Dispersed Camping in Arizona

Dispersed Camping in Arizona

Arizona has millions of acres of BLM, national forest and national monument land open to free dispersed camping, plus the winter Long-Term Visitor Areas around Quartzsite and Yuma. This guide groups the 68 Arizona dispersed spots listed on Camping In The USA by who manages the land, and sums up the official rules. Always check the managing office for current road, fire and closure orders before you go.

The rules in one minute

• BLM land: Dispersed camping is generally allowed for up to 14 days within any 28-day period, then you must move to a new site at least 25 miles away, unless an area is posted otherwise. (BLM camping rules, BLM Mittry Lake stay limit)
• Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs): From September 15 to April 15, La Posa (Quartzsite) and Imperial Dam (Yuma) need a permit: $180 long-term for the season or $40 short-visit for 14 consecutive days (renewable). Outside the season the fee is $15 per vehicle per night, with a 14-day-in-28 limit. (BLM La Posa LTVA)
• State Trust land is not BLM land. Camping or recreating on Arizona State Trust land requires a state permit. (BLM Ironwood Forest NM)
• National forests: No toilets, water or trash service at dispersed sites. Each forest sets its own stay limits and fire orders; check its MVUM and alerts.
• Bring water. Most of these spots have no potable water.

BLM land

• Crossroads: about 20 miles from Lake Havasu City.
• Darby Wells Rd Dispersed: about 2 miles from Ajo, about 1,730 ft.
• FR 525 Designated Dispersed.
• Florence–Kelvin Hwy Corridors.
• Fortuna Pond: about 10 miles from Yuma.
• Fourmile Canyon: about 1 miles from Klondyke, about 3,490 ft.
• Gunsite Wash Dispersed: about 1,800 ft.
• Hot Well Dunes: about 27 miles from Safford, about 3,640 ft.
• Imperial Dam Long Term.
• Midland LTVA Dispersed: about 25 miles from Quartzite.
• Mittry Lake Dispersed: about 12 miles from Yuma.
• Needle Mt Road Dispersed: about 5 miles from Topock.
• Owl Creek: about 5 miles from Threeway, about 3,400 ft.
• Oxbow.
• Packsaddle: about 19 miles from Kingman.
• Painted Rock: about 20 miles from Gila Bend.
• Quartzite - La Paz Valley: about 1 miles from Quartzite.
• Quartzite - La Posa: about 1 miles from Quartzite.
• Riverview: about 4 miles from Sanchez, about 3,140 ft.
• Squaw Lake: about 17 miles from Yuma.
• Swansea Ghost Town: about 26 miles from Parker.
• Virgin River: about 9 miles from Littlefield, about 2,260 ft.
• Vulture Peak Rd - Box Wash dispersed: about 8 miles from Wickenburg, about 2,530 ft.
• Whitewater Draw: about 23 miles from Tombstone.
• Wild Cow Springs: about 13 miles from Kingman, about 6,200 ft.
• Wiley Wells Dispersed - Mule Mountain: about 40 miles from Quartzite.
• Windy Point: about 18 miles from Kingman.
• Yuma VFW.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

• Bear Canyon Lake and Camping Area: about 18 miles from Star Valley.
• Blue Crossing Campground: about 20 miles from Reserve.
• Chevelon Canyon Lake Campground.
• Chevelon Crossing Campground.
• Hannagan Campground: about 33 miles from Eagar.
• Lower Juan Miller Campground: about 15 miles from Morenci.
• Upper Blue Campground: about 18 miles from Reserve.
• Upper Juan Miller Campground: about 15 miles from Morenci.

Kaibab National Forest

• Kaibab NF – FR 22/611 North Rim approach: about 2,500 ft.
• Kaibab NF – North Rim forest roads outside park: about 2,400 ft.

Other national forest spots

• Prescott – Skull Valley Backroads.

More spots

• Ajo Scenic Loop.
• Ashurst Lake Backroads.
• Cave Creek – Seven Springs Road.
• Chiricahua – Pinery Canyon Rd.
• Cinder Hills OHV Vicinity.
• Coconino – FR 237 Willard Springs.
• Forest Rd 300 – Fish Creek: about 2,300 ft.
• Grand Canyon Parashant Backroads.
• Grand Canyon – Forest Road 688 Corridor.
• House Rock Valley Rd (BLM): about 6,890 ft.
• Kachina Peaks – Snowbowl Road Spurs.
• Kaibab Plateau – Jacob Lake Spurs.
• Kofa NWR Desert Pullouts.
• Madera Canyon Foothill Roads.
• Mogollon Rim FR 300 Pullouts.
• Mount Graham – FR 803/507.
• North Kaibab FR 22/425.
• Paria Canyon / Buckskin Gulch vicinity (outside permit area): about 3,800 ft.
• Parker Canyon Lake Vicinity.
• Prescott – Senator Hwy Spurs.
• Santa Rita – Madera Canyon Roads.
• Schnebly Hill Rd (outside closure): about 2,200 ft.
• Schnebly Hill Road Dispersed (outside closure).
• Soap Creek Rd – Lees Ferry vicinity: about 3,100 ft.
• Tonto – Four Peaks Rd FR 143.
• Tonto – Roosevelt Lake North Shore.
• Walnut Canyon Forest Roads.
• White Pocket vicinity (outside Vermilion Cliffs): about 4,800 ft.
• Williams/Kaibab FR 124/140.

Before you go

Get the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for any national forest you visit, since it shows which roads are open and where roadside camping is allowed. Check fire restrictions, which change often in summer.

See all Arizona campsites.