Searching for a dispersed campsite near Ocotillo? Dispersed camping means that no facilities or amenities are provided, so that you can truly disconnect and get back to nature. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
Scout
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.
TravelerA 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
Traveler
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.
Scout
Pretty small spot off the road, does get kind of loud from cars but overall a decent and clean spots
ScoutHere 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
ScoutThis 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.
ScoutVisited 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.
RangerTons of dispersed spots down the road.
TravelerEasy access to most designated campsites. Enjoy the changing colors at dusk. My area had 2 bars of verizion service.
ScoutPeople riding motorcycles, trucks,screams, not a good place for solo camping for sure
Guide
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.
Guide
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.
ScoutRainy
ScoutCould 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.
Guide
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…
GuideWe 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?
TravelerAT&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.
GuideArea 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.
GuideFavorite 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.
Guide
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.
Legend
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.:(
ScoutCame 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
Open desert area, free to use. Pack it in, pack it out! Night skies are spectacular!
RangerFree. 30 day limit. Pit toilet. Pack it out - no trash service. No water. If you go left as you come in you can camp along a rock wall filled with agave, cholla and other plants. A large area for big rvs right at the front left. To the right there were lots of pull offs and I found it easier to navigate in my station wagon road-wise. Lots of space. Some areas say not to walk there/ keep dogs out to protect plants and wildlife. I felt safe solo camping - there were a few other van and rv campers. Recommend visiting the sweet desert botanical garden in nearby Borrego Springs.
ScoutDecent spot to pull over and stretch the legs , stayed here for a full moon in the winter, some freeway noise but good enough
TravelerPeople 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.
ScoutThis is one of my favorite free campsites! I’ve camped here twice, once on a full moon and again on a new moon. The full moon night was so bright you could see everything with no lights! It was the first time I truly experienced the brightness of moonlight and it was magical. The second time was on a moonless night and the STARS were just ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! This site is located in anza borrego, the only dark sky community in California, so you will see more stars here than anywhere else in California (unless there’s a full moon then there won’t be stars). The site is big enough that you would have plenty of privacy from other campers. Both times I went, there was hardly anyone around. There are vault toilets. No showers/tables/grills. Just a wide open space. Definitely not for glampers (unless you have an RV), but it is one of the best for stargazers!
Camping near Ocotillo, California, offers a unique blend of desert landscapes and outdoor adventures. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or a place to explore, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs.
Camping near Ocotillo, California, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful desert landscapes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Ocotillo, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Ocotillo, CA is Smuggler's Gulch Dispersed with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Ocotillo, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 dispersed camping locations near Ocotillo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
