Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ely KOA Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Ely KOA

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tent site
    Cory N.

    I camped here for one night in the tent camping section. It is a small area but very tidy and plenty of room for my tent and gear. Then water from the well is good. The bathrooms were clean and modern. There was a problem with toilet paper which the staff corrected immediately. Even for a Saturday night it was quiet early and there wasn't much noise until 7am. My only real gripe is that the family on the opposite side of the tent area kept walking through my camp to get to the bathroom. The store is well stocked for most campers. A few smaller items would be nice for we motorcycle campers. I always need to replace something but my gear is backpacker rather than RV size.

    Lisa P.

    Clean and friendly, this is a great camping experience for the entire family! We stayed in the brand new, spacious covered wagons for a modern Nevada-style old west experience. The clean bathrooms and showers are private and just a few steps away. If you're a light sleeper, you may want to bring ear plugs. We didn't mind the occasional night traffic, but others might. A few small recommendations for the owners: more blankets (the comforter, although cute, is very thin), two more stools, and hooks for hanging clothes/hats/keys. The staff and facilities are superb! My family loved playing basketball at the half court (even though we lost our ball) and tossing the football on the lush grass. A truly modern campground with a nostalgic feel for these Gen-X parents. Comins Lake is just 5 minutes down the road and is perfect for fishing and paddle boarding. The 45-minute Success Loop drive is a MUST for gorgeous NV wildlife and beautiful trails. Please note that as of June 2022, the lake at Cave Lake is CLOSED. For a full Ely experience, grab a movie at the old Art Deco movie theater in downtown where our family of four spent less than $65 for tickets, sodas, beer, popcorn, and candy. Looking for eats? Be patient and polite, as like the rest of the U.S., small towns are struggling with staffing shortages too. Patience, kindness, and a good tip are appreciated. For breakfast, check out Nardi's for a fantastic food and great small town service. There is a shrine to former President Trump, but don't let that deter you, as the food was so good and portions humongous. Go hungry! Looking for a spicier breakfast or lunch? Roberto's is a must! Don't let the fact that this restaurant is located in the Dino Mart and lacks ambience turn you away; it is the best Nevada Mexican food I've had in a LONG time! Foot-long burritos and a SPICY salsa bar will tempt your tastebuds! Don't forget to order some chips! Unfortunately, pizza is NOT Ely's culinary forte, but if you want a fun ambient experience for dinner time, check out the Jailhouse Cell Block steak house. Overpriced and decent food, but the experience of eating in a cell block is fun for the whole family. It's about a 30 minute wait and understaffed, but a true flashback to the day when you could get a western restaurant experience in a casino. Did you forget something? C-A-L Ranch has everything from clothing (all sizes) to western gifts. And if you need a fishing license, kayak, or other sporting gear, Sportsworld is the place to go! Bring your adventuring spirit and good attitude and safely enjoy the open spaces of Ely, Nevada!

    Lucinda B.

    Well howdy from way out here in the middle of no where, in between no where this is the best it gets! Beats the heck out of staying in a truck stop with zombie truckers who never sleep or turn their engines off! I give them an A+ for friendliness! Nice staff. The spots are narrow but adequate. Shade trees are nice. Picnic tables provided. Dusty and all gravel. Would appreciate a cement pad. Internet did not work at our spot as stated by staff. Lots of full timers. But hey saw no zombies yet!

    Debbie C.

    I'm not sure reviews are for the correct KOA. There are two in Ely. This review is for the KOA Journey off the main road that takes you in Ely from southern Nevada. Ok, with that said, we checked in right away. We got a nice colorful map and pulled into our site #32. All the sites are level from just looking at them! WiFi? no problem. Hookups were perfect and everything is well maintained. There's a nice little fence and a tree in between sites. I'm not sure what people expect. You're camping! It's not going to be perfect. Our night was only $43. Would definitely stay here again.

    Tent, camp chair, and Subaru packed for a raft trip Oregon down the Rogue River.
    Robert C.

    Very easy after hours check-in. Facilities ie, bathrooms and showered were updated and very clean. Park is very well organized with many different stay options all situated amongst many cedar trees. I stayed in a tent and was surprised at all the green grass this being in the high desert of Nevada. I will definitely stay here again.

    See all

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa P.
    213
    44
    33

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul M.
    0
    123
    63

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    When I pay almost $70/night, I expect a level site. My auto-leveling system would not work until I put blocks under the front jacks.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ty D.
    2
    454
    85

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Robert G.
    125
    20
    15

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul D.
    87
    27
    21

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Troy M.
    0
    44
    94

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Donna S.
    24
    150
    29

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paula E.
    20
    41
    11

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Roy S.
    3
    548
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R S.
    2
    49
    25

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Josh S.
    144
    14
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alby P.
    151
    932
    173

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim W.
    48
    16
    12

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ely KOA

    Review Highlights - Ely KOA

    I stayed in a tent and was surprised at all the green grass this being in the high desert of Nevada.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Illipah Reservoir Recreation Area

    Illipah Reservoir Recreation Area

    4.3(4 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    This campground is located 37 miles west of Ely in the middle of nowhere. It has the potential to…read morebe a peaceful and picturesque location if it weren't for all the horrendous RVs. If you love the gentle hum of an RV generator, this is your place! We're tent campers, and the place just isn't as welcoming to our kind. While all of the RV folks were in the larger campsites, we were able to score a really lovely private spot overlooking the reservoir. The ground was extremely hard and it took quite a bit of arm strength to get the stakes in. Plus it was very windy! But once we were finished we had a nice, relaxing evening, minus the annoying aforementioned hum that continued all night long. It's unfortunate that the place isn't better maintained. Our fire pit had a ton of burned beer and soda cans and other miscellaneous garbage left by rednecks which we had to clear before starting a fire. The outhouse by the reservoir was a war zone. I couldn't muster the courage to step inside with the horrible smells it emitted and the swarm of flying insects buzzing by the entrance. At that point I was thankful that our campsite was private, if you know what I mean. The Bureau of Land Management should really keep a closer eye on this campground. If they had more of a presence then people would be less likely to litter and disrespect nature. Oh, and making the two-mile gravel road from the highway to the campground impassable for RVs wouldn't hurt either.

    This was a wonderful, clean campground with tables, toilets and garbage collection. And it is all…read more"free". We were there in June and knocked the fishing out of the park with the #16 light yellow mayfly imitation on a fly rod. Good swimming also. The road getting into the area was excellent and is capable of accommodating any RV. We did not experience one patron running their generators in the evening. We had a great time and would recommend this location to anyone and everyone. Go visit the Hamilton ghost town really interesting.

    Photos
    Illipah Reservoir Recreation Area
    Illipah Reservoir Recreation Area
    Illipah Reservoir Recreation Area

    See all

    Cave Lake State Park - Steptoe Creek

    Cave Lake State Park

    4.8(13 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    We had the opportunity to visit this hidden gem in 2020…read more We aren't fishermen/women but we do like to camp, hike and explore. We arrived later in the day and found a trail map. We chose the hardest trail both grade and altitude wise and off we went. We were there in early October and the leaves were changing so that was a plus. Our hike was a great challenge and we got in a terrific workout. The lake itself is currently being drained to fix the dam. This will take some serious time so I would not advise heading here to fish until this work is completed. I can only imagine how beautiful the lake is when full. I still found it lovely to visit and hike the surrounding mountains. Plenty of quality campsites and not crowded at all. In Nevada, we still have many wide open spaces to explore. So grateful for that fact! I will definitely return once the lake is full again so I can really enjoy the area even more.

    We came, unfortunately, when the lake was drained for dam reconstruction. However, that didn't stop…read moreus from taking in a beautiful part of Nevada!!! The aspens in early October are absolutely beautiful and so fun for a hike up the hill and to play in. Cave Lake isn't far from Ely, and Ward Charcoal Ovens is also nearby. I feel like that's important to mention because of how far out Cave Lake already is. It's good to know you can see some other sites!! Our whole family wants to go back to really explore some of the trails - one day!

    Photos
    Cave Lake State Park
    Cave Lake State Park
    Cave Lake State Park - Chimney Rock

    See all

    Chimney Rock

    Great Basin National Park - Trees in Autumn  09-21-2025

    Great Basin National Park

    4.4(72 reviews)
    41.9 mi

    Great Basin National Park is a relatively small portion of the Great Basin as a whole. There is no…read moreNational Park entrance fee required to visit. Per Google: "The Great Basin is a large, arid region in the western United States, defined by its geography and centered on Nevada. It is situated between the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east. The region includes most of Nevada, about half of Utah, and parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and California." While planning our visit, I looked on the nps.gov website, I saw that there are cave tours. I signed up for the Lehman Cave Parachute Shield Tour. The tickets are purchased from recreation.gov website. We started off with a visit to the Great Basin Visitor Center where we looked at exhibits and got a general feel for the area. We bought a few small souvenirs and were on our way! I must say that the park was super beautiful with the changing of the leaves! Parts of the mountains were lit up with red & gold foliage! We drove the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive all the way to the Wheeler Peak Overlook. Go slow-ish and enjoy the views! We stopped by: Osceola Ditch Trail - was a man-made waterway used for mining Wheeler Peak Summit Trail Summit Trailhead Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Trailhead Mather Overlook Wheeler Peak Overlook - end of the scenic drive and has an awesome view of [yes!] Wheeler Peak Wheeler Peak Overlook is the final destination of the scenic drive. There are stops along the drive. Since we weren't hiking, we stopped at most of the pull-outs and parking lots. Wheeler Peak stands at 13,063 feet and is the second tallest point in Nevada! There are viewing scopes you can use to get a closer look! We made a quick stop at Mather Overlook. You can see Wheeler Peak from here as well. This overlook is named for Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service (NPS). There's a cool bronze relief map of the Wheeler cirque. Then we drove back down to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center for our tour. The tour was very informative and was roughly an hour long. We stayed in Ely, NV which suited our needs. Baker, NV seemed pretty desolate from what I saw driving on the NV-487. Great Basin National Park is fairly remote compared to other National Parks, but definitely worth coming out to visit at least once!

    This review is for Baker Creek Loop which was a ~3.5 miles round trip that took ~2 hours to…read morecomplete. With the unexpected closure of the last 10 miles of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, we had no choice but to do a different hike in the area. Baker Creek Loop was a scenic forest trail with a meadow halfway through. Starting the trail clockwise; trail was an incline up the mountain and a decline back down to the aspen forest. Fall colored aspens were prominent at the start and end of the trail! Wooden bridges were slippery with ice. Decent sized parking area at the trailhead. Restroom available at the parking lot. Required to drive on gravel road for ~3 miles. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/gmfUHF9BAc0

    Photos
    Great Basin National Park
    Great Basin National Park
    Great Basin National Park - 09-21-2025

    See all

    09-21-2025

    Lehman Caves - Typical cave feature on the Gothic Palace Tour.

    Lehman Caves

    4.8(45 reviews)
    37.0 mi

    These caves are located in The Great Basin National Park. You need to go to the Lehman Caves…read moreVisitor Center. This is a different location from The Great Basin Visitor Center. In order to visit the caves, you need to purchase a ticket (which is also your reservation) and a National Park Entry Pass of some sort. I purchased my tickets for the Parachute Shield Tour online at the recreation.gov website. I got a Senior ticket ($6) & a regular ticket ($12). There is no additional fee. When I went to check-in, I presented my ticket confirmation email and my National Park Pass. The tour is about an our long. It is said that Absalom S. Lehman discovered the caves when riding his horse. The horse broke through a crust covering the cave's natural entrance. No one really knows for sure who discovered the cave or how. Lehman Caves was designated Lehman Caves National Monument before it became part of The Great Basin National Park. We gathered at a door that looked like the right door. It was the right place to be at, but not the one we used. The Ranger met us here and instructed us to use the shoe washing station. After we all washed the soles of our shoes, we all walked up the hill to a different door to begin our descent into the cave. It's the same door we exited from at the end of the tour. The first room we arrived at was the Lodge Room. Then we walked through a man-made walkway called "The Panama Canal" which led us to the next room, The Inscription Room. Here, you can see where the explorers belly crawled through "Fat Man's Misery" (natural entrance) to get here. When they made it to the Inscription Room, they used the soot from their flame to inscribe their name on the ceiling. To get to the Grand Palace, we walked on the path called "The Rocky Road" which took us past the Lake Room & Cypress Swamp. Our tour ended at the Sunken Garden. To exit, we retraced our paths back to where we entered. We toured these rooms: Lodge Room Inscription Room - has names & dates on the ceiling Cypress Swamp - many stalactites suspended from the low ceiling resemble a swamp full of Cypress Trees Lake Room - named for the small, year-round pool to the side Grand Palace - the largest room on the tour and absolutely wondrous Sunken Garden - deepest part of the cave at about 235 ft below the surface. There's a viewing platform here. The Grand Palace is where you'll see the cave bacon, stalactites and stalagmites that almost touch, this tour's namesake, the Parachute Shield, and other points of interest. Lehman Caves boasts of shield formations, most iconic is the Parachute Shield which is pictured on souvenirs. While most other caves have a couple shield formations, Lehman Caves amazingly has more than 500. Just before the end of our tour, the ranger asked if our group wanted to experience the cave pitch black. We all agreed and the lights were turned off for a minute or two. It was pretty eery, the silence and darkness. Once the lights were back on, we walked out of the cave. This was a very fascinating tour. They say that each time you enter the cave, the experience will be different. If we ever come back here, I'd be willing to take the tour again!

    Lehman Caves is a small part of the experience when exploring Great Basin National Park. It's…read morelocated 6 miles from the entrance and just past Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive which takes you to the summit of Great Basin. Since Lehman Caves are done by guided tours with park rangers at specific times, I'd suggest signing up for a tour and checking off going inside the caves in the morning and then having the remainder of the day to drive to Wheeler Peak and do some hiking at your own leisure. This way you're not held hostage to taking an afternoon tour and having to keep an eye on the clock. There are two types of Lehman Cave tours. - Gothic Palace - 30 minutes - $8 fee - 10:30am, 1:30pm - no reservation needed - Lodge Room - 60 minutes - $12 fee - 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm - reservation required. 9:30am, 12:30pm - no reservation needed Reservations for cave tours can be made online at recreation.gov. Spontaneously walking up for day of tours can be made at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center which again is situated 6 miles into Great Basin Park and just past Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Here's the gist from my experiences... During my first visit to Great Basin back in 2019, I enjoyed seeing the 60 minute Lodge Room. It was a photogenic cave from my recollections. I recommended it at the time. Now for my return visit back in September of 2024, I tried the 30 minute Gothic Palace and was disappointed. You enter one simple room. The hanging walls of stalagmites and stalactites aren't so dramatic. And for a quick 30 minute tour, half the time is spent reviewing rules and procedures. Yes, the ranger turns out the lights for a few moments and gives you a few minutes to capture a few photos. My thoughts were...."I'd rather be hiking at the top of Wheeler Peak." So I guess what I'm trying to say is...choose the 60 minute Lodge Room tour over Gothic Palace. But either way for me....caves are just not my thing, yet I still return to them as I'm a glutton for punishment, lol. Extra notes... - Average cave temperatures are 52 degrees. - No touching the walls due to oils from your hands. - Before entering, you'll wipe the soles of your shoes in a liquid to prevent the spread of disease to the resident bats. - When you complete the tour, you can consider walking the Mountain View Nature Trail for 1/3rd of a mile which starts beside the cave entrance/exit. Though...this nature trail has zero to offer. You're better off getting onto Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive ASAP. Overall, Great Basin NP is host to a variety of natural wonders and ecosystems including ancient bristlecone pine trees, alpine lakes, cascading streams, craggy mountain peaks, a lone standing glacier, adventurous hiking trails and these Lehman Caves. You can include a guided cave tour as part of your journey but in my opinion, you wouldn't be missing anything special if you decide to opt out and simply get started exploring the park on your own terms.

    Photos
    Lehman Caves - Inside the Gothic Palace

    Inside the Gothic Palace

    Lehman Caves - 09-21-2025

    09-21-2025

    Lehman Caves - On the 30 minute Gothic Palace Your, you'll confront stalagmites and stalagtites.

    See all

    On the 30 minute Gothic Palace Your, you'll confront stalagmites and stalagtites.

    Ely KOA - rvparks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...