Are you planning a dispersed camping trip to Winterhaven? We've got you covered. Dispersed camping gets you off the grid so you can disconnect from the hecticness of everyday life. Each dispersed site offers quick access to one or more of Winterhaven's most popular destinations.
The Mittry Lake Wildlife Area includes about 600 acres of surface water and 2400 acres of marsh or upland. A wide variety of vegetative and wildlife species can be found here, with a scenic backdrop of three mountain ranges. Numerous serpentine waterways connect to the main lake body and make exploring by boat a unique experience. This area is jointly managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Overview The Imperial Dam Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) was created in 1983 to fulfill the needs of winter visitors and to protect the local desert ecosystem from overuse. The campground is approximately 3,500 acres in size, flat landscape, sparsely vegetated with plants such as creosote bushes, palo verde trees, ironwood trees, mesquite trees and various species of cacti. Imperial Dam LTVA offers solitude in a unique desert landscape and a variety of recreational opportunities such as hiking, swimming, boating, and fishing. Facilities Two restroom facilities with outdoor showers, trash services, grey water dump sites, black water dump site with water, dance floor and ramadas.
$1 - $15 / night
The area in and around Pilot Knob is rich in both human and natural history. At one time, Patton's troops trained here in preparation for desert fighting in World War II. A State of California Historic Marker lies on the site of Patton's camp. The marker is located just north of Interstate 8 on Sidewinder Road. The Fort Yuma Indian Reservation borders public lands near Pilot Knob. Every year, thousands of visitors come and enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities offered at BLM's Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs), where visitors can camp for as long as seven months.
$75 - $180 / night
This location is outside Tribal Land - but please look for any signs that may indicate "no overnight parking".
Located in the southeast corner of California, the Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest mass of sand dunes in the state. Formed by windblown sands of ancient Lake Cahuilla, the dune system extends for more than 40 miles in a band averaging 5 miles wide. Dunes often reach heights of 300 feet above the desert floor, providing outstanding opportunities for recreation. A favorite place for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, the dunes also offer fabulous scenery, opportunities for solitude, and a home to rare plants and animals.
With most of the off-road action taking place in the recreation area south of Highway 78, the open areas allow all types of vehicle recreation. Limited areas surround the dunes require vehicles to travel on designated routes. Closed areas prohibit motorized vehicle use entirely. Information and maps for all of these areas are available at the ranger stations.
The North Algodones Dunes Wilderness offers a tranquil alternative to the fast-paced action of the main dunes. This wilderness encompasses more than 26,000 acres, with the largest and tallest dunes located in the central area. Visitors are welcome to walk or ride horses in this remote area. The wilderness is closed to all vehicles and mechanized use.
Ranger
We spent 10 nights here and really enjoyed the experience. There are campsites over several miles, along the road and places in the floodplain of the lake.
We camped near the gate valve station 2. Very quiet at night and almost no visitors. We loved the solitude!
Bathroom is located East of our camp site in a densely packed camping area with little to no privacy. We found the bathrooms only convenient when we drove there.
This is supposed to be a wildlife refuge but we awoke several mornings to gunshots which we presumed were quail hunters. That was confusing.
There were a lot of off road vehicles stiring up dust on the weekends. I got the impression that they were joy-riding. Simple pleasures...
Scout
Free 14 day camping. Very dusty when wind picks up but plenty of places to tent camp or RV. VFW club house on site.
Guide
FREE & SPACIOUSNESS! Lots of places to park without being on top of the neighbors. Closest camper is over 400 yards away. Great views in all directions and only 3.5 miles to Palm Canyon. PC is the ONLY place in AZ where Palm trees are native. Apparently they have been growing in this secluded spot since this whole area was under water. Think of the song "Beach Front Property in Arizona".... Anyway, something cool to see. It's less than 4 miles off AZ-95 on a dirt road followed by a 1/2 mile VERY EASY hike from the parking area.
Guide
Located South of Q Casino on way to boarder crossing. No amenities. Just a great place to park for free. Casino charges $10/nite for exact same amenities.
Ranger
Hippie Hole is a fantastic boondocking spot with easy access to the Colorado River and plenty of nearby walking trails. The campground is right next to the Cibola Wildlife Preserve, making it perfect for anyone who loves nature and wildlife.
Getting There: If you’re using Google Maps, I recommend skipping the first suggested right turn into the campground and instead pulling in the other entrance across from Baseline Road. This route is much wider and less steep, making it a safer option—especially for larger rigs.
Planning Ahead: The closest town is Blythe, about 30 minutes north, so stock up before arriving. That said, there’s a little store just down Baseline Road with last-minute essentials. The staff there are incredibly kind; they even gave us some free, fresh lemons during our visit!
The Campground: Technically, there’s a 14-day stay limit, but it’s clear that many campers spend most of the winter here. Vault toilets are available, though they come with their fair share of spider friends. There’s supposed to be weekly trash pickup, but it’s inconsistent, so we packed out as much as we could. If you plan to stay a while, be prepared to manage your own trash.
The Vibe: The relaxed, friendly atmosphere makes this spot stand out. You’ll find a mix of travelers and snowbirds enjoying the simple life here. The easy river access and proximity to wildlife make it ideal for kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching.
Overall, Hippie Hole is a laid-back spot for those seeking a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature. Just plan ahead and pack out your trash to keep this gem clean and enjoyable for everyone!
Traveler
This an excellent place for a stopover especially if you are heading south through the algodones border crossing. Although you can hear traffic it’s not intrusive. 5 minutes east of the 95 just north of the border patrol check point. It’s dispersed camping, flat, no shade. It has nice views of the surrounding mountains. The one thing to be on the lookout for is the tiny red cactus that is abundant.
Guide
We loved the spot so very much!! We will be back every winter
Guide
Traveling down Black Mountain road for about 2miles of wash boards before turning down the camping road.
All the sites were empty as it was almost 100degrees outside and nothing for shade of a creature larger than a bird could find. But here we found quiet solitude and a cooler evening, perhaps the winds helped.
If you have furry friends keep a watch for their paws, there’s small cacti/pokeys scattered about.
Lovely sunrise and sunset 360 views.
Good Verizon service!
Scout
Big rig friendly - lots of space to spread out. Nice areas to hike and climb. Can get rather windy and there is some smelly smoke at times from Mexico area. Can drive to Mexico for various doctor/dentist/etc. Easy drive to Yuma as well. Great deal for the winter! Present when the 'scary' situation occurred in March as noted by someone else. Involved 2 parties with dogs loose. We did not and do not feel unsafe at all here.
ScoutI had a very bad scary experience here. The camphost wasn't available at 4 pm to help w a man behaving erratically, threatening my life & others.
TravelerIt's quiet, very few people here and plenty of places to choose from.
Scout
It was lovely. We were lakeside and able to fish daily. Wish we’d had a kayak. Only had 4 days there. Wanted 14! A lot of hiking trails! Sometimes I felt I was on another planet. (That’s why we travel:) The weather just got better and better but we had to cut it short. See you next year!
Scout
No overnight camping allowed
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…
LegendGreat spot on the river. Private spots or group. Vault toilet and trash. Fantastic sunsets.
Ranger
It state trust land. You need a permit, which is available online and I believe the image of the receipt on your phone or laptop would suffice. Should anyone check, which I have never seen. This is at least my second stay here. Nothing exciting but it is right off of I eight, which is not audible right now over the noise from apparently someone's generator. Haven't heard any yapping dogs or idiot kids running around with a parents bearing their asses off but this is my kind of place.
ScoutThere were only a few sites available on Dec 9th which was a Saturday. Location is a little north of VFW. Drive into the VFW driveway, around the back of the VFW building going north. This will take you to the BLM site. Just drive around the flat area until you find a campsite. Dusty. Hwy 95 and railroad are next to camp area.
TravelerIt was great when I got there, they have covered tables with parking beside them, they have spots to park along side the banks, they have a small swimming beach like area. The only drawback from when I was there is extremely windy.
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.
GuideNot a bad free campground, love the jet and helicopters that buzz the area. Some campsite at the river are not level and most campers stay longer then 2 weeks. But trash service and outhouse for your convenience. Couple of stores with in 10 minutes. Sandy so be careful where you drive.
ScoutWe rolled up at around 19:30 as the sun was going down. We weren’t really sure what to expect and we were very pleasantly surprised. Lots of free spots, one right next to a bench with cover which was right by the river
LegendPulled up and had choice of spots. Picked one right on the river with a fire pit. Spot has it's own little bit of beach.
GuideNorth shore might not be easy to get to, but if you got the cojones you can snag a gem. On the beach, a private nook, a high Vista. Options.
Water levels vary, so don't camp too close to the shore.
TravelerReally nice camping spot. Easy access to Lake for fishing. Dumpster in area. Shopping 20 mins away. Very good fishing for Trout and Cat.
LegendThis gravel graded road crosses about 3 miles of BLM before you get to the KOFA NWR boundary. This BLM area is flat and has more room to spread out on the desert pavement fingers, plus a closeby cell tower gives 5 bars signal. Pure free boondocking, no water, no trash cans, no toilets. But the strong cell signal is the main draw here for boondockers. If you go too far into the NWR and get behind a low ridgeline, you will lose the cell tower signal.
LegendNot my choice for a LTVA. Open, harsh, windy and noisy from I8 interstate truck traffic. Only garbage dumpsters , no water, RV dump. Only reason to camp here in my opinion is if you need a staging area to lv camper when going to MX for dental, optical, Rx needs. Nothing else of interest here. One positive if cell signal is very good.
Legend
This is a popular LTVA due to water, RV dump and proximity to a couple lakes to fish or paddle in. The LTVA is large and seems to be mapped into a bunch of user named "neighborhoods". Cell signal depends on your location. No designated sites, no tables, no steel fire rings...just spread out boondocking with 1000 other campers. Lots of solar setups out here.
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Winterhaven, California, where you can immerse yourself in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. This area offers a variety of spots that cater to different preferences, from serene lakeside views to rugged desert landscapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Winterhaven, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Winterhaven, CA is Mittry Lake Wildlife Area with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Winterhaven, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 27 dispersed camping locations near Winterhaven, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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