Best Dispersed Camping near Cameron, AZ

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

As of May 1, 2023 the Coconino National Forest Service has closed down many dispersed camping areas around the city of Flagstaff. This area is included in that. You can still drive off-road and explore during the day when the Walnut Canyon National Monument is open, but no camping and no camp fires are allowed.

Could only get one night at the Mather CG in Grand Canyon, so we went boondocking just outside of the National Park in Kaibab NF.  It was only a few minute drive from the park entrance, and had nearby access to shops.  

This is a primitive campsite so no facilities, bathrooms, water, and pack in pack out.  There were a handful of campers here but enough space along the road to find a private spot.  There were a few other nearby forest roads that offered dispersed camping but this one had fewer people.

Would certainly camp here again if we can't get a spot in the park.

This is a good dispersed camping spot with lots of sites and vegetation to keep you hidden. Flat level terrain.

This was one of the quickest and easiest dispersed camping spots I've set up in.  In the morning, it's super easy to get back onto the road, hit the trails, or head into Flagstaff.

so many spots! If you pull off of 64 and follow the road back to the Kaibab Forrest sign and there are a lot of dispersed camping spots. There are some trails back there too.

Some people left trash so we picked it up, just remember to pack it in and pack it out.

We accidentally stumbled upon this camp spot on our way to the other one we planned to stay at just south of the national park. When we arrived, there was only one van in our proximity. So surprised that this area is a dispersed camping area (read that they are planning to make this spot paid). The best camping area we stayed at in our three weeks road trip.

In order to decrease the risk of wildfires, the city of Flagstaff has placed a ban on dispersed camping within a certain perimeter near the city and this site now falls within this banned zone. A friendly ranger was parked there to divert campers and help guide to other dispersed camping options

Super easy roads with campfire rings. Big beautiful ponderosa pines. Some noise from helicopter tours and some weird 4x4 jeep tours but not bad at all. We wanted an easy pretty campsite tonight and we found it. Thank goodness for public lands! Keep it better than you found it. If you’ve been dispersed camping on the way to GC and need a shower hit up the camper services area, takes cash only (quarters), 5 mins for 2.50.

Free camping along the rode, we passed about 10 people before coming to a spot from GCNP. Camped next to the watch tower. Our spot was close to road so lacked toilet privacy, but the other spots were farther off the road. Perfect spot to camp and drive 5 minutes into GCNP.

This was the most dispersed camping I think we’ve ever done! We came to see the Grand Canyon and didn’t realize just how many places there would be to stay at! This location is not the only dispersed camping area FYI! You’ll see as your driving among the highway that there is many signs pointing you to national park camping! Exactly as the other reviews explained it, you get to experience the great outdoors with all the animals around! Super cold here, but it wasn’t that bad and we were tent camping! Many people around everywhere you went! Cell phone reception was good-right next to the village. We picked up pizza and beer and enjoyed our night here!

As others have said, this is situated right in between the Grand Canyon gates and the little town of Tusayan. This makes it super easy to drive into the park for a sunrise hike down into the canyon!

The spots are dispersed really well and we were pleasantly surprised to not have any “neighbors” within sight. It felt like a safe place to leave our tent and several belongings while we ventured inside the park. It was very quiet at night, and the view of the stars on a clear night is incredible here!

If you’re looking for boondocking, this is as good as it comes! It’s hard to believe that fee free places like this still exist!

The campground is made up of only dispersed camping areas, and offers some awesome views. However, because it is so close to the city, we found that all of the spots off the dirt road were occupied. People were almost everywhere, so if seclusion is what you’re looking for we don’t recommend :( We arrived there around 8pm so maybe it has something to do with that, but we have never seen this many people in an dispersed camping area. After searching for awhile we ended up settling into a spot, and were met by some unpleasant people (who looked like they had too many drinks) telling us that they were planning on camping there. Overall we ended up finding a spot to put up our tent and we left as soon as the sun rose. Great area, not such pleasant people.

Great spot for boondocking. Got here an hour or so before sun set and was able to find a secluded spot about 2 miles in. We are driving a Solis and had no problem with the road in. Clean up after yourself. If you're not going to take care of the public land, you don't deserve to stay on it. Simple, don't be a degenerate.

Dispersed camping along the Coconino Road has plenty of locations to choose from. Be advised that the first mile or so of the road is very rough (ruts, large holes), but it does improve after that. Also be very careful leaving the dirt road. The ground looks solid enough but you can easily find very soft ground and sink into it (ask me how I know).