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Dispersed Camping near Vernon, AZ

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    Several dispersed camping options surround Vernon in eastern Arizona's national forest areas. Concho Lake, about 15 miles northeast of town, offers free camping with concrete pads at some sites, trash receptacles, and portable toilets. The lake itself is often dried up or marshy, with one camper noting "abundant bird life" and another mentioning "lots of cattle free range grazing around the lake."

    The forest roads south of Vernon provide more primitive camping experiences. National Forest Road 117C and Carnero Spring Road have drive-in access for dispersed camping, though reviews warn about mud during snowmelt periods. Beehive Spring Camp at 9,200 feet elevation features diverse tree cover but experiences logging truck noise during daytime hours. Timber Mesa Trailhead allows camping with fires and pets permitted, though its proximity to highways creates noise. Most dispersed sites require campers to be self-contained as they lack amenities. Fire restrictions commonly apply during dry summer months, so checking current regulations is essential before planning trips to this region.

    Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Vernon (20)

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      1. Concho lake

      4.2(13)13mi from Vernon

      "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. Brown Creek Campground

      5.0(1)7mi from VernonRVs, 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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      3. Fish Creek Camp

      4.8(4)17mi from VernonTents

      "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)15mi from VernonRVs, 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)15mi from Vernon

      6. Timber Mesa Trailhead

      2.5(4)16mi from Vernon

      "Easy to get to, close to town, clearly marked trails and roadways. Hiking views were spectacular."

      7. Carnero Spring Road

      4.0(1)14mi from Vernon

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

      8. Beehive Spring Camp

      4.0(1)15mi from VernonTents

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

      9. Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts

      4.1(40)39mi from Vernon

      "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."

      10. Forest Service Rd 112 Dispersed Camping

      4.0(1)19mi from VernonRVs, 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 20 campgrounds

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    Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Vernon, AZ

    32 Photos of 20 Vernon Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Dispersed Camping Reviews near Vernon, AZ

    75 Reviews of 20 Vernon 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 Vernon

    Several dispersed camping areas dot the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near Vernon, Arizona. Concho Lake offers approximately 20 free sites with concrete pads, trash cans, and porta-potties. Sites near Forest Road 117C and Carnero Spring Road provide more primitive experiences with drive-in access but no amenities. Timber Mesa Trailhead and Beehive Spring Camp allow fires and permit alcohol, though neither has facilities.

    Road conditions vary significantly across sites. National Forest Road 117C becomes muddy and rutted after snow melt, with campers noting "don't try to make it to the shared coordinates soon after a snow melt." Beehive Spring Camp sits at 9,200 feet elevation and experiences cold nights even in September, with "logging trucks noisy during the day." The Crystal Forest area near Petrified Forest National Park provides free overnight camping with covered picnic tables and cement pads, but no water or restroom facilities after the gift shop closes. A camper noted, "You really can't be any closer to Petrified Forest without being in the park."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Vernon, AZ?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Vernon, AZ is Concho lake with a 4.2-star rating from 13 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 20 dispersed camping locations near Vernon, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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