Top Free Dispersed Camping near Coalinga, CA

Looking for the best Coalinga dispersed camping? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Coalinga, CA (3)

    • No image available
      Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
      Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
      Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
      Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
      Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
      Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon

      2. Tumey Hills Box Canyon

      5 Reviews
      15 Photos
      114 Saves

      Sign in front with gate closed says “closed to motorized vehicles April-October”

      Look closely at the ground you will find evidence of the vast inland sea that once covered the Tumey Hills. The light porous rocks are composed of diatoms, the tiny, bleached, shell-like skeletons of sea algae. Annual grasslands are lovely in springtime, with beautiful wildflower displays. Rarely seen federally-protected San Joaquin kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and giant kangaroo rats make their homes in these hills. Visitors enjoy a day use facility with parking, shade structures, picnic benches, vault toilets and an interpretive kiosk with a map and information about the area.

      • Pets
      • Phone Service
      • Dispersed
      • Picnic Table
      • Toilets
      • No image available

      Recent Dispersed Reviews In Coalinga

      32 Reviews of 3 Coalinga Campgrounds


      • T
        Camper-submitted photo from Boondocking - Coalinga
        Sep. 26, 2024

        Boondocking - Coalinga

        Waste of time

        If you aren’t sleeping in a camper or in your car, don’t waste your time. It’s a parking lot. Didn’t clearly specify

      • Rosemary L.The Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Jul. 1, 2024

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Great get away

        Clean camp. Restroom was clean. View was beautiful. There was a 6 mile dirt road to the camp. Easy signage. Saw wild boar and dear along the way. Drove a Hyundai Accent.

      • JThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Jun. 16, 2024

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Quiet and peaceful

        The drive up has around five miles of very well maintained dirt road, but very much worth it. Some dispersed camping areas and a campground with 5 spots with a shelter and a picnic table at each one. Bathroom was very clean.

        Views are magnificent.

      • AThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Apr. 25, 2024

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Beautiful Views on Top of the Mountain

        It is a long 5 miles up a long dirt road which is actually pretty nice compared to others we have traveled. There are some steep hairpinish turns that we had to disconnect our toad but wow when you get there it is perfect. So peaceful and very clean. We are in a 36’ class a with jeep toad

      • LThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Apr. 21, 2024

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Nice BLM

        The road to come to the BLM was not bad, we came with a van and had no problems. The campground is nice and clean, vault toilet with TP &clean. Camp spots with table & shade & the view on the hills is incredible

      • mThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
        Mar. 23, 2024

        Tumey Hills Box Canyon

        Beautiful spot

        This was such a beautiful spot. It had the greenest hills. It was very peaceful at night. There were people shooting in the morning. But overall the spot was really nice for one night.

      • M
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Nov. 8, 2023

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Better than expected!

        Very nice and quiet and clean campground. Arrived late Friday afternoon and left Sunday evening. Camp had a fire ring, shaded concrete patio and a picnic table. The single vault toilet was clean and sufficiently stocked with TP. No other amenities other than what the forest provides. Lots of area to explore, but this is mainly an off road vehicle area.

      • J
        Camper-submitted photo from Boondocking - Coalinga
        Aug. 2, 2023

        Boondocking - Coalinga

        Solid Stay off the interstate

        Basic pull off area that is good for a nights rest. There are a couple of gas stations and fast food restaurants nearby. The parking area is relatively quite and there is a good amount of room to park and sleep.

      • DThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
        Apr. 14, 2023

        Tumey Hills Box Canyon

        Quiet at Night

        I couldn’t really identify this place as a campground. It is a shooting range. If you’re in to target practice you’d give it a five. It’s fairly desolate, a port-a-potty, (bring your own TP) and sparse camping spots. One picnic table sat in a day use area, and that gravel parking area is where we set up. It was perfectly flat and level. We didn’t even unhook the trailer. Pack it in and out as there are no services at all other than the potty. The three mile road in from I-5 is paved half way and well-graded dirt the rest. After the shooting stopped, about 8:30 PM, it was amazingly quiet. For us, needing only a stop-over, it was perfect.

      • A
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Mar. 27, 2023

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Amazing view

        The view is amazing!! I would recommend driving up the mountain through Lockwood, the drive is much easier and less scary. We arrived around 5:30pm (end of march) and there was only 1 spot left

      • A
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Mar. 7, 2023

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Clean with some views

        Beautiful place, wish I couldn’t hear the gunshots but at least they’re far away. I’m from Los Angeles so I don’t mind the shots but would prefer to hear the birds more.

      • Wandering C.
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Feb. 24, 2023

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Free BLM

        Amenities include one vault toilet, sometimes runs out of toilet paper on a busy weekend, picnic tables with shelter and fire pits. No water, no trash, fire bans most the dry months.

      • k
        Camper-submitted photo from Tumey Hills Box Canyon
        Feb. 18, 2023

        Tumey Hills Box Canyon

        Easy, open with nearby amenities!

        Easy overnight BLM spot, we stayed overnight on the way to San Jose - easy to navigate, find & park.

        Close by amenities gas stations, mcdonald’s & freeway about 10 mins out

      • R
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        May. 8, 2022

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Beautiful spot spoiled with target shooters

        I love the spot but the constant barrage of target shooting makes it hard to really enjoy! Road is rough getting here but doable. Clean vaulted toilet, great camping spaces with covered tables and a beautiful view. But the shooters really ruin the serenity of this place.

      • o
        Camper-submitted photo from Boondocking - Coalinga
        Nov. 2, 2021

        Boondocking - Coalinga

        Free boondocking

        The street ends and there is a dirt lot past it. You see other trucks, like two, not many at all, that are here resting. I personally pulled into the dirt lot but the trucks are on the sides of the end of the road. You can hear a highway close but honestly, not bad. I feel pretty relaxed and safe here. You have like three fast food places within walking distance so you’re not in a sketchy, middle of nowhere place and not many people come all the way to the end of the road.

      • Robin L.
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Oct. 24, 2021

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Listen to the Quiet

        7 sites suitable for tents, vans, rv's, tt. Sites have covered shelter with metal picnic tables with overhangs for stove and a fire ring. Sites 5 and 7 suitable for larger rigs. Site 5 is pull thru will accommodate 40ft+ rig and pull vehicle. Site 7 is back-in site pull vehicle parks on one side of shelter, 40'+ capable. These sites are dry camping with vault toilet. Offers views of Coastal Range on west Salinas Valley on right. Eastern road from San Ardo/PCH unpaved, washboard on lower end, no steep grades. Turn onto W1 is close for larger rigs as well as turn into campground. Directly opposite of campground entrance is extra large flat dispersed site capable of any length. Road up is narrow must yield to downhill traffic. No electric hookups gens allowed but be mindful of neighbors.

      • W
        Camper-submitted photo from Boondocking - Coalinga
        Oct. 19, 2021

        Boondocking - Coalinga

        Quiet boondock spot

        Got tired and needed a place to sleep for the night; this area is popular with semi drivers and safe and quiet, with 24-hour bathrooms nearby.

      • Dennis R.
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Aug. 7, 2021

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Hill top free site

        Site is first come first served so get there early. Sites have awesome valley views. Vault toilet, fire ring available. Lots of ATV, dirt bike use be prepared for the dust and noise.

      • Olivia W.
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Aug. 1, 2021

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Nice Campsite, Bad Wasps

        This campsite is nice, each of the 7 spots has a fire ring and covered picnic table. However, the wasps and the heat are almost unbearable. We could hear the wasps at 6 am before we even got out of the car. They harass you and make it impossible to sit outside without a bug net. The bathroom here is basic but suprisingly clean. Be careful on the road up to the site, it is gravel for the last few miles and becomes one lane as you get to the high, very windy portion. The only downsides are location, heat, and the wasps!

      • B
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        Jun. 2, 2021

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Hard to believe that it is free

        We towed our 30' travel trailer up to this dispersed campground that is located along a ridge line on the west side of the 101.  When we went, of the (7) formal sites that are up there, only 3 of them were taken and that was off and on.   We didn't need 4x4 getting up there or even a high clearance vehicle.  Our transmission did start heating up as the road was filled with washboard and it was steep and we had to go pretty slow.  However, any car will be able to make it up there.  The road was safe and relatively wide, but it drops off and you wouldn't stop until you got to the bottom.....  If the (7) spots are taken, there are at least 2 large areas before and after the camp ground that you can camp. 

        The view is fantastic, there is a really nice pit toilet, but I don't remember seeing any water hoses.

        Each of the (7) sites had a concrete pad with a covered picnic table and a BBQ pit!  Please pick up your trash if you go.  There was some beer cans and other garbage left behind by some mental midgets.

      • DThe Dyrt PRO User
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        May. 25, 2021

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Expansive views and peaceful

        I spent two nights at this BLM property. It was very quiet except for relatively far off gunfire one morning. I think there are eight campsites here, Each one with a covered picnic table. There is a well-maintained pit toilet relatively close to all sites. The campers were respectful of each other…I heard no one. The weather was mild with temperatures into the 70s during the day, and it got down to 40 at night. Verizon coverage with 2 bars LTE

      • Toni  K.
        Camper-submitted photo from Williams Hill Recreation Area
        May. 14, 2021

        Williams Hill Recreation Area

        Great free camping

        Awesome spot takes a while to get there but, once you’re there great views. Lots of trees for shade. Met some very nice people. FREE(-;



      Guide to Coalinga

      Camping near Coalinga, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet place to unwind, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

      What to do:

      • Hiking: Explore the trails at Cerro Alto Campground. The access to the Cerro Alto summit provides stunning 360-degree views. One visitor mentioned, "Easy access to hiking trails (Cerro Alto summit) from campsite."
      • Wildlife Watching: At San Simeon Creek Campground, you can spot various wildlife. A camper noted, "Seen a ton of wildlife and overall wasn’t very crowded."
      • Beach Access: Enjoy the sandy shores at Morro Strand State Beach Campground. One reviewer said, "We could see the ocean from our bed, very nice."

      What campers like:

      • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at El Chorro Regional Park. A visitor shared, "Bathrooms were very clean and always stocked."
      • Friendly Staff: Many enjoy the welcoming atmosphere at Almond Tree Oasis RV Park. One guest remarked, "Such nice people - we left a pair of glasses in the office... and they sent a nice man in a golf cart to our site with the glasses!"
      • Great Views: Campers love the scenic spots at Williams Hill Recreation Area. A reviewer said, "The view is amazing!!"

      What you should know:

      • Water Availability: At Cerro Alto Campground, the water source can be unreliable. One camper warned, "The campground water source was contaminated and therefore shut off."
      • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds, like El Chorro Regional Park, are near highways, which can lead to traffic noise. A visitor noted, "This campsite is very clean with good toilets and has incredible views. However, it is next to the freeway with loud traffic noise."
      • Limited Amenities: Campgrounds like TV Tower Road Dispersed Camping don’t have many facilities. One camper mentioned, "No restrooms but lots of shrubbery."

      Tips for camping with families:

      • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: San Simeon Creek Campground is great for kids. One parent said, "The kids are thrilled! There are beautiful tucked away campsites in the shade."
      • Plan for Activities: Look for campgrounds with nearby attractions. A visitor at Morro Dunes RV Park mentioned, "Great access to beach and town."
      • Bring Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can make family camping easier. A camper at Almond Tree Oasis RV Park noted, "There is a Baja Fresh and Subway in the Shell gas station next door."

      Tips from RVers:

      • Check Hookups: Make sure your campground has the right hookups for your RV. Cava Robles RV Resort offers full hookups, which many RVers appreciate. One guest said, "FHU with cable."
      • Book Early: Popular spots can fill up fast, especially in summer. A visitor at Morro Dunes RV Park advised, "Make reservations early for this campground."
      • Stay Connected: Some campgrounds have Wi-Fi, but it can slow down during peak times. A camper at Almond Tree Oasis RV Park mentioned, "WI-FI was good right up until 5pm or so when people got home."

      Camping near Coalinga, California, has something for everyone, from stunning views to family-friendly activities. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

      Frequently Asked Questions

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

        According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Coalinga, CA is Boondocking - Coalinga with a 3.4-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

        TheDyrt.com has all 3 dispersed camping locations near Coalinga, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.