Georgia: Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area Chattahoochee
Lake Conasauga is Georgias highest lake, at 3,150 feet elevation, near the summit of Grassy Mountain. Its an idyllic destination, beloved by bird-watchers, anglers, and hikers. Although theres a developed campground on the 19-acre lake, a mile away, dispersed camping is allowed on the expansive, grassy Ball Field, named after the stickball played here by Cherokee tribes as a means to resolve conflicts. By day, hike the nearby Emory Creek Falls Trail or the Tearbritches Trail by night, enjoy stargazing from the field.
Lava Beds National Monument Road
Location: Near Lava Beds National Monument
Last but not least on our list of the best places for free camping in California is a stretch of campsites on the southern road that leads into Lava Beds National Monument.
To access these dispersed campsites, start at the small community of Tionesta and head north on Lava Beds National Monument Road.
Youll notice dispersed campsites almost immediately but I recommend driving in at least a mile or two for a more private, secluded spot. Spacious level spots are available for boondocking in RVs and trailers.
Just be aware that dispersed camping isnt allowed within the national monument itself. So, make sure to set up camp before the entrance.
What I Like:
Camp here for the convenience to Lava Beds National Monument. There are dozens of previously-used campsites and its easy to find a private one. Many campsites are simply pull-offs right off the road, but there are a few dirt side roads that take you further back into the pine forest.
What I Dont Like:
It gets quite windy here at times. Much of the area also burned in recent forest fires, so expect charred and burnt trees, depending on where you set up camp.
Other Free Campsites Nearby:
Camping along Lava Beds National Monument Road north of Tionesta is your best bet, but there are also some dispersed campsites just south of Tionesta along County Road 97A as well.
For More Info:
Lava Beds National Monument Road is located in Modoc National Forest.
Washington: Quinault Ridge Road Olympic National Forest
You cant disperse camp within Olympic National Park, but it is allowed in Olympic National Forest, not far from the entrance to the national park. Check out the roadside spots off Quinault Ridge Road, which is Forest Road 2258, just off Highway 101 north of the town of Aberdeen. These spots are scenic and quiet, and a handful can be found within the first mile of the road. If youre in an extra-large vehicle, you may find turning around challenging, so choose a site wisely or head to another zone, like Forest Road 29, near the town of Forks.
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Montecito Sequoia Lodge Sequoia National Park
This lodge is right at the Giant Sequoia National Monument. It offers you access to acres of national service forest land and the Sequoia National Park, and the Kings Canyon National Park. Its an all-inclusive experience where your food, lodging, and activities are all covered.
Since the part sits at an impressive 7,400 feet above sea level, youll wake up to pristine mountain vistas and views and feel like youre completely separated from the rest of the world. The Montecito Sequoia Lodge is a hikers paradise, with an exclusive lake on-site and plenty of trekking through the sequoia groves.
Enjoy spending time together as a family, or take advantage of their complimentary child-care for children between 2 and 18 years old. At family camp California, you can stay for six nights and enjoy plenty of watersports, horseback riding, and special events.
Blm Camping In California
The BLM, or the Bureau for Land Management, is one of the two federal agencies that permit dispersed camping on their land in California.
Those planning to spend a few nights under Californias starry sky should keep these areas on their list many of them are in this state.
Some of the best BLM-managed dispersed camping areas are in the states southeastern part, near Joshua Tree, and in several of Californias northern regions.
Determining whether dispersed camping is or isnt allowed on BLM-managed land isnt always easy. For that matter, I highly advise calling the district office responsible for the area youd like to pitch your tent in. These are as follows:
If youre planning to camp in some of Californias BLM-managed areas, check out this overview of dispersed camping rules outlined by the same agency.
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Mendocino National Forest Dispersed Campgrounds Northern California
The fact that no major paved roads or highways go through its woods is one of the greatest allures of the Mendocino National Forest. The campgrounds in this national forest are perfect for those who are looking for seclusion and tranquility.
Dispersed primitive camping is available anywhere throughout the woods, just like in other national forests in California. Three dispersed campgrounds that stand out the most include Lower Nye, Lakeview, and Grizzly Flat.
The sites within the Grizzly Flat dispersed campground offer rock fire pits and vault toilets. After you set up camp, you can explore the woods, rocky terrain, mountains, or the 17-mile canyon creek.
You can also go swimming at the Stonyford Recreation Area. When you are trekking through the forest, keep an eye out for bald eagles, wild pigs, black bears, and the Tule Elk.
Old Dale Mining District
About 15 miles east of Twentynine Palms in Southern California is Old Dale Mining District, a vast tract of BLM land with plenty of dispersed camping options.
Dispersed camping near Old Dale varies depending on the spot you choose. Within the first few miles from the CA-62, you’ll find numerous camp spots that are easy to access with standard vehicles and even large rigs.
These are primarily large, flat, roomy spots with vast desert views and good cell reception.
If you continue further, you lose cell reception, and the road conditions become sandy, rough, and may require 4WD.
But you can find spots further in among the desert rocks and mountains for more interesting surroundings and desert scenery.
While camping near Old Dale, there are several options for exploring the area.
As always, you can explore by foot explore the washes, climb the rocky desert mountains, find old mine shafts, discover old mining remnants, and shot up cars .
Or, if you have a 4WD vehicle, there are plenty of dirt roads to check out. The most popular route connects this BLM area with Joshua Tree National Park.
It starts at Pinto Basin Road, 6.9 miles north of the Cottonwood Visitor Center, and ends here at Old Dale off CA-62 while encountering several abandoned mines along the way.
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Camping Along June Lake
Check out the available camping and RV Parks along June Lake. June Lake is found in California near the Inyo National Forest in the County of Mono.
Activities change depending on the season. In the winter, its the states favorite family ski and snowboard resort with free admission for children 12 and younger! Experience ski chairlifts, equipment rentals, and even take a class in snowboarding school!
In warmer seasons, find a world-class trout fishing lake. Enjoy swimming, sailing, boating, canoeing, hiking, biking, rock climbing, and scenic drives.
Youll also find shopping, galleries, several restaurants, and a local craft brewery.
Mammoth Lake is located along the Mammoth Lake National Park and near Inyo National Forest.
Explore Mammoth Cave National Park, the most comprehensive cave system on Earth and home to cave wildlife. This cave was discovered 4,000 years ago below the Green River Valley. Unfortunately, explorers have still yet to find an end to it, even with mapping out more than 400 miles of passageways
Redwood National & State Parks
Why you should camp here: Forested campgrounds nestled among rare redwoods in a remarkable ecosystem.
- Reservations accepted: Yes
- Best season: Spring, summer, fall
- Campsite types: Tent, RV, trailers, car camping
Every year visitors flock to Redwood National and State Parks to marvel in the sheer magnificence of the tallest trees in the world the redwoods.
The coast redwood ecosystem is as old as it is unique. The towering trees provide plentiful shade and cooler temperatures for an array of species, including us.
Grab your tent and plan a visit. There are four campgrounds in these parks to choose from, including the popular Jedediah Smith Campground. This campground is nestled among old-growth redwoods along the Smith River with access to restrooms and hot showers.
Hikers and backpackers alike are drawn to the Summit Lake South Campground.
Located in Lassen Volcanic National Park, this campground is conveniently located near several trailheads. Its within walking distance of Summit Lake, and the closest campground to Lassen Peak Trail.
This campground offers vault toilets and drinking water with food lockers to stash your yummy goods from hungry predators. Catering to the tent crowd, Summit Lake South Campground features a secluded tent-only loop so tent campers can find solace among their kind.
Why you should camp here: Enjoy access to the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe while slumbering among the pines.
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Alabama Hills National Recreation Area
Seeing hundreds, if not thousands of campers each year, the Alabama Hills Recreation Area, run by the BLM, is one of the most popular spots for free RV camping as well as free tent camping in California.
From smaller campervans to large RVs and fifth wheels, the campsites in the area can fit a variety of rigs. Its one of the best campgrounds to try California boondocking for the first time, thanks to its obvious campsites and easy-to-navigate dirt roads.
On top of that, the campground is extraordinarily beautiful. It comes as no surprise that the Alabama Hills are one of Hollywoods favorite filming spots. You might have a flicker of recognition as you approach the rounded, red rocks.
There are a few fire rings at the campground. But if you want to light an open flame on this slice of public land, you need to get a fire permit. If you need to stock up on amenities, Lone Pine is the nearest town.
The Mojave National Preserve
At 1.6 million acres, the Mojave National Preserve is the third largest unit of the national park system in the contiguous U.S. and is under the jurisdiction of the BLM. It is roughly 1 hour south of Las Vegas by car, right at the edge of Southern California.
Incredible rock formations dot the landscape. This preserve has lots of mountains to trek and also sand dunes to hike. Impressive Joshua tree forests are found in parts of the preserve as well, and some of these forests are the densest in the world. You can also explore a ghost town called Kelso that used to be a railroad depot. Lets check out some pictures.
This YouTube video also shows many of the beautiful spots that you can check out at the Mojave National Preserve.
Some locations mentioned in the video are:
- Mitchell Caverns
- Evening Star Mine
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Mendocino National Forest Dispersed Camping
One of the greatest allures of the Mendocino National Forest is the fact that no major highways or paved roads cross through the forest. So if youre looking for tranquility and seclusion, Mendocino is the place to go. Like other national forests, Mendocino offers dispersed primitive camping anywhere throughout the forest. There are also three dispersed campgrounds in Mendocino National Forest: Grizzly Flat, Lakeview, and Lower Nye.
Once youve established your free campsite, take your pick of activities, like horseback riding, swimming at Stonyford Recreation area , and hiking in the Chico Seed Orchard and Red Bluff Recreation Area.
Best Mountain Camping In Southern California
Idyllwild
Idyllwild is an adorable mountain town nestled into the San Jacinto Mountains. The area offers lakes, ponderosa pine forests and so many nooks and crannies perfect for pitching a tent. Camp at Idyllwild Campground and hike the nature trail, tour the visitor center, and spend time in the Idyllwild Nature Center.
is also a great option in Idyllwild, offering 25 tent sites with 9 first come first serve.
Boulder Basin Campground provides delightful views set amongst magnificent ponderosa and sugar pines. This campground is great for those interested in hiking, mountain biking and anyone looking for quiet and solitude.
Lastly, Dark Canyon Campground is another beautiful campground near Idyllwild with a paved road leading up to the campground.
Not interested in camping? There are a ton of great glamping options in Idyllwild as well that offer proximity to nature without sleeping on the ground!
Get Your Family Camping Packing List Here
Lake Arrowhead
Often overlooked for better known Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead is also a great spot for camping. Dogwood or North Shore are the best campgrounds in the area and are best visited from May to October. Each campground offers dozens of campsites suitable for tents, while some have enough room for trailers and RVs.
Dogwood offers campers a thick forest of its namesake dogwood trees, while North Shore is perfect for hiking the North Shore Recreation Trail to the Deep Creek Hot Springs.
Camping Sites Near Big Bear
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Pio Pico Rv Resort & Campground
Location: 14615 Otay Lakes Road, Jamul
Amenities: Satellite TV, restaurant, banquet hall, library, bike trails, store, dog park, picnic area, playgrounds, shower facilities, restrooms
Activities: Basketball, volleyball, mini-golf, pickleball, billiards, game room, shuffleboard, whirlpool, spa, hot tub
Fees: $64 and up per night
Number of sites: 532
Dogs allowed: Yes
Reservation required: Yes
Set south of San Diego, just 20 minutes away from the U.S.-Mexico border, Pio Pico RV Resort & Campground is a wonderful escape from the big citys busyness. When you need a quintessential Southern California RV camping adventure, head to this retreat for a memorable experience.
Guests come here for the peace and quiet of nature but also enjoy the activities provided by the RV resort. Whether youre here with your friends or family, the various activities are appropriate for people of all ages. Challenge your friends to a game of volleyball or teach your children how to mini-golf. Spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing in the hot tub and lounging by the outdoor pool.
Sweetwater Laguna Mountain Campground
Location: San Benito County
Amenities: Vault toilets, shade structures, picnic tables, firepits, and a kiosk . Electricity, trash collection, or running water are not available.
Activities: Hiking, hunting, and wildlife watching
Dogs allowed: Yes
This free campground is situated within the rugged, rolling hills and oak forests that make up the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. The scenery is stunning, and as you traverse through the region, youll pass through forests, meadows, and a desert landscape with unique rock formations. With hiking and biking trails leading to Laguna Creek, to cliffs overlooking the expanse, and to a series of scenic waterfalls located in the gorge, which path will you take first?
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Furnace Creek Campground Death Valley National Park
While camping in a place named Death Valley might not sound too appealing, the stark desert landscape of the largest national park in the contiguous states is far from inhospitable.
The Furnace Creek Campground is one of the most accessible campgrounds in Death Valley, with the parks most prominent visitor center located nearby. Some of the prettiest spots in Death Valley are near Furnace Creek, including the Golden Canyons and the inspiring Zabriskie Point.
Two other popular campgrounds can also be found in the Furnace Creek area of the park, including the Sunset Campground with 270 sites available. Its rare for all campsites to fill up in Death Valley National Park.
Most campgrounds in Death Valley National Park, including Furnace Creek and Sunset, have running water and flushing toilets available.
Is Boondocking Legal In California
Boondocking is legal in the Golden State it just depends where. RV camping without hookups is available on lands and parks managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the BLM.
It is even legal in some state parks. For instance, Anza Borrego Desert State Park has an open policy of permitting RV camping in most areas.
However, most city parks and county parks in California dont allow RV camping for free. With the exception of designated campgrounds and RV camping parks, boondocking within cities is generally prohibited.
However, if you are looking for a spot to park your RV overnight for free, good ol Walmart parking lots wont let you down. Some rest stops will also allow you to stay overnight for free. These are usually not the most scenic locations, but they can save you a lot of money.
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Camping In Southern California: Point Mugu State Park Malibu
Campers in search of an ideal beachside campground should set their sights on beautiful Point Mugu State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. Thornhill Broome Campground has 62 primitive campsites, which can accommodate tents or RVs and trailers up to 32 feet long. Basic facilities are provided, but there are no electrical hook-ups. The Sycamore Canyon Campground is a firm favorite , offering 56 campsites for tents or RVs, and there is also a primitive hike-in site for backpackers and a group campsite at La Jolla. All the campgrounds offer access to a brilliant 5-mile beach for fishing, swimming, surfing, and body-boarding as well as access to over 70 miles of hiking trails through major river canyons and wide scenic valleys.
Point Mugu State Park, 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265, Phone: 800-444-7275
Death Valley National Park
There are tons of spots to check out and camp in Death Valley. With the cooler weather, it is the best time of year to go and take your pick from the hundreds of sites available. Listen and look for wildlife, gaze at the amazing views of the stars. No matter which campsite you choose, the escape from the mundane is guaranteed, with expansive desert views.
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