Free Camping Collection
Established Camping
West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping
About
National Forest
No fires or grills allowed at any time. Charcoal and wood campfires are prohibited. However, stoves and grills operating solely on liquified petroleum gas that can be turned on and off ARE allowed.
These designated sites are the only areas you may camp in within the west Sedona area. Dispersed camping is prohibited outside of these sites.
This camping area is open 24/7 on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a 14-day maximum stay limit.
Along FR525, there are 5 designated camping areas:
Surprise (3.72 acres)
Windmill (1.41 acres)
Cockscomb (3.23 acres)
Greasy Spoon (2.47 acres)
Nolan (11.85 acres)
Across from FR525 is FR89B, which has 2 designated camping areas:
Javelina (1.24 acres)
Angel Valley (1.14 acres)
A short distance down Highway 89A from FR 525 is FR9570A, which includes 1 designated camping area:
Rockview (10.82 acres)
Fee Info
Free
Reservation Info
Dispersed camping in these designated areas will remain free and are on a first-come, first-served basis that allow up to 14 days of camping.
No fires or grills allowed at any time. Charcoal and wood campfires are prohibited. However, stoves and grills operating solely on liquified petroleum gas that can be turned on and off ARE allowed.
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiAvailable
- VerizonAvailable
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileAvailable
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Paved paradise and put up a parking lot
This is literally just a parking lot for huge rvs ( can you call yourself a camper?) I’ve been coming to this area for 12 years . It used to be beautiful, peaceful , special. Today it is full of noisy generators , big rigs, atvs kicking up dust everywhere, zero privacy. I don’t hear coyotes anymore, and the trees are dying from being covered in dirt. The road is like a freeway with rigs, cars etc all day long . Gun shots from the nearby shooting range. How can they even call this nature 😩
Now an RV Trailer camp
As many people have mentioned this area has been almost ruined. It’s basically a big rig RV park at this point. You can tell the impact of too many humans on the land, it’s quite shocking to see. It also doesn’t mesh with the values that I think a lot of true backcountry and dispersed campers go by. If you get a spot you are packed like sardines next to each other. Which makes for extremely unsanitary bathroom situations. The NF should limit RVs to first come first serve at certain parking lot areas along beginning of road. After a certain point only vehicles and tents. Super disappointing because the view is stunning. I’m sure this will soon become a pay to park type of area in the future.
A lot has changed….
We camped here in early/mid feb 2022 - dispersed camping road was very full - what seemed to be a lot of families with kids with RVs utilizing the OHV trails & many other tent & RV campers. Everyone was camped along the left hand side of the road, some on the right early on. It was awesome - such a great view for sunrise & sunset with free camping.
We read the locals concerns of what was happening to the area, especially post covid. We agree there were a TON of campers, everyone seemed to find a spot along the road with privacy from each other, which was nice - yes this affects much more ground area. We also noticed the increase in garbage along Highway, and are glad we didn’t encounter the buckets of human feces…
But - the camping that is now allowed come feb 2023 is extremely diminished. It is completely catered to RV’s and not to rent campers. There is zero privacy, and absolutely no where to use the restroom responsibly, even in nature - because you’re on top of each other. The amount of camping spaces available went to such small of a number that it’s basically become a parking lot. They did do a nice job creating the few spaces they did.
All in all we really enjoyed camping here previously & think there is a better way to be utilized while still protecting the space.
Location
West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping is located in Arizona
Directions
See description of campground for details on "designated" locations. This is "designated dispersed" so you may not camp anywhere but those locations detailed above.
Coordinates
34.85862492121276 N
111.9135190733819 W