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Dispersed Camping near St. Johns, AZ

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    Dispersed camping opportunities are available near St. Johns, Arizona within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Free primitive camping can be found along several forest service roads, with notable sites including Concho Lake dispersed area, National Forest Road 117C, Carnero Spring Road, and Beehive Spring Camp. Most sites are located on public land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, with some areas accessible via maintained dirt roads while others require high-clearance vehicles.

    Access roads in the region vary significantly in quality and maintenance. Forest Road 117C features rutted sections that become muddy following snow melt, requiring careful navigation and potentially 4WD capability during wet conditions. Many dispersed sites lack amenities, with no drinking water, electrical hookups, or permanent restroom facilities. Some areas like Concho Lake include basic amenities such as trash cans and portable toilets. Fire restrictions frequently apply during dry seasons, with some sites permitting campfires while others strictly prohibit them. Campers should verify current fire regulations before visiting, as restrictions change seasonally.

    The dispersed sites near St. Johns provide opportunities for wildlife viewing and solitude, particularly at higher elevations in the forest. Beehive Spring Camp sits at approximately 9,200 feet elevation, offering cooler temperatures but cold nights even in September. A visitor noted that "logging trucks are noisy during the day" on some forest roads. At Concho Lake, a camper observed that "there are at least 10 spots with cement pads for vans or smaller RVs in some spots, and fire pits." Wildlife is abundant in certain areas, with one review mentioning "prairie dogs and bunnies galore" around Concho Lake. These primitive camping areas are particularly valuable since established campgrounds are limited in the immediate vicinity.

    Best Dispersed Campgrounds near St. Johns (19)

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      1. Concho lake

      4.2(13)15mi from St. Johns

      "Nice spot along the highway. You can hear vehicles but in a van, barely heard it. There’s prairie dogs and bunnies galore, which was a nice bonus. Clean porti potties and decent AT&T signal."

      "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."

      2. Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

      4.1(40)35mi from St. Johns

      "Good place to dispersed camp on private property. Concrete pads, some with picnic tables. Safe and quiet."

      "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."

      3. Fish Creek Camp

      4.8(4)30mi from St. JohnsTents

      "No trash or bathrooms. No cell service."

      "Nice secluded sites for dispersed camping. Pretty level."

      4. Dispersed camping near FR117 near Greer

      5.0(2)31mi from St. JohnsRVs, Tents

      "The cows from a nearby farm roam and graze through the BLM land day and night, which was interesting! They were very curious about me."

      "BLM land so camping where I want. Middle of March n the pond 125 yards away has frogs singing for love. There's coyote n grey wolves."

      5. National Forest Road 117C

      4.0(2)30mi from St. Johns

      6. Carnero Spring Road

      4.0(1)29mi from St. Johns

      "Camped in the clearing by the lake. Some traffic came through but not bothersome. No amenities, must be self-contained."

      7. Brown Creek Campground

      5.0(1)32mi from St. JohnsRVs, Tents

      "Plenty of trees and shade. Very secluded but the roads on the way in from both Show Low and McNary were in decent shape. This is a hunting area so we did see quite a few people hunting."

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      8. Beehive Spring Camp

      4.0(1)31mi from St. JohnsTents

      "Logging tucks noisy during the day. At 9200 ft elevation got cold at night in September."

      9. Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area — Petrified Forest National Park

      4.3(8)46mi from St. JohnsTents

      "After we paid the park entrance fee ($16, I think), we picked up our FREE back country permit from the visitors center first thing."

      "Dispersed Camping was wonderful here. Permits are available at the visitor center. We walked down into the wilderness area behind the painted desert Inn."

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      10. Forest Service Rd 112 Dispersed Camping

      4.0(1)34mi from St. JohnsRVs, Tents

      "We visited Greer and this location is less than 10 miles away. There are existing fire rings and spots to camp just past mile marker #2. Quiet and very dark at night."

    View all 19 campgrounds

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    Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near St. Johns, AZ

    34 Photos of 19 St. Johns Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Dispersed Camping Reviews near St. Johns, AZ

    72 Reviews of 19 St. Johns Campgrounds

    • K
      Oct. 28, 2026

      Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

      The shop generously lets people without hookups stay for free. There are some hookup sites but I’m not sure if they are free – I suspect they are not. It’s a dirt parking lot with some concrete pads, where you can stay for free for three days. If you’re in a van or something small smaller, you could also park in front of the store. I’m here in late. October and the place is pretty full at 5:30. It appears to be right outside the entrance to petrified forest national Park

    • bThe Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 9, 2026

      Dispersed camping near FR117 near Greer

      FR 117A in Eager

      I turned off 117 onto 117A and then into the grass in a wide open area. There are several wide open areas with great views. The cows from a nearby farm roam and graze through the BLM land day and night, which was interesting! They were very curious about me. It was so quiet and peaceful but this whole area seems popular. I had to drive 4-5 miles from highway 260 to find a spot.
      Caution about weather- if it storms or rains the road gets muddy and puddles form. I got stuck in the mud the morning after a storm but managed to escape thankfully. Check the weather!

    • Ray K.
      Aug. 28, 2026

      Timber Mesa Trailhead

      it looked like the city dump

      All of the campsites were strewn with shell casings, broken bottles, and trash.  The access in was filled with very deep ruts.

    • DThe Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 25, 2026

      Fish Creek Camp

      Great spot

      We traveled here in may and the roads were easily accessible with our travel trailer. The spots were well spaced out and easily accessible. It was clean. Only downside is neither my fiancé or me had cell service almost anywhere unless we went into town.

    • Brandi S.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 11, 2026

      Fish Creek Camp

      Flat and shady!

      We stopped for a night and we were almost totally alone! Hand built fire pits, no tables. No trash or bathrooms. No cell service.

    • CarolThe Dyrt Pro User
      Jun. 8, 2026

      Concho lake

      Good free camping for a couple of days

      This is a small camp ground that was clean when I visited in June. The lake is a reservoir and for my visit, didn’t have water in. There was a small herd

      of less than twenty free range cows enjoying the dry lake. There are many prairie dogs that I found amusing to watch scampering in and out of holes. There was a coyote and quite a few birds. Although the site is located near traffic, once inside my RV I could not hear it. I like the fact that some of the sites have cement pads and trash cans. I saw no other amenities, such as a porta potty. The area was windy with trees helping to provide some privacy between each campsite. Great Verizon service. Not much hiking except for walking around the lake. I did see a path located outside the entrance that was good for running or walking along side the road. Most sites I saw had large rocks for a potential camp fire. Great place if you are looking just for a quiet location. The maximum nights allowed is seven days and no permit is allowed.

      I am giving it a rating of three because of the location and lack of hiking trails.

      There is a community and a general store across the road from the lake.

    • shelby B.The Dyrt Pro User
      May. 24, 2026

      Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

      Free is free !!

      I was a bit weirded out when I read it was in a parking lot of a crystal store. But it was actually very nice. They have a lot of free sites, some with picnic tables, some with out. Nice spot, you can stay for up to three days. Oh & lots of petrified wood everywhere.

    • R
      Apr. 28, 2026

      Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

      Clean no frills

      The location is everything. If your goal is to visit the Petrified forest and have a convenient place, this is it. Our view from our site included the entrance to the park! Beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

    • Icy B.The Dyrt Pro User
      Apr. 26, 2026

      Fish Creek Camp

      Cool Spot!

      Passing through working. Always looking for a good dispersed campground. This is it. I can see 3 other campers from this spot although it is Saturday. Sweet standard spot. Cool place to party probably.

    Guide to St. Johns

    Dispersed camping opportunities near St. Johns, Arizona extend throughout the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 9,200 feet. The area sits at the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, characterized by pine forests and scattered meadows. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during day, dropping to 40-50°F at night, with snow possible from November through April.

    What to do

    Wildlife viewing opportunities: The Painted Desert within Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area offers unique animal sightings. "We saw a very wary herd of pronghorn antelope" along with "so many kinds of animals. Elk. Coyote. Cow. Sheep. You name it!"

    Fishing in alpine lakes: Small mountain ponds like Pratt Lake Dispersed provide rustic fishing spots without crowds. A camper noted it was a "nice quiet area" though it's "more of a pond than a lake."

    Stargazing in dark skies: The remote location creates exceptional night sky viewing. At Petrified Forest, campers report "you can see the Milky Way" and it's "so quiet, my husband said all he could hear all night was his tinnitus."

    What campers like

    Solitude and remoteness: Timber Mesa Trailhead camping provides isolation with "easy to get to, close to town, clearly marked trails and roadways. Hiking views were spectacular."

    Geological exploration: The petrified wood deposits are substantial in this region. One visitor described Petrified Forest as "a gorgeous place with the highest concentration of petrified wood known to man."

    Wildlife encounters: Carnero Spring Road offers "fun wildlife viewing" with opportunities to camp "in the clearing by the lake" where "some traffic came through but not bothersome."

    What you should know

    Road conditions vary significantly: Many forest roads become challenging after precipitation. At National Forest Road 117C, campers warn "don't try to make it to the shared coordinates soon after a snow melt. Grateful for our GoTreads. Road is rocky and rutted in places."

    Weather preparedness essential: The high elevation means significant temperature swings between day and night. Pack accordingly, as one camper at Beehive Spring Camp noted "at 9200 ft elevation got cold at night in September."

    Services are minimal: Nearly all dispersed sites lack facilities. For Carnero Spring Road, a visitor noted "no amenities, must be self-contained."

    Permit requirements: Some areas require permits. At Petrified Forest, "permits are free and easy to obtain. Ask for a wilderness hiking booklet as well, it's very well made and can help orient yourself."

    Tips for camping with families

    Accessible spots for beginners: Concho Lake offers family-friendly dispersed camping with some basic facilities. "Stopped here prior to visiting the petrified forest. What a clean, quiet, gem. The lake was frozen over which made for tons of fun for us throwing rocks and listening to the ripple."

    Educational opportunities: Wildlife viewing becomes a learning experience. "There were lots of cattle free range grazing around the lake" at Concho Lake, while another camper mentioned enjoying watching "prairie dogs and bunnies."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the best time of year for dispersed camping in St. Johns, Arizona?

    The ideal time for dispersed camping around St. Johns is late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) when temperatures are moderate and conditions are most comfortable. Summer days (July-August) can be quite hot, though elevations near Fish Creek Camp and National Forest Road 117C provide cooler options. Winter camping (November-March) is possible but challenging due to cold temperatures, especially at night, and potential snow at higher elevations. Monsoon season (July-September) brings afternoon thunderstorms that can create flash flood hazards in washes and difficult road conditions on dirt access roads. Spring offers wildflower displays, while fall provides stunning color changes in deciduous trees at higher elevations. Check weather forecasts and road conditions before heading out regardless of season.

    Where can I find dispersed camping near St. Johns, Arizona?

    Several dispersed camping options exist near St. Johns. Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts offers free dispersed camping for self-contained vehicles just outside the south entrance of Petrified Forest National Park. The location features a dirt lot with about 20 spots, some with picnic tables and shade structures. Another option is Concho Lake, which provides dispersed camping spots along the highway with portable toilets. For those seeking more remote experiences, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has numerous dispersed camping locations on forest service roads, particularly in the areas north and east of St. Johns. Remember that most dispersed sites require you to be self-contained, as facilities are typically minimal or non-existent.

    Are there any free camping areas near St. Johns with water access?

    Yes, there are several free camping areas with water access near St. Johns. 5 Mile Wash BLM Dispersed offers free camping with seasonal water access depending on rainfall. For reliable water access, Pratt Lake Dispersed provides camping opportunities near a small lake. While most dispersed sites don't offer running water, some locations like Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts mention water availability at nearby city hall for campers. During spring and early summer, seasonal creeks and washes in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest may provide natural water sources, though these should be filtered or treated before use. Always bring your own water supply, as natural sources can be unreliable depending on seasonal conditions and drought status.

    What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping around St. Johns?

    Dispersed camping around St. Johns follows standard Forest Service and BLM regulations. At Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area, you must obtain a free backcountry permit from the visitor center after paying the park entrance fee. Most dispersed camping areas require campers to be self-contained, with many sites like Mud Spring prohibiting tent camping due to lack of restroom facilities. The standard stay limit is typically 14 days within a 28-day period. Pack-in, pack-out principles apply, and campers must maintain at least 100 feet distance from water sources. Campfires may be restricted seasonally, especially during fire danger periods. Always check current regulations with the Springerville Ranger District of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest before your trip.

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