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Luckily, California has many free campsites, so you won’t have any problems finding one. You can always go to the nearest forest, beach, or park, but if you’d like to widen your horizons, there are plenty of tools to help you find the perfect primitive spot for a weekend getaway in nature.
- Alabama Hills
- Painted Canyon
- Usal Beach
- Prewitt Ridge
- Owens River Road
- Hope Valley
- American Girl Mine
- Furnace Creek Road
- Carrizo Plain
- Keysville Srma
Near Lone Pine * Learn more about the new Alabama Hills Management Plan for overnight use. Alabama Hills National Scenic Area is still one of the absolute best places for free camping in California. Although recent rule changes restrict dispersed camping to designated areas only, (“No Camping” signs are now abundant in many areas where dispersed ca...
Near Joshua Tree National Park Painted Canyon is my go-to for free camping near Joshua Tree National Park. Located about an hour from Palm Springs, it takes just thirty minutes to reach Joshua Tree’s south entrance from here. The Salton Sea is also nearby. Painted Canyon is notable for its towering canyon walls. These are particularly beautiful at ...
Southern Lost Coast Free camping on the Lost Coast just doesn’t get much better than Usal Beach. These beautiful beachside dispersed campsites are located in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park at the very southern tip of the Lost Coast. The long, rough drive into Usal Beach starts by turning off of Highway 1 about 15 miles south of Leggett onto Usal Ro...
Big Sur * Closures of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road are common (often due to winter storms and forest fires), so please check for current road closures and always call the Monterey Ranger District before your trip: (831) 385-5434 Prewitt Ridge is home to some of the most scenic free camping in California, bar none. Nestled high in the coastal hills abo...
Near Mammoth Lakes Owens River Road is a perfect home base for exploring the Eastern Sierra. A huge network of dirt forest service roads branch off of Owens River Road just east of Highway 395, each with countless dispersed campsites. Although there are a ton of campsites to choose from, boondockers should turn north on the side road about one mile...
Near Lake Tahoe Hope Valley is an excellent spot to start your search for boondocking and dispersed camping near Lake Tahoe. Look for the unmarked turnoff about 1.5 miles south of Picketts Junction on Highway 88 (Carson Pass Highway). You’re looking for a paved road to the north of the highway that crosses a cattle guard and then turns into an unpa...
Near Yuma American Girl Mine is home to some of the best boondocking in California, especially for bigger RVs and trailers. Located just 30 minutes from Yuma, this dispersed camping area is basically a sprawling desert environment with plenty of space to spread out. The majority of campsites are large, flat, and level. American Girl Mine is easy to...
Near Death Valley National Park Furnace Creek Washington Road (often called Furnace Creek Wash Road or simply Furnace Creek Road) is home to some of the best free camping near Death Valley. This well-maintained dirt road stretches for about 8.5 miles from Highway 178 (Jubilee Pass Road) to Highway 127. Although you’ll see previously-used campsites ...
“Near” Bakersfield Considered “one of the best kept secrets in California,” Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of my favorite places for dispersed camping in the state. Although it’s well worth it to visit anytime of the year, the most popular time to visit is during wildflower season. The area is most notable for its colorful super bloom of co...
Near Lake Isabella Although dispersed camping isn’t hard to come by near Lake Isabella, the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area stands out above other nearby options. You have a lot of different campsites to choose from here – from those right on the Kern River to more private campsites tucked away in the trees on the other side of Keysvil...
Jan 1, 2024 · The most efficient way to find the best campgrounds in California is through online reservation platforms like Reserve California or recreation.gov. These websites provide detailed information, availability, and the ability to book campsites.
On top of the amazing winter climate, dispersed campers enjoy (nearly) unlimited public land for camping in California, from lush vegetation in national forests to desert to mountain views – California has so many free camping options.
Sep 26, 2023 · Many parks obviously have much better availability this time of year, and we’ve detailed how to claim last-minute openings below. From the Humboldt Redwoods to the Anza-Borrego Desert, these are the best state campgrounds and parks to visit across California this fall. Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Getty Images.
You can only experience so much on a day trip to one of California's many incredible destinations. To really take it all in, spend a night spent next to the campfire. We've picked 25 of the best spots across the state to consider for your next camping trip.
California is composed of beautiful landscapes tailor-made for off-the-grid fun between the cities and the sparsely populated eastern half of the state. Take a look at our guide to boondocking in California to learn more about how you can start camping self-sufficiently in the Golden State.
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