Best Dispersed Camping near Phoenix, AZ

Recent Dispersed Reviews near Phoenix, Arizona

204 Reviews of 53 Phoenix Campgrounds

• 

  Francis D.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 31, 2023

  Hackamore Road Dispersed

  Great with a light off-roading

  This is a nice quiet spot with excellent cell service. It's on BLM land, so you are out of the reach of the Arizona Land Permits.

  The road is a bit tricky. I got here pretty smooth on my RWD Xterra, so while 4WD isn't necessary, I wouldn't come out here without high clearance and decent suspension. Maybe tie down any loose items as well.

  For extra clarification DO NOT go into Bulldog Canyon OHV (You need a permit in this part)! There is a right turn onto this trail right before the gate. Keep going until you see fire pits made of stone.

• 

  Caitlin S.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 17, 2024

  Dispersed camping near Crown King

  Gorgeous secluded camping

  Secluded dispersed camping in the woods just outside of the town Crown King. 4x4 is recommended, campsites are not accessible when snowfall has occurred. Beautiful wildlife including deer always nearby.

• J

  Jim W.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 17, 2018

  Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance

  Blue point access to bulldog canyon

  I have camped at every dispersed camping place within 150 miles of Phoenix. 99 percent are over run by noisy, disrespectful ATV AND DIRT BIKE riders. If they see people camping they like to rev their engines really loud and create big dust flumes to show how nasty they really are. Last year I never saw a dirt bike or ATV in blue point, but this year there's been a lot. Come on guys and gals you have control of every single other spot this was just one place the family could go and have some peace and quiet. NOT THIS YEAR!!! the ATV'S AND dirt bikes have been tearing down the roads making sure they really rev their engines and creat dust when they go by campers. Just be jerks. But besides that, compared to any other place, this is the quietest. Don't park near the gate, the sound from the road can get really loud. 6 am every morning a helicopter comes overhead it's extremely loud, just so you know. Make sure you go to the Tonto national Forest Mesa ranger station and get a permit for bulldog canyon on Ingram street in Mesa. You need the gate combination codes to open the gate and be in there. The rangers do come through and check your permit and ID's to make sure you are the one on the permit. Ive only seen coyotes and wild horses in there.the horses actually came up to my window, it was awesome.you can have fires, but there's no water or toilets. Try to stay away on Friday and Saturday nights. Allot of kids go there to drink and party. One more thing, if you open the gate, close and lock it! I have seen people call the rangers and tell and the rangers came down and took the person's permit away.enjoy!

• 

  Jose G.

  Traveler

  

  May. 12, 2018

  Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance

  Bulldog Canyon

  Probably one of the closest places to camp on the east valley of the Phoenix area. This place is most used by OHVs so it can get noisy on the weekends. I’ve also seen spots that people use for shooting. This area is just for dispersed camping, no services, cell phone coverage is good with Verizon.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Apr. 25, 2021

  Peralta Road Dispersed Camping

  Quiet, Gorgeous, Tons of Hiking!

  Drive through the town of Gold Canyon AZ, and you quickly leave behind the sprawl of suburban Phoenix, but embrace the sprawling landscape of the Sonoran Desert which is brimming with life in the spring. The unpaved road leads to multiple pull-offs and side roads where you can find the perfect spot to tuck away and camp for as long as you like.  Embrace the sun and bring your solar panels and plenty of cold drinks -- you'll be rewarded with amazing sunrises and sunsets and all the peace and quiet you can stand.  You may get lucky and find some partial shade under a Palo Verde, too.

  Though adjacent to Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains Wilderness Area, the camping along Peralta Rd. is on Arizona State Lands. Use of this land, for any reason or purpose, requires a special individual permit. These annual permits are available online, https://asld.secure.force.com/recreationalpermit/ and cost $20 (plus $1 online processing fee). The permit is good for 1 year (deal of the century!) and allows access to any other Arizona State Lands where a permit is required. 

  While there are no services available at any of the camping spots, water, gas, or groceries are a short drive back into town. The hiking, and biking opportunities are amazing right around camp via the numerous and unlabeled OHV trails, or a short drive to the Peralta Canyon trailhead. This Forest Service parking area requires either a Tonto Pass, or Interagency Pass, or$10 day pass (available through a self-pay kiosk) serves as the start of many trails that will lead you into the gorgeous Superstition Mountains. Both the road, parking areas and trails are super busy on the weekends, so plan accordingly. During the popular hiking months, Forest Service Volunteers will regulate the parking area, so don't think that you'll get away without buying a pass. The ticket is more expensive.

• B

  Butch K.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 18, 2022

  BLM - North Maricopa Mountains Wilderness

  lots of desert

  This is pretty much like the reviews say, your basic BLM undeveloped dispersed camping area. One difference are the powerlines overhead that emit a cracking and rattling noise constantly. Not sure of the health implications of those powerlines. As one reviewer mentioned there are washers that could hang up many large and even midsize rigs. This is also a popular ATV area which comes with a lot of dust and noise and rude people. Beware of paths that seem fit for a two wheeled vehicle but were created by ATVs which can often climb into and out of these washes with no problem. I drove through one that almost ripped off the tail end of my 17 foot TT. Don't forget to GOAL, get out and look.

• j

  jerron

  Scout

  

  Dec. 18, 2022

  Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - South Entrance - CLOSED

  Dispersed camping close to town

  This is a dispersed camping are close to town.

• 

  Aeddan D.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 8, 2021

  Badger Springs

  Good spot close to phoenix.

  Great little spot for some dispersed camping. It is fun to hike and explore agua fria National Monument nearby.

• 

  Greg L.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 14, 2024

  Vulture Mine Road South Dispersed

  Ok, but on AZ State Trust land

  Access road is fresh gravel so better than 2024. Large open flat area in middle close to a livestock water and corral, so cow noise and smell. Free dispersed but need the $15 AZ lands permit. Cell signal is very good. No toilets, no trash, no tables...just rock fire rings. Close to the hwy so some hwy noise. Some Campers look to be folks that work in town. The other dispersed camping area a bit to the north closer to town by the cell tower may be another good spot. Only 4.5 miles to the Safeway in town.

  Only 2 stars as the area is no scenic and had beat down vegetation, cow crap smell and general vibe is ick.

• G

  George K.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 11, 2022

  Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - North Entrance

  Large area for dispersed camping

  Easy to moderate trails throughout the area. Lots of dispersed camping and miles of trails. Heavy UTV use has made some of the trails even more challenging. Lots of fun.

• 

  William F.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 16, 2020

  Box Wash Dispersed Camping - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

  Desolation not far from civilization

  Nice open dispersed camping area near the trailhead to Vulture Peak. Lots of random washes and remnants of mines to discover. Grocery store is only a few miles down the road near Wickenburg.

• 

  Russell C.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 27, 2020

  Old Airstrip Camping & Staging Area

  Nice place to camp, rough drive in

  Nice enough place for dispersed camping, but requires a very bumpy drive to get there. Really good cell phone service (Verizon - I got 3-4 bars of 4G, which got me 75+ mb/s download speed)

• e

  edwin H.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 22, 2024

  Peralta Canyon / Gold Canyon Dispersed Camping - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

  Dispersed camping not allowed currently

  September 21, 2024: We’ve dispersed camped here many times in last three years, took a trip out there today and every dispersed access point is plowed up with very deep trenches not allowing vehicles or rigs to access. Sad affair with squatters taking advantage and leaving trash, there was not a soul in sight. Maybe they’ll reopen it later when it cools down.

• 

  Michael R.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 21, 2025

  Sycamore Creek Recreation Area

  Interesting place

  Nice location with dispersed camping options. When we were setting up a man came up & warned us that it was a popular spot for Nudists. He was not wrong. Be prepared to run into some interesting people.

• 

  Alex H.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 6, 2020

  Old Airstrip Camping & Staging Area

  Great spot

  First time dispersed camping with our 21’ pull-behind and had a great experience. Gravel road leading to the area is well kept and our truck had no issues getting to the area. Awesome views when we setup camp with plenty of space.

• 

  Jim A.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 13, 2024

  Saguaro Cove

  Remote Camping

  Takes a little 4 wheeling to get there or you can access it from the water.  Basic dispersed camping but gets a little warm during the summer months.  Views are nice and its a nice pack it in, pack it out spot.

• 

  Christine S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 24, 2020

  Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping - South Entrance - CLOSED

  Limited number of dispersed sites

  We stayed here in the spring so the weather was great for no a.c. Boondock sites are on the small side and limited. Don't bring a big rig in here. There is a parking lot with a gate code that you need to get from the BLM but you can do that online. Park in the lot and walk in to scope out site availability. That way you aren't stuck trying to turn around. We have a 19' trailer so that wasn't a problem for us but could be for toy haulers, etc. A lot of ATV traffic here so be prepared to hear engine noise but the scenery is beautiful 😀

• 

  Caitlin S.

  Guide

  

  May. 15, 2024

  Boulders OHV Area

  Tons of spread out dispersed camp sites

  Miles of desert and washes to explore with tons of dispersed camping sites. Can get busy on holiday or event weekends but worth it otherwise. Some weekends have horse or Dirtbike events. Nearby washes lead to tons of trails near castle hot springs that can lead to various abounded mine sites (including Anderson Mill). Obviously not ideal camping in the summer but GREAT for the fall/winter/spring months.

• 

  The Wanderer

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 31, 2023

  Maddock Road Dispersed - AZ State Trust Land

  72 thousand FREE acres

  That's right, this is AZ, State Trust land, AKA: FREE camping and parking land—72,000 acres of open dispersed, rough, rugged, off-the-grid life. I've parked here in my converted Skoolie of 36 feet for two years. I DO purchase the $ 15-a-year permit and I DO display it. But in 2 years, I've not seen even one "official" vehicle and have never been asked to see my permit or how long I have parked. It is messy, I like to clean it up at times, please help and please remember, this is your land so do not trash it to the point that we will be kicked off. I've watched this happen all over northern AZ and it does not need to happen here. Pack it in and pack it out. Leave no trace. There are garbage cans 1 mile from this land. A new gas station/convenience store has been erected a mile from Maddock Road. Although Maddock Road is no longer an access point to the lands, there are plenty of other access points. The new gas station has diesel, water dispensing, propane dispensing, and all the conveniences anyone would need. It is a paradise in Winter, believe that. In summer, it is hotter than the dickens. I bounce from Flag to this location yearly, it works well for us nomads.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 26, 2021

  Buckeye Hills BLM - CLOSED

  FREE but Dirty and Loud

  Managed by Lower Sonoran BLM Field Office. Free camping, but you have to love the sound of gunshots and love the view of trash everywhere. 

  There are multiple dirt roads you can take to find spots in Buckeye Hills that run adjacent to Powers Butte Wildlife Area where there is no camping allowed. We stayed here in different spots for 3 days while waiting for mail in Buckeye. The place is filthy! Shooting garbage and illegal dumping is common, in fact one night we woke up and just down the road was a new pile of some illegal dumping. 

  If you can get used to the constant gun fire, you’ll still have to put up with ATVs racing up and down the various roads. The dirt here is a fine deep powder in a lot of areas so there is lots of dust that gets kicked up when they race by, sometimes just back in forth right in front of where you are parked. 

  There is not really hiking or biking unless you want to dodge bullets or ATVs. There also appears to be a lot of long time“residents” in the area as well. There are no amenities here so pack in and pack out though it is obvious not many do. We picked up trash and about 7 lbs of casings around our spots we stayed in. Besides the noise and physical pollution there is also light pollution from Palo Verde and Buckeye. 

  1-2 bars Verizon& ATT, streaming with pauses for buffering

• D

  Daniel B.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 25, 2020

  Boulders OHV Area

  Great dispersed spot

  Huge area to disperse camp with an actual bathroom. If you dont mind occasional off road vehicles driving through during the day, its a good spot with plenty of room.

• 

  Nolan S.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 10, 2019

  Mesquite Wash Dispersed

  Mesquite Wash/Sycamore Creek

  Mesquite Wash is located approximately 20 miles northeast of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Follow the Bee Line Highway, SR 87, a few miles past the Four Peaks turn off. Watch for the Mesquite Wash sign. The main area is on the west side of the highway and is used primarily by off road vehicles. The east side of the highway is quieter and has several pull offs available for dispersed camping.

  There are no facilities; no restrooms, hookups, or trash. Pack it in, pack it out. The best time to go is in the winter months but with the weather being pretty fair it’s not too bad. You can have a fire but it depends on fire danger for the day. Pretty much if it’s hot and or dry, you won’t be able to have a fire.

  It is free and first come first serve, although there are plenty of spots to go around!

  All that being said, this is one of the most beautiful spots in the Sonoran desert! There are so many amazing views! Great for hiking or off roading.

  Side note: Please clean up after yourself! Forest Service has put so many restrictions on this area because people leave their trash out there.

• 

  Starseed P.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 24, 2025

  Lake Pleasant Dispersed Camp

  Perfect for winter base

  Stayed here for the past 2 years overwinter. 6 months, $15 pass, 36 foot skoolie with zero issues. Close to everything you need as a boon docker/nomad.

• 

  Jeremy W.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 10, 2024

  Bloody Basin Rd / Agua Fria NM Dispersed Camping

  Very convenient stop between phoenix metro area & Sedona

  Dirt road is a bit washboard but very manageable by any vehicle.

  Spots line the road to the left & right as you travel down the road. cell Service can be excellent or poor depending on site you choose (avoid the ones in the dips/valleys if its a concern for you)

  No facilities, just good ol’ convenient Arizona boondocking.

  I came in mid December and there were only a handful of others.

• 

  Anna O.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 4, 2023

  Old Airstrip Camping & Staging Area

  Free and beautiful

  It was a great area to boondock camp, roads are rough but worth the trip. Cellphone service is spotty. Lots of ATV on the weekends. Be prepared to get stuck in the mud if it rains. There's a great lil gem you can hike to called Mudd Spings, it's super small natural spring.

• A

  Aaron

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 12, 2020

  Badger Springs

  Free BLM dispersed camping

  This is a good boondocking spot if you’re driving along the I-17. We spent one night here. The freeway is close enough to here in the background but far enough that you can easily fall asleep. There are a couple vault toilets when you pull off the pavement. A few other vehicles were camping in the area. We had good AT&T / Verizon service in the area.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 16, 2021

  Bloody Basin Rd / Agua Fria NM Dispersed Camping

  Free BLM land

  There are multiple spots to choose from along this dirt road (Bloody Basin Rd) to pull off and camp. The road is nicely graded and fairly smooth with a few sections of washboard and rocky spots. We did fine in our 26 ft class C but drive with caution as some of the pull outs do not have turn around areas and there are deep ruts and washouts to navigate around.

  There is no water, garbage or any other amenities so pack in and out whatever you bring, and pack out some more if you’re so inclined. Lots of debris left behind by shooters. 

  Nice area with trails to hike or bike around. There are quite a lot of ATVs but they were not as bothersome as some of the areas we’ve camped in. You can hear the highway noise and see light pollution from Phoenix but it was not horrible. We did see some shooting garbage, targets and shells laying around but did not hear any shooting when we were there. My dog did get sprayed by a skunk during the daylight about 10 yards from our spot so be aware of wildlife! 

  We did see a park ranger while we are there which is always nice. 

  Weak but usable Verizon and AT&T coverage but not enough to stream anything.