Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Exeter, CA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Discover secluded campsites where you can reconnect with nature. Or maybe you like to bring your family and friends along. Either way, there are Exeter campgrounds just for you. Find the best campgrounds near Exeter, CA. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
"Nice big camp spot in the Sequoia National Forest, the road was really calm mid-April, we had no car during the night. The spot has firepits, a camping table and loads of bushes."
"Nice quiet spot right outside the park!"
"About 200 feet further a little area that you can pull off. I’m driving a 170 wheelbase extended Sprinter and had a little difficulty to get in. Anything larger will be difficult. But great spot."
"Super convenient free camping between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. A park ranger directed me here when all the campgrounds in the park were full."
"Usually when a dispersed site is marked Big Rig Friendly, we'll find that there is a large paved or gravel area for us to pull into and setup before you get to dirt road or off-road sites."
"I found a spot with good sun for my solar panels."
"We were lucky there was enough room to pass plus in the dark you can see what’s coming as other reviews mention, the road in is narrow in parts and around 1 mile before you get to the camp ground."
"Everything else was a little bit of a drive away
You have to get up a steep incline, right road off of the main road and the road is narrow. It was not our favorite part."
"Quiet place on dirt, not really levelled but fine for a night and easily accessible with any car."
"I’ve camped here for 14 days on two different occasions. It’s very private other than the manager for the Armenian Camp who comes up and down the road everyday, a few more campers on the weekend."
"This camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site."
"BRING water and fill up on gas before you go. There are 0 resources for you. It’s gorgeous, we will definitely be going back"
"Beautiful, quiet & remote location! Very limited and spotty cell service so difficult to pin exactly."
"I like to camp near waterfalls"
"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!"
"Great variety of campsites with views of the mounatins and some sites well surrounded by trees. Large rocks provide cool comfy place to lay down."
"Great location in Joshua Tree but 20 minutes from west entrance. Large pull through sites semi-level. Clean restrooms with flush toilets and running water."
GuideWas a great place to stay. Plenty of shade for you, plenty of sun for you solar panel. Load road, you camp near the side, but it's not heavily trafficked even on the weekends. They are many spots nearby. Some really pretty of you walk and camp. Most are car accessible and has amazing views! Totally recommend
TravelerDispersed camping at a Yellow Post campsite was great. About 4 mi. of washboard dirt road past Heart Bar Campground to Yellow post site #6. No amenities other than a picnic table and a fire ring. That means, bring plenty of water and a port-a-potty. There is no fee, however, you need to go on line to get a fire permit, which is necessary even for a propane stove. Actually, the fire permit is for anything that has a flame. This trip was over Labor Day weekend of 2022 and the use of the fire pit was forbidden at that time due to high fire hazard conditions. The campsites are quite far apart so you feel a sense of privacy. However, you will see vehicles and or horses go by on the road next to the campsite. Some of the vehicles drive fast on the dirt road which can kick up dust clouds. This is only a problem if you are downwind. The temperature was about 83 for a high and 55 for a low and the wind was light and comfortable. We were glad we had our canopy. The canopy has bug screens on 4 sides but the bugs were not too bad. We used lemon grass bug spray repellent and were comfortable. This campground is away from light sources making it great for stargazing. We enjoyed the campsite so much that we just hung out and relaxed there all weekend ...no hikes or trips away from the campsite. We hung a couple of hammocks with tarps for shade but backed our teardrop under a naturally shaded area of the campsite. We will probably camp there again. If you are not into dispersed camping, there are several campgrounds nearby. Heart Bar campground is huge with amenities and South Fork Family Campground is nice with more shade and a small stream running through. The parking for rv's at South Fork is a bit short at some of the campsites. Best to check the length for a match with your gear. This area is great for camping but make sure you have everything you need as there is no grocery store at the corner. Happy camping..!
TravelerThis camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site. There is one site located right at the start of the access road but with no views. The main area is cleared to pitch your camping tent. There are no trash cans around or toilets (closest is entrance of Giants trail) but trash may be near at the other camp sites. I did have to put my trash in the tree with a rope about 20-50ft away just for safety. Make sure you don’t keep anything smelly in your tent or around your truck because there is a local bear that comes by in the middle of the night when everyone’s sleeping. The Bear didn’t tamper with my ground tent but I ended up sleeping in my camper due to it being too cold. Although, I did hear the next campers yell out bear for safety. But nothing to worry about if you pack in and pack out and are respectful. The stream and meadow is beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone looking to have a secluded quite area that some ppl may not come to due to the friendly bear wink.
LegendThis camping area is at the end of dirt road Route 21S69, there is a sign for Dome Rock. It's very close to Ponderosa, a small town(?) with a general store and lodges, so that makes it super convenient if you need to buy some standard supplies.
At the end of the dirt road there is a parking area. You can camping anywhere in this area, no fee. Just make sure to apply for a fire permit ahead of time. There are NO facilities at this campground - no bathrooms or trash even. That said, it is a beautiful area, especially if you want to rock climb or hike with great views, including The Needles. Rock climbing info for the area can be found here.
Keep in mind that this location is at ~7,000ft elevation, so the temperatures will be cooler here, and you should plan accordingly.
TravelerChico 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.
LegendWe stopped here after we found that all the sites along the Kern were full. It is just North of Johnsondale and just South of the National Forest. Easy driving access to Trail of a Thousand Giants, Moro Rock, and views of the Needles.
We camped out under the stars just after sundown and got up right after Sunrise. No one else camp out near our spot. The road is littered with turn offs for easy and free dispersed camping.
Closest bathrooms are either on the Trail of a Hundred Giants (there is a campground there too but it is closed in Winter) or down in Johnsondale.
ScoutTook a right off the main road (Rd 180) where you see signs for the Chicago stump. Took the road a little bit further than the pinpoint where there was a split and took a left. About 200 feet further a little area that you can pull off. I’m driving a 170 wheelbase extended Sprinter and had a little difficulty to get in. Anything larger will be difficult. But great spot.
LegendFirst off this place is a bit hard to find, but there is a sign on the right and if you miss that sign then you probably won’t find this spot. Overall I recommend going super early because there is always neighbors around and the best spot is next to the big rocks which is a bit secluded from the other campgrounds. There is plenty of shade there unlike the other spots. I like camping here because you can just walk down to the river which is always enjoyable. We always catch great fish here trout, catfish, bass.
-Open year round.
-Reservations: First come first served. Free of charge.
-Permit Info: Campfire Permits required for campfires, barbeques, and camp stoves.
Best Season: Summer Busiest Season: Summer
Restrictions: Camping is permitted 25 feet away from waters edge.
Water: No Restroom: Portable Toilets
No garbage service so pack all your trash out.
I provided a photo of a camper who left all there trash there. If you see that make sure to take pics of their license plates.
TravelerClearly defined track pops off 155. There are spots for a couple of campers. We drove to the end of the track, ends in a loop, and parked our camper van there. Beautiful views, flowers, fresh air. No other campers present so good privacy. Lots of birds, peepers, and late night owls. Quite pleasant.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Exeter, California, where nature lovers can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, you can enjoy the great outdoors while embracing the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Exeter, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Exeter, CA is FS Road 13s09 Dispersed Camp - Ten Mile Road with a 5-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Exeter, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 45 dispersed camping locations near Exeter, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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