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Free Camping Sites in America

CIWILD Campsite Database

Top 100 Free Camping Sites in America

A growing directory of free dispersed camping, BLM camping areas, National Forest campsites, desert boondocking spots, and scenic overlanding routes across the American West.

100
Target campsite guides
$0
Average nightly cost
14
Featured guides now
GPS
Coordinates included

Browse Free Camping by State

Use these state guides to explore free camping areas by destination. Each state page works as a hub for BLM camping, National Forest dispersed camping, primitive campsites, and scenic overlanding routes.

Featured Free Camping Guides

Each guide includes campsite notes, GPS coordinates, road access information, nearby attractions, and practical tips for dispersed camping, rooftop tents, vans, trucks, and overlanding setups.

Jawbone Canyon OHV dispersed camping in California desert
01
Free Mojave Desert · CA
California
Jawbone Canyon OHV Dispersed Camping
Vast open desert camping southeast of Bakersfield with dark skies, wide BLM terrain, and plenty of space for rooftop tents, trucks, vans, and off-road camping setups.
Free Dark Skies BLM Land Desert Camping
Cottonwood Canyon Road dispersed camping in Grand Staircase Utah
02
Free Grand Staircase · UT
Utah
Cottonwood Canyon Road Dispersed Camping
Remote dispersed camping along one of Utah's most scenic dirt roads, surrounded by red rock formations, slot canyon day hikes, desert views, and quiet backcountry camping.
Free Slot Canyons Remote High Clearance
Valley of Fire BLM dispersed camping near Las Vegas Nevada
03
Free Muddy Mountains · NV
Nevada
Valley of Fire BLM Dispersed Camping
Free dispersed camping near Valley of Fire State Park, featuring red sandstone scenery, easy access from Las Vegas, desert photography, stargazing, and memorable sunset views.
Free Las Vegas 1hr Photography Easy Access
Tuttle Creek Eastern Sierra camping California
04
Free Eastern Sierra · CA
California
Tuttle Creek — Eastern Sierra Camping
Year-round camping near Lone Pine at the base of the Sierra Nevada, with direct views of Mount Whitney, quick access to Alabama Hills, and classic Eastern Sierra scenery.
Free Year-Round Mt. Whitney Views Eastern Sierra
Mingus Mountain Prescott National Forest camping Arizona
05
Free Prescott Forest · AZ
Arizona
Mingus Mountain — Prescott National Forest
High-elevation dispersed camping around 7,500 feet in ponderosa pine forest, offering a cooler summer escape from the Phoenix heat and views toward the Verde Valley.
Free High Elevation Pine Forest Phoenix Escape
Ochoco National Forest dispersed camping Oregon
06
Free Central Oregon · OR
Oregon
Ochoco National Forest — Wildcat Camp Area
Underrated Central Oregon dispersed camping in ponderosa pine forest, with seasonal creek access, quiet forest roads, and nearby rockhounding opportunities.
Free Rockhounding Creek Access Underrated
San Rafael Swell Window Blind Peak camping Utah
07
Free San Rafael Swell · UT
Utah
San Rafael Swell — Window Blind Peak
Remote Utah desert camping with dramatic canyon country, slot canyons, arches, desert varnish walls, and rugged overlanding routes through one of the Southwest's best hidden gems.
Free Hidden Gem Slot Canyons 4WD Required
Anza-Borrego Desert Blair Valley camping California
08
Free Anza-Borrego · CA
California
Anza-Borrego Desert — Blair Valley
Primitive desert camping in California's largest state park, with wide-open landscapes, winter wildflowers, nearby pictographs, and excellent access for quiet desert camping.
Free No Reservation Wildflowers Pictographs
Black Rock Desert open playa camping Nevada
09
Free Black Rock Desert · NV
Nevada
Black Rock Desert — Open Playa
Iconic open-playa camping in northern Nevada with massive desert space, extreme remoteness, dark skies, and a self-sufficient camping experience for prepared travelers.
Free Iconic Extreme Remote Self-Sufficient
Four Peaks Tonto National Forest camping Arizona
10
Free Mazatzal Mountains · AZ
Arizona
Four Peaks — Tonto National Forest
Rugged dispersed camping northeast of Phoenix with mountain views, high-clearance access, desert-to-forest scenery, birding opportunities, and classic Arizona overlanding terrain.
Free High Clearance Phoenix Escape Overlanding
Vedauwoo granite formations dispersed camping Wyoming
11
Free Pole Mountain · WY
Wyoming
Vedauwoo — Medicine Bow National Forest
Free dispersed camping among Wyoming's iconic granite formations near Laramie, with 97 designated sites, world-class rock climbing access, dark skies, and easy I-80 access.
Free Granite Formations Rock Climbing Dark Skies
Bighorn National Forest Wyoming mountain dispersed camping
12
Free Bighorn Mountains · WY
Wyoming
Bighorn National Forest — Dispersed Camping along US-14
Scenic mountain dispersed camping along the US-14 corridor in Wyoming's Bighorn National Forest, with alpine meadows, forest pullouts, cool summer temperatures, and big mountain views.
Free Mountain Views National Forest Summer Escape
Shelf Road BLM camping Canon City Colorado limestone cliffs
13
BLM Royal Gorge Region · CO
Colorado
Shelf Road Recreation Area — BLM Camping
BLM camping near Cañon City with rugged limestone canyon scenery, world-class sport climbing at Sand Gulch and The Bank, and easy access from Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
BLM Rock Climbing Canyon Views Year-Round
Flat Tops Wilderness Trappers Lake Road dispersed camping Colorado
14
Free Flat Tops · CO
Colorado
Flat Tops Wilderness — Trappers Lake Road
High-country dispersed camping near Trappers Lake Road in White River National Forest, with wilderness trail access, native cutthroat trout fishing, alpine scenery, and quiet forest roads.
Free High Country Wilderness Access Fishing
No campsite guides for this state yet — more coming soon.
More campsite guides are being added. This directory will expand to 25, 50, and eventually 100 free camping sites across America.