Best Dispersed Camping near Imperial, CA

Looking for dispersed camping near Imperial? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds near Imperial, including photos, reviews, and tips. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Imperial's most popular destinations.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Imperial, CA (28)

Showing results 1-10 of 28 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Imperial

26 Reviews of 28 Imperial Campgrounds


  • Bubble G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Black Mountain Road Camp
    Jun. 2, 2024

    Black Mountain Road Camp

    Beautiful Views, Quiet Solitude

    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!

  • Katrina M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area Dispersed Primitive
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area Dispersed Primitive

    Easy access - close to Yuma

    Big rig friendly - lots of space to spread out. Nice areas to hike and climb. Can get rather windy and there is some smelly smoke at times from Mexico area. Can drive to Mexico for various doctor/dentist/etc. Easy drive to Yuma as well. Great deal for the winter! Present when the 'scary' situation occurred in March as noted by someone else. Involved 2 parties with dogs loose. We did not and do not feel unsafe at all here.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Holtville Hot Springs Dispersed Site
    Jan. 7, 2024

    Holtville Hot Springs Dispersed Site

    Amazing Soaks to be had!

    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…

  • Karin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Holtville Hot Springs Dispersed Site
    May. 9, 2023

    Holtville Hot Springs Dispersed Site

    Good

    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.

  • Karin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed
    May. 7, 2023

    Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed

    Decent

    Good if you need to get off the highway to catch some sleep. People shoot here so there’s shells, rusty metal, and broken glass everywhere.

  • Greg L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area Dispersed Primitive
    Jan. 26, 2023

    Pilot Knob Long Term Visitor Area Dispersed Primitive

    Harsh windy ltva

    Not my choice for a LTVA. Open, harsh, windy and noisy from I8 interstate truck traffic. Only garbage dumpsters , no water, RV dump. Only reason to camp here in my opinion is if you need a staging area to lv camper when going to MX for dental, optical, Rx needs. Nothing else of interest here. One positive if cell signal is very good.

  • a A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed
    Jan. 7, 2023

    Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed

    Not bad

    Decent spot to pull over and stretch the legs , stayed here for a full moon in the winter, some freeway noise but good enough

  • Aliza  N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Ogilby Road Dispersed BLM
    Dec. 4, 2022

    Ogilby Road Dispersed BLM

    Decent and convenient dispersed camping

    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.

  • Rachel S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed
    Oct. 12, 2022

    Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed

    Easy off the highway, scenic, but with a catch

    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.

  • G
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Hill Marina Park
    Jan. 21, 2022

    Red Hill Marina Park

    Super Sketchy

    No view of the sea. No office staff to check in with. Follow backroads & dirt roads to get here. Seemed like a place where people checked in & decided to live there. We did not stay. Did not feel comfortable.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Hill Marina Park
    Jan. 17, 2022

    Red Hill Marina Park

    Beautiful but mosquito ridden

    Great spot all to ourselves near the Sultan Sea. Sunset was beautiful, the smell was a bit strong off the sea, but then the mosquitos came and they were brutal! Tiny little suckers that could come through the screens.

    Great spot for an early start to check out Slab City and the morning bombing practices from the air force base nearly (very dystopian!)

  • Kayla D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
    Mar. 19, 2021

    Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Empty on weeknights but a little hard to find

    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)

  • Brett S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
    Jan. 3, 2021

    Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Amazing scenery and plenty of free camp sites

    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.

  • James The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Gordon’s Well Sand Dunes - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
    Dec. 10, 2020

    Gordon’s Well Sand Dunes - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area

    Ice cream anyone

    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.

  • Javier L.
    Camper-submitted photo from Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
    Oct. 31, 2020

    Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Desert Wonderland

    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).

  • Dyl A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
    Mar. 28, 2020

    Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves — Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

    Beautiful caves and isolated camping

    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.

  • Jill F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Hill Marina Park
    Aug. 31, 2018

    Red Hill Marina Park

    Salton Sea looks bleak these days

    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.

  • Chad F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Red Hill Marina Park
    Jul. 5, 2017

    Red Hill Marina Park

    Red Hill Marina Imperial Valley

    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.



Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Imperial, CA is Holtville Hot Springs Dispersed Site with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 28 dispersed camping locations near Imperial, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.