Searching for a dispersed camping spot in Arizona? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds in Arizona, including sites, reviews, and tips. Search nearby dispersed campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
It is labelled as East Pocket on a map, but known to locals as “The End of The World,” the perfect nickname to describe this climactic viewpoint. Flagstaff sits upon a lofty plateau carpeted in high-elevation pine forest, but just south of town, the bottom drops out. Below a craggy rim of volcanic rock, the land takes a precipitous plunge into an entirely different world of red rock and sandstone towers. This is the realm of Sedona, and End of The World overlooks all of it.
Pumphouse Wash (Forest Road 237) is__a popular dispersed camping area in the ponderosa pine forest__along SR 89A, midway between Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona. The area is__conveniently located near__Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, Woody Mountain Road, Lake Mary, and a variety of recreation sites. It is a popular alternative to traditional campgrounds for visitors to Oak Creek Canyon and the Flagstaff area.There are four campsite loops, each containing__between__11 and__26 signed and numbered sites. The site offers__excellent camping opportunities for large groups as well as families and individuals.__Most sites offer partial to full shade beneath towering ponderosa pine trees, and are generally flat, making it easy to set up tents or campers. Each site has parking and a campfire ring. There is no trash service, so if you pack it in, pack it out. There are no restroom facilities. Portable toilets are highly recommended.FR 237 and the camping loop roads are well maintained and suitable for passenger cars.__Photo tour from this site [Flickr].
Please check the website for the most up to date information about closings and bans.
Location is near Park Link Drive - S. Cattle Tanks Road BLM
Elevations range from 6,000 feet to over 8,000 feet. The name originates from the profile of a prominent ridge that appears from the distance as a "saddle", horn and all. Vegetation is diverse. It ranges from pinyon pine - Utah juniper in the lower areas to mixed conifers in the highlands. The lower elevations provide valuable mule deer winter range, whereas the higher elevations of the southern portion provide summer habitat for deer and blue grouse. In the upper portion of House Rock Valley a herd of buffalo roam.
Legend
KOFA WILDLIFE REFUGE AND ADJACENT BLM.
Good free Dispersed camping on roads (gravel dusty and washboard also) heading into the KOFA mtns. BLM lands first couple miles off hwy 95. 14d camping limit, no water, no toilets, no dumpsters, no designated sites, just pure boondocking. On hwy 95 south of Q. Cell signal good on TMobile for me.
The Palm cny road is most popular due to the Palm cyn hike to see rare native palms, but day use is busy (7+ mi of gravel road access to TH).
Lots of campers spread out with lots of room mostly on BLM lands the first 3.0 miles from hwy 95. A refuge host is present at refuge boundary but not sure of their role. The Refuge rules notes 14d camping limit in a calendar year (but BLM rules note 14d in one area then have to move 25mi to another..). Note the dispersed campsites in the refuge are restricted to 100ft from the road, a restriction the BLM does not have.
Legend
Free dispersed camping, about 3 miles north of Quartzsite, with no services available, but lots of space and beautiful views of surrounding mountains. No trash service here, but area is very close to the Refuse Transfer Station off Hwy 95.
Be sure to register with the Camp Host on duty near the entrance to the area.
Unlike some of the other BLM land nearby where many RVers were using solar panels, nearly everyone here at Plomosa was using a generator.
Sunrises and sunsets are endless and beautiful! Easy access back into town for food, gas, firewood, laundry, and just about everything a camper could need.
Check out this article for more info about the Quartzsite region: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/local/rv-campers-guide-quartzsite-az/
Scout
I was shocked at how close this free, dispersed camping spot was to the entrance to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon!
The location is off the main road, headed to the canyon, about 1 mile south of the Demotte campground.
This spot is only a few miles from the entrance to the Grand Canyon (but about 23 miles to the rim).
Located off a gravel road, somewhat rough but our minivan did fine.
Several dispersed camping spots available along the road as you head into the area. About 3 miles back is a view point of the East Rim with camp bathrooms. Will take about 15 mins to drive there from main road.
I did feel rather secluded here with a large distance between camping spots and not many people camping at the time. We were there in mid June. Weather was nice and cool for us at night at that time to be able to sleep comfortably in our van.
Overall, great spot for free camping!
Guide
This was our first time boondocking in the forest of Williams, AZ. A friend told us about the free dispersed camping along Dog Town Rd. which is only about 5 miles outside of the cute town of Williams. There are many spots available to boondocks amidst the cool pines and forest. Tent camping, RV's, 4x4s, were everywhere. We give this area 4 stars only because recent logging in the area left some areas with ugly burn piles and stacks of burned wood. Otherwise, it was a great location.
Close to the Grand Canyon, Bearizona, Route 66, Dog Town Lake, Coleman Lake, Flagstaff, Lava Tubes Cave, Deer Park
Scout
The directions will bring you right to the recreation area parking lot, where there are a few marked camping spots on the shore and some portable toilets. You must have a Tonto pass to camp at these spots. Free, dispersed camping is located across the highway down the dirt road Bar 3.
Legend
3.5 miles of free BLM dispersed camping. Lots of flat open areas to camp. MST&T Road is graded gravel washboard. The KOFA NWR boundary is at 3.5 miles from hwy. Cell signal is good on TMobile. Free dispersed camping, no toilets, no water, no dumpsters. Only a few miles back into Q. The closer you get to the KOFA boundary the more scenic the desert vegetation is with more saguaros. You can also free dispersed camp on the KOFA refuge.
Seems in the past Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph (MST&T) operated a microwave tower on a hilltop in the Livingston Hills at the end of this road.
Note: WARNING...turn off from hwy 95 is unmarked, no signage, no left turn lane from north. At MP 93 coming from Q it is a quick .2 mi for a unmarked difficult to see, left turn onto a gravel road, watch out for traffic behind you...
Ranger
Free dispersed camping in the pines along forest road 248. Several good sites 1/2 to 1 mi from road
Guide
We have been traveling and paying for camp sites as well as using free dispersed camping. THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST IN 3 WEEKS ACROSS THE USA. We went back to this site a week after staying here and got married here! It’s a special spot with spectacular views!
Scout
This BLM land has plenty of spots to park and camp. There is quite a bit of road noise though. Not bad for free camping though.
Legend
This BLM dispersed camping area access is about MP 147.5 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8. This is a two track road that leaves the highway and goes thru a gate, and EXTREME CAUTION is advised slowing down and leaving the freeway due to no off ramp or signs here to alert traffic behind you. Not recommended for RVs or TTs due to the risky access off the interstate. Best suited for Overlander types and high clearance trucks/vans. This area was a pleasant surprise and the access road #8042a is best due to good gravel surface and interesting camping areas. Suggest going on #8042a for 1.2 miles to the abandoned windmill/tank area. There is a large rock borrow pit midway if you are a shooter. This windmill area is behind a ridge from I 8 and reduces the highway truck noise.
Free dispersed camping, no water. Info kiosk at pin location. Note that this area is isolated with little traffic and other campers and would not advise solo camping due to warnings about illegal smuggling. Go with buddies and go heavy.
Traveler
I enjoyed this camp site overall. It was only 10 minutes away from Patagonia and it had lots of dry firewood. The downside is there is no water source and also road noise. I was there Friday night through Monday morning and heard road noice throughout the night except for Sunday night.
I would recommend exploring above where the pin is because there is more free dispersed camping that will be quieter and more remote.
Legend
This free BLM camping area is just north of Lake Havasu airport. Road is a dusty washboard gravel, first 1 mile no camping, then a couple miles of free dispersed camping. Craggy Wash is a narrow draw and camps are clustered along the main gravel roads. Cell signal is dependent on where you camp, have to have line of sight to the cell tower across hwy 95, otherwise no cell signal. No water, no trash dumpsters, no toilets, no designated sites. BLM site host was onsite during my visit to monitor the 14d limit.
Main negative is the significant trash that is scattered around in bushes, side cubbies etc, hence the two stars,...this place needs an organized cleanup with the BLM bringing in a big dumpster...imo
Legend
This is a free dispersed camping area in the BLM Sonoran National Monument. Take Interstate 8, Exit #140 and take gravel road to south. The gravel road is rough washboard first section, then gets narrower and just rough. Camping areas seem to be just within less than a mile of the Interstate so truck noise will be an issue. No services for 30 mi back to Gila Bend or 20 mi back to Stanfield. No water, trash, tables. Cell signal is excellent on all carriers. This area is more difficult to access with a TT or RV due to the rougher narrow roads, compared to the Vekol Rd camping area at exit #144.
Guide
Lots of trains going by! Right by a main highway but we enjoyed meeting the other folks and were relieved to have a place to stay after having made an attempt on a rough dirt road where we had to turn around in BLM land nearby. Of course, after getting to the area we discover that we should’ve gone out to the lake Metairie area and that there is actually a hard road access to that beautiful BLM free camping.
Legend
Free dispersed camping, just 5 miles outside of Quartzsite, with no services available, but lots of space and beautiful views of surrounding mountains. This BLM area seemed to have less traffic and you could not hear the incessant hum of traffic on Interstate 10. You could hear a bit from Hwy 95, but it’s much less frequent and annoying.
Gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and very easy access to hiking and OHV trails. Sunrises and sunsets are endless and jaw dropping! Easy access back into town for food, gas, firewood, laundry, and just about anything an RVer or camper could need.
Check out this article for more info about the Quartzsite region: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/local/rv-campers-guide-quartzsite-az/
Legend
This is a very nice place for FREE camping on BLM land. Lots of room and it does go farther back from the highway. Just be careful of some areas may wash out when it rains. A little difficult to find, but look at your odometer when leaving Aho, it will be 13 miles on your right going south. A few miles further you will be at the Organ Pipe National Park. Some very nice scenic drives there.
Guide
40 mile scenic drive on a 4x4 road, dispersed camping along the way. Extremely popular view to park off the road in the saguaros. But I’d recommend cactus forest north of Tucson in blm land if you want that. Farther in you hit the mountains. We stayed off an off roading rock crawler trail. Def the path less taken. Super quiet and relaxing.
Legend
Free dispersed camping, about 20 miles outside of Quartzsite, with no services available, but lots of space and beautiful views of surrounding mountains. The major drawback is that you can hear the traffic on Interstate 10. We stayed here for just one night, as we were approaching Quartzsite at dusk and didn’t want to mess with finding a spot in the midst of the crowds after dark. It was a nice, easy stop for the night and put us within 30 minutes of town.
Check out this article for more info about the Quartzsite region: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/local/rv-campers-guide-quartzsite-az/
Legend
This is one five of 14 Day LVTA camping areas in the Quartzsite vicinity. It has a host on site. Lots of flat open spaces. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management(BLM). BLM lands have special rules, fees ( sometimes none) and can be popular with boon-docking. I only had a look around,. It did seem smaller and more densely populated than the other areas. I decided to continue on up the road and ended up staying in open BLM area just beyond Quinn pass. I have T-mobile service and phone was good, but data was painfully slow.
LegendThis is one five of 14 Day LVTA camping areas in the Quartzsite vicinity.
It was a very large site that had entrances on both sides of the road that each had their own host. Lots of flat open spaces. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management(BLM). BLM lands have special rules, fees( sometimes none) and can be popular with boon-docking.. I have seen other reviews saying it was free to stay here, but there are signs that say LTVA permits are required for use between September 15th and April 15th. Seasonal fee is $180.00 and 14 day permits were $40.00
I only had a look around, and decide to move on looking for actual free locations.
Legend
Free dispersed camping, about 2 miles outside of Quartzsite, with no services available, but lots of space and beautiful views of surrounding mountains. Be sure to register with the Camp Host on duty near the entrance to the area. The major drawback is that you can hear the traffic on Interstate 10. Many RVers use solar panels for all or at least part of their power needs though, so generator use is minimal.
Sunrises and sunsets are endless and beautiful! Easy access back into town for food, gas, firewood, laundry, and just about anything an RVer or camper could need.
Check out this article for more info about the Quartzsite region: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/local/rv-campers-guide-quartzsite-az/
Legend
We drove pretty far out Mittry Lake Road to the “free camping” spot labeled on Google maps. There are lots of other dispersed spots on the way in (but we’re full) and a big dispersed camping lot with parking spots as well. This is a busy area with lots of folks around. Everyone was respectful when we were here but don’t expect too much solitude or privacy. Road in is in great shape, packed gravel. Lots of the camp spots are dirt. Beautiful sunsets and lots of birds chirping. A very lovely spot to be…but with lots of company.
Legend
Free dispersed camping, about 4 miles north of Quartzsite, with no services available, but lots of space and beautiful views of surrounding mountains. No trash service, but this area is very close to the Refuse Transfer Station off Hwy 95. Area is quiet with no major road noise.
Be sure to register with the Camp Host on duty near the entrance to the area.
Many RVers use solar panels for all or at least part of their power needs though, so generator use is minimal.
Sunrises and sunsets are endless and beautiful! Easy access back into town for food, gas, firewood, laundry, and just about everything a camper could need.
Check out this article for more info about the Quartzsite region: https://thedyrt.com/magazine/local/rv-campers-guide-quartzsite-az/
TravelerAs a former GCNP employee, I wanted to add a few tips for dispersed camping at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There is no dispersed camping inside the park but the park is bordered by the Kaibab National Forest and you can dispersed camp on several of the surrounding forest service roads between the park and the Jacob Lake area.
The most popular roads for dispersed camping are FS633 on the East side of 67 north of DeMotte Campground and a cluster of FS roads off FS22 on the west side of 67 south of DeMotte Campground.
As of Summer 2022, dispersed camping was also allowed along FS610, 611, and 219 which are closer to the National Park. This is where the park rangers and staff at the Visitor Center would direct campers when the campgrounds were full. However, these roads are not designated as dispersed camping areas on the new MVUM (motor vehicle use map) that was printed Feb 2023, so you may want to call ahead or stop by the USFS office and doublecheck before dispersed camping there as illegal camping is subject to a $5000 fine and/or up to 18 months in jail.
If it is still allowed, some of the sites on FS611 are right on the rim overlooking the Saddleback Mountain Wilderness. If you head south on FS610 (towards the park boundary) there are only a couple of dispersed sites which could accomodate small to mid-sized travel trailers/RVs. I would not advise going down this road with a Class A unless you scout ahead first as there are limited places to turn around.
If you continue down FS610 south, you will have the national forest on your left and the National Park on your right. The road starts to narrow here and you will eventually come to Saddle Mountain which is a popular spot for tents, truck campers, and small travel trailers (GoPro sized or smaller) and also serves as a parking area for the Nankoweap Trailhead.
If you have a 4x4 or high clearance vehicle, you can continue past the Saddle Mountain area on 610 or 219 which both dead end at a bluff, but these roads are very narrow with large ruts and jutting rocks at the end. We parked our vehicle near the bottom of the incline and walked up to the bluff where there is nice flat open area with a view of the Saddleback Mountain Wilderness. There are also a few smaller dispersed camping areas along the road leading up to the bluff that would be perfect for tent camping.
If you don't mind a longer drive to the park, there are a lot more dispersed camping otpions for larger rigs around Jacob Lake. Our favorite spot is off FS257 on the north side of 89A. We boondocked here for 10 days in May before the park opened. There are only a handful of sites here but if you are lucky enough to get one, they are great!
Just be aware that as of Summer 2022, much of the dispersed area on the south side of 89A around Jacob Lake was closed due to damage from a recent forest fire. Again, it's always a good idea to call or stop in the USFS to get the most up to date information. Their office is located at the intersection of 67 and 89A at Jacob lake. The number is (928) 643-7298. They're super helpful!
Here is a link to the Motor Vehicle Use Map for the area.
Traveler
Great free dispersed camping immediately outside the Grand Canyon! There are an abundance of sites here, we spent about 45 minutes just picking and choosing our favorite. Please be mindful of the spots that work best for bigger rigs, we just had a tent so we left the pull through spots for the RVs. The sites do have nice fire pits but no established fire rings. There are no facilities here but the Grand Canyon entrance sign which is still outside the park has pit toilets and is very close. We were spending our days in the park so we took our trash to Mather campgrounds over flow parking lot dumpster, otherwise there are gas stations about ten minutes south. We actually found the sites here to be more free of trash then the Mather campground sites we stayed in the two nights before.
Pros -Proximity to Grand Canyon NP -Beautiful high desert forest -Privacy from other campers -Close enough to facilities
Cons -No established fire rings -No facilities -Some litter
Legend
This is free dispersed camping on the BLM Sonoran National Monument. At Interstate 8, Exit 144 go south. BLM starts in about .6 mile. Note that the gravel road then will pass thru some pvt land that the Dyrt does not show, before the BLM again at the road fork to the Vekol Ranch (2.1 miles in from hwy). See attached screenshot from the BLM monument map. Lots of sites scattered along the main graded gravel road. There is an info kiosk at junction of road going to the Vekol Ranch. Most of the campers seem to be in this area to avoid interstate truck noise. Excellent cell signal on all carriers. No water, marked sites, tables, fire rings or trash dumpsters. Nearest services are in Sanfield (poor), Maricopa (best) or Gila Bend (fuel, RV stuff) so come prepared. Maricopa has a Fry's Market and gas. Sanfield has a Family Dollar and Circle K gas. Gila Bend has most services but not a major food market. Not much Sonoran cactus vegetation by the kiosk sign in in this area, no cholla and very few Saguaros, area is just a wide flat creosote palo verde sandy plain.
Update: if you go another mile or two south (uphill) on the main road you can camp at the #8007b and #8007c road spurs and #8045 spur. More Sonoran vegetation there and very scenic...lots of Saguaro cactus to camp with on flat open desert pavement. Farther away from the hwy noise is a plus!
If you are concerned about potential safety issues from illegal smuggling warnings, then staying down close to BLMat the .6 mile mark is likely best.
Scout
After seeing the dispersed camping, my partner and I knew there must be something better and more secluded. About a 1/4 mile before the dispersed camping there is a national forest access road on the right. You’ll see a forest fire prevention sign at the entrance. 4x4 only no trailers. 3 or 4 dispersed sites. Beautiful hike up 4x4 road. Border patrol active. Close to Arizona’s trail trailhead. Great place to stay and see Patagonia.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping in Arizona, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds, often surrounded by stunning landscapes and wildlife.
Keep Exploring
