Top Free Dispersed Camping near Yermo, CA

Planning a dispersed camping trip near Yermo? Find everything from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking with The Dyrt. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Yermo, CA (17)

    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
    Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area

    1. BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area

    3 Reviews
    9 Photos
    92 Saves

    Camping on public lands away from developed recreation facilities is referred to as dispersed camping. Most of the remainder of public lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted "closed to camping," or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources. Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska). Campsite Selection Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • RVs
    • Tents
    • Group
    Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed
    Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed

    2. Ord Mountain Dispersed

    1 Review
    10 Photos
    3 Saves
    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Phone Service
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    • Group
    • Dispersed
    • No image available

      3. Bell Mountain Road

      1 Review
      12 Saves
      • RVs
      • Tents
      • Standard (Tent/RV)
      • Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
      Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
      Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
      Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
      Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
      Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
      Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
      Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
      Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
      Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
      Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
      Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed

      5. Silurian Dry Lake Bed

      6 Reviews
      11 Photos
      114 Saves
      • Pets
      • Fires
      • Phone Service
      • RVs
      • Group
      • Dispersed
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM Desert Site
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM Desert Site
      Camper-submitted photo from BLM Desert Site
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          Camper-submitted photo from Giant Rock
          Camper-submitted photo from Giant Rock
          Camper-submitted photo from Giant Rock
          Camper-submitted photo from Giant Rock
          • No image available

            10. Bear Lake View - Dispersed

            1 Review
            51 Saves

            The number of visitors admitted to the wilderness is limited. On summer weekends some wilderness areas may fill to capacity well in advance. Wilderness campsites are accessible by foot and/or horseback only and require a free wilderness permit, which may be reserved up to three months in advance. Use of certain trailheads that have facilities like restrooms require an Adventure Pass or an Interagency Pass, which must be displayed on the parked vehicle. When camping in the wilderness, lightweight stoves are recommended. Campfires are not allowed in Wilderness areas on the San Bernardino National Forest. No wood or charcoal campfires (Read the current fire restrictions) Vehicles must remain on roads and associated pullouts Do not clear vegetation Portable gas-powered stoves, lanterns and fire rings with a fuel-shutoff valve allowed with a California Campfire Permit and five feet clearance from vegetation. Camp at least 200 feet from springs, water, meadows, trails and roads Camp at least a quarter-mile from designated campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads Camp at least a quarter-mile from private property and state highways Pack out all trash Leave no trace For more information, please read the Forest Order on use of dispersed areas: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5155166.pdf

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          Showing results 1-10 of 17 campgrounds

          Recent Dispersed Reviews In Yermo

          28 Reviews of 17 Yermo Campgrounds


          • JThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
            Oct. 26, 2024

            Razor Road Dispersed Camping

            Peaceful and quiet with lots of space

            Verizon had excellent reception, enough room between campers to run a generator without bothering anyone. Lots of litter everywhere. It would be nice if people would haul out more trash than what they bring in. After all it is free camping.

          • EThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from BLM Desert Site
            Oct. 17, 2024

            BLM Desert Site

            BLM desert site

            35.08627305276245,-117.54092669125416 Great space. Easy to find. Away from highway enough. Very windy. Great sunset and sunrise.

          • Julia H.
            Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
            Aug. 6, 2024

            Razor Road Dispersed Camping

            Ehh

            It was an aight spot. did the job. the spots are like behind a sketchy gas station, so i drove down a little bit so i wasn’t near it. tons of garbage. other than that, decent morning view ! stayed safe the whole night. can’t complain.

          • DThe Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Mill Creek Dispersed Camping
            Jul. 23, 2024

            Mill Creek Dispersed Camping

            Over a dozen sites

            There are lots of sites on this road. The closer you are to the road the more dust will get in your site from the vehicles passing. The road here. I went a to the second fork after the Bluff lake fork. There’s a private campground near the Bluff Lake entrance which made noises i can hear from my site which was before Bluffs lake fork. There are over a dozen sites along the main road. If you can pull in, it’s a site. Some better than others and spaced out so you may not see your neighbors from your site. 2x4 accessible as long as it’s not muddy or after snow. I saw a Prius on the trail.

          • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Ord Mountain Dispersed
            Jul. 7, 2024

            Ord Mountain Dispersed

            Actual location 34.684300, -116.960600

            I did the best I could with finding the exact location on the map using The Dyrt's current capabilities to add a new location.  This site is located at 34.684300,-116.960600, across the 247 road from Sawtooth Canyon Campground / New Jack City rock climbing area. Hopefully someone can go in at some point and fix the location to be more precise.

            We checked this place out but didn’t stay. We liked the beautiful wide open surroundings, the good cell reception, and the easy access from the main road, but it seemed like this is a place better suited for bigger groups, especially those who will be riding ATVs or dirt bikes around. So, if you’re looking for a big open space to hang out with a big group where you can be loud and not disturb anyone, this would be a good place for it. We also heard gun shots nearby so further down the road is probably a good shooting area. 

            Obviously no amenities so please pack in/ pack out. It was surprisingly not too trashed so that was nice. We made it down the dirt road fine in our 26 ft class c. Proceed at your own comfort level, but it seems like a road that would be ok for any rig (maybe not a class A?) if you go slow and watch for dips and bumps.

          • Dickie Simmons  S.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Mill Creek Dispersed Camping
            Jun. 16, 2024

            Mill Creek Dispersed Camping

            Convenient free camping just outside of town

            Great free camping when campgrounds are booked. Easy to navigate with GPS. Many large and small sites along the road. Some spots more secluded than others.  Smaller rigs, medium clearance and lite off-road capabilities recommended. Good cellular reception in my particular location.

          • Francisco F.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Mill Creek Dispersed Camping
            Jun. 8, 2024

            Mill Creek Dispersed Camping

            Beautiful Spot For 4x4, But NOT For RVs

            My husband and I were looking for good boondocking spots yesterday and we decided to check out this spot, after finding it on The Dyrt and a few other sites. It's definitely a beautiful place, and most of the road to the site is paved, but the road up to the actual spot is gravel, with lots of potholes and washboard areas, which would make it difficult for an RV. But the biggest issue for RVs is an area of the road that is very steep and immediately turns into a hairpin turn that we didn't even want to try in our 4x4, since the road is very thin and our SUV (a 2009 Nissan Pathfinder) is kind of thick. I'm sure it's probably nothing for people who are used to using their 4x4 for more than regular driving in the snow, etc., but it was too dodgy for us. There is no way that even a Class C rig would be able to take that steep incline and immediately do that sharp turn. And since there's nowhere to turn around in that spot, you'd have to back your rig down the incline and then quite a ways down the pitted, gravel road to get out of it. 

            It's full of trees and seems fairly remote, but we had 5 cars pass us as we were backing away from the incline, so it's obviously a busy spot - you wouldn't be there alone, and this was on a Thursday.

          • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
            Mar. 28, 2024

            Silurian Dry Lake Bed

            Close to Vegas, but still outside!

            Great place to stop off the 15 on the way to where ever you're going! One other car other than us at this spot. Few other campers closer to the main road.

          • 5 STAR X P.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Razor Road Dispersed Camping
            Dec. 26, 2023

            Razor Road Dispersed Camping

            Excellent stop before Vegas

            Several firepits, leveled big area. You can continue on this dirt road to get farther from the freeway to get a quieter sleep. I dropped in very late, so I didn't want to go further exploring in the dark, but I saw campers drive further out.

          • e
            Camper-submitted photo from Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp
            Nov. 8, 2023

            Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp

            Site of gold discovery in the 1800s.

            If you’re into panning for gold you just might find some along Holcomb Creek. There are active claims in the area so be respectful. Once you leave the pavement the going gets slower along the trails. You definitely need a high clearance vehicle. There are campgrounds in the area and also yellow post campsites. There wasn’t many other vehicles around the times I’ve been out there. Nice scenery and peaceful.

          • Sarah N.
            Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
            Mar. 26, 2023

            Silurian Dry Lake Bed

            Weird spot

            Bit of an awkward spot to camp in my opinion. It’s pretty much an open sandy area in the town of Baker. You can hear the highway and noise from the town. If you prefer more remote areas, choose a different place. It was difficult to find in the dark as well because the coordinates provided aren’t technically in the camping area. I had to zoom in on the map to make sure I was on BLM land.

          • Madonna D.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
            Mar. 6, 2023

            Silurian Dry Lake Bed

            Very convenient and close to I15

            Great location for exit out of Death Valley and close to Interstate 15. Mojave Preserve closed so stayed in Baker, CA on BLM land. Simple gravel pad, quite, opposite School. Close to overhead power lines. Mad Greek Restaurant awesome for evening meal and Chevron Gas station has great bathrooms and supplies!!

          • j
            Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
            Nov. 1, 2022

            Silurian Dry Lake Bed

            Perfect stopover

            First night testing out a dispersed campground but once we were confident we’d found it, was perfect.

            No signs mark this spot. When you find it, is a large flat area. Literally tucked just off the road, few different entry points can be used to access it.

            We were the only ones staying the night so was a great quiet spot. Located right near town & off the main highway without being too close. Few cars at night but nothing crazy.

          • s
            Camper-submitted photo from Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp
            Apr. 25, 2022

            Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp

            OFF THE GRID

            Arriving at the campground, the deposit place, obviously on weekends we were not thrilled by everyone around us, as well as the loud noise until past the curfew. So we decided the next day to go a little further in the woods where you’re no longer in the campground base. So this is called wild camping. And that was amazing not a single sound far from everybody, off the grid.

            We went in April, and still had a little bit of snow. All the trail roads are mostly for 4 x 4 vehicles that really enjoy just going at it throughout the day. A lot of fun to witness that. The wild hikes surrounding the campground are really fun. Just remember where you camped. It seems like fires aren’t allowed during certain periods. Just be aware, we brought our own off the ground stove. And it was perfectly fine.

          • Heather L.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
            Jan. 18, 2022

            BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area

            Especially great for off-roaders!

            Dirt Biking heaven! Our friends brought their toy-haulers and we played in the desert for a few nights. The weather was pretty good for November. Plenty of space to have 2 RV’s, a van, and a few guests. Definitely head over to Slash-X cafe if you get a chance and grab a beer while listening to live music in the back patio!

          • Alisa B.
            Camper-submitted photo from Silurian Dry Lake Bed
            Dec. 29, 2021

            Silurian Dry Lake Bed

            Life on Mars

            Absolutely amazing free dispersed camping at Silurian dry lake bed.

            Visited in late December, and there were zero other campers out on the lake bed. Lots of entrances to the site from the highway, just be sure to follow an already made path. The farthest you can camp is about a mile off of the road. Very level, great place for boondocking.

            This is BLM managed land, make sure to go online for a free fire permit if you plan to have a campfire.

          • Eileen S.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Mill Creek Dispersed Camping
            Nov. 11, 2021

            Mill Creek Dispersed Camping

            Dispersed Camping Near Big Bear

            First come first served dispersed camping just outside Big Bear. Near bike trails. Was not crowded mid week, but spots were filling up closer to the weekend. There are a lot of flat spots to choose from.

          • Mark W.
            Camper-submitted photo from BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area
            Nov. 8, 2021

            BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area

            Desert Dispersed Camping

            This is a popular camping site for OHV riders during the winter. There are several sites at this location that each can hold 5-7 RVs. Each of the sites has a primitive fire ring, but there is no wood in the area, so bring your own. There are no toilets or water either.

            It is the desert, so it gets warm/hot during the summer, but during the fall and winter, it is comfortable and can get cold at night.

            The sites are far enough away that the noises of the other sites are not usually a problem, but it can occur. In the mornings, riders can be disturbing as they ride by.

            Because of the OHV on weekends and holidays, it can get BUSY. First come, first serve.

            For someone passing through, it can be a great one night stop and if you live local it makes a great few days away from the grind.

          • Leslie R.The Dyrt PRO User
            Camper-submitted photo from Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp
            Jul. 25, 2018

            Holcomb Valley Climbers Camp

            unlimited backcountry camping

            Because the National forest allows dispersed camping, as long as your off the roads and trails, the camping spots are unlimited. We like coming here if we want to be guaranteed a spot, no early arrivals or reservations needed. Dogs are allowed, and the trails in the area are dog-friendly.



          Guide to Yermo

          Camping near Yermo, California, offers a unique blend of desert landscapes and historical sites. Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

          What to do:

          • Explore Calico Ghost Town: This historic site is just a stone's throw away from Calico Ghost Town. One visitor mentioned, "The Ghost town is a fun place to walk through," making it a great spot for families and history buffs alike.
          • Rock Climbing: If you're into climbing, Sawtooth Canyon Campground is known for its climbing spots. A reviewer shared, "This is also a big rock climbing destination," perfect for thrill-seekers.
          • Hiking: The area is surrounded by beautiful trails. One camper at Afton Canyon Campground noted, "The trails are soft sand, rock and river crossings," making it a scenic spot for hiking enthusiasts.

          What campers like:

          • Quiet Atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the peaceful environment. A visitor at Sawtooth Canyon Campground said, "It was busy on weekends but quiets down during the week."
          • Clean Facilities: Cleanliness is a big plus for many. One camper at Barstow-Calico KOA mentioned, "Clean facilities and fit the need for the night," highlighting the importance of hygiene in camping.
          • Friendly Staff: Good customer service can make a trip more enjoyable. A reviewer at Newberry Mountain RV Park said, "The reception was very nice," which can enhance your camping experience.

          What you should know:

          • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Owl Canyon Campground, have minimal facilities. A camper warned, "The road to get there isn’t paved, it’s all dirt/sand," so be prepared for rough access.
          • Noise Levels: Campgrounds near highways, such as Barstow-Calico KOA, can be noisy. One visitor noted, "The interstate is loud, so it did impact a good night's sleep."
          • Crowded on Weekends: Popular spots can fill up quickly. A camper at Sawtooth Canyon Campground mentioned, "We arrived at 10:30 on a Friday night and it was only 35 degrees out and we still got the very last spot."

          Tips for camping with families:

          • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A family-friendly spot like Calico Ghost Town offers events like egg hunts on holidays, as noted by a camper who said, "On Easter they have an egg hunt divided by children's age groups."
          • Pack Essentials: Bring your own supplies, especially toilet paper. A visitor at Afton Canyon Campground advised, "I'd advise bringing toilet paper!"
          • Choose the Right Time: Consider going during the week for a quieter experience. A camper at Sawtooth Canyon Campground mentioned, "The second night was a Sunday. Everyone moved out and it was much quieter."

          Tips from RVers:

          • Check Road Conditions: Some campgrounds have rough access roads. A reviewer at Owl Canyon Campground warned, "Nearly 5 miles of either hard washboard dirt road or loose sand."
          • Look for Full Hookups: Campgrounds like Newberry Mountain RV Park offer full hookups, which can be a lifesaver. A camper noted, "We had full hookups and check-in was easy."
          • Be Mindful of Weather: The desert can get hot, so plan accordingly. A visitor at Sawtooth Canyon Campground said, "Recommend this as a winter, early spring or late fall."

          Camping near Yermo, California, has its perks and challenges, but with the right preparation, it can be a memorable experience for everyone.

          Frequently Asked Questions

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

            According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Yermo, CA is BLM Barstow - Dispersed Camp Area with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

            TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Yermo, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.