Looking for the best dispersed camping near Lake Havasu City? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find peaceful dispersed camping near Lake Havasu City. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your Arizona excursion.
Snaggletooth Primitive Camp sits on the southwest corner of the Chemehuevi Mountains and serves as the staging area for backpackers. Due to its location just off of U.S. Highway 95, and in close proximity to the town of Needles, it is a popular spot for seasonal visitors looking for a place to stop for the night. However, due to the surrounding scenic qualities and the openness of the area, many visitors who may have only intended to stop for just one night find themselves staying for a week.
Welcome to the Arizona State Land Department Online Recreational Permit Portal! Please review the following information below to determine which type of permit is right for you. This landing page also contains other helpful information about the Permit, as well as the basic responsibilities of the permittee(s). The Terms and Conditions at the bottom of the page must be agreed to by the permittee(s) before proceeding to the Permit web form.
Individual Permit: An Individual Permit is $15 and grants a single person access to State Trust land for certain types of recreational activities including camping, bicycling, bird watching, GPS-based recreational activities (geocaching), hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage, photography, picnicking, and sightseeing. Recreational Permits purchased online will be charged an additional $1 convenience fee. Alternatively, Recreational Permits may be purchased in person at the Arizona State Land Department Office, located at 1110 West Washington Street in Phoenix.
Family Permit: A Family Permit is $20 and grants a family unit (two adults and their children under 18 years of age) access to State Trust land for certain types of recreational activities including camping, bicycling, bird watching, GPS-based recreational activities (geocaching), hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage, photography, picnicking, and sightseeing. Recreational Permits purchased online will be charged an additional $1 convenience fee. Alternatively, Recreational Permits may be purchased in person at the Arizona State Land Department Office, located at 1110 West Washington Street in Phoenix.
Small-Group Permit: A Small-Group Permit is $15 and grants up to 19 people access to State Trust land locations for five consecutive days for certain types of non-commercial recreational activities including camping, bicycling, bird watching, GPS-based recreational activities (geocaching), hiking, horseback riding, off-highway vehicle (OHV) usage, photography, picnicking, and sightseeing. Recreational Permits purchased online will be charged an additional $1 convenience fee. Alternatively, Recreational Permits may be purchased in person at the Arizona State Land Department Office, located at 1110 West Washington Street, in Phoenix.
Large-Group Permit: A Large-group Permit is for a group larger than 20 people. Please submit a Public Inquiry here. Someone will get back to you with more information.
Responsibilities: Permittee(s) shall respect the land, and adhere to the Terms and Conditions of the Permit at all times. Permittee(s) shall comply with all federal, state, county, and municipal laws and ordinances, while on State Trust land. The Permittee(s) shall have the permit with them at all times while recreating on State Trust land and have readily available if stopped by law enforcement or any State Land Department staff. The Permittee(s) shall not remove natural products from or visit archaeological sites on State Trust land. The Permittee(s) shall not create or leave any trash on State Trust land, except for geocaches placed according to ASLD guidelines.
The Permittee(s) shall not discharge a firearm on State Trust land, except pursuant to lawful and licensed hunting. An ASLD Recreational Permit is not required for individuals with a valid hunting and/or fishing license whom are actively pursuing game or fish. To obtain a hunting or fishing license from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, please click here (https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml).
The Permittee(s) shall not participate in OHV usage on State Trust land without both an ASLD Recreational Permit and an OHV decal or license plate. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is the issuing agency for the OHV decal, certificates of title, registrations, and license plates. To obtain an Arizona OHV decal, please click here (http://servicearizona.com/offHighwayDecal?otherclick).
$15 - $20 / night
Ranger
This is a cool spot and it’s much quieter than plasmas road or spots closer to quartzite. There’s only about 20 spots and they are all pretty decent. We have come several weekends and on holidays and still got great spots. Views are excellent . Here’s the only issue. There are full timers not moving after 14 days as is required by law. Some have really set up shop and this visit we are near someone who is running their generator all day and into the night. They have dogs off leash that they are leaving outdoors to roam and poop wherever. Now most everyone who is here is cool and nice but there are some really cool spots that I would like to camp at that someone has basically claimed. I do t want to be the “ Karen”, sorry all of you named Karen, but is there anyone we can call that might be able to enforce some rules. I would prefer these area be in supervised and there not ever need TK be rangers patrols g etc but that requires everyone to follow the rules. I will say it’s o my one area that of this site that this seems to be an issue and it certainly my didn’t ruin our time there. We still had a great time and DJ really live this area
Traveler
I stayed two nights and found the area to be perfect. It was not overly crowded, except for the area right off of the main road. If you go a little farther in on the trail you get a little more space. I full time in a class c and flat tow my Jeep and was able to get about half a mile off the main road for my own slice of heaven.
There are lots of flat areas for easy setup, but there are also quite a few areas that would be challenging to level. Depending on your rig you may want to walk the area first.
There was a little bit of highway noise, but nothing major. Town is about 10 minutes south, and interstate 40 is about 10 minutes north.
Scout
I just followed the GPS / Google Maps coordinates to go to the Craggy Wash dispersed camping area south of Lake Havasu City (was actually in Lake Havasu City when I searched for nearby dispersed camping sites via The Dyrt ...). Copied the coordinates provided on The Dyrt webpage, turned left off US 95 South where directed (& it was the correct road on the live map), but there is a locked gate there with big sign: "Private Property Keep Out.". So.....since it was only 4:10 pm PST (Dec. 28, 2024), I travelled on to Hi Jolly just above Quartzsite. I did leave the Google Maps app active as I turned back south on 95 just to see if the voice directions might provide an alternate entrance to Craggy Wash, but ....no.
Traveler
Beautiful lake view and awesome sky at night! Only drawback are the UHVs flying around stirring up dust and taking away from the peace and quiet that should come with off grid camping in a federal wilderness area. Can’t fly a six inch drone because might disturb someone but you can fly around in a loud UHV! They are ruining the experience. They need a remote spot well away from camping sites and hiking areas.
Legend
This spot is best for a quick layover and then move on. Just an old gravel pit,th no water, no toilets, no trash. Only a few miles north of the town and Walmart. There were a couple of broke down burned out vehicles that added to the ambiance. No cell in the lower pit but ok cell on upper level.
Scout
Easy place to find a open spot in the back and quiet until some dumbass pulled in and starts their generator and blares Pink Floyd .
Guide
We spent 4 days here and it was very nice! People seem respectful on the UTVs. Local amenities are super super convenient!
Guide
Solid gravel roads, lots of space, small scrubery, nestled against rock formations.
TravelerWe stopped here as a one night stop on our way to New Mexico. It was a decently maintained dirt road, you should know how to crawl around potholes and/or have a higher clearance vehicle. I could see a 2WD getting stuck in the sand/fine rock areas. If you want to sleep in at all, definitely pick the west side of a large rock structure to help block the morning sun. It very quickly got hot, but with no canopy on the tent at night, we slept comfortably.
Legend
This dispersed camping area which requires a ridiculously inexpensive online permit ($20 per year), was perfect for what we needed. Our closest neighbor was about ¼ mile away, and we had views and sunsets aplenty. There is access to the Lake Havasu, but only by OHV or on foot, we chose the latter.
The roads in from the highway are rough and rocky, but doable if you take it slow. Once again our 67 year old vintage camper did great getting to our spot, though we recommend parking and walking the roads before committing to the drive in.
There’s hiking opportunities right out your front door, and nothing but the highway or the lake to stop your progress. The nearby Cattail Cove State Park offers designated hiking trails through the rugged desert terrain.
Nothing in the way of services, so bring your own...but lots of space to be alone and private. And, with sun, sun, sun, the California/ Arizona skies are great for solar gathering, so bring out all your panels. Starlink internet worked well too.
Lake Havasu city is about 15 minutes up the road, and there you can find everything you might need in terms of services and supplies. Check out the world famous London Bridge while you’re there, too!
ScoutWe followed the directions and arrived in an area where some mobile homes were installed, apparently permanently. No possibility to stay there
ScoutI was given the boot at a 14 day spot and i wasnt ready i had to choose between craggy crowded or lone tree loud . I chose H.Heights. internet walks through small neighborhood store at the rv park xrss street. Bullhead oneway lake havasu the other .
GuideComing from 95 the right side has long more private pull ins but it’s very hard to turn around, narrow, and very sketchy if you have low clearance vehicles. The left side is flat, easy to get in and out but is very crowded and not private at all. There was probably about 25 rvs, cars, and other rigs to the left. We drove pretty far back on the right side (as far as our car would get us) but ended up turning around and sleeping in the very first spot next to the road.
Traveler
Did get a spot in the CG but checked out the dispersed area. It did have ATT cell signal for messaging. Area well spread out, only a couple of rigs camped.
TravelerThis was our first overnight in our new overcab camper truck rig, family of four with two young girls. Drove back about 2 mi, lots of folks, finally found a quiet area with even a bit of kale overlook, on a short offshoot road Left of the main, and stayed a very peaceful night. Not a place to stay all day, but good for boondocking. All the campers seemed respectful and very friendly. “No bad days,” havasu style;)
ScoutAs a solo female traveler, my main priority is safety and this spot was incredible. I stayed here for a week and already miss it. It’s 5 minutes from McDonald’s/gas for food and/or bathrooms and in that same area is a Walmart. Just 15 minutes down the road is the heart to lake havasu. Can’t wait to go back and stay there. There’s plenty of spots well marked. You’ll head up a dirt road for about a mile and then can go as far as you want. Verizon had 2 bars, so spotty but enough connection. I drive a 2WD sedan and had no problems on the road.
Guide
Tons of campers. I headed out on the road toward the coordinates but ended up camping about 4 miles before even getting to them. Maybe it gets more secluded? Once I lost cell service I turned back to find a spot within range, given that there were so many campers I didn’t feel totally safe and there was nowhere to have unseen privacy. Big groups and ATVs set up with really loud music but everyone observed quiet hours and the ambiance ended up being entertaining.
LegendWhen the Burro Creek CG is full, this is your option to wait for a spot to open. Good cell signal but no water, trash, or marked sites. The Burro Creek CG does allow the dry campers to come in and use the RV dump and fill with water $10 fee.
Ranger
This location is very remote and a high clearance vehicle is needed. The drive in is a dirt road and very tough the last couple of miles. I didn’t see many spots right at the ghost town, but plenty all over before and after. I had one or two bars of service on Verizon. If you like exploring and solitude, this place is for you.
RangerYou need to go 1 mile up the road before you can camp. At the first spot there are lots of rigs and interesting characters. Took me another mile to find a place that was away from people. The spot was beautiful, but fair amount of trash and dog crap. I can see the appeal, but upon closer examination, it’s good for a night or two at most. Verizon service worked.
RangerThis is a really nice area with lots of available spots . Decent number of campers for a rainy Monday in mid January but still plenty of spots open. Not super remote. Had two bars of ATT service was able to stream movies. We were about 75 yards from the next camper which was a little close and I think that’s gonna be the norm at this location.
LegendMultiple choices for spots. Private, views, groups, high or low. Roads very rocky but not too bad.
Scout
Turn was right off the freeway and opened up into a vast expanse. Decent dirt road network some noise from traffic but not bad.
GuideKinds busy area we only stayed for one night but it's free and it got us out of the car for the night roads are decent it's easy to find there is no running water or toilets
Scout
Very nice spot just off route 91. Still in the desert but with some rock formations/ Mountains. There are a lot of spots, some marked. No uminities, no fire pits to grill. We liked it because we were completly alone. The ground is big and offers a few places reachable for 4x4 that are more excluded.
Guide
The cement pad is about 150 yards wide and about 350 yards long. We got here as the sun was coming down. It was windy and warm but not too bad considering that this is the desert. There is absolutely nothing out here. You’ll have to bring your own shade. Nearest fuel station is 19 miles away.
I enjoyed it because it was just clean and the night sky was clear. Great for stargazing.
There is the historical side of it. It’s amazing that Patton trained out here. Over a million troops trained in the area.
ScoutIt's two miles South of the SARA Park in Lake Havasu City. There are a couple of concrete pads available but previous long-term campers have left large piles of trash when they left. There's a dumpster at the entrance to the SARA Park just two miles down the road. Please use it.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where you can enjoy the great outdoors without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With a variety of options available, you can find the perfect spot to unwind and connect with nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lake Havasu City, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lake Havasu City, AZ is Craggy Wash - Dispersed Camping Area with a 3.7-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lake Havasu City, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 40 dispersed camping locations near Lake Havasu City, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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