Top Free Dispersed Camping near Bakersfield, CA

Looking for the best dispersed camping near Bakersfield? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds near Bakersfield, including photos, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campgrounds for your California camping adventure.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Bakersfield, CA (16)

    Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

    1. Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    34 Photos
    236 Saves

    Keysville (formerly Keyesville) is a historic mining area that offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. Set in rolling terrain amidst a blue oak and foothill pine woodland, Keysville is dissected by the lower Kern River. A little exploration can turn up a wealth of historic resources, including a variety of mining structures and features, a historic fort, and the famous Walker Cabin. Keysville offers commercial and noncommercial white-water rafting opportunities as well as fishing, recreational gold panning, and dispersed camping. A network of over seventy miles of trails provides for mountain biking, equestrian, and motorized recreation use.

    Travel Responsibly - on designated roads and trails or in permitted areas

    Respect The Rights of Others - including private property owners and all recreational trail users, campers and others to allow them to enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Educate Yourself - by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, planning for your trip, taking recreation skills classes and knowing how to use and operate your equipment safely. Avoid Sensitive Areas - such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams, unless on designated routes. Do Your Part - by leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species, restoring degraded areas and joining a local enthusiast organization.

    https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/Keysville%20arch%20E%20low%20res.pdf

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • ADA Access
    • Dispersed
    • Trash
    Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
    Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

    2. Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

    6 Reviews
    36 Photos
    185 Saves

    Dispersed Camping on the shore of Lake Isabella. Vault toilet available. No trash recepticals available (Pack In-Pack Out). ALL Upper Kern Dispersed Camping sites, under restrictions - No Camping or Campfires are allowed within 25 feet of the water___s edge.

    • Phone Service
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
    Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
    Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
    Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
    Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
    Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    3. Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

    8 Reviews
    26 Photos
    164 Saves

    Dispersed Camping on Upper Kern River approximately 4 to 5 miles north from Kernville. Ther is no water available at this location. Portable toilets and trash recepticals are available during__summer months. See Larger Picture Here.

    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • Standard (Tent/RV)
    • Dispersed
    • Trash
    Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
    Camper-submitted photo from Black Gulch South Dispersed Camping
    Camper-submitted photo from Black Gulch South Dispersed Camping

    5. Black Gulch South Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    2 Photos
    38 Saves

    Campfire Permits required for campfires, barbeques, and camp stoves. Campfires and barbaques may be prohibited during fire restrictions, camp stoves allowed with current Califronia Campfrire Permit.

    • Tents
    • Dispersed
    • Trash
    • Toilets
    • No image available
      • No image available
        • No image available

          8. HWY 178 Pullout - Dispersed

          Be the first to review!
          13 Saves

          Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground. It is allowed in many areas of the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

          There are certain areas where dispersed camping is prohibited and these areas are posted.

          Dispersed camping is free but you must have a CAMPFIRE PERMIT. These can be obtained fore free at Readyforwildfire.org. Be aware of fire restrictions, typically enforced by mid-summer, banning open fires outside of designated campgrounds. More on campfire rules here.

          The maximum length of time you may camp in dispersed areas is 14 DAYS at a time and 30 DAYS in a year.

          Each year the number of people taking advantage of dispersed recreation opportunities has increased, making it more essential that these areas be left clean and undamaged.

          The following acts are PROHIBITED on the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument and are subject to a fine:

          1. Driving off designated roads inside the Monument.

          2. Leaving campfire unattended.

          3. Leaving trash buried, stashed or left in campfire ring. Abandoning or leaving personal property. PACK IT IN-PACK IT OUT.

          4. Cutting or otherwise damaging trees for use as a lean-to or a horse corral. Do not leave anything tied to trees.

          5. Destruction of government property such as signs, posters, gates, etc.

          6. Removing forest products without a permit.

          7. Discharging any firearm within 150 yards of any building, occupied area, across forest development roads, or body of water

          Here are some tips to appropriate dispersed camping: More information on dispersed camping here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd883625

          • Dispersed
          • No image available
            Camper-submitted photo from White River
            Camper-submitted photo from White River

            10. White River

            1 Review
            2 Photos
            14 Saves

            Overview

            The White River Campground sits in a stand of mature cedar along the banks of the White River at an altitude of 4,000 feet.

            The campgrounds are approximately 8 miles from the popular California Hot Springs.

            Recreation

            Fishing and hiking, along with camp-side river wading, are popular pursuits. The river narrows to a creek-size width near the campgrounds.

            Facilities

            This is a remote, tent-only site set back a distance from the road. Vault toilets, campfire rings and picnic areas are provided.

            This facility is operated by Sequoia Recreation, a division of California Land Management and comments are welcome; comment forms are available from campground hosts or online.

            Natural Features

            The Sequoia National Forest, located at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada in central California, takes its name from the giant sequoia, the world's largest tree, which grows in more than 30 groves on the Forest's lower slopes.

            The Forest comprises about 1.1 million acres, and elevations range from about 1,000 to 12,000 feet, creating precipitous canyons and mountain streams with spectacular waterfalls such as Salmon Creek Falls and Grizzly Falls.

            Nearby Attractions

            Visitors enjoy exploring the nearby sequoia groves and hot springs.

            The Giant Sequoia Mercantile offers a wide variety of books, maps, gifts, local art, camping supplies and other merchandise.

            • Pets
            • Fires
            • Reservable
            • Dispersed
            • Trash
            • Picnic Table

            $26 - $34 / night

          Showing results 1-10 of 16 campgrounds

          Recent Dispersed Reviews In Bakersfield

          44 Reviews of 16 Bakersfield Campgrounds


          • Ryan B.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
            Oct. 8, 2024

            Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground

            Inaccurate Coordinates

            Arrived at the coordinates and had no place to turn off the road. Also, the area was hit by wildfires (maybe 2 years ago) so it's all pretty barren. Camped at Holey Meadows campground a few miles away.

          • Ciara W.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
            Aug. 7, 2024

            Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

            Guy just sitting in trees near the end

            All the spots at the front were taken here so we had to drive almost all the way to end. Don’t go down the final steep hill, you might not make it up. It’s very tight there and you have to do a 20 point turn to turn back.

            We walked down the hill and our friend saw some random guy come out the trees and follow us as we were walking back up. He might be living there because there was so much trash

            2 stars because the area itself is nice, there’s the river nearby and internet was good

          • RThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
            May. 25, 2024

            Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground

            Definitely beautiful

            Does take about 45 mins to wind up there and i got there at 1:15am. Didn't find the campgrounds but had large side areas with forest machinery. Next to stream. Then if you continue on you will hit a 4 mile off road (my Corolla/any sedan OK) and see great views and waterfall! Nice!

          • Caroline D.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Stine Cove Recreation Site
            May. 4, 2024

            Stine Cove Recreation Site

            the spot looked perfect, but the location didn't match

            we looked around the indicated GPS point but at this location, but house or ranch, nothing that looks like the photos posted previously. too bad the spot looked magnificent but with night falling and fatigue from the road we finally slept facing the road in the post office parking lot.

          • DThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
            Mar. 25, 2024

            Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

            Stayed a night

            We pulled in at night time around 10:30PM. I was scared it would be sketchy, but turned out to be a smooth dirt road. We encountered multiple other campers as well before we found a suitable turnout. Loved the accessibility. We woke up to a beautiful little spot near the water; would definitely camp again here

          • ZThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
            Dec. 22, 2023

            Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

            Nice quiet spot, 4x4 ideal

            We were looking for a place to car camp on our way up toward sequoia and stopped here. Was easy to locate even at night. Would suggest 4x4 and wouldn’t recommend heavier vehicles as it’s a sandy dried up lake bed and we had to dig ourselves out in the morning. No fire pits or bathrooms.

          • Sharyn A.
            Camper-submitted photo from Stine Cove Recreation Site
            Oct. 27, 2023

            Stine Cove Recreation Site

            Camping at lake since 1957

            I’ve been camping at This lake since I was 11. My favorite place caught 100’s of fish out of there. I’ve camped in all the camps over the years but I like steins cove when we had a boat. Camp right on the water and the price is right FREE. I live in Az now but when we go back we always hit the lake.  Love it great memories with my mom and dad and our kids and grandkids. Enjoy❤️

          • J
            Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
            Aug. 29, 2023

            Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

            Quiet and near the river

            Found this campground on a spontaneous camping trip to the Kern River. There were only two other groups there and they were far enough away that we couldn't hear them at all. Just the sounds of the river, the crickets and the birds. The stargazing at night was spectacular. The site we chose was a bit of a rocky walk from the car, but worth it to have a more private spot.  The vault toilets were open and very clean and not very smelly. We could not go swimming here, had to go to another day area for that. The tent was in the sun, so the morning/afternoon was hot. But there was a tree to hang out under. Our T-Mobile and AT&T phones did not work at all. Overall great experience.

          • Marc L.
            Camper-submitted photo from Black Gulch South Dispersed Camping
            May. 15, 2023

            Black Gulch South Dispersed Camping

            I didn't make it

            I'm driving a large Nissan can converted into a camper. I made it to where Forest route 26S06 meets black gulch. I might have made it the rest of the way but it was getting dark and scary. A motor home or camper trailer would surely not make it. The whole Keyesville SRMA is open for dispersed camping.

          • Raven P.
            Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
            Feb. 9, 2023

            Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

            Free Camping

            Access to the river is closed as of 26 January, still plenty of dispersed places down the road to camp. Bathrooms and trash dump and lots of trails to ride bikes! Some of the sites are a little rough for trailer access.

          • therealquaid D.
            Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
            Nov. 3, 2022

            Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

            Secluded, 15min away from convenience store and dump station.

            I’ve camped here multiple times, sometimes with multiple RVs in a group, it’s very private with wide vistas.

            Sometimes you can go days without a single car passing by, and there are a lot of spots to just camp since it is all completely level. There are a lot of insects, birds, and the occasional cow and deer.

            To swim in the lake this area connects to Stine Cove campground - via a very soft sandy road - which is also free, has a vault toilet, but is shaded by mountains and less private.

            There’s a $12 dump station with potable water at Camp 9 and one at Old Isabella Recreation Site.

            T-mobile was very slow but Verizon had a good connection.

            Heads up that the lake is MUCH lower than anything you see on satellite view, from Stine Cove I still had to walk 30min before getting to the shore.

          • l
            Camper-submitted photo from Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description
            Sep. 6, 2022

            Chico Flat Dispersed Camping - Partially Closed, See Description

            Not Great

            Chico Flat Dispersed Campsite offers many areas with flat ground to tent upon, as well as a large parking lot to car camp if that’s your thing. However there aren’t loads of trees to hammock camp on. You cannot build a campfire here. There is a pit toilet. There is river access right next to the campsite. There is also spotty cell reception if you want that.

            Let it be known, this campsite is not clean. The previous campers that came long before me left two things: trash, and a message. There was a menagerie of bottle caps and broken glass strewn practically everywhere for me to pick up. This can be said for dare I say everywhere in this whole campsite. Additionally, this trash acted as a proverbial “go ahead” for other people to litter and make the litter situation worse; not cool.

            If you want to really get away from people, don’t come here. When I went people brought the whole kit-and-kaboodle: a suburb of tents, gas generators, bright lights, loud music, etcetera.

            Perhaps this isn’t how this site always is, but man it got crowded, noisy, and annoying. I’ll spare you from the whole story.

            If you’re looking for a quick spot to crash, look no further. If you’re intent on bringing generators, lights, dogs and speakers, this is unfortunately for you. If you’re looking to get away and spend time in nature like myself, this isn’t for you.

          • Michael D.
            Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
            Aug. 9, 2022

            Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

            Decent dispersed spot just south of Sequoia NP

            We stayed here in June and there were plenty of open spots we just couldnt see many since it was dark. We eventually found a spot about half a mile back. Only one other person nearby. We had a few bars of service on verizon and at&t.

            Overall nice secluded spot off the road with great scenery would recommend

          • Kristina W.
            Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
            Jul. 10, 2022

            Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground

            Secluded

            This place was beautiful! We found a spot right next to the water and fell asleep to the sound of it.

            Where we found was a very large pull off, minimal road traffic. It was perfect for the night before we continued our road trip.

          • therealquaid D.
            Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
            May. 4, 2022

            Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

            Plenty of sites and beautiful nature

            You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down. My Class C was able to make it through a few of the dirt roads no problem. Best part is the nature, trails, river, fire rings almost everywhere you need, dumpster and vault toilet near the main road. Worst part was the dirt bikes passing by my campsite on the weekends but it wasn’t loud honestly. The busiest spot is the one down next to the river , easily 20+ vehicles on an April weekend.

          • Louis G.
            Camper-submitted photo from Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed
            May. 1, 2022

            Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed

            Keyesville Recreation Area

            dispersed camping along keyesville rd. big open areas for group or big rig camping, lots of pullouts with fire rings. vault toilets and dumpsters at staging areas. this recreation area has lots of trash, easily could spend days picking litter. keyesville rd. has plenty of traffic though from 2200hrs til morning is fairly quiet. it’s a rec area, so with that in mind the weekends are getting busy. a lot of motocross, ohv and atv traffic from late thurs to sunday. other than that it is a wonderful free camping.

          • Aliza  N.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Stine Cove Recreation Site
            Jan. 26, 2022

            Stine Cove Recreation Site

            Not our favorite!

            We pulled in to spend the night on our way to Death Valley. We ended up leaving and camping down the road at Hanning Flat. Was a big open dirt area with not much more than some scrub grass. Didn’t seem like a lot of privacy or character.

          • Aliza  N.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
            Jan. 26, 2022

            Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

            Quiet, solitude and…..cows!

            We stopped here on our way to Death Valley and ended up staying for several days because we love it so much! There’s another dispersed site a few miles away (Stine Cove) and we found this one to be much more pleasant. The two are actually connected by dirt roads. Our site was shaded and had a fire pit as well as trees perfectly spaced for our hammock. Temps were lovely during the day, but quite chilly at night and during the mornings/evenings.

            The area is also used by lots of cows for grazing so beware of the patties and lots of mooing. They didn’t bother us, we actually quite enjoyed watching them.

            Literal MILES of dispersed sites so plenty of room to spread out. There’s a bit high spot of rocks in the middle at the beginning of the road which was great to climb for sunset views!

          • C
            Camper-submitted photo from Stine Cove Recreation Site
            Jan. 11, 2022

            Stine Cove Recreation Site

            Great spot.

            Took a bit to find as the marker on this map isn’t where the entry is. Go past it and take a left on Sierra way, follow to Stine Cove. Toilets and trash at entrance. The dam is being rebuilt so the water is real low. Easy to drive along the beach until nobody else is around. Great views, sunsets, sunrise, stars, cows… truly wonderful. Early January (2022) is great temps for me around 65. Nights are windy so prepare accordingly.

          • Kiley S.
            Camper-submitted photo from Hanning Flat Dispersed Area
            Jul. 18, 2021

            Hanning Flat Dispersed Area

            STOKED to Find This Spot

            On my way into Sequoia NF I was so excited to see Hanning Flats dispersed camping area. My pup and I stayed for three nights and didn’t see another person or vehicle the whole time. So peaceful, quiet, sunny, green. My dog did get lots of ticks and we had a mouse find its way into the van but I still really have no complaints. Such a gorgeous spot, lovely sunsets and sunrises. We loved walking on the sandy dirt roads at golden hour. My van is only 2WD and did fine. As with all dispersed camping.. pack in pack out and we found a pre-made site to park at. No services/facilities. About 35 mins to Isabella for groceries/gas. We will be back :)

          • S
            Camper-submitted photo from Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground
            Jul. 15, 2021

            Sequoia National Park Dispersed campground

            Great spot in the Sequoia Forest

            It’s a really nice spot. The meadow is nice but you need to hike in. We saw two bears every night so take precaution. They were Cubs, they’re not scared of you but also won’t mess with you if you lock up all your food.



          Guide to Bakersfield

          Camping near Bakersfield, CA, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

          What to do:

          • Hiking: There are great trails nearby. At Ricardo Campground — Red Rock Canyon State Park, one camper mentioned, "The nature trail is accessible directly from the campground and the views are jaw-dropping."
          • Fishing: The Kern River Campground is perfect for fishing. A visitor shared, "Fishing is always good sightseeing is good just all around good place."
          • Wildlife Watching: At KCL Campground, you might spot owls and other wildlife. One reviewer noted, "The campground was so nice and quiet... amazing wildflower blooms in spring."

          What campers like:

          • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A review for Reyes Creek Campground said, "We hiked the creek and loved the tree coverage."
          • Clean Facilities: Many appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. At Wheeler Gorge Campground, a camper remarked, "The restrooms and showers were very well kept."
          • Friendly Hosts: Campers often mention the helpful staff. One visitor at Dennison Park said, "The camp host, Dane, was friendly, helpful, and a joy to chat with."

          What you should know:

          • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Rivernook Campground, have basic facilities. A camper noted, "The bathrooms were always clean, but the sites are so close together that you can literally hear everyone’s conversations."
          • No Reservations: Many sites, such as KCL Campground, operate on a first-come, first-served basis. One reviewer mentioned, "It’s first come first serve, no reservations and it’s free."
          • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife. At Wheeler Gorge Campground, a camper shared, "They let us know there was a bear in the area."

          Tips for camping with families:

          • Choose Kid-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. Kern River Campground is great for families. One parent said, "We were right on the water, super beautiful and relaxing."
          • Bring Games and Activities: Keep the kids entertained. A visitor at Orange Grove RV Park mentioned, "The kids loved it :-)."
          • Plan for Safety: Make sure to keep an eye on little ones, especially near water. A camper at Camp James noted, "A friendly family of bears made their presence at night."

          Tips from RVers:

          • Check Site Sizes: Some campgrounds have limited space for larger RVs. A review for Bakersfield River Run RV Park said, "The spaces are a little tight but ok."
          • Look for Full Hookups: If you need amenities, check for campgrounds with full hookups. At Rivernook Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Full hookups worked fine."
          • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds are near highways. A camper at Orange Grove RV Park noted, "At times you can hear the freeway and trains passing by."

          Camping near Bakersfield, CA, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

          Frequently Asked Questions

          • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Bakersfield, CA?

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Bakersfield, CA is Keyesville Recreation Area Dispersed with a 4.5-star rating from 8 reviews.

          • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Bakersfield, CA?

            TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Bakersfield, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.