Top Free Dispersed Camping near Julian, CA

Searching for a dispersed camping spot near Julian? Find everything from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking with The Dyrt. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Julian's most popular destinations.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Julian, CA (27)

Showing results 1-10 of 27 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Julian

69 Reviews of 27 Julian Campgrounds


  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from South Ridge Yellow Post Sites
    Sep. 27, 2024

    South Ridge Yellow Post Sites

    Awesome dispersed site with amazing views

    Very nice to find a campsite this private on a weekend in southern California elevation is high enough that temperatures were very enjoyable (mid 80's)

  • Gabriel S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Pine Creek Road Camp
    Sep. 15, 2024

    Pine Creek Road Camp

    Nice quick and easy getaway

    Quite easy to get to. I drive an Acura RDX and had no problems (I actually had a lot of fun driving the road). 

    There were way more flies than we were expecting. Prepare to get swarmed. Luckily just gnats and no mosquitoes from what we experienced.

    We applied for a permit on Friday and did not get it by Saturday when we departed. Luckily, no rangers patrolled during our stay.

    Some spots with good shade.

  • dThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pine Creek Road Camp
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Pine Creek Road Camp

    Peaceful and secluded

    A great spot if you want to get away and enjoy some alone time. It’s a little warm in the day in august this time of year so you can’t hike around or explore too much. My girlfriend and I stopped in Julian on our way out to get a late lunch and then head to the campsite. The road is paved until you turn off Lone Creek Road and then it is a dirt road. I have a stock Rav4 and it was able to drive on it although there are a few spots you need to be careful at so you don’t scrape the bottom of your car. We only spent one night but we never saw another person during our stay

  • Rose  D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    Aug. 9, 2024

    Blair Valley

    Quiet

    Peaceful dispersed campground. Wide open great views. Didn’t even know I had neighbors until I walked around in the morning and saw neighboring campers over the hill. Clear skies when I went back in November, could get pretty windy. Saw some coyotes pass by my camp.

  • anna I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Kitchen Creek Road
    Jul. 10, 2024

    Kitchen Creek Road

    Decent spot to stop

    Pretty small spot off the road, does get kind of loud from cars but overall a decent and clean spots

  • Carter M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    May. 30, 2024

    Blair Valley

    Beautiful area but lots of bugs

    Here in late May and the bees and other bugs have been nonstop on me the whole time I've been here. It's a really beautiful area and the spots are spacious

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Pine Creek Road Camp
    May. 27, 2024

    Pine Creek Road Camp

    Dispersed Camping

    This was a last minute Memorial Day weekend trip with my boyfriend and 2 dogs. Friday sent an email to SM.FS.DescansoRD@usda.gov requesting the free permit (after doing research and finding out you need one), filled out the form, and got it back in the same day. Easy to get there, easy directions once there just make you pass the sign that says leaving the recreation area after that you can find any spot and camp. It was a little bumpy but nothing too bad. Drove with my jeep renegade that isn’t a 4wheel drive. A little busy due to the holiday but not too bad. Cyclist riding by, vehicles, and hikers. Which was nice saying hi. Hardly any service for my carrier which is T-Mobile. Definitely will camp out here again.

  • Anne M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    May. 7, 2024

    Blair Valley

    Great weeknight spot

    Visited early May. Arrived right before sunset, there were people close to the bathrooms, but lots of space to spread out if you drive a little.

  • Dickie Simmons  S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    Apr. 29, 2024

    Blair Valley

    Great off grid camping w/ easy access

    Easy access to most designated campsites. Enjoy the changing colors at dusk. My area had 2 bars of verizion service.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Box Canyon Dispersed
    Apr. 18, 2024

    Box Canyon Dispersed

    Sweet spot

    Pretty sandy - would recommend 4wd but i suspect you could get in without. got my jeep deep into the canyon between coachella weekends and was the only person there.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Yaqui Wash
    Apr. 14, 2024

    Yaqui Wash

    If you just want to get outdoors...

    There are a bunch of campsites along a service road that is parallel to a main road, several hundred feet away. This whole area is essentially within one valley, so you have mountains on both sides. It is well vegetated and allows for fairly easy hikes up the soft slopes.

    The parking spots are right alongside the road, so for van camping is not so great, but tents can be put away from the road and therefore it's much more suitable for tenting.

    The stretch of dirt road closest to the main road is Sandy, but manageable bull in a two wheel drive. This is where most of the campsites are. Further along the road, there are fewer camp sites, so they are more dispersed, however the road becomes more rocky and jutted, but for those wanting a bit more privacy, this is the spot to be.

    I would like to come back in camp in this location. So i'm going to mark it to return another time.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Yaqui Pass Camp
    Apr. 14, 2024

    Yaqui Pass Camp

    Easy stop if you need, otherwise keep driving

    Drove in..., drove out. As another review noted, it's a big parking lot. Fine if you just need a place to pull over, nothing of value there..., maybe proximity to a hiking trail.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Kitchen Creek Road
    Feb. 4, 2024

    Kitchen Creek Road

    Decent. Tough time of the year

    Could be maintained. Went during a very rainy season. So it could definitely be attributed to the time of year. Will be another opportunity in the future.

  • Mary B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Blair Valley

    Serenity

    We arrived passed 10pm on the dirt road with no other campers. Beautiful site in a quiet location with endless views and there’s no fee. Who could ask for more?

  • Sarah M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Box Canyon Dispersed
    Dec. 2, 2023

    Box Canyon Dispersed

    Deep sand, close to busy road side.

    This is ideally a good spot, but the sand is way too deep to get far enough off of the road.

  • Sarah M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Mecca Hills Wilderness
    Dec. 2, 2023

    Mecca Hills Wilderness

    4x4 required, super deep sand

    Drove up this road thinking it would be okay, but as I got closer to the location, the sand got deeper. At night it was especially hard to see. Any of the roads going off the main road were too deep with sand to get into without getting stuck. Had to turn around and ended up parking closer to JT park.

  • s E.
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    May. 11, 2023

    Blair Valley

    Great campground

    AT&T: 1-2 bar signal. First time to go out camping in the desert. I’m so glad it was at this location! So spacious, beautiful views. It’s quiet, clean, just very peaceful.

  • Karin P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    May. 7, 2023

    Blair Valley

    Beautiful and spacious

    Favorite free campsite so far. Free for 30 days, pack in pack out, there are pit toilets near the entrance, no liter removal or water. Horses and dogs allowed. Beautiful views and trails. There are quite a few bees though, other than that, loved it.

  • 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.

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Peg Leg Dispersed
    Apr. 22, 2023

    Peg Leg Dispersed

    Boondocking at Anza Borrego State Park

    Anza Borrego Desert SP allows dispersed camping in certain areas of the park, and this is one of them.  I tried to find it on the website, but found no mention of allowed camping in the park.  However, it's listed in the visitor guide you can get from the visitor center.

    The reviews on The Dyrt for the camping area directly across the street to the north of this section mentioned that there will be a campground built and fees charged in the near future, but I don’t think that’s the case for this side of the street. There was no signage or any signs of development here on this corner. Just lots of boondockers tucked in among all the shrubs, plenty of room for everyone. 

    I could see this area getting annoying with ATVers on the weekends, but there were none when we were there mid week in April. A couple of obvious sketchy long termers there, with heaps of junk and posted signage to stay away, which wasn’t a problem as there was plenty of space to stay far away from them. 

    Good cell service and beautiful sunrise. 

    Watch for nails and broken glass.:(

  • Justin M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Blair Valley
    Mar. 26, 2023

    Blair Valley

    Beautiful Views and 5G Internet

    Came here to have a place for my popup camper while we checked out the flowers blooming 40 minutes away in Borrego Springs and it was perfect. There's no amenities except for a pit toilet, but the cell service here was better than anywhere in the area. I had better signal at this campsite than I did in Park Circle at the heart of Borrego Springs. Lots of people set up near the entrance, but if you drive a little back you can get some privacy. Also be slow and cautious when driving on these dirt roads after a rainstorm; we saw two different trucks get stuck in the mud. Luckily some people with a winch were able to get them both out. Also we were here in March so the nights were cold and windy so make sure you're prepared.



Guide to Julian

Camping near Julian, California, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, this area has something to suit your needs.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Borrego Palm Canyon Campground. One reviewer said, "The Palm Canyon trail starts from the campground - no need to drive to the trailhead, and it is a hike worth doing."
  • Fishing: Head to Lake Jennings for some fishing. A visitor mentioned, "The campground is clean and the fishing is good, most of the time. They stock the lake regularly so you have a good chance of catching trout."
  • Stargazing: The clear skies in the area make for great stargazing. One camper at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground noted, "The stars at night are gorgeous! You can spend hours just staring up at the sky."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A reviewer at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground said, "Flush toilets, bathrooms, well lit, and warm showers."
  • Friendly staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of the campground staff. One camper shared, "The ladies at the front are always so incredibly sweet!" at Lake Jennings.
  • Spacious sites: Campers enjoy the roomy campsites. A review for Lake Jennings stated, "Spaces are good size and plenty of room in between the next site."

What you should know:

  • Busy during peak times: Many campgrounds can get crowded, especially on weekends. A visitor at Lake Hemet Campground mentioned, "It is super busy, a lot of people around."
  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Blair Valley Primitive Campground, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A camper noted, "No facilities but good cell service."
  • Check-in times: Be aware of strict check-in times at some campgrounds. One reviewer at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground mentioned, "Very strict check-in time."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places like Lake Jennings, which has a playground and plenty of space for kids to play. A visitor said, "The campground had a ton of bonuses, close to town if you need things but far enough away to feel the full camping experience."
  • Plan for activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. One camper at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground suggested, "Bring your bikes. There’s also a trailhead to the oasis right in the campground."
  • Pack snacks and meals: Having food on hand can save time and keep everyone happy. A camper at Lake Hemet Campground advised, "Bring your own shade for this campsite, your own water too."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site you choose. A reviewer at William Heise County Park mentioned, "A more experienced human might not have struggled as much but it be hard to get a 20 ft plus trailer into this particular site."
  • Look for full hookups: If you need amenities, opt for campgrounds like Lake Jennings that offer full hookups. A visitor noted, "There are areas that are full hookup, partial hookup, no hookup, tent only areas, and group camping."
  • Be prepared for noise: Some campgrounds can be noisy, especially during busy times. A camper at San Diego Metro KOA mentioned, "The area around the campground doesn’t leave one feeling particularly safe."

Camping near Julian, California, is a great way to enjoy nature and create lasting memories. Whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin, there's something for everyone in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Julian, CA is Pine Creek Road Camp with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 27 dispersed camping locations near Julian, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.