Free Camping in California
Discover 33 free and dispersed camping spots
Best Seasons
Spring, Summer, Fall
Climate
Mediterranean to desert climate with regional variations
Terrain
Mountains, Desert
Free Spots
33 locations
Complete Guide to Free Camping in California
Overview
California's 15 national forests and extensive BLM holdings offer incredible dispersed camping from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada. With diverse climates ranging from coastal redwood forests to high desert landscapes, California provides year-round camping options across over 45 million acres of federal public lands.
Best Times to Visit
Coastal areas are accessible year-round with mild temperatures. Sierra Nevada sites are best from June through October after snow melts. Desert regions like Death Valley and the Mojave are ideal from October through April.
Popular Camping Areas
The Eastern Sierra along Highway 395 offers stunning mountain camping. Angeles National Forest provides convenient dispersed camping near Los Angeles. Joshua Tree area BLM lands feature unique desert landscapes.
Regulations & Important Information
California enforces standard 14-day limits on most public lands. Fire restrictions are common during summer and fall, with total bans often in effect from July through November. Some popular areas like the Alabama Hills have implemented specific camping zones.
Camping Spots (33)
Alabama Hills Designated Free Sites
"Free dispersed camping around BLM Alabama Hills California. Granite hills with Sierra backdrop with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Lone Pine. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Designated sites only Arrive early to claim a legal
Anza‑Borrego – Blair Valley Flats
"Free dispersed camping at Anza‑Borrego – Blair Valley Flats in California. Desert valley with wide open flats with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Blair Valley. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Soft sand; wind Arrive early
Beasore/Jones Road Network
"Free dispersed camping around Sierra NF California. Granite slabs and mixed conifer with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Bass Lake/Beasore Meadows. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Seasonal closures Arrive early to claim a legal
Big Bear – Polique Canyon/3N16
"Free dispersed camping at Big Bear – Polique Canyon/3N16 in California. Pine forests and ridge roads with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Holcomb Valley. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Crowded weekends Arrive early
Blue Lakes Road Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping at Blue Lakes Road Dispersed in California. Alpine lakes and fir forest with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Blue Lakes. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Snow into June Arrive early
Bodie Hills Backroads
"Free dispersed camping at Bodie Hills Backroads in California. High sage hills and mining roads with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Bodie Hills. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Remote; carry water Arrive early
Bowman/Meadow Lake Corridors
"Free dispersed camping around Tahoe NF California. High lakes and granite domes with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Bowman Lake. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Rocky access Arrive early to claim a legal
Buttermilk Country Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping around Inyo NF – Bishop California. Granite boulders and sage steppe with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Bishop/Pine Creek. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Rough roads; climber traffic Arrive early to claim a legal
Carrizo Plain – Elkhorn Grade
"Free dispersed camping around BLM Carrizo Plain California. Grassland valleys and alkali flats with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Soda Lake. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Very limited services Arrive early to claim a legal
Castle Lake Road Spurs
"Free dispersed camping around Shasta–Trinity NF California. Alpine lakes and fir forests with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Castle Lake/Mt Shasta. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Snow lingers Arrive early to claim a legal
Cuyamaca/Thing Valley Roads
"Free dispersed camping around Cleveland NF California. Chaparral ridges and oak valleys with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Laguna Mountains. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Fire restrictions common Arrive early to claim a legal
Death Valley – Panamint Valley BLM
"Free dispersed camping around BLM Panamint California. Desert basins and rugged ranges with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Panamint Valley. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Extreme heat; no services Arrive early to claim a legal
Eldorado NF – Wentworth Springs Rd
"Free dispersed camping around Eldorado NF
Feather Falls/Forbestown Roads
"Free dispersed camping at Feather Falls/Forbestown Roads in California. Mixed conifer and oak ridges with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Feather Falls. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Steep
Fort Sage OHV Vicinity Dispersed
"Free dispersed camping at Fort Sage OHV Vicinity Dispersed in California. Sagebrush hills and volcanic rock with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Fort Sage. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Windy; dust Arrive early
Glass Creek Tablelands
"Free dispersed camping around Inyo NF – Mammoth California. Jeffrey pine flats on volcanic tablelands with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Mammoth Lakes. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Dust and OHV noise Arrive early to claim a legal
Gold Lake Highway Pullouts
"Free dispersed camping at Gold Lake Highway Pullouts in California. High lakes and granite with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Gold Lakes Basin. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Steep grades Arrive early
Joshua Tree – BLM South Boundary
"Free dispersed camping at Joshua Tree – BLM South Boundary in California. Open desert with Joshua trees with informal pullouts and some level clearings near JTNP south boundary. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. No services; heat Arrive early
Lake Davis Backroads
"Free dispersed camping at Lake Davis Backroads in California. Lodgepole flats near reservoirs with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Lake Davis. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Mosquitos early Arrive early
Los Burros/Coast Ridge – Big Sur
"Free dispersed camping around Los Padres NF California. Coastal mountains with ocean views with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Plaskett/Lucia. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Narrow/steep roads Arrive early to claim a legal
Mendocino NF – M1/M10 Spine
"Free dispersed camping around Mendocino NF California. Pine ridges and remote canyons with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Stonyford/Eel River. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Carry water; remote Arrive early to claim a legal
Modoc Plateau Backroads
"Free dispersed camping around Modoc NF California. Ponderosa and sagebrush plateaus with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Medicine Lake Highlands. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Remote; limited services Arrive early to claim a legal
Monache Meadows Access Roads
"Free dispersed camping at Monache Meadows Access Roads in California. High meadows and granite with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Monache. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. 4WD ford crossings Arrive early
Mt. Shasta – Everitt Memorial Hwy Spurs
"Free dispersed camping at Mt. Shasta – Everitt Memorial Hwy Spurs in California. Subalpine fir and lava flows with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Sand Flat/Panther Meadows. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Snow early season Arrive early
Owens River Road Pullouts
"Free dispersed camping at Owens River Road Pullouts in California. Jeffrey pine flats and meadows with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Mammoth/Owens River. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Dust; OHV Arrive early
Pinyon Flat and Thomas Mountain Roads
"Free dispersed camping at Pinyon Flat and Thomas Mountain Roads in California. Pinyon forests and granite with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Thomas Mountain. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Steep/rocky spurs Arrive early
Plumas NF – Quincy La Porte Rd
"Free dispersed camping around Plumas NF California. Mixed-conifer ridges and lakes with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by La Porte/Quincy. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Snow into spring Arrive early to claim a legal
Sherman Pass/Kern Plateau
"Free dispersed camping around Sequoia NF California. High meadows and timbered ridges with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Kern Plateau. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Snow into June Arrive early to claim a legal
Six Rivers – Gasquet/Smith River
"Free dispersed camping around Six Rivers NF California. Redwoods and emerald rivers with space for established pullouts and a few level clearings by Smith River. Primitive conditions with no trash pickup or hookups. Wet winters; slick clay Arrive early to claim a legal
Smith River NRA Backroads
"Free dispersed camping at Smith River NRA Backroads in California. Redwood groves and river benches with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Smith River. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Wet winters Arrive early
Soda Lake Road Corridors
"Free dispersed camping at Soda Lake Road Corridors in California. Grasslands and salt flats with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Carrizo Plain. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Very limited shade Arrive early
Tahoe – Fordyce Lake Access
"Free dispersed camping at Tahoe – Fordyce Lake Access in California. Granite basins and lakes with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Fordyce Lake. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. 4x4 routes nearby Arrive early
Tahoe – Jackson Meadows Backroads
"Free dispersed camping at Tahoe – Jackson Meadows Backroads in California. Lodgepole forests and lakes with informal pullouts and some level clearings near Jackson Meadows. Primitive conditions with no hookups or trash service. Mosquitoes early Arrive early
Popular Camping Areas
- Sierra National Forest
- Angeles National Forest
- Death Valley BLM
- Mammoth Lakes Area
Important Regulations
- Fire restrictions common
- Seasonal closures in mountains
- 14-day limit on public lands
Permits: Most dispersed camping is free, some wilderness areas require permits
Complete Guide to Free Camping in California
California offers diverse free camping from coastal redwoods to high Sierra mountains, with extensive national forest and BLM lands for dispersed camping.
Best Free Camping Areas in California
California offers diverse free camping opportunities across mountains, desert, coast, forests, valleys. The most popular areas include Sierra National Forest, Angeles National Forest, Death Valley BLM, each offering unique landscapes and camping experiences.
When to Visit California for Camping
The best times for free camping in California are during spring, summer, fall. The state's mediterranean to desert climate with regional variations means weather conditions vary throughout the year, so planning your visit during optimal seasons ensures the best camping experience.
California Camping Regulations
Before camping in California, it's important to understand local regulations. Most dispersed camping is free, some wilderness areas require permitsMost dispersed camping follows standard federal guidelines, but some areas may have specific restrictions.
What to Expect
Free camping in California typically involves camping on public lands managed by the Forest Service, BLM, or state agencies. Expect primitive conditions with no hookups, but incredible natural beauty and the freedom to explore mountains, desert, coast, forests, valleys at your own pace.