#BOONDOCKING CALIFORNIA FOR FREE#
#BOONDOCKING CALIFORNIA PRO#

This park is about a two-hour drive from San Diego, Riverside, and Palm Springs. In fact, the entire backcountry of this park is designated as a “camping facility.” You’re allowed to camp for up to 30 days at the Anza Borrego California State Park.Įxplore 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and an abundance of hiking trails here. It’s one of our favorite places to visit.Īnza Borrego State Park is the largest state park in California and is a place where you can boondock anywhere. The Mojave Desert offers striking sand dunes, cinder cone volcanos, a Joshua Tree forest, canyons and mountains.

We’ve found it easy and obvious to find a good campsite. You are not allowed to create your own, new fire pit. Most dry camping you’ll find here includes a pre-constructed rock or metal fire pit. We’ve seen a 30-ish foot travel trailer go find a boondocking site in the Mojave Desert National Preserve. In most cases, these boondocking campsites are located down semi-bumpy dirt roads that aren’t too hard to navigate. This park, run by the national park service, even offers information online about the best places for primitive camping.

#BOONDOCKING CALIFORNIA FOR FREE#

The Mojave Desert National Preserve is a beautiful spot for free camping in California. Our campervan parked in a free campsite in the Mojave Desert This is a very boondocking-friendly place to camp in California.Ĭlick here to read our in-depth guide about free camping in Death Valley. The map even tells you which types of vehicles are appropriate for which free campsite. The one rule you must follow is this: you can boondock in Death Valley National Park as long as you stay 1-mile off any paved or day-use dirt road.ĭeath Valley even provides you with a free downloadable map to make it easy to find free camping. To boot, there are 1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads leading to remote destinations, a haven for free camping in California. In other parks, you’ll need to find forest service land nearby, then drive into the park for sightseeing.ĭeath Valley is the largest national park in the continental United States, spanning over 3 million acres. This free campsite is one of many in Death Valleyĭeath Valley National Park is the only national park in California that allows dispersed camping. Rigs: Campervans, Truck Campers, Smaller RVs, Tents.The Alabama Hills National Recreation area is run by The Bureau of Land Management, and it’s one of the best BLM camping in California. The Alabama Hills are one of Hollywood’s favorite shooting locations, and since I started camping there, I’ve seen this place in so many movies and shows it’s hard to count. As you pull up to the rounded, red-rocks, you might have a flicker of recognition. The Alabama Hills is located just west of Lone Pine in Southern California, off highway 395. With its easy-to-navigate dirt roads and obvious campsites, we think this is one of the best places to try California boondocking for the first time. We’ve seen everything from larger RVs and fifth wheels, to smaller campervans. Campsites here can fit a variety of rigs. The Alabama Hills National Recreation Area is a really popular spot for free camping in California, especially free RV camping. RVs parked at The Alabama Hills free campsite.

7 Spots to Try Free Camping in California 1. Please, please, pack out your trash when boondocking in California, or anywhere else, for that matter. Make sure you research local fire restrictions before starting a campfire in a dispersed campsite you may need a campfire permit in some areas. Look for clear signs of tire tracks, flattened ground and a fire pit. You don’t want to trample undisturbed plants and stay out of meadows. When you’re trying to find a free dispersed campsite, make sure you camp where someone else has camped before. You can use these apps to make sure you’re on BLM or National Forest Service land and read reviews of free California camping.

#BOONDOCKING CALIFORNIA PRO#

A few good free camping apps are The Dyrt Pro Membership, iOverlander and Free Roam. We usually use apps to find free campsites in California. Usually, you can camp for free legally on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management), and some National Forest Service land. Where can you camp for free in California?Ĭalifornia has a variety of ways to find a dispersed campsite.

Other Places you can Camp for Free in California.

Using Motor Vehicle Use Maps to find Free Camping in California.

The Dyrt app and The Dyrt Pro Membership.

Using apps to find free camping in California.

7 Spots to Try Free Camping in California.

Where can you camp for free in California?.

Boondocking california