Camping on the way to JT from vegas?

I'm headed to JT this sat./tues and was wondering about any "good/cool" camping spots between Vegas and there. I'm not leaving til sat. afternoon and so I'm thinking it might be easier to camp outside the park sat night and then pick up a site sun when others are leaving. Ideas? Thoughts? Options? or should we stay in vegas sat night and leave sunday early?!?

I don't know of any place in particular, but there are surely some sweet spots in the Mojave. The drive is only about 3.5-4 hours, so just do it in one push.

Bryan Manning wrote:I'm headed to JT this sat./tues and was wondering about any "good/cool" camping spots between Vegas and there. I'm not leaving til sat. afternoon and so I'm thinking it might be easier to camp outside the park sat night and then pick up a site sun when others are leaving. Ideas? Thoughts? Options? or should we stay in vegas sat night and leave sunday early?!?

Thx for the replys!
clarification: I'm not worried about the drive time... I'm worried about getting a camping spot in the park on a Saturday night...
I'm also aware that there's ALOT of open desert between here and there, just wondering if anyone knew of something cool as an option compared to say a area known for meth labs and the hills have eyes type shit :)

Bryan Manning wrote:clarification: I'm not worried about the drive time... I'm worried about getting a camping spot in the park on a Saturday night...

Will post coordinates for a cool campsite on the Mojave Trail tonight when I get off work halfway between Vegas and JT

Jon

I think leaving Sunday morning . The check out time for campgrounds is 12 pm , if you leave Vegas at 8 am , it should be perfect timing to grab a site by the time you get there. And then you don't have to hassle with finding a place to sleep on Saturday night

Official checkout time might be noon, but in reality most of the campsites are gone long before that, especially in Hidden Valley Campground.. Whether you camp out en route or drive straight through I would advise arriving in the campground shortly after sunrise. Walk through the campground and look for people who appear to be packing up to leave, and be ready to put your name on the first campsite that comes open.

Stay at "the pit" about 10 minutes outside the west entrance in city of jtree. Corner of Alto Loma and Sunset. It's free!! No services at all though so bring a few wag bags.