2023-02-08, 08:42 AM
Exploring DV with 2WD is fun, done it for years, some white knuckle moments, and as you know you have to drive with care and be prepared.
I suspect you can find the status of the NPS campgrounds which take reservations at recreation.gov. The large one at SPW is not NPS, but they have a web site (shared with the hotel). There is also a small NPS campground there. Emigrant and Wildrose (higher, colder) are free and I think first come, first served. Emigrant can be noisy from the highwy.
For dispersed camping, both Hole in Wall and Echo Canyon roads, probably fine in the lower sections for 2wd (I've done it, don't know about conditions at the moment), now have a permit system. It is new, and I don't know how you get a permit. I presume that means designated sites. Ditto the Cottonwood road, which can be sandy and is currently closed. Is that where you got stuck in sand?
Greenwater Valley road is popular for dispersed camping, as is the Harry Wade road. For both, people mostly camp within a mile or so of the pavement but options abound. Greenwater generally easier on 2WD in my experience, but both OK. On 190 east of the park there is a very large area known as Slab Camp which is outside the park and popular with the dirtbag camping crowd - you usually see some parties out there when you drive by.
I suspect you can find the status of the NPS campgrounds which take reservations at recreation.gov. The large one at SPW is not NPS, but they have a web site (shared with the hotel). There is also a small NPS campground there. Emigrant and Wildrose (higher, colder) are free and I think first come, first served. Emigrant can be noisy from the highwy.
For dispersed camping, both Hole in Wall and Echo Canyon roads, probably fine in the lower sections for 2wd (I've done it, don't know about conditions at the moment), now have a permit system. It is new, and I don't know how you get a permit. I presume that means designated sites. Ditto the Cottonwood road, which can be sandy and is currently closed. Is that where you got stuck in sand?
Greenwater Valley road is popular for dispersed camping, as is the Harry Wade road. For both, people mostly camp within a mile or so of the pavement but options abound. Greenwater generally easier on 2WD in my experience, but both OK. On 190 east of the park there is a very large area known as Slab Camp which is outside the park and popular with the dirtbag camping crowd - you usually see some parties out there when you drive by.