Top Free Dispersed Camping near Ocotillo Wells, CA

Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Ocotillo Wells? Find the best information on dispersed campgrounds near Ocotillo Wells, including photos, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your California camping adventure.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Ocotillo Wells, CA (36)

Showing results 1-10 of 36 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Ocotillo Wells

151 Reviews of 36 Ocotillo Wells Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • Ciara W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping

    Base camp close to Joshua Tree

    We stayed here for 2 nights and worked from here with our starlink. Great internet - we had 2 people doing video calls.

    Each site is pretty large and can fit at least 3 vans but they’re only about 100 ft off the dirt road.

  • 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

  • JJ D.
    Camper-submitted photo from Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping
    Jun. 14, 2024

    Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping

    Ease of access and free

    Great location in proximity just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. There are plenty of spots for tents, pop-ups, campers, or RVs. Fire rings are already established.

  • 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.

  • amanda R.
    Camper-submitted photo from Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed
    Apr. 4, 2024

    Joshua Tree South - BLM Dispersed

    Great night!

    Really convenient if you’re in Joshua Tree. The sunset was a 10/10. Very quiet, but we went in July so it was miserably hot. There are fire circles scattered throughout each site. Cell service for xfinity was great. Very nice quiet night

  • 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?

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Joshua Tree South Entrance
    Dec. 24, 2023

    Joshua Tree South Entrance

    Avoid long vehicles far down the road

    Nice little spot about two miles from the highway, fairly secluded with many sites scattered around. Suggest arriving before nightfall as it’s difficult to see into the sites at night. I would STRONGLY suggest any trailer vehicles or vehicles over 24 feet, do not continue beyond a few miles- the road starts to become more of a trail, 4x4 experience- narrow corridors and blind hills with short tracts of very high grade. A class A or travel trailer WILL get stuck here!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping
    Dec. 14, 2023

    Joshua Tree South Dispersed Camping

    Good times!

    Been here quite a few times. Depending on the time of year, there can be others close to you...visible...sometimes audible. But, usually you can choose if you want folks close, grab one at the start...if you want to be more solo...dig deeper.

  • 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.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Painted Canyon
    Nov. 26, 2023

    Painted Canyon

    Absolutely stunning & so much fun

    This place should be part of the park system. Stunning diversity in color and rock formations. If you hike to the top of the loop, you’ll not only feel like you’ve accomplished something special, but you’ll also get to see the rock formations and vegetation change with elevation. In the higher points of the hikes, you can see the Salton Sea from afar. Absolutely stunning at sunrise and sunset.



Guide to Ocotillo Wells

Camping near Ocotillo Wells, California, offers a unique blend of desert landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking to explore the rugged terrain or just relax under the stars, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Off-roading: The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area is a hotspot for off-road enthusiasts. One camper shared, "Great Area to take your OHVs. Season starts around Halloween and ends in May for Red stickers."
  • Hiking: Explore the nearby trails for stunning views and wildlife. A visitor noted, "The campground is very close to the park. Very clean. Beautiful views."
  • Stargazing: The clear desert skies make for incredible stargazing opportunities. One camper remarked, "What an amazing place. Just be sure to pack what you need as there is very few bathrooms and it gets really cold at night."

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review highlighted, "Bathrooms were clean; some are pit toilets and others are flush and even have showers."
  • Scenic views: Campers love the beautiful landscapes surrounding the campgrounds. One camper said, "Amazing place to come for the day but also perfect spot for camping. It’s breathtakingly beautiful."
  • Family-friendly atmosphere: The campgrounds are often filled with families enjoying the outdoors. A visitor mentioned, "I love camping here, restrooms are close driving distance from our campsite. View of BlowSand, desert, mail road."

What you should know:

  • Limited amenities: Some campgrounds, like Blair Valley Primitive Campground, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A camper noted, "It is a peaceful dispersed campground. Wide open great views."
  • Wildlife: Be aware of the local wildlife, including coyotes and desert bighorn sheep. One camper shared, "Saw some coyotes pass by my camp."
  • Weather: Temperatures can drop significantly at night, so be prepared. A visitor cautioned, "It gets really cold at night. But the sunsets and the off-roading made it worth it!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose spacious sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites for family comfort. A camper mentioned, "The sites we had were located on a slight hill. The tent pad sites were slightly slanted."
  • Plan for activities: Bring along games and outdoor gear to keep kids entertained. One family shared, "The terrain of the campground is ideal for kids. Trees, hills, and large rocks for the kids to climb on."
  • Pack extra supplies: Since some campgrounds have limited amenities, it's wise to bring extra water and snacks. A camper noted, "We had a few roadrunners and thrashers that hung out in our campsite and dozens of small birds with the bushes around."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site sizes: Make sure your RV fits the campground's site dimensions. A visitor advised, "There are not many spaces for big rigs, but lots if you’re in the 20’ range."
  • Be prepared for dry camping: Some campgrounds, like Culp Valley Primitive Campground, do not have water hookups. A camper mentioned, "Lux primitive camping since the drop toilets were great and the spots are roomy with fire rings."
  • Bring cash for firewood: If you plan to buy firewood at the campground, be ready to pay cash. One camper shared, "Firewood is cash only. It's not bad 3 bundles for $20."

Camping near Ocotillo Wells, California, offers a fantastic escape into nature, with plenty of activities and beautiful scenery to enjoy. Just remember to plan ahead and be prepared for the unique desert environment!

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Ocotillo Wells, CA is Truckhaven at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

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

    TheDyrt.com has all 36 dispersed camping locations near Ocotillo Wells, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.