown. We’ve visited at least four of them but two stand out among the rest.

When you’re after a glitz and glam Vegas experience from the comfort of your home on wheels, check into the Las Vegas Oasis Resort. We enjoyed our stay at this full-service RV resort that’s just a 10 minute Uber ride from the Strip. Sure, Vegas has plenty of other RV parks, but we haven’t found one that matches the caliber of this resort. The gated park features everything you would expect from a great hotel, like beautiful swimming pools, a modern fitness center, on-site concierge, 18-hole putting green, restaurant and more. When the slots are loose and your wallet’s wide open, this is a first-class getaway for RVers in search of a glamorous getaway.

We enjoyed being close to the Strip when staying at the luxurious Oasis, but once we discovered a small RV park within walking distance of the quirky, freaky fun on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, all bets were off. The revitalized area is slowly shedding its seedy reputation and attracting more adventurous tourists like us in search of the “Old Vegas” experience. From cheap happy hour drinks at local watering holes like the Downtown Cocktail Room,  to free live music in places like the El Cortez Hotel Lounge, Downtown has all of the fun and games of the Strip—with a much nicer price tag.

Freaky Fun on Fremont Street

Downtown Las Vegas only has one RV park, which is operated by Main Street Station Casino. Keep in mind that calling it a “park” is a generous use of the term. The small facility is located under the freeway on the fringes of a rough neighborhood. This Las Vegas RVing experience is nothing more than an asphalt parking lot with hookups and parking spaces so tightly packed that you can touch your neighbor’s slide out if you dare.

And although it sounds like a terrible place, we discovered that the benefits outweigh the downsides. For starters, the park is about half the price of other Las Vegas RV parks closer to the Strip. It also has easy freeway access but best of all, Main Street Station RV Park is within easy walking distance to Downtown casinos and the world-famous Fremont Street Experience.

The heart and soul of Downtown Vegas is on Fremont Street. It’s an ongoing pedestrian party scene where Halloween and New Year’s Eve blend into one continuous year-round holiday as an endless parade of weird and wild revelers loudly saunter from casino to bar, bar to casino and back again. Sure, it’s a tourist trap but it’s fun, free and I guarantee you’ve never experienced people-watching like this.

Downtown has other attractions too, like the Mob Museum, which spotlights organized crime’s impact on America, and the Neon Museum, a funky boneyard of well-reserved vintage Vegas neon signs and show-stopping lights.

Where to Go After Your Vegas RV Getaway

Some years we stay longer in Las Vegas than others. But no matter how short the visit, we always benefit from a sensory detox in the surrounding desert scenery of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Every type of camping exists within the 1.5 million acres of public lands located just 20 minutes east of civilization. From free dry camping to full-hookups at two concessionaire-operated campgrounds, we always enjoy and easy and effective retreat from our wild ride in Las Vegas.

Our travels rarely take us into big cities. Most just don’t seem worth the stress and hassle of squeezing our RV into busy city streets. But Las Vegas is different. There’s something otherworldly and weird about hauling our home on wheels into the glitzy chaos of an oasis in the desert. Vegas really is a great place to visit for RVers like us, but we sure wouldn’t want to camp there forever.

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About the author: Rene Agredano

Rene Agredano, a Coach-Net member since 2015, is a self-employed full-time RVer who enjoys writing, jewelry design and animal advocacy. Her adventures with a three-legged dog and husband Jim are chronicled at LiveWorkDream.com

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Douglas P. ~ “I would not go on the road without you guys having my back. Thank You Coach-Net!”