Free Sites,
Pay Sites
A friendly little town that allows overnight parking next to the municipal park. There are even restrooms for you to use although they are not very clean. Several water faucets and a narrow dog area complete this nice place to stop for the night after a long day on the road. Right next to the [...]
$6 per night – 22 sites, first come first serve.
Located in the Mojave Desert @ an elevation of 1414′
Known locally as “The Grand Canyon of the Mojave” for its dramatic geological formations, this is the only place where the Mojave River flows above ground year-round – providing significant riparian (riverbank) wildlife habitat amid the desert. [...]
BLM land two miles west of Amboy. A big open graveled area. This is the trailhead to an extinct volcano.
Two vault toilets, not maintained often. Picnic tables with shade. No shade elsewhere. If you decide to hike out to the distant crater, head to the right side. Its easier to climb inside because the [...]
On highway 101 midway between San Francisco and Las Angeles. If you’re looking for a dump site take the Curbaril turnoff 101. Head east, inland. Turn right after you cross the railroad. Go to the end of the road and you will find the water treatment plant that has a dump. There is a pullout [...]
$10 per vehicle per night. No hook ups.
Amenities
Vault toilets, stream fishing, well water, tables, grills and fire rings. 70 camp spaces. Can accommodate RV’s up to 27 ft. No shower facilities are available
From Bishop take Hwy.395 south
Drive 13 miles to Big Pine
Turn west on County Road
(Opposite of Hwy.168)
At the junction of County Road [...]
$10/night $2 for each additional vehicle. $1 for each pet $40 to $75 for group sites
25 CAMPSITES AVAILABLE on first come, first served basis*. No reservations are accepted. Most campsites are on the river; some are on a tributary creek that feeds into the river. Camping is permitted only in designated areas.
Directions:
From Sacramento, drive east [...]
Staging area for off road vehicle trails. Large flat open area. No shade. Wind and Dust. No amenities, slightly bumpy gravel road. Visited on a Tuesday, might be crowded on the weekends.
It looks like there are camping spots all along the road, but they are 4×4 trails. The nice big flat camping area is just [...]
Continue reading about Bighorn Mountain Wilderness – Barnes Rd
– Courtesy of MovinSue
Lots of room for boondocking. Very neat area. We parked in the shade of a cliff. Looks kind of like you are on the moon. At twilight there were lots of bats flying around. There’s a little bit of trash in the area. Sand can be loose. We didn’t need 4×4, but you need to [...]
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Directions:
Travel west from the Big Bar Ranger, 16 miles to Burnt Ranch. Continue on to the Burnt Ranch Post Office on the south side of 299. Travel ΒΌ mile, making a right turn at the entrance of the campground.
Jackson State Forest – free permit required
There is no fee for camping. Permits are required for overnight camping and can be obtained from the Camp Host or at the CDF office in Fort Bragg at no charge. Camp One also offers several group campsites. These group campsites can be reserved in advance by contacting CDF. [...]
A free dry camping area behind the General Patton Museum. No facilities at campsites. Fuel, gift shop, post office, mini-mart, and restaurant nearby. Check out the website for more services and facilities.
Look for sign “Free Dry Camping” at east edge of museum parking lot directing you to camping area behind museum. Multiple camp sites areas [...]
From Hwy 88, south to Bear River Res., over dam and follow Cole Creek Rd. GPS location 52.05249047600099,-117.0703125 All free area.
Camping Fee:
$6/night
Nine camp sites including one group site is available with tables, grills, potable water, and shade ramadas. Handicap accessible vaulted toilets are also available in this campground. The 10 miles of gravel road to the springs from I-10 is very rough: average speed about 12 MPH.
The Corn Springs Campground is located deep in [...]
$7/night under 62yrs old
$5/night seniors
On the beach camping. Toilets, recycling containers, picnic tables, water spigot (not at campsites), trash cans, and fishing. Pay Showers and dump station located at Headquarters Campground to the north.
Active train tracks near by.
Can be dusty during high winds.
– Courtesy of MovinSue
The Dowling Fruit Orchard, 1 mi W of Beaumont on HWY-60, offers free overnight parking and a wide variety of fresh fruit in season. Dried fruit and standard market vegetables are available year round
Free dry Boondocamping in Finney-Ramer Unit of Imperial Wildlife Area.
Pit toilet, vandalized portajohns, trash barrels, stone fire rings. Bird watching. Feedlot stench if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction.
Directions:
From Calipatria, Take CA-115 S/Eddins Rd/E Main St for 8.3mi. Turn right at Pickett Rd go 3.1 mi. Destination will be on the [...]
Coordinates are approximate, but should get you on the right road. Unsure which fork to take at posted coordinates, left fork runs along the creek before rejoining Goodale Road.
Reports vary. The area was apparently free at one time, but appears to be $5/night now. As it’s BLM land, there may be dispersed camping available [...]
$8/night
Reservations:
no
Description:
Five campsites in a woodland of California buckeyes & oaks offering a mix of sun & shade. Honeydew Creek with its clear tumbling waters, flows adjacent to the campground.
Directions:
U.S. 101 at South/Fork Honeydew exit. Follow signs to Honeydew, turn south onto Wilder Ridge Road toward Ettersburg for 1 mile.
Notes:
Honeydew Creek is an [...]
Jawbone Canyon/Dove Creek is a great place for all sorts of campers. OHV people tend to fill it up on the weekends, so if you don’t like the buzzy sound of motorbikes and ATVs, avoid it then. If you come here during the week like we did, it’s absolutely silent and peaceful. We hiked all [...]
Eight picnic tables and eight fire pits There is no fee for campfire permits and they may be obtained at the Goodwin Education Center, the Bakersfield BLM office and from any BLM Ranger in the area.
Boondocking spot (not a developed campground, USFS) south of Lake Tahoe, CA. 2.5 mi SW of the hwy 88/89 jct and 4.5 mi S of hwy 88 on Blue Lakes Rd. 7500 ft.
$6/night
Among the live oaks in southeastern San Diego County, is the Lark Canyon Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area and Campground. Located in McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area, Lark Canyon OHV Area is designed specifically for motorcycles. All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) might experience difficulty using the narrow trails.
Several miles of trails are located in the OHV area. [...]
Singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, Joshua tree forests, and carpets of wildflowers are all found at this 1.6 million acre park. A visit to its canyons, mountains and mesas will reveal long-abandoned mines, homesteads, and rock-walled military outposts. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Mojave provides serenity and solitude from the crowds of [...]
An abandoned Imperial County park on the Salton Sea. Plenty of room to boondock. There are a few campers and a shack that look pretty permanent. There are old buildings that have been used as restrooms for both birds and people.
You can swim, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The Salton Sea is 90% agricultural runoff [...]
Big open flat area. Appears to be a dry lake bed. People were playing with remote controlled planes for a couple of hours. Other than that, very quiet.
The access road was somewhat bumpy and washboard.
Stayed here 04/06/09. Decent Sprint EVDO connection.
– Courtesy of MovinSue
Adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, this area has desert terrain, from below sea level to 400 foot elevations. It is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy use area.
The wash-and-ridge terrain includes a butte with dunes and a sand bowl, a blow-sand dune, springs and a camp on a former homestead site. [...]
Open desert canyon camping. Can be soft sand at times and hot in the summer.
Do not visit the area if there is any threat of rain. This is a flash flood area. The roads wash out and are get closed.
The Mecca Hills are located about 40 miles southeast of Palm Springs. They were formed by [...]
Primitive camping around and near The Peg Leg Smith Marker and rockpile. During the winter a “character” of sorts serves as an unofficial camp host. No amenities whatsoever. Pack it in, pack it out. This area is private land within the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and desert foothills. It’s located approximately five miles NE [...]
Turn south off I-8 at MM164-Sidewinder Road. Dump is nearby at Shell station. Turn directly before the LTVA, 14 day Camping sign says 1.4 miles. Drive west for 1.2 miles and the free 14 day camping area.
BLM site:
The recently redesigned campground features seven individual campsites, a group campsite, and a day use area ideal for fishing and picnicking. Campsites feature fire rings, tables and barbecues. Barbecues and picnic tables are available at the day use site.
Those with walking difficulties can fish from an accessible fishing pier, while kayakers can [...]
This is a nice area with the Mojave Preserve close by and plenty of old abandoned mines: gold, silver, turquoise, talc, iron ore. Stop at the BLM office at the giant thermometer and get info for the area. Take Highway 127 toward Death Valley, go about 10 miles to the big electric line and take [...]
Camping Fees:
$7/night dry camping
$12/night with hookups
Managed by Imperial County. Picnic tables w/ pavilions & grills. Chemical toilets. Shower house.
What to see and do!
Lots of cool things to do in the area.
* Visit the mud pots nearby @ 33.2001,-115.577574.
* Go birding at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
* Climb Red Hill [...]
Cow Mountain South staging area for OHV trails. During the day, the place was packed when we stayed here. Half of the people packed up their atvs and left just before dark. This was on a weekend. I am sure its pretty empty during the week. The views from some of the campsites are very [...]
Food and drug store – Courtesy of MovinSue
Food and drug store – Courtesy of MovinSue
$7/night under 62yrs old
$5/night seniors
On the beach camping. It is popular with fishermen and bird watchers. Salt Creek runs through the campground and is host to many species of birds, including some considered very rare. The endangered pupfish also live in Salt Creek.
Toilets, recycling containers, picnic tables, water spigot (not at campsites), trash cans, and [...]
Camping and Lodging Facilities:
There are two campgrounds available. One is a Group camp with two (2) walk-in tent sites, which can accommodate up to 300 people. The other campground is located at the trail head and has six (6) walk-in tent sites, with a maximum of 8 people per site, double and triple sites are [...]
Continue reading about San Joaquin River Gorge Management Area
5 picnic tables 4 fire pits no shade There is no fee for campfire permits and they may be obtained at the Goodwin Education Center, the Bakersfield BLM office and from any BLM Ranger in the area.
Free dry camping. BLM boondocking on dry lake bed. Hard, flat, natural gravel and sparse vegetation.
Directions:
Entrances between mm18 and mm22 on HWY127 North of Baker, CA.
No hook up go pick your spot and hang out. water and dump 3 miles away
BLM 14 day dry camping on graded gravel just off the Cottonwood Springs Road immediately south of the South Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. Just over a mile from I-10 on. Lat/Lon N33 40.473 W115 48.159
$10/night
Neat area. You camp between giant boulders. Place was full every night in the 3 nights (early April) we were in the area. The spots are very small too. The sign at the gate says something like 25′ limit.
No reservations(first-come, first-served). Toilets, picnic tables and fire grates available. Campsites are limited to six people, [...]
Camping Fees:
$12.00/night 30A, water, tables, grills.
$7.00/night Dry camping
An Imperial County park. Bathrooms. Access to Wiest Lake. Water Skiing. Jet Skiing.
Directions:
Go N on SR-111 about half way to Calipatria, then E on CR-S26 (Rutherford Rd) about 2.2 mi. Just past lake, turn S on Dietrich Rd. CG is on right about 0.2 mi.
Free Dry Camping in Imperial Wildlife Area. Facilities at the area include roads, parking areas, portable restrooms, flat hiking trails, public phones, primitive camping, maps, bird check lists, and a special viewing platform is available. Drinking water, however, is not available.
Highlights:
* Fantastic birding – Imperial Wildlife Area is a crossroads for birds from the north [...]