Best Dispersed Camping near Lakeside, AZ

Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Lakeside? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the trees or wide open spaces, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect dispersed campsite.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Lakeside, AZ (18)

Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Lakeside

49 Reviews of 18 Lakeside Campgrounds


  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Timber Mesa Trailhead
    Oct. 18, 2024

    Timber Mesa Trailhead

    Haunted with a kill site

    Great fire pit and some flat spots for a tent. The highway got quieter in the middle of the night for a little while. We stayed right next to some ruins and all three of us had wild dreams about ghosts, ghost horses, and animals. The next morning we found we were only a few steps away from a mountain lion kill site! WOW! So many kinds of animals. Elk. Coyote. Cow. Sheep. You name it! It was an exciting way to spend the evening. Enjoy!

  • p
    Camper-submitted photo from Concho lake
    Oct. 16, 2024

    Concho lake

    Ehh

    Got here at night and found it quite easily. Not the most scenic as the lake is dried up and the highway is visible (and audible). Trash cans were overflowing with trash, and a few of the sites were trashed as well. I also think I saw human poop by the bushes. At around midnight some guy came by our tent asking if we knew where the portopotties went, and said the site we were at is where he usually stays…

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Rim Road
    Aug. 19, 2024

    Rim Road

    Great time here

    We showed late on Friday eve and were still able to get a great spot for tent camping. Pretty quiet and close to town.

  • Caitlin S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from FR738 Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 27, 2024

    FR738 Dispersed Camping

    Gorgeous camping right on the rim

    Along with this site, there are many dispersed camping sites right on the side of the rim with great views that you can see miles out. Great for tent camping but also big enough for campers and RVs

  • Twan M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Concho lake
    Mar. 30, 2024

    Concho lake

    Concho Pronto

    Great, great free camping. ~20 sites, most official sites have concrete pads & trashcans but a few more primitive spots just have driveways & rock campfire rings. Great Verizon Service. WINDY. Pretty, too.

  • Elizabeth J.
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Nov. 8, 2023

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Safe with amenities

    Easy to find and park, lots of campervans and RVs set up, slabs, picnic tables , seemed like 30 watt power outlets but didn't work when I tried to plug in (makes sense, it's free!) Store opens in the am with bathrooms, big dumpster, beautiful stars

  • Monte W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Concho lake
    May. 28, 2023

    Concho lake

    Peaceful and quiet

    Stayed here for a couple nights towards the end of May. There were a few other people camping while I was here but it was very quiet. I would estimate there are about 10 sites. Most appeared to have garbage cans. There were two port o potty’s that were not too bad. There were lots of cattle free range grazing around the lake. I was able to find fire wood around for a fire but it was a little challenging finding larger pieces of wood, I would probably bring some wood of my own if I ever returned. Overall it was a great place to stay for free especially since there aren’t lots of campsites in this area. Directions were accurate.

  • Nacole H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Rim Road
    Apr. 10, 2023

    Rim Road

    Favorite place to camp

    Forest Road 300, or Rim Road, has beautiful views and so many places to camp! We go several times a year and never camp in the same place twice! You can camp in groups or in smaller clusters. There are places to get away from the main roads and places near the roads for those with toys.

    The further from the toys and noisy people, the better for us. We go to connect nature and recharge from the bustle of the city.

  • Ray L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Concho lake
    Mar. 9, 2023

    Concho lake

    Mixed emotions.

    Reviews say this place is clean but it is Disgusting. The porta potties aren’t even worth trying to use and there was garbage EVERYWHERE. I would still almost give it 4 stars because when I was there it was nearly empty, but the one other person who was there blasted loud music all day and night and was clearly on drugs. Not great, not bad. Would I stay here again? Yeah I guess so. Definitely a mixed bag.

  • Untrammelers B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Mar. 8, 2023

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Quiet and Safe and Quirky

    Running with the Route 66 theme, this area is really cool! Sleep amongst the dinosaurs and teepees and cruise the rock shop in the morning! Located at the entrance of the Petrified Forest, this is a quiet spot at night. There were four other campers and each of us had a picnic table. We were on the gift shop side but the museum across the street also has spot and theirs have electricity (they have locks on them but I think you go into the museum before 5pm to have them open them and pay for the electric?).

  • N
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Dec. 21, 2022

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Easy spot near the NP

    Dirt lot with about 20 spots for RVs, trailers, campervans, or any other self contained camper. They don't allow tent camping because there are no bathrooms available. Dumpster was in the lot for trash. Reading other reviews they mentioned no electric, at this site, but there are boxes next to each campground with 30amp outlets. My camper doesn't use shore power, so I wasn't able to test the boxes. Attached a photo of what the outlet looks like if anyone wants to give it a try. There are paid sites across the road specifically for anyone who needs an electric hook up.

    Overall was quiet, but we also went on a day in December and there was noone else at the campground.

  • Jillian B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Oct. 22, 2022

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Decent free spot

    A free spots a free spot! There were about 8-10 spots to pull in to with picnic tables. Only one bar Verizon and att. We got there around 6 and got the last picnic table spot. Dumpster onsite which is nice! Right outside the petrified forest entrance so great if you are going there.

  • P
    Camper-submitted photo from Upper Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping Area
    May. 14, 2022

    Upper Canyon Creek Dispersed Camping Area

    Very crowded

    Visited in May on a Friday afternoon, there were no spots available. All of the sites are also close together, I wouldn't consider it dispersed camping. Drove down the dirt road 20min each way and had to find somewhere else

  • P
    Camper-submitted photo from FR738 Dispersed Camping
    May. 14, 2022

    FR738 Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful campground

    I tried camping nearby and everywhere was full. This site had at least 5 or 6 spots open and most sites have an overlook. The road to the sites was not bad at all. Can come from north or south on FR738, there were a few bumpy sections but no clearance needed. No official hiking trails nearby.

  • Jeff B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Rim Road
    May. 8, 2022

    Rim Road

    One of my go-to’s

    There are al lot of dispersed camping sites here. Most of them are very easy to get to even with big rv’s or trailers. Maintained roads all the way through. A lot of areas to explore. The lake just 6ish miles from the highway has always provided me with a super fun and productive fishing experience year after year. If your new to camping or even need a spot to sleep passing through I highly recommend this area.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    May. 6, 2022

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Love Places Like This!

    This is an old dirt lot with several sites for overnight RV parking, which the gift shop allows for free for a night as long as you are self-contained. No tent camping or sleeping in your car allowed (because there are no restrooms available). 

    Each spot has a picnic table and a few have a shade structure as well.

    The other side of the street has more sites available for $15/night and they include power hookups. No other amenities available here. 

    These lots are just outside the Petrified Forest NP south entrance and it’s so convenient to stay here if you’re going to be visiting the park. We stopped at the gift shop to make sure we were good to park here for the night and also to make an obligatory “thank you” purchase. They have lots of jewelry, petrified wood pieces (ranging from cheap to crazy expensive for the large polished pieces), clothing, gifts, stickers, etc. They also sell beer for $3/can but all they have is Budweiser. 

    Good-ish cell reception here. AT&T had 3G, Verizon had LTE, and T-Mobile was roaming as always.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from FR 170 mile marker 1
    Apr. 20, 2022

    FR 170 mile marker 1

    I’m Spoiled

    Roads are very good but they have done lots of work all over. It looks like a work in progress. Very clean and safe. No fantastic views but next time there might be. As I said, I have been spoiled. Plenty of room for a couple of “As” here and I saw several other places. Fire ring.

  • Lawrence P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Apr. 10, 2022

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Great place to Boondock and close to the entrance!

    What a wonderful place to stay for a few days and close to the Petrified Forest! Plus it is FREE! 

    It's not much but if you are Boondocking for a few days or just wanna stay overnight, this is a great place to stay! I'd say get there before 5pm-ish as it starts to fill up due to people leaving the park. There a few spots that have covered picnic tables and the rest are out in the open. It's a gravel/dirt base for the most part and leveling is pretty easy!

    FYI, there are NO hookups of any kind here. So be prepared ahead of time. The associated campground across the street has "electric only" for$15, if you need it.

  • j
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Mar. 30, 2022

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Can’t beat the price!

    Right outside the South Gate of the Petrified Forest National Park. They offer free camping with no hookups for self contained rigs. Water is available at city hall if needed. They even have a dumpster so getting rid of trash is easy.

  • Edward K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts
    Mar. 29, 2022

    Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

    Two gift shops, two campgrounds

    There are two gift shops with camping areas here. The Petrified Forest Gift Shop on the left heading into the park, has 10 sites with 30amp electricity and a picnic table. $15.98/night. The Crystal Forest Museum on the right has free RV camping. Each site has a picnic table. The owner of the Petrified Forest Gift Shop just purchased the Crystal Forest Museum (which is still closed) and is still allowing free camping on that property. Fires are not allowed in either campground.



Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lakeside, AZ?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lakeside, AZ is Concho lake with a 4.3-star rating from 11 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lakeside, AZ?

    TheDyrt.com has all 18 dispersed camping locations near Lakeside, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.