Best Dispersed Camping near Morro Bay, CA
Dispersed camping near Morro Bay, California is permitted on several public lands, with TV Tower Road and Williams Hill Recreation Area being the most accessible options. Los Padres National Forest offers additional primitive sites along forest service roads, particularly on Redhill Road near Highway 58. Will Creek Road and Plasket Ridge provide remote camping opportunities along the coast, though these areas have steeper terrain and more challenging access conditions.
Most access roads to dispersed sites require careful navigation on dirt or gravel surfaces. TV Tower Road features a narrow, winding dirt road with steep drop-offs that becomes particularly challenging after dark. Williams Hill Recreation Area, while free, includes seven established sites with covered picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet—unusual amenities for dispersed camping. Fire restrictions are common during summer months, with complete bans during high fire danger periods. No water sources or trash services exist at any locations, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste.
The dispersed areas around Morro Bay offer exceptional views and stargazing opportunities. TV Tower Road provides panoramic vistas of Morro Bay, Los Osos, and San Luis Obispo, with the iconic Morro Rock visible in the distance. Williams Hill sites sit along a ridge with expansive views of the Salinas Valley and Coastal Range. Campers report varying experiences with crowds. "The stars are beautiful and it's very quiet and cool," noted one TV Tower Road visitor, while another Williams Hill camper observed, "It was very quiet except for relatively far off gunfire one morning." Cell service is generally good at higher elevations, particularly at Williams Hill, where Verizon users report consistent LTE coverage.