North Carolina: Linville Gorge Wilderness Pisgah National Forest
Youll need a permit to camp overnight on weekends and holidays in the Linville Gorge Wilderness, but theyre free. This 12-mile-long gorge plummets 2,000 feet to the Linville River and has a variety of stunning dispersed camping along the canyons western rim. Youll find over a dozen roadside campsites on the rugged, unpaved Old North Carolina 105, also known as Kistler Memorial Highway, with views of Table Rock Mountain in the distance and easy access to hiking trails in and around the gorge.
Gear You Need For Free Camping In Texas
Start with your normal familycamping checklist before adding other important gear into the mix.
In addition to camping standbys like a sleeping bag, camping tent, and a stove, those planning to go free camping often require a portable power source, like portable solar panels, as well as a portable shower.
This is because of the often remote and dispersed nature of free camping with few to any amenities close at hand. You should also understand how to go to the bathroom in the woods without using a facility.
Of course, its always important to follow the leave no trace principles to a T when camping, but its even more important when dispersed camping. Remember to always pack out all trash, including human waste .
Where Is Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is considered a remote park because of how far away from everythingincluding grocery stores, gas stations, towns, and a wide selection of hotels .
Located in the southwest corner of Texas, Big Bend National Park hugs the Texas-Mexico border.
From areas within the park, you will see the Rio Grande running through the park that separates Texas from Mexico.
Because of just how remote the park is, it is important to find the RV park near Big Bend National Park for you as far in advance as possible.
The most popular time of year to visit Big Bend National Park is October through March, with the temperatures are bearable, and you can see wildflowers all around.
Read Also: How To Find A Camping Spot
Rio Grande Village Rv Campground
Located not far from the Rio Grande Village Campground, the RV park is a long and narrow, paved parking area, with RV sites lining the sides. While the parking-lot-style setup is not wonderful, the surrounding scenery is.
Large cottonwood trees surround the area, although they are not close enough to provide shade, and you can see the mountains in the distance. Roadrunners and other critters frequent the area.
Just down the road from the RV park is a pleasant picnic area and the start of a hike that leads to the hot springs, although this is by no means the shortest access point to the hot springs.
The Rio Grande Village RV, operated by Forever Resorts, offers 25 sites, all with full hookups, and 20 of which are reservable. The elevation here is 1,800 feet, and days can be quite hot, depending on the season. A camp store is nearby with some food and basic supplies.
Budget Campsites For Big Bend Park Big Bend Np K Bar
AddressChihuahuan Desert Research Station RoadBig Bend National Park, TexasGPS: 29.306854, -103.176644Elevation: 3428
Management: National Park Service
A permit is required to stay in all backcountry campsites at Big Bend National Park. You may stay up to 14 days with the permit. This Big Bend National Park free campsite area is perfect to cut expensive costs for the park.
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Guide To Exploring Big Bend National Park + 4 Day Trip Itinerary
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Big Bend National Park had been on our list of places to visit for years before we finally had the chance to check it out in 2021. It had eluded us partly due to how out of the way it is and its sheer size, making it a park we wanted to dedicate a few days to. Named after a large bend in the Rio Grande river, this park is full of diversity in its geology, plant and animal life, and history. In this article, we share some tips and recommendations to consider if you ever find yourself looking for an incredible National Park to explore in West Texas.
How To Boondock At Big Bend National Park
Big Bend in Texas is an unusual park in the National Park System because they offer a few inexpensive RV dry camping sites scattered about the park grounds. It isnt really boondocking like youd find on other government public land managed by the US National Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. However, it is a very inexpensive and scenic alternative to staying in a conventional RV park or campground. For first-time boondockers, it can offer a great introduction to dry camping amid nature and solitude in your RV.
Big Bend National Park assigns these campsites on a first-come first-serve basis, as if the entire National Park were one huge campground. The sites that are big enough for large RVs are very few and are tightly controlled, and the system for obtaining a Backcountry Camping Permit to stay in one can be confusing. Here is what we learned about the system when we took part in it for two weeks during February and March, 2015.
Boondocking at Big Bend National Park
All five of the Visitors Centers in the park have computer access to a database of dispersed campsites throughout the park. You can obtain a permit and reserve a site in person from a ranger at one of these Visitors Centers 24 hours ahead of your stay. The permit is $10 and you can reserve up to 14 consecutive nights in specific campsites on a single permit, reserving as many different sites as you like and as are available.
Boondocking at Big Bend National Park
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The Complete Guide To Camping In Big Bend National Park
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Big Bend National Park sits on the Rio Grande River in West Texas. This stunning national park features an incredible landscape of deep canyons, high mountains, and arid desert that protects a vast area of Chihuahuan Desert. Big Bend is so remote that the National Park Service has determined that it has the best stargazing of any of the national parks in the lower 48 states. Given all that, we think the best way to experience all that Big Bend National Park has to offer is by spending the night in your tent or RV where youll experience this incredible landscape first hand.
Big Bend National Park and the surrounding areas have plenty of options for camping. From the four developed campgrounds located within the national park, to the primitive roadside campgrounds dotted through the landscape, to the backcountry wilderness campsites high in the Chisos Mountains, youre sure to find the perfect campsite in Big Bend.
In addition to the campgrounds within the national park youll also find great options for RV and car camping just outside the park boundary. Needless to say, youll be spoiled for options.
Keeping reading to get all the details to plan your perfect camping trip in Big Bend National Park.
How To Get To Big Bend
Getting to Big Bend is easy. You can use two modes of transport, either driving to the park or you can catch a flight to the nearest town and drive to the park.
For driving options there is no public transport and you will have to drive your car or join a tour group heading to Big Bend Park. Several highways lead to the park including the highway 170 from Presidio to Study Butte, 385 highway heads to Marathon, highway 118 from Alpine to Study Butte.
The nearest airport connections are in the Texas, Midland, El Pasos airports. If you are wondering after landing how to get to the park, at the airport, they have rental cars to anyone who wishes to proceed to the park.
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Places And Things To Do And See
Big Bend Park has many places to offer its visitors. Things to do while in the park are also plentiful. You can enjoy all the beautiful sceneries and learn a lot about the Big Bends National history. It is home to many species, including 1200 plant species, 75 mammals, more than 450 bird species, and 56 reptiles.
While in the park, you can see the Santa Elena Canyon, the tallest in the park and its river, the desert view at the Chimneys trail, where the view is magnificent with volcanic rocks. Hiking throughout the park at different trails is also an activity that you can engage in. You can go to the desert, the mountain, or the rivers for hiking. At the rivers, you can enjoy both boat and rafting, else if you have your passport with you, you can have the privilege of crossing the border to Mexico on a boat or drive through.
You can also enjoy the long drives on of one of the many roads inside the park This will give you ample time to view the desert, high mountains and breath the fresh air of Big Bend Park. Note: many of these road do require a 4×4 vehicle with high clearance.
Santa Elena Canyon Trail
This is a simple walk with excellent views. To gain height, stair climbing is required. The rock formations are spectacular and fascinating to observe. It is magnificent as you enter the canyon. This is a great little hike with enough of things to occupy your attention. We went to the canyon via Old Maverick Road , which added to the thrill and excitement. For this option, youll need high clearance and 4-wheel drive.
Length: 1.4 miElevation gain: 157 ftRoute type: Out & back
Kid friendly, Hiking, Walking, Running, Beach, Rails trails, River, Views, Wildflowers, Wildlife, Rocky, Fee, No dogs
Also Check: Free Rv Camping In New Mexico
Water + Dump Stations
If youre in a self contained vehicle youre going to be looking for water and a dump station. There are two in downtown Bend. One is closer to the Deschutes free camping areas but the other one is free:
- Free dump & fill station: Chevron station on NW Revere
- Paid dump & fill station: Shell station on NW Galveston
- Paid dump & fill station: Lava Lake Campground on Cascade Lakes Highway. If youre free camping way out in Three Sisters Wilderness, this is probably a more convenient location.
Nevada: Spencer Hot Springs Austin
Camping in the middle of nowhere? Sometimes thats what you need to truly get away. But camping in the middle of nowhere next to some hot springs? Now were talking. Spencer Hot Springs is on BLM land about 20 miles outside the town of Austin, which is on U.S. Route 50, nicknamed the Loneliest Highway in America. You can camp for free on pullouts along dirt roads anywhere around the hot springs, which consists of three rustic soaking tubs. Dont camp right at the springspitch your tent at least 300 feet from any water source and then walk to a tub.
Also Check: Best Primitive Camping In Ohio
Budget Campsites For Big Bend Park Big Bend Np Paint Gap
AddressBig Bend National Park, TexasGPS: 29.397415, -103.304238Elevation: 3533
Management: National Park Service
A permit is required to stay in all backcountry campsites at Big Bend National Park. You may stay up to 14 days with the permit. This Big Bend National Park boondocking area is perfect to cut expensive costs for the park.
Best Boondocking In Texas
Free camping in Texas is arguably much easier in a tent thanan RV.
The reason for this is that many free campsites in Texas aresmackdab in the middle of nowhere with minimal maintenance and upkeep. Thismeans that the dirt access roads are often very rough, especially after heavyrains.
That said, many Texas free campsites do accommodate RVs.Its just important to do a little extra research, keep an eye on the weather,and scout ahead on foot if necessary.
Also important is to understand youre likely in forboondocking. Also known as dry camping, boondockingis the most primitive form of RV camping. Simply put, dont expect any water,electric, or sewer hookups. In fact, amenities are at a minimum all around. Youlikely wont even have access to potable water or a flush toilet.
What were trying to say is that self sufficieny is a must for free boondocking in Texas. Know going into it that youll need to rely on your own stores of water and energy. Many serious boondockers invest in a portable power device, such as a generator, or even a full-fledged RV solar system, especially for long-term stays.
Recommended Reading: 5 Gallon Water Dispenser Camping
Reservations & Permits For Big Bend National Park Camping
Reservations are now required at all of the NPS campgrounds in Big Bend, including Chisos Basin Campground, Rio Grande Village Campground, and Rio Grande Village RV Campground. Reservations at the Rio Grande Village Campground are only available from November 1st April 15th.
Get the most up-to-date information on campground reservations in Big Bend here.
In addition, reservations are required year round for the group campgrounds located at Chisos Basin, Rio Grande Village, and Cottonwood Campgrounds.
To make a reservation for the Big Bend Campgrounds youll need to visit Recreation.gov, which manages campground reservations for the National Park Service. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance of your trip, but are not accepted less than 48 hours prior to arrival.
For the Rio Grande Village RV Campground reservations can be made by calling 1-877-386-4383.
For those interested in exploring the backcountry of Big Bend, either by camping at one of the roadside primitive campsites or by hiking to a backcountry campsite, youll need a Backcountry Use Permit issued by the park service. Backcountry permits are required for anyone camping in the Big Bend backcountry, so be sure to secure yours in advance.
Backcountry campsites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance via Recreation.gov.
Iowa: Eagle Lake State Game Management Area Britt
Camping in the middle of a cornfield? Sounds like Iowa. The Eagle Lake State Game Management Area isnt exactly an official campsite, but the Iowa Department of Natural Resources allows dispersed camping on select state wildlife-management areas for up to 14 days. This unassuming spot, at the end of a gravel road in a bucolic wetland near Mason City, is set within an open grassy field near Eagle Lake and is popular with other boondockers.
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Delaware: Blackbird State Forest Smyrna
Though camping at Blackbird State Forest used to be free and first come, first served, the Delaware Department of Agriculture introduced a new online reservation system and $25-per-night fee in March 2021, due to increased demand for camping. But unlike a crowded state-park campground, these rustic sites are well spaced apart and come with minimal amenities. Blackbird State Forest, 30 minutes from Wilmington, has eight simple tent sites, plus a fishing pond and a few hiking trails, while Redden State Forest, just north of Georgetown, has another seven sites.
Where To Camp In Big Bend National Park Outside The Park
Many national parks in the United States are surrounded by other public lands such as national forests or BLM owned land. Thats not the case at Big Bend. The National Park Website says:
Please be aware that there are NO overflow campsites in Big Bend National Park, and NO nearby public lands outside the park. If you plan on visiting Big Bend during the busiest times of the year and do not have reservations, it is best to come prepared with alternative plans for lodging or camping outside of the park. If you camp in parking lots or along park roadsides you will be cited.
There are camping options in Terlingua the closest town and nearby private land that landowners are beginning to utilize for camping. Heres a few suggestions of where to camp in Big Bend National Park outside the park.
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The Trade Offs Involved In Free Camping In Texas
There are obviously trade-offs involved in seeking out free camping in Texas. When you stay in private campgrounds or state-run parks you have access to certain amenities.
The campgrounds in Texas are generally located in more developed regions. With free camping, you are roughing in more ways than one.
You have to be a lot more self-sufficient and do extra planning. There will generally be no running water, sewage system, trash cans, picnic tables etc. Some free public campsites offer parking, restrooms, and hookups, but dont bet on it.
In free camping, you are taken off the beaten track. This usually amounts to a lot more effort but more adventure also.
The decision to go free camping also requires that you have a certain amount of knowledge of the lands you stay in. Anywhere in the US, including Texas, the land is managed by a wide variety of national, state, and local governments.
There is also privately owned land, federally owned land, and Indian Reservations. There is a proverbial minefield of different rules and regulations to negotiate with.
If you pull up somewhere far away from everything else and think that no one will care, you will often be mistaken. You need to be well versed on where you should and should not stay. You dont want your free camping trip to become your illegal camping trip.