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This is an improvised spot to pop the camper along a two-track adjacent to Joshua Tree. Some confusing signs regarding land-use so not sure if it is okay to stay here or not. It is discreet, but not much else. No fire ring. Just a clearing along a neglected two-track. Desert landscape, potentially very hot during warmer months. No escape from sun. It's a suitable place to pull over if you're losing daylight, but not recommended. Space for a couple of overland vehicles. Some cell service.

camp.ca
A rest area along southbound I-5 on the California coast. Officially, you're not supposed to spend the night here. However, tons of people spend the night here. Countless cars and trucks with blankets in their windows. Some weirdos, but also some cool people. Befriended a cool couple in a Vanagon here. Your experience will vary wildly. Sometimes stench of urine and cigarette smoke. Nice view of ocean. No tents. Be discreet as possible. I was not bothered during two night stay. Recommended only as a last resort. Excellent cell service.

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This is a gravel parking lot to access the Pacific Crest Trail near Julian, California. It is high-elevation, out of the desert, so temperatures are comfortable. There may be other campers, and there are disgusting vault toilets, but it is not a desirable location. It is challenging to find free camping in this area, so this is one of the better options. Ample space for multiple vehicles. Expect a fair amount of traffic. Not recommended. Good cell service.

Primitive campsite with fire ring next to beautiful rock formations in Alabama Hills, near Lone Pine, California. This is a popular area for vehicle-supported camping. Located within vast network of dirt roads well-suited for exploration, some require high-clearance. Arid, desert landscape, and potentially hot. Snow-capped mountains to the west. Photogenic and peaceful. Very popular attraction, but tons of free, dispersed camping opportunities. Highly recommended. Some cell service.

Very serene, designated (yellow post) campsite located in San Bernardino National Forest, near Big Bear Lake. Surrounded by rock formations and beautiful pine trees. Has picnic table and fire ring. Popular area for primitive camping, so site may be occupied in peak season. First come, first serve. The surrounding area is worthy of exploration, and there may be other comparable camping opportunities. Sufficient space for several vehicles. Recommended. Poor cell service.

This is a clearing located within Inyo National Forest only a few miles away from the resort community of Mammoth Lakes. This particular spot does not resemble a campsite. No fire ring. Higher elevation. Within a vast network of forest roads, worthy of exploration. Surrounding area is dotted with countless, free campsites, and it's a popular location for boondockers. White cap mountains visible through the trees. Wooded coniferous. Sufficient space for a single vehicle. Tons of ants. Recommended. Good cell service.

A small clearing in a mountainous valley north of Ramona, California. This used to be a campground in Cleveland National Forest, and is displayed on Google Maps as such, but it is overgrown and there are no amenities. A stream runs through here which is refreshing, but there were a ton of bees when I was there. There was room for one or two overland vehicles. Many primitive roads wind around the mountains, making it worthy of overland exploration. Recommended due to lack of free camping options in the area. No cell service.

A gem! Located in a four-wheel drive accessible valley in southern Sequoia National Forest. This is a low-traffic, secluded area only a short walk from a refreshing stream. Very close to rapidly-flowing Kern River, and a short drive to Kernville near Lake Isabella. Primitive with fire ring. Some trees in an otherwise arid, mountainous region. Sufficient room for several vehicles. Highly recommended. No cell service.

This is a primitive campsite located within Inyo National Forest only a few miles away from the resort community of Mammoth Lakes. Fire ring, at the end of a dusty dirt road. Higher elevation. Within a vast network of forest roads, worthy of exploration. Surrounding area is dotted with countless, free campsites, and it's a popular location for boondockers. White cap mountains visible through the trees. Wooded coniferous. Sufficient space for a few vehicles. Tons of ants. Highly recommended. Good cell service.

Public land near the trailhead for the Goat Canyon hike in the Anza-Borrego desert. This is a large, spacious clearing in the desert, only a short distance from the the Mexican border. It is only ideal if you plan to do the hike. Four-wheel drive strongly recommended. It is at the end of roughly five miles of primitive two-tracks. It is fairly private, but was very hot. The desert is vast and worthy of exploration. Bring water. There are rattlesnakes. Some cell service.

A forest road spur within Inyo National Forest, near Mammoth Lakes, California. Lovely site surrounded by Jeffrey Pines. Nice scenery and good protection from elements. Very private and primitive. No fire ring. Improvised campsite. Enough room for a few vehicles and poor cell service.

This is a primitive, improvised clearing only a short walk from Boca Reservoir. Very lovely setting nestled in pine trees. Small, neglected fire ring. Enough room for a few vehicles and no cell service. A vast forest road network to explore in vehicle. Recommended.

Discreet, improvised campsite on a wooded hill next to Prosser Creek Reservoir. Quiet, serene, and peaceful, but not sure if camping is allowed. Primitive clearing. No fire ring. Some cell service, and enough room for a few vehicles. Not recommended due to uncertain if acceptable spot to spend the night.

Super convenient primitive boondocking site near Mammoth Lakes, California. Enough room for two vehicles. Great cell service and blocked from wind by large rock formation. Fire circle against rock face. Highly recommended, especially if spending a lot of time in town.

Excellent campsite near Mammoth Lakes, California. A short distance from hot springs. Grassy clearing in basin with extraordinary view of mountains. Good protection from elements, and an oasis of fair weather. Primitive site with fire circle, no amenities. Great cell service and enough room for multiple vehicles. Strongly recommended!

Good boondocking spot between busy road and whitewater creek, nestled in beautiful mountains south of Lake Tahoe. No cell service. Ample room for multiple vehicles. Crude fire circles. No amenities, and no cell service. Recommended for a short stay if passing through the area.

This is a large open parking area next to Prosser Creek Reservoir. Next to busy dirt road. Improvised, primitive campsite. No fire ring or amenities. We spent the night here in a pinch, and there were others doing the same. However it is not known to be an approved campsite. Not private. Enough room for several vehicles. Some cell service. Not recommended.

A free campground in Sequoia National Forest north of Kernville. A popular spot for boondockers with fire pits and trash cans. Enough room for one vehicle per site. Next to the powerful and beautiful Kern River, surrounded by high-desert. Very busy during peak season. No cell service. Somewhat recommended.

In Sierra National Forest a designated camping area next to a dam. There is a vault toilet here, some conifer trees, concrete slabs. On one hand it felt very remote, but very industrial at the same time. Encountered no one during my stay in December. Enough room for multiple vehicles. Scattered primitive fire rings. No cell service. I liked this unique setting. Recommended.

This is the parking area for a trailhead in Redwood National Park. It is not a proper campsite, however it is an okay place to discreetly pop a camper for a night or two. I was not bothered. At the top of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a boulder-strewn beach on one side and a Redwood hike on the other side. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. Not recommended for camping, but strongly recommended for hiking and exploring on foot.

Humboldt County Fairgrounds and RV Park in Ferndale, California. This is literally a parking lot if you opt for dry camping, which costs a reasonable $12 per night, and includes access to unlimited showers. Within Victorian Ferndale, close proximity to Redwoods and Pacific Coast. I usually aim for free camping, but this is a cost-effective place to camp in an area where options are few. Good cell service. Enough room for multiple vehicles. Sort of recommended.

Within unincorporated town of Rockland, California, at the river access to the beautiful blue Smith River. There is a vault toilet here, and scattered fire rings. Nestled in valley with mountains on both sides. This is very remote. Enough room for multiple vehicles. No cell service. Like an oasis in the middle of the wilderness. Possible best-kept secret. Strongly recommended.

An unremarkable primitive clearing off of a forest road in Stanislaus National Forest just outside of Yosemite. Fire ring, but no other amenities. Metal railings line the parking area and a small stream flows within earshot. Wooded area. Numerous seasonal forest roads to explore. Convenient to the city of Groveland. This is a quiet place to spend the night if passing through but not a destination. No cell service. Enough room for multiple vehicles.

A trailhead parking lot on BLM land within the grassy rolling mountains of central California. Vault toilets. Nearby highway travel is audible but quiet at night. Some grassy sites available. Enough room for a few vehicles. No cell service. This is a popular equestrian campground for trail riding. Nice natural setting but utilitarian setting. A nice place to stay if passing through the area but not a destination.

A primitive grassy plain with a small stone fire ring on the California coast. Not on the beach, but crashing waves are within sight. Very exposed site. No cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Outhouse within walking distance. Grazing elk. Next to river and within walking distance from beach. Four-wheel drive recommended. Numerous camping options in the area. Likely an extremely popular spot in the summer. Recommended.

A free primitive campsite among mature redwood trees on the California coast. Picnic tables and fire rings here. Also numerous outhouses. Very rustic. No cell service. This spot is in a shady grove next to a small stream. Four-wheel drive recommended. Enough room for a few vehicles. Numerous other sites in the vicinity but I expect the place to be a crowded party spot in the summer. Recommended.

A very nicely maintained fee campground among mature redwood trees. Very beautiful and atmospheric. Costly at $35 per night. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. There are a lot of opportunities for hiking and nature trails. Has running water. Restrooms with quarter popping showers. Picnic tables and fire rings. Might be busy in the warm season. Recommended.

Upper Pines fee campground in Yosemite National Park. Bathrooms with running water, picnic tables, fire rings, food lockers. Very crowded. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Expect the sound of parties, picnics, and generators. Mix of tent campers and RVs. This is one of the core places to camp within Yosemite, so your options are limited. Deploy camp and take the shuttle throughout the the park for the duration of your stay. Good cell service.

This is just a clear spot off the side of a seldom traveled BLM road that I found in the dark. It was a quiet place to stay on the side of the desert mountain and it wasn't very level, so I had to use a big rock to level the Jeep. Enough room for one vehicle. No cell service. Ancient fire ring that hasn't been used in decades. Vast network of BLM roads in the area to explore but you will encounter other traffic. Stayed here due to loss of daylight. Not recommended.

This is a primitive flat spot in the mountainous desert northeast of Barstow, California, not far from Calico Ghost Town. It is a very quiet, very remote location surrounded by a network of BLM roads with very technical terrain and historical locations and artifacts. You might encounter a motorbike or side-by-side, but that's all. Great cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. No amenities here, but a great, quiet place to spend the night. Recommended.

Sawtooth Campground south of Barstow, California. Located in BLM land a short drive from pavement. Very nice free campground. This particular site is primitive and is not among the others that have picnic tables, shelters and pads. This is a flat spot with a stone fire ring at the foot of a large rock formation. Enough room for a few vehicles and some cell service. Despite being more primitive, this might be my favorite spot in Sawtooth. Strongly recommended!

Sawtooth Campground south of Barstow, California. Located in BLM land a short drive from pavement. Very nice free campground with vault toilets, picnic tables with shelters, fire rings. Haven for rock climbers. This is popular year road, so you will be among other campers. Winter is supposedly better because of the extreme desert heat in the summer. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Strongly recommended!

A primitive camping area in the Mojave Preserve near the trailhead for the Kelso Dunes. Desert setting off of a washboard road. View of dunes, but otherwise unremarkable. Some other RVs and van-dwellers will likely be here. Sites aren't well defined, so basically camp anywhere. A few fire rings scattered about. Enough room for a few vehicles. No cell service. Recommended if Kelso Dunes is your destination.

A primitive camping area along the Mojave Road in the central part of the Mojave Preserve. Rock formations to the east. Several sites here with flat spots and fire rings. Desert setting. Kelso Dunes visible in the valley to the southwest. No cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles per site. Looks like a popular stop, but I had it all to myself. Recommend.

A primitive camp spot with a stone fire ring off of the Mojave Road at the foot of some rocks to the west which block the wind nicely. Enjoyed a campfire here. Quiet. Good cell service. Enough room for two or three vehicles. Desert setting. Not far from paved road with very light traffic through the Mojave Preserve. Recommended.

A fee campground in BLM land at Afton Canyon along the western extremity of the Mojave Road. Nice, well-cared for. Trash bins, running water, fire ring, sheltered picnic tables. Some RVs. Short drive from highway, but quiet and feels remote. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. Desert setting next to railroad bridge. Good cell service. Cost was $6 per night. Recommended if you don't mind spending a few bucks.

Barren flat spot in SoCal desert north of Yuma, Arizona. This is BLM land and is very quiet while only a 20 minute drive to town. Good cell service. Enough room for several vehicles. No fire ring or amenities. Experienced a helicopter doing exercises very close for two hours. Military installation nearby. Safe and peaceful with nice views. There are site with fire rings along same road. Recommended.

Extremely secluded primitive campsite in the southeast California desert. There are no amenities and no existing fire ring. Very peaceful with good view of desert. Several miles from pavement. Mountains to the east, protected wilderness to the west. Great cell service. Enough room for a few vehicles. Superb off-grid escape and privacy almost guaranteed. The road in requires four-wheel drive and is very lightly traveled. You will wonder if you are going the right way.

A secluded flat spot in the California desert about 30 minutes north of Yuma on a small plateau off of a four-wheel drive track. Great view of mountains to the east and vast open spaces to the north, west, and south. Primitive with no fire ring or amenities. Enough room for several vehicles. I like this spot for its close proximity to town and almost guaranteed privacy.

Phenomenal campground at Picacho State Park on the Colorado River. Fee campground. Peak season is winter. Like a verdant oasis surrounded by jagged desert. Shaded picnic tables, running water, showers, fire rings, vault toilets, clean, and well cared for. No cell service. Enough room for two vehicles per site. You will likely encounter other guests so set expectations. Lovely place to stay. Recommended.

Official National Park Campground. Fee site. Paved spurs. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. No cell service. Restroom, running water, fire rings, picnic tables. Poor privacy and likely very busy. Good view of valley. Scattered vegetation and large boulders to the east. Great hiking nearby. A decent campground, but not a destination campground. This is a nice place to spend the night if you want to enjoy the park.

Official National Park Campground for Joshua Tree just outside of Yucca Valley. Fee area. Great proximity to town. Very busy campground with a lot of sites. The campground is high traffic so wear is visible. Sites are not very level. Good cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles per site. This is a destination if you are visiting town more so than Joshua Tree. Good space between sites dotted with joshua trees. Not remote nor private.

A secluded flat spot with an old fire ring right off of a BLM road sort of tucked away. Just outside of Picacho. Private and peaceful and sort of well protected. Visible from road at a distance. Great cell service at very remote location. Next to a sandy wash. High desert with sparse flora. Primitive with no amenities, no wood. Other campsites along road far more exposed.

Very nice! Secluded, small, primitive campsite with fire ring on BLM land on the border of Bighorn Mountain Wilderness. Mountainous desert setting just up the hill from a wash. Some small trees and green grass. Amazing rock formations just a short hike away. No cell service. Enough room for one or two vehicles. This site is a gem. Recommended.

An arbitrary pull-off in the saddle of a mountain on BLM land north of Joshua Tree. Not a proper campsite, just a primitive and secluded spot to spend the night on a high-desert mountain. Good cell service and a relatively short drive from pavement. Enough room for a single vehicle. Good view. ATV traffic likely. Not remarkable, but convenient if you want to be close to town. Four-wheel drive required.

Dispersed campsite on BLM land in California that is way off grid, south of the ghost town of Ballarat. Rough washboard road. High clearance four wheel drive recommended. There is a stone fire ring here and it is not very flat. Leveling will be required. Enough room for a few vehicles. No cell service. Mountain range to the east, valley to the west, and a lot of primitive tracks to explore in a barren desert setting. Some rocks, desert scrub, and a little trash.

A primitive dispersed campsite in the picturesque Alabama Hills at the foot of the eastern Sierras. This is an otherworldly landscape filled with bulbous rock formations, and frequently appearing in popular movies such as Tremors. Good cell service at this spot. Room enough for two vehicle, but might be hard to level. Stone fire ring. Only a short drive to town. Recommended, but this area is extremely popular for its beauty. It will likely be busy, so set your expectations accordingly. Nimble four wheel drive recommended.

A spacious, designated dispersed campsite with a primitive stone fire ring in Death Valley National Park at the northern foot of the massive Eureka Sand Dunes. There is a small pit toilet a short walk away. Enough room for several vehicles. No cell service. Great view of the dunes! Be prepared for neighbors as this is a popular destination in the park. At the end of long washboard roads suitable for all vehicles but bone jarring. Must visit.

An official fee campground inside Death Valley National Park. Paved loop with gravel spurs. No hookups, no cell service, enough room for two vehicles per site. Picnic tables and metal fire rings. There is a restroom with running water. In a barren valley with sand and some desert scrub. A wash to the west offers some wind protection. This is a pretty mainstream campground and very busy, but it is nice. A good place to spend the night with facilities.

An RV campground for adults in downtown Palm Springs, California. Starbucks in walking distance. Lovely hikes in mountains to the west. RVs are packed in like sardines, but each paved slab is separated by tall shrubs for near complete privacy. The vibe was not my thing, but if you are a van or RV dweller, it is a great campground if you would like to experience downtown palm springs. Enough space for two vehicles. Picnic tables. No fires. Pool. Laundry. Restrooms. Cash only.

Found on iOverlander, this lovely preserve and nature area north of Palm Springs, allows you to spend three nights parking lot camping at their facility for free with a reservation. Just off the PCT so backpackers may also tent here. Strangely poor cell service. Restrooms. Gated parking lot. No fires or fire rings. Nice hiking area and a lot of day time visitors and picnickers. Beautiful trees and landscaped ponds. Worth a visit but not a vehicle adventure experience.

A gorgeous, high-elevation free dispersed camping area on Thomas Mountain in San Bernardino National Forest. Yellow post site, located at the end of a long winding two-track. Four-wheel drive or high-clearance AWD recommended, but the dirt road isn't too rough. There are numerous other campsites in the area that are also beautiful. Network of dusty roads, worthy of exploration. Room for a few overland vehicles and ground tents. Fire circle. Pine trees, boulders, and stunning views. Highly recommended. Good cell service.