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Camping

Dispersed Camping

Wagon Wheel Staging Area

Wagon Wheel Staging Area, near Ridgecrest, California, is a laid-back location perfect for those seeking a quiet escape in the desert. With its vast open spaces, you can easily find a spot to set up camp and enjoy the stunning desert scenery.

This area is known for its peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for stargazing at night. Visitors have raved about the beauty of the surroundings, with one camper noting, “We woke up to find a beautiful spot.” While there are no amenities like drinking water or electric hookups, the presence of fire rings allows for cozy campfires under the stars.

For those who enjoy off-road adventures, the Wagon Wheel Staging Area provides access to nearby trails, making it a great base for exploring the rugged terrain. Just be prepared for chilly nights if you’re camping in the colder months, as temperatures can drop significantly after sunset.

If you're looking for a free and spacious place to unwind, this location is worth considering. Just remember to pack out what you pack in, as the area is quite remote and relies on visitors to keep it clean.

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Location

Wagon Wheel Staging Area is located in California

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

35.57210742 N
117.55070581 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Good
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Wagon Wheel Staging Area needs a permit.

Contact

General Info


Reviews

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4.5

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11 Reviews

Reviewed Jul. 24, 2024

Gorgeous but DON’T GO IN THE SUMMER

We arrived in the evening, when it was still 33 celcius (95f), but the whole day it was about 45 celcius (113f). So the place was as hot as it can be. But that won’t change my rating too much. Because if the weather was a bit cooler I would have loved this even more, when we woke up, we were greeted by a beautiful desert. If you have an AC that you can put on during the night, it shouldn’t be a problem!

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Roy V., July 24, 2024
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Roy V., July 24, 2024
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Reviewed Mar. 1, 2024

Great quiet spot

We stayed here 1 night and had the place to ourselves. It is a very large area and quite beautiful.

Month of VisitFebruary
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Trent B., March 1, 2024
Reviewed Jan. 17, 2024

Beautiful spot to stay

Arrived in the dark and woke up to find a beautiful spot. Quiet, plenty of space and very few people here. Be prepared for freezing temps overnight in colder months.

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Diana P., January 17, 2024
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Diana P., January 17, 2024
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Diana P., January 17, 2024
Reviewed Mar. 12, 2022

Lots of space to spread out.

We drove our skoolie in and didn’t have any trouble with the small bumps and sand. There were a few rvs and one tent, but it is so spread out that we never heard them. There are two toilets as well. The location has access to off-road trails, but the riders stopped before dark and we had a quiet night.

Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Gretchen P., March 12, 2022
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Gretchen P., March 12, 2022
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Gretchen P., March 12, 2022
Reviewed May. 27, 2021

Awesome Boon Dock Spot!

We were the only ones here. So quiet and serene. Not a lot of glass in this spot like stated. We will be back one day.

SiteBLM
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by D T., May 27, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by D T., May 27, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by D T., May 27, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Apr. 7, 2021

A Nice Convenient Get Away

Was a nice and clean campsite! Plenty of space to branch out on your own. There were about 10 other groups there and still had plenty of space! It was also 100% free, which is even better! There were 2 or 3 restrooms from what I saw. I highly recommend this spot. Absolutely beautiful star gazing at night.

  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Brandon C., April 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Brandon C., April 7, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Brandon C., April 7, 2021
Reviewed Mar. 3, 2021

Great remote camping

We were fortunate and had the place to ourselves. The site was level and clean. There were plenty of options that had fire rings. I’m sure this place would be busy on the weekends or other times during the season. We had a nice dark sky for star gazing. We’ll definitely stop here again.

  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Michael A., March 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Michael A., March 3, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Michael A., March 3, 2021
Reviewed Feb. 11, 2021

Better than expected

I was hesitant about this site because it’s right off the road, but we actually really liked it! It’s literally a big open desert flat and you park wherever so there’s plenty of room for privacy. As far as facilities, there are 2 privies and that’s it, so you’ll be dry camping. Some sites are more trashed so watch for broken glass but overall it’s pretty clean. There are plenty of man made fire pits. Star gazing was on point! Sunrises and sunsets were also pretty dope. It’s a OHV staging area so there’s lots of people dirt biking in the morning but we were up by the time there started zooming around. We’d def stay here again for a night of rest after a day of driving.

  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Sara S., February 11, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Sara S., February 11, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Sara S., February 11, 2021
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Jan. 26, 2021

random places to park for free

Super chill areas are perfect if you need to pull off and get rest. Nothing offered here so pack out what you pack in. I saw a lot of groups of people so crowds are welcomed.

  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Brittney  C., January 26, 2021
  • Review photo of Wagon Wheel Staging Area by Brittney  C., January 26, 2021
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Reviewed Aug. 29, 2018

Privacy an issue at Thanksgiving

There are no services available, you are boondocking. The views are awesome - great sunrises and sunsets. Most of the year you can be by yourself out here but at Thanksgiving be prepared to share. And remember what you take in you take out.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the max vehicle length at Wagon Wheel Staging Area?

    Wagon Wheel Staging Area allows vehicles up to 80 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Wagon Wheel Staging Area?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Wagon Wheel Staging Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Wagon Wheel Staging Area?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.