Dispersed camping dominates the landscape surrounding Rock Springs, Wyoming, with several free sites on Bureau of Land Management property within a 30-minute drive of town. Located at 6,400 feet elevation in Wyoming's high desert, the area experiences wide temperature swings, with summer days reaching 90°F and dropping to 50°F at night. Fall camping season extends later than many mountain regions due to the relatively mild winters, though strong winds are common year-round.
What to do
Wild horse viewing: Head to White Mountain Road dispersed camping area where visitors frequently spot herds. "We saw over 20 wild horses. The wind and heat can be pretty intense at times. Beautiful sunsets," according to one camper at Green River Flaming Gorge Dispersed Site.
River floating: The Green River provides cooling recreation during summer heat. "We walked about ½ mile down the main path and floated a mile before the dam at the county park—super fun and easy access," notes a visitor at Green River RV Park, mentioning the river access just beyond the campground.
Stargazing: The clear desert air creates exceptional night sky viewing conditions. A camper at Firehole Canyon Campground reported, "Perseid meteor shower was over us this night, and this was 10/10 stargazing country."
Off-roading: Extensive trail networks surround Rock Springs. "We could ride the ATVs from campsite and had hundreds of miles of trails to choose from," shares a visitor staying at White Mountain Road, highlighting the direct access to recreational trails.
What campers like
Privacy features: Some sites offer unexpected privacy elements. "Standard KOA facilities. Very nice tent spots... fenced in tent spaces with plots of grass for the tents and an aspen in each lot!" mentions a camper at Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey.
Clean facilities: Many campsites maintain well-kept bathrooms despite remote locations. "The community showers and restrooms seemed pretty clean and well maintained. The laundry was basic and mostly functioning (a few out of order machines), but we did our laundry with no issue," notes a visitor to Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey.
Affordability: Budget-friendly options exist throughout the area. "Only $10 for electric and a free hot shower," reports a camper at Sweetwater Event Complex Fairgrounds, adding "This is a large fairgrounds parking lot that has a delightful camp host who lives on site."
Mountain views: Several camping areas offer panoramic vistas. "Campsite is located at the top of a mountain with amazing views. Campsites are well spaced and graded," writes a visitor to Green River Flaming Gorge Dispersed Site.
What you should know
Limited shade: The high desert environment means minimal tree cover. "Open sunny CG, not on the water. Sites are the weirdest ever, you share a parking area with the next site like as if it was a double site," explains a Firehole Canyon Campground visitor.
Highway noise: Several campgrounds sit near Interstate 80. A tent camper at Middle Baxter Road shared, "It's fairly quiet except when trucks are driving by which can be often at times. It's nice and open but when the wind shifted I got a smell from the refinery that was unpleasant."
Wind exposure: Persistent winds affect comfort, especially in dispersed sites. "As reviews said, it's definitely windy. But it was not miserable in my opinion, just took a little adjusting," notes a camper at White Mountain Road.
Land ownership awareness: Some areas appear public but may be private. A Middle Baxter Road camper reported, "When packing up to leave in the morning, an oil company pickup truck stopped by and asked a few questions. I said I was just heading out - got the sense camping wasn't allowed."
Tips for camping with families
Amenity options: Some campgrounds offer kid-friendly features. "Good amenities, pool, clean bathroom, jump pad for kids. Staff went above and beyond, and were super friendly," notes a Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey visitor.
Glass hazards: Several dispersed sites contain broken glass. At Green River Flaming Gorge, a camper warned, "Great and spacious area to camp. Unfortunately, there was a ton of broken glass at multiple sites. My dog even cut his nose on a piece. Be very careful on which site you camp at."
Fairground camping: The Sweetwater Event Complex offers extensive space. "When I first investigated this and saw that it had 1,200 FHU sites I figured it must have been a typo. But, sure enough there are that many sites," reports a visitor, adding "Very clean and private restroom/shower facilities."
Weather protection: Prepare for temperature swings with appropriate gear. "It had snowed the night before and it was cold. However, the fences protect the campsites for the tent campers, so we didn't feel the wind at all," explains a Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey camper.
Tips from RVers
Level sites: Many RV sites require minimal setup. "Lots of parking slots. All gravel slot the one we got was level and most look level," shares an RVer at Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey.
Campground navigation: Some areas require careful driving. "The road up coming from the east was pretty easy though bumpy and on a climb it's more difficult to slow roll," warns a White Mountain Road visitor, adding "Be careful if you put in your GPS coming from the east! It takes you to a dirt road with a 27% grade up and over the mountain! Don't try to drive down it with a big rig!"
Water pressure variations: Hookup quality varies between locations. "The pad was plenty long enough for our 40' fifth wheel and our F450. The utilities worked fine but we needed a reducer as the water pressure was around 100 psi," notes a camper at Sweetwater Event Complex Fairgrounds.
Off-season upgrades: Staff sometimes offer unexpected improvements. "Staff was lovely and accommodating. They upgraded us to FHU at no addl charge since the site we had booked was closed for the season," reports an RVer at Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey.
