Best Dispersed Camping near El Centro, CA

We loved this spot. FREE Dispersed camping is located just past power lines behind the actual hot springs. To stay at the LTVA you must have self contained trailer, van, rv…we didn’t know this. It worked out better-FREE camping and just a lil over an ¼ mile to the springs. It is well maintained by camp host Bill. Vault toilets, with TP & bonus there is great food at The Holtville Taco Shop 7 miles from springs. The Del Sol market has great marinated chicken for the BBQ and the tortillas are best outside of Mexico I have found. We will be back as the sunsets are too good not to experience over and over again…cold at night this time of year…

Anza borrego state park has a lot of room to explore. The park has campgrounds near borrego springs that are easily accessible. Visiting the mud caves you’ll need 4x4 or an AWD car with high clearance. Anza borrego has been my wife & I go to camping area for over 5 years. Camping is allowed away from main trails and we typically sleep near the mud caves or within the slot canyons. Perfect place to star gave and wander around & explore. Bring plenty of water/ off road safety (enough fuel/ shovel/ traction boards) as towing out of this area is extremely expensive. (Pictures are from fonts point/ random hikes near camping spots).

Make your campsite anywhere, restrooms near by, driving distance to a few stores & gas station. Great camping & 4x4 in truck haven, cool off-road in event for Tierra Del Sol/TDS-in March

Open desert area, free to use. Pack it in, pack it out! Night skies are spectacular!

No hookups but you can stay for free on the bluffs. In some weather conditions the wind can be a bit much.

Located South of Q Casino on way to boarder crossing. No amenities. Just a great place to park for free. Casino charges $10/nite for exact same amenities.

My first time here we arrived a week before our friend group to secure a good location before the busy thanksgiving weekend and we were the only ones out by the dunes, but the ice cream truck still managed to find us! 😂

There are a lot of regulars who come to the dunes for group camping, and some of them have incredible set-ups, our neighbors rolled in with an 18 wheeler filled with side-by-sides, a flatbed filled with quads, and a hauler filled with bikes, along with 6 big rig RV’s.

This place isn’t actually free you need to buy either a weekly or season pass which runs from November to April ($35 or $150) and the longest you can stay is two weeks without moving your set-up. You can buy a pass at any ATV store or shop, but there is no way to buy one once you’re out here. Rangers and border patrol make the rounds to make sure everyone has a pass, and obeys all ATV rules on the dunes and sand drags.

There is trash at the entrance, slightly inside are toilets. Cell phone service is 5 stars (we work from our RV and had no issues), you can pay to dump and fill up water at the RV park a couple miles from here. The sand is soft, heavy rigs may need to air down.

This is not only a beautiful place, it is also a way of life, and a must do for anyone with a way to get out into the dunes.

Area was nice, no trash, host was nice, the only thing was there was A LOT OF FLIES. Other than the flies it’s an good campground, there are pit toilets across the street at the hot springs along with trash cans.

There are a few long-term campers here that aren’t very friendly. They have tent sites and hookups.

Major plus is birding at the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.

Very Primitive location but beautiful in its own right. Gets dusty, tons of birds, close to the Salton Sea and no complaints. $7 per night for a tent site, a little more for hookups. $2 day rate use fee.

People come out here to shoot so be warned! Theres also a lot of broken glass/rusty cans! Really pretty area though and tons of flat areas to choose from. You can spread out and go explore further up the road like we did. Need a car with clearance for just one part (no sedans). Easy on and off to the highway.

The mud caves are a MUST see when down here. This is the perfect area for off-roading and great views! It’s easy to spend a whole day here.

Dates & Weather: March 12, 2021. Night temps weren’t too bad down in the canyon we stayed in, mid-40’s and during the day it was 50 with high winds up on top of the dirt mountains(?), caves were warmest the whole time

Road & Address: there were some soft sand spots, didn’t require a lot of clearance and I didn’t put my Jeep Compass into AWD at all. Probably wouldn’t bring a sedan, but there were SUVs pulling pop-ups. Make sure you follow your GPS even if it doesn’t show a road (I missed the first left that goes to the caves & had to backtrack two miles through soft sand)

Amenities: none, pack in/pack out

Things to do: tons of caves to explore (the signs recommend not going in) bring a light (because you will go in.) Cool groups of overlanders out there and also saw a ton of families setting up camp as I was leaving Saturday morning.

DO NOT PARK CLOSE TO THE DIRT WALLS. (Mostly the overhanging ones) During the night I was out there, high winds brought a down huge chunk that we had passed on the way in. Glad I skipped that spot—I have a huge moonroof, yikes. There’s plenty of open spaces to set up camp safely away from the walls.

AT&T had no service whatsoever on low ground, but was strong if you went up the mountain (they’re like 40 feet, not actual mountains)

There are more than five different areas to camp in this box canyon.
The caves are cool, dark, and spooky!
no matter how hot it is in the desert the caves are always about 60F.
Don't come here if it's going to rain because the cliff-sides may fall and block the trail.

We are novice campers - didn't have sand tent pegs so with a little wind on the day we arrived it took some time to find the right site for us which really was only after the wind died down after 4pm. Picture a few frustrated moments here while wind picked up tent and wife..... :)

Lesson learned, take sand capable tent pegs and set up site later in the day and not on a nice hill.

Once the wind died down we found a site and settled in for a lovely night.

Awesome caves and walking around the area. Spectacular must do trip when around the area.

It’s technically the Republic of Slowjamistan.

Lots of open space, just drive out and park. Might need an air down/up system depending on how far in you want to travel. No issues for the first 0.25-0.5 mile off the highway.

ATV rentals available. There are some picnic tables and compost hole restrooms.

Tons of space. Right off Oligby rd. Many pre established sites with rock fire pits. Some close to the road and others a drive in. Even fairly close to the road we had lots of privacy. Didn’t seem to be many folks close by - however we could see many people camping in the area. “Roads” we’re varying depending on how far out you go. There are train tracks close by and we heard the occasional train but wasn’t bothersome. Not a lot of trees/shrubs for privacy but 🤷🏻‍♀️ this is the desert.

Fun little place to 4x4. We went all the way to the top and found an abandoned building. It was super creepy and a lot of fun!

Traveling down Black Mountain road for about 2miles of wash boards before turning down the camping road.

All the sites were empty as it was almost 100degrees outside and nothing for shade of a creature larger than a bird could find. But here we found quiet solitude and a cooler evening, perhaps the winds helped.

If you have furry friends keep a watch for their paws, there’s small cacti/pokeys scattered about.

Lovely sunrise and sunset 360 views.

Good Verizon service!

We enjoy it