Visalia, CA is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Visalia is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Visalia, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
"About 200 feet further a little area that you can pull off. I’m driving a 170 wheelbase extended Sprinter and had a little difficulty to get in. Anything larger will be difficult. But great spot."
"Super convenient free camping between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. A park ranger directed me here when all the campgrounds in the park were full."
"Nice big camp spot in the Sequoia National Forest, the road was really calm mid-April, we had no car during the night. The spot has firepits, a camping table and loads of bushes."
"Nice quiet spot right outside the park!"
"We were lucky there was enough room to pass plus in the dark you can see what’s coming as other reviews mention, the road in is narrow in parts and around 1 mile before you get to the camp ground."
"Everything else was a little bit of a drive away
You have to get up a steep incline, right road off of the main road and the road is narrow. It was not our favorite part."
"Usually when a dispersed site is marked Big Rig Friendly, we'll find that there is a large paved or gravel area for us to pull into and setup before you get to dirt road or off-road sites."
"I found a spot with good sun for my solar panels."
"I’ve camped here for 14 days on two different occasions. It’s very private other than the manager for the Armenian Camp who comes up and down the road everyday, a few more campers on the weekend."
"Quiet place on dirt, not really levelled but fine for a night and easily accessible with any car."
"Great variety of campsites with views of the mounatins and some sites well surrounded by trees. Large rocks provide cool comfy place to lay down."
"Great location in Joshua Tree but 20 minutes from west entrance. Large pull through sites semi-level. Clean restrooms with flush toilets and running water."
"This camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site."
"BRING water and fill up on gas before you go. There are 0 resources for you. It’s gorgeous, we will definitely be going back"
"Plenty of shade for you, plenty of sun for you solar panel. Load road, you camp near the side, but it's not heavily trafficked even on the weekends. They are many spots nearby."
"Especially good if you're traveling with dogs to let them roam around. There's a stream and waterfall downhill that makes for great hikes."
"I like to camp near waterfalls"
"Next to stream. Then if you continue on you will hit a 4 mile off road (my Corolla/any sedan OK) and see great views and waterfall! Nice!"
GuideWas a great place to stay. Plenty of shade for you, plenty of sun for you solar panel. Load road, you camp near the side, but it's not heavily trafficked even on the weekends. They are many spots nearby. Some really pretty of you walk and camp. Most are car accessible and has amazing views! Totally recommend
TravelerThis camping site is a nice free area super close to the Giants Trail entrance (5 minute drive). As you head in you go thru a little dirt road and at the end you see an opening for this site. There is one site located right at the start of the access road but with no views. The main area is cleared to pitch your camping tent. There are no trash cans around or toilets (closest is entrance of Giants trail) but trash may be near at the other camp sites. I did have to put my trash in the tree with a rope about 20-50ft away just for safety. Make sure you don’t keep anything smelly in your tent or around your truck because there is a local bear that comes by in the middle of the night when everyone’s sleeping. The Bear didn’t tamper with my ground tent but I ended up sleeping in my camper due to it being too cold. Although, I did hear the next campers yell out bear for safety. But nothing to worry about if you pack in and pack out and are respectful. The stream and meadow is beautiful. I would recommend this to anyone looking to have a secluded quite area that some ppl may not come to due to the friendly bear wink.
LegendThis camping area is at the end of dirt road Route 21S69, there is a sign for Dome Rock. It's very close to Ponderosa, a small town(?) with a general store and lodges, so that makes it super convenient if you need to buy some standard supplies.
At the end of the dirt road there is a parking area. You can camping anywhere in this area, no fee. Just make sure to apply for a fire permit ahead of time. There are NO facilities at this campground - no bathrooms or trash even. That said, it is a beautiful area, especially if you want to rock climb or hike with great views, including The Needles. Rock climbing info for the area can be found here.
Keep in mind that this location is at ~7,000ft elevation, so the temperatures will be cooler here, and you should plan accordingly.
ScoutTook a right off the main road (Rd 180) where you see signs for the Chicago stump. Took the road a little bit further than the pinpoint where there was a split and took a left. About 200 feet further a little area that you can pull off. I’m driving a 170 wheelbase extended Sprinter and had a little difficulty to get in. Anything larger will be difficult. But great spot.
LegendNot for big rigs! A very primitive but beautiful area. Tons of winding roads with lots of S curves Leading up to 9000 feet. Many great camping spots including close to Peppermint Creek. Completely dry area so no campfires until November. No services and no reception so pack it in and pack it out!
GuideCurvy, narrow road. No great pull outs for larger vehicles.
TravelerThis dispersed camping area is off the western divide. Recommend a truck if going in but have seen cars drive in. Can also hike in. Multiple areas to choose from if you want to camp. No water, toilets or trash. You need a fire permit for a propane stove, no fires. Pack out all trash. Dark at night. Trees for hammocks. Have yet to experience wild life there other than lizards and birds.
GuideThis is a really nice area for camping on the side of the road here, but we only could've squeezed our 39ft Class A into maybe 2 of these spots. Usually when a dispersed site is marked Big Rig Friendly, we'll find that there is a large paved or gravel area for us to pull into and setup before you get to dirt road or off-road sites. There is a large paved area at this location, but we received a warning citation the next day, stating that we weren't allowed to camp there. It's confusing because this is the exact same setup as any other "snow play" or "sno-park" areas that have allowed camping in the gravel or paved areas area.
The paved area does have a couple of small stakes that say "no camping", but in our past dispersed camping experiences, those were used to mark areas where tents and vehicles couldn't pull off-road to camp. Apparently those stakes refer to the paved area in this case? There wasn't any reasoning provided on our citation, other than "find another area to camp."
GuideSuper convenient free camping between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. A park ranger directed me here when all the campgrounds in the park were full. There are sites all along the road, but the first at the junction is great and big enough for a small RV. Also a quick walk to the Chicago Stump which is a must see.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Visalia, California, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots away from the crowds. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, you'll be able to immerse yourself in the great outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Visalia, CA is Cherry Gap OHV Staging Area with a 3.9-star rating from 11 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 28 dispersed camping locations near Visalia, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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