Other Places You Can Camp For Free In California
Oftentimes, youll just be trying to get from Point A to Point B when roadtripping through California. So, you may not want to spend hours driving down dirt roads on federal lands.
Here are some other places you can find free overnight parking in California. If youre camping on private property, its recommended you make a call first to be safe.
- Vacant Parking Lots
- Church Parking Lots
I do recommend you read reviews on any of the aforementioned camping apps or make phone calls before trying out some of these suggestions.
We have camped for free overnight in rest stops and at truck stops all over California with no problems at all.
Bureau Of Land Management Public Land
You can camp on many dispersed camping sites located on public land owned by the Bureau of Land Management for up to 14 days. All hail dispersed camping on BLM public lands!
However, you will find some BLM-managed public lands that have no camping signs so keep an eye on those as well.
The Bureau of Land Management also manages developed campgrounds that offer facilities such as tent pads, picnic areas, garbage cans, electrical hookups, and restrooms. Most of these require you to pay a fee.
Dispersed campsites on public lands operated by the Bureau of Land Management are located on most secondary roads.
If you camp on a free dispersed campsite in California, you mustnt dispose of sewage, hazardous materials or pollute the surrounding area in any manner. As long as you stick to the Leave No Trace principle, youll be fine.
Federal Rv Camping Information
- National Park Service NPS information about California RV camping on National Park Service administered lands.
- US Forest Service USFS clickable map for all National Forests in California. Great dispersed California RV camping sites and many developed campgrounds.
- Bureau of Land Management BLM information about BLM administered lands in California. LTVA information as well as dispersed RV camping and developed campgrounds.
VIDAL JUNCTIONFree RV camping on BLM administered land. Unlimited area for any size RV on the Southeast corner of the intersection.
Our Public Lands and Boondocking Section has more information about finding remote free RV camping locations, and our Free RV Camping has ideas about free camping and parking places you may not have thought about.
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South Carolina: Santee Coastal Reserve Reserve Wildlife Management Area Francis Marion National Forest
The 24,000-acre Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area was established by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in 1974, and today its a total gem for campers looking to get away. Within the marshy wildlife habitatwhich is home to sea turtles and songbirdssits a free primitive campground with eight designated sites and zero amenities , right on the coast of South Carolina, about an hour north of Charleston. There are several marked trails for hikers within the reserve.
Public Lands Near Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes is famous for world-class skiing, but theres so much more you can do in this part of the Golden State. You will find incredible ghost towns, fishing spots, biking trails, as well as excellent campgrounds near the less-visited backside of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The entrance to Yosemite is just 30 miles outside of Mammoth Lakes. And, just 10 miles outside of town, you will find a lovely, free camping site called Owens River Road.
The campground offers many opportunities for shade, thanks to the many pine trees scattered throughout the area.
Even though the site is very popular among locals, there’s room for everyone at the campground. The road out is well-groomed, so it is an excellent spot for car camping as well as tent camping.
However, the area is known for its mountain passes and switchbacks, so trip planning is important if you are traveling with an RV. The cell service in the area is surprisingly good.
Near Mono Lake, youll find the Sagehen Meadows Campground. Unlike the Owens River camping site, the Sagehen Meadows Campground offers very little tree coverage. This makes it a great camping site for stargazing at night.
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What People Are Saying About Crystal Cove State Park Moro Campground
Its a nice area and the campsites have some great views of the state park and surrounding areas. Our campsite was pretty empty but there were still people hiking by most of the evening. Still, we had a great time and Id consider going back for another weekend. Amy Anderson, Google Review
Location
Glass Creek Campgroundnear Mammoth Lakes
Image from The Dyrt camper Amber D.
When youre looking for free California camping or boondocking, it doesnt get much better than Glass Creek Campground, just outside of Mammoth Lakes. With 66 spacious campsites, you can easily pull through a 45 motorhome or trailer for a three-week stay near Mammoth and the June Lakes District.
Once you arrive, self-register at the kiosk and then settle in! Theres wildlife in the area, so be bear aware of your food and other belongings. And with no water on site youll want to pack in enough to reduce your trips into town. Plenty of trails lead out from the campground for convenient day hikes.
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Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping
Image from The Dyrt camper Daniel S.
According to the USFS, most of the land in Inyo County is publicly owned, so anywhere you can find to park and camp for the night is fair game. While the Forest Service recommends purchasing a map to distinguish public land from private, you can find somewhere to camp with enough space to hang up a hammock and enjoy the surrounding flora and fauna.
At Inyo, campers can remain for 28 days per every six months in each of the four ranger districts and campsites can be found along the road in compacted pull-outs, many of which have established primitive fire rings. If you do decide to have a fire, always check with the ranger station to understand the fire danger levels.
Nebraska: Sandhills Samuel R Mckelvie National Forest
The state allows dispersed camping in a handful of its national forests, including 116,000-acre Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, which is part of the Nebraska Sandhills, a mix of prairie and grassy sand dunes. You could post up at the 23-site Steer Creek Campground, in the southeast corner of the national forest, if youd prefer facilities, or youre allowed to disperse-camp outside of the campground as well.
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Camping On Public Lands
BLM-managed lands offer numerous opportunities for camping under the stars ranging from staying in an RV at a highly developed campground to simply throwing a sleeping bag on the ground in the backcountry. No matter what type of experience you are looking for, you can find it on BLM-managed public lands.
Utah: Muley Point Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
There may be no more scenic free camping site in the country than Muley Point, an overlook within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area thats set atop thousand-foot cliffs above the San Juan River Canyon, near the town and rock formation known as Mexican Hat. Park your rig here and youll be high above Goosenecks State Park, with views into Monument Valley. Youll sacrifice privacy for the postcard-worthy vistas, though. To get here, take Utah State Route 261, the Moki Dugway Scenic Backway, and pull off on the dirt Muley Point Road. Tread carefullydont park too close to the edgeand watch out for high winds and extreme heat in the summertime.
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Keysville Special Recreation Management Area
In central California, youll find Keysville Special Recreation Management Area . It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Free camping is allowed as long as you park in the established areas.
Kern River passes through the area, and Lake Isabella is nearby, so you can go white-water rafting, fishing, and pan for gold. Swimming in the area, however, is highly discouraged. There are over seventy miles of trails for mountain biking, horseback riding, and motorized recreation use. If you need supplies, the city of Bakersfield is less than an hour away.
Top 10 Campgrounds And Rv Parkslong Beach California
Located in Southern California along the spanning Pacific Ocean, Long Beach puts residents and visitors in a prime location for access to modern conveniences in a refreshing beach-community atmosphere. Dubbed the Most Walkable City, Long Beach offers the people who live, work, or vacation in the area plenty to see and do. From the variety of tours offered to the magical theme parks situated within a short distance of Long Beach, California there is always something that will bring you back to the area.
If you want to get out there and experience all that the area has to offer, knowing which Long Beach campgrounds are available is a helpful start. RV camping gives you the opportunity to get up close to the sites around California that will leave you with a positive and lasting impression. To ensure that you get the most out of your time spent in and around the city, its a good idea to find RV parks in Long Beach, California with reviews so that you can get an idea of what others experienced before you.
- BBQ/Picnic area
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If There’s One Thing Better Than Camping It’s Free Camping Especially In A Wooded Or Beachfront Area
In California, a state known for its areas of natural beauty, there’s enough free camping to keep you bouncing around for months or even years.
While most national parks don’t offer free camping, look for Bureau of Land Management or United States Forest Service land on the outskirts, where the perfect free camping California site awaits you.
Courtesy of The Dyrt
How and Where to Find Free Camping in California
If you’ve never looked for free camping before, be patient and do your research ahead of time. The chances are high you’ll take a wrong turn or go a mile in the wrong directionwhen that happens, take a deep breath and enjoy the drive. Free camping exists in wild and wonderful places and the better equipped you are to enjoy the journey the more you’ll enjoy the destination.
Free camping in California can generally be found on BLM and USFS property, and some of the best sites are found by taking a random turn down a dirt road with a cattle guard and driving until you find a pull-out.
Benchmark maps make some of the best recreation-based atlases for exploring your state and region, with shaded regions denoting private and public property. They also cordon off national parks from national forests and differentiate between 4WD and paved roads. By cross-referencing your Benchmark map with Google Maps it’s easier than ever to identify areas with a high likelihood of free camping.
Here are 12 favorite sites.
Orr Lake Campground
Black Rock Campground: Lassen National Forest
Bureau Of Land Management Land
dispersed camping on BLM land
What is BLM land you ask? Its public land owned by the Bureau of Land Management. You can camp on many dispersed camping sites on BLM land for up to 14 days.
There are some areas that will have no camping signs so pay attention to those, too.
Here is info on camping in California. Ive honestly never found their site that helpful in terms of finding campgrounds, so I just prefer to use freecampsites.net as it lists BLM land sites, too.
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Huntington By The Sea Rv Park
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When looking for long-term RV parks in Long Beach, California, Huntington by the Sea can help. This park provides relaxed accommodations for individuals enjoying an extended stay in the area. In addition to daily sunshine, visitors to the park have access to great amenities that will keep them entertained.
Tennessee: Paint Creek Corridor Cherokee National Forest
The free dispersed sites outside of the town of Greenville, on the five-mile stretch of Forest Road 41, also known as Paint Creek Road, tend to fill up on busy weekends, so get here early or midweek to snag a coveted spot. This is part of the 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest, Tennessees only national forest, and camping is allowed in designated spots only. Even if youre not spending the night, this is a scenic road to drive or stop in for a picnic, with views of Kelly and Dudley Falls.
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How To Find Free Camping In California
Free camping, also known as boondocking, can be found on public lands as long as it doesnt conflict with other authorized uses or isnt explicitly closed to camping. The campsites are located along most secondary roads on Bureau of Land Management lands and arent always marked. Staying on public land is also usually limited to 14 days. There are also many businesses that allow overnight parking.
North Dakota: Camels Hump Lake Medora
This low-key campsite west of Medora shines in its accessibilityyoure just off Interstate 94 on a well-maintained dirt road. Sure, you can hear the highway noise a little from camp, but youre also sleeping next to delightful Camels Hump Lake, just 15 minutes from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The sites are managed by North Dakota Game and Fish, and this zone is closed to camping on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Three designated sites come with picnic tables and fire rings, but if those are full, there are other spots nearby.
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Los Padres National Forest
Stretching along the Pacific Ocean in southern California is Los Padres National Forest. It has a range of different ecosystems, so you can spend time at the beach, climb a mountain, or fish along a river. There are also dozens of lookout spots that give you panoramic views of the forest.
There are four dispersed camping areas in the forest: Monterey, Mt. Pinos, Santa Barbara, and Santa Lucia. Dispersed camping is allowed in other areas, but acquiring a map is recommended since private land is scattered throughout.
Resources For Finding Free Camping In California
- To find free camping in California, or anywhere else in the U.S., check out the Free Campsites website. The Free Campsites website may look a bit outdated, but the interactive map on the site is very easy to use.
- Campendium is also a great website for finding free camping sites in California. On top of helping you find free camping locations, the premium version of the app displays cell coverage maps and trail maps.
- The non-profit iOverlander app is very useful for finding free tent camping and RV camping without access to the sewer, electricity, or water .
- Visit the map of California on the U.S. Forest Service website. By clicking on the links or the map, you can check out individual federally protected areas in California such as national forests.
- Go to the visit page on the BLM website. To find free camping in the Golden State, sort by activity and location .
- Its a good idea to print out a map and stop by the ranger station or the visitor center if you already know your destination. Local rangers are the best source of information on free camping in any area.
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Camping In Southern California:
Mojave National Preserve Kelso, CA Free dispersed camping available on a first come first served basis. A great spot for viewing wildlife. Some of the roads are narrow and not ideal for large vehicles or campers. It is first come first served for camping all over this area.
Mahogany Flats Campground Death Valley National Park, CA This campground is open from November to March with up to 15 campsites available. Total stay time here is no more than 14 days. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table, and there are restrooms available for use on site. This is a good location for biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Rose Valley Campground Ojai, CA You may camp for free here but a permit is required. There are vault toilets available. The campsites do have fire rings and picnic tables too but no water access. This is a spot ideal for hikers and enjoying the scenic wildlife.
Alder Creek Borrego Spring, CA This location is used primarily for dispersed camping only. You may camp here in an RV that is not longer than 20 feet. Public restrooms are available. No reservations are required but you must take your trash with you when you leave.
Ocotillo Wells SVRA Borrego Springs, CA This park is open from 10/1- 5/31 and you can stay for up to 14 days.There are showers available and a public restroom. This area is a great area if you have a four wheeler, dune buggy, or off road recreational vehicle. Bring your own water for your campsite.
The Best Free Campsites In All 50 States
You dont need a reservation to pitch a tent at these free and dispersed camping areas on public land, from empty beaches to lush forests to hot springs. Go, enjoy, and pledge to leave the place in better shape than you found it.
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While everyone else is scrambling to get a coveted campsite in state and national parks across the country this summer, theres a whole bunch of public land thats open for you to enjoy. The federal government owns over a quarter of our nations landmassmore than 640 million acresand a good chunk of that is available for you to use and enjoy and, importantly, take care of.
Free camping in these spaces usually equates to dispersed camping, which means camping outside of designated campgrounds. You can pitch a tent or park your van overnight on grounds managed by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management , in places where dispersed camping is permitted. Weve included that style of camping here, whenever possible. In some states, weve highlighted free, primitive campgroundsdeveloped sites with minimal amenities that dont require reservations. And in the few cases of states with little to no free or dispersed camping, weve included remote, quiet campgrounds with fees of $25 a night or less.
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