If there's one thing better than camping, it's free camping—especially in a wooded or beachfront area.
Known for its areas of natural beauty, there's enough free camping in California to keep you bouncing around for months or even years.
If you've never looked for free camping before, be patient and do your research ahead of time. Chances are high you'll take a wrong turn or go a mile in the wrong direction—when that happens, take a deep breath and enjoy the drive. Free camping exists in wild and wonderful places (like Walmart parking lots, right?) 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 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or United States Forest Service (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, with shaded regions denoting private and public property. They also cordon off national parks from national forests and differentiate between 4WD and paved roads. Cross-reference your Benchmark map with Google Maps to identify areas with a high likelihood of free camping.
Here are 10 of our favorite sites to camp for free in California:
Orr Lake Campground(Courtesy of The Dyrt camper James E.)
Orr Lake Campground in Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Nestled in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Orr Lake Campground offers six free lakefront campsites as well as four free group campsites on the opposite end of the lake. While no motorized boats are allowed, there's plenty of space for swimming, kayaking, and angling among the lily pads. Even though there are no hook-ups, RVs can boondock in the secluded spaces. From the lake, campers can catch epic views of Mt. Shasta while grilling fresh-caught trout for dinner. Vault toilets are available to reduce the amount of gray water you produce in your time off grid.
Black Rock Campground in Lassen National Forest
There are plenty of primitive campsites in Lassen National Forest, but if you're looking to camp with a few of your friends, Black Rock Campground offers six first come, first served campsites equipped with grills and tables. Anglers can fish in both Deer Creek and Mill Creek, and hikers will find plenty of trails for low- or high-mileage days. Vault toilets are available at Black Rock so your camping experience won't be completely primitive. There are opportunities for horse riding in the forest and water activities on Lake Almanor.
Mendocino National Forest Dispersed Camping
One of the greatest allures of Mendocino National Forest is the fact that no major highways or paved roads cross it. If you're looking for tranquility and seclusion, Mendocino is the place to go. Like other national forests, Mendocino offers dispersed primitive camping pretty much anywhere in the woods. There are also three dispersed campgrounds: Grizzly Flat, Lakeview, and Lower Nye. Once you've established your free campsite, take your pick of activities, including horseback riding, swimming at Stonyford Recreation area (where there's also the paid Letts Lake Campground), and hiking in the Chico Seed Orchard and Red Bluff Recreation Area.
Modoc National Forest Dispersed Camping
In the northeast corner of California—where Oregon, California, and Nevada meet—Modoc National Forest sits quietly, away from the hustle and bustle of more popular parks and forests. Here you'll find pull-offs and spurs for dispersed camping in all four ranger districts: Big Valley, Devil's Garden, Doublehead, and Warner Mountain. The landscape is diverse enough to keep you occupied for weeks, from high-alpine terrain in the Warner Mountain Range to the central lava flows. If anything, you'll wish you had more time to explore.
Glass Creek Campground near Mammoth Lakes
When you're looking for free California camping or boondocking, it doesn't 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 the June Lakes District. Once you arrive, self-register at the kiosk and then settle in. There's wildlife in the area, so be bear aware of your food and other belongings, and with no water on site, you'll want to pack in enough to reduce your trips into town. Plenty of trails lead out from the campground for convenient day hikes.
Inyo National Forest Dispersed Camping
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, there's more than enough space to hang up a hammock and enjoy the surrounding flora and fauna.
Alabama Hills Recreation Area(Courtesy of The Dyrt camper Jennifer D.)
As one of the highest rated free California campgrounds on this list, Alabama Hills Recreation Area welcomes hundreds, if not thousands, of visitors each year to its location between the desert and the mountains. Each site is easy to find, with most boasting an established fire pit but campers must be 100 percent self-contained because there are no amenities. Lone Pine is the nearest town if you need to stock up on necessities, but it's not close enough to feel the proximity of civilization.
Abbott Creek Camping Area in Sequoia National Forest
Abbott Creek Camping Area draws OHV users to rev their engines and explore the nearby area with gas-power. Each of the campsites is within a convenient three-mile drive of the OHV staging area. While usage is light at this campground, it's primarily for OHV users, so if you're more interested in an idyllic getaway there are better areas to camp near Sequoia National Forest (see below).
Alder Creek Dispersed Camping in Sequoia National Forest
If you want to stay in Sequoia National Forest and aren't interested in the OHV area, check out Alder Creek Dispersed Camping, a heavily-wooded campground with vault toilets and a creek nearby. Campground use is light and operates on a first come, first served basis but beware—during summer days when the heat rises, the area becomes dry and heavy fire restrictions are enforced. Check the USFS website before you go to assess the likelihood of marshmallow roasting.
Blair Valley Campground near Joshua Tree National Park
Both primitive and tucked away, with incredible views of the night sky, Blair Valley Campground is an ideal stopping point near Joshua Tree National Park. The area is expansive so you don't have to worry about camping feet away from someone else, but don't venture too far in if you have a heavy rig or low clearance, as the roads can become sandy to the point of impassable. Climbers will find sandstone routes nearby, while hikers and mountain bikers will be delighted by the number of trails. There's very little shade, so pack a canopy or tarp to create some for yourself. Bring enough water to sustain your visit and pack out anything you packed in.
Resources to find the perfect free California camping spot:
- Visit the U.S. Forest Service map of California to check out individual national forests and other federally-protected areas in California.
- Go to the Bureau of Land Management website's 'visit' page and sort by location (California) and activity (camping).
- If you already know your destination, stop by the visitor center or ranger station and talk to staff. They're the best source of information about free, dispersed camping in the area.
- Service roads are usually lined with free campsites. On maps, U.S. Forest Service roads are indicated as NF-##. Roads running through BLM lands also tend to have free camping options alongside them.
- The Dyrt makes it easy to find free camping in California (or anywhere else). Enter the state and "dispersed" under "type." Each listing includes a rating and detailed description, reviews, a list of features, images, a weather report, and geographical data.
