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Free Camping Collection

Dispersed Camping

Oregon Badlands Dispersed

Oregon Badlands Dispersed, near Bend, Oregon, is a laid-back spot for those who enjoy a more rustic camping experience. This area offers a chance to park wherever you like and soak in the expansive desert views, making it a great choice for a peaceful getaway.

Visitors have noted the lack of amenities, so come prepared with your own water and supplies. The absence of restrooms and trash services means you'll need to practice Leave No Trace principles, but many campers appreciate the quiet and solitude, especially during the early mornings when the wind can whip up some dust. As one camper put it, “It was really windy in the morning and there was lots of dirt in the eyes but otherwise amazing!”

The location is perfect for exploring nearby trails, with stunning views and breathtaking sunsets that campers rave about. Many have enjoyed hiking in the area, and the wide-open spaces provide plenty of room to spread out. One reviewer mentioned, “The views from the campsite were beautiful and the sunsets are breathtaking.”

If you're looking for a chill spot close to Bend, this area is just a short drive away, making it convenient for a quick escape. Whether you're camping in a tent or a camper van, Oregon Badlands Dispersed offers a unique experience for those willing to embrace the simplicity of nature.

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Location

Oregon Badlands Dispersed is located in Oregon

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

43.95149534 N
121.01942097 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Dispersed

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

DISPERSED CAMPING

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.


PERMIT might be REQUIRED

We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Oregon Badlands Dispersed needs a permit.


Reviews

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18 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2024

Awesome Oregon desert

Cool spot, check similar reviews from folks on the Badlands Rock location page.

SiteN/A
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed May. 29, 2024

Not much more than a turnout

The dirt road that used to be popular, which can be seen on satellite, is now blocked with a sign that says "no vehicle access". That leaves a turnout for the trailhead and a small turnout near the formerly accessible gravel lot. So, expect close neighbors.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Mar. 26, 2024

Isolated but avoid on windy days

This was a cool spot, you drive in and just park at whatever spot you want. It was not too busy when we went and we arrived later in the day. There are no bathrooms or water so come prepared. It was really windy in the morning and there was lots of dirt in the eyes but otherwise amazing!

Site3
Month of VisitMarch
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Bree G., March 26, 2024
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Bree G., March 26, 2024
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Bree G., March 26, 2024
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Jan. 6, 2024

Very convenient and pretty peaceful in early May

This proved a convenient spot to connect with some friends who were traveling through the area.  In the pouring rain (early May) there were enough mud puddles in the roads that others had recommended here.  So, we stayed a quick overnight in the parking lot to the Badlands Rock trail heads.  No one else there all night and a few hikers came in the next morning.  We took advantage of a nice hike and then walked around other dispersed camping sites along this gravel road.  There were several spots that looked pretty cool including one here:  

43°57'00.5"N 121°01'02.4"W

Strictly dry camping.  Likely hot and dusty in the summer with OHV's in the area, but the wide expansive views were lovely!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Kelly H., January 6, 2024
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Kelly H., January 6, 2024
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Kelly H., January 6, 2024
Reviewed Feb. 9, 2023

Quiet spot with epic view

Nabbed a nice quiet spot about a mile up the dirt road. The fire ring looked like a bottledrop convention, but I quickly "Molly Maided" the site and was back to camping in no time. (Leave no trace, peeps!) Snow started to fall early in the evening and through the night. Woke up to single digits, but overall it was a perfect overnight getaway just outside of town.

Month of VisitJanuary
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Trevor G., February 9, 2023
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Trevor G., February 9, 2023
  • Trail on the way out.
    Play button icon
Reviewed Jul. 5, 2022

Amazing sunsets

Enjoyed exploring the badlands steps from our camp site. Convenient to many trails. Very quiet and relaxing. Views from camp site were beautiful and the sunsets are breathtaking. Definitely will be coming back again.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 14, 2022

Great, easy spot close to Bend

This was a great spot to disperse camp while visiting Bend. It's only about 20 minutes out of town and is very quiet.

There is lots of space to spread out and trails nearby. You are just off the highway, but we didn't notice much road noise.

The cell service was better closer to Highway 20. 

Be careful of critters getting into your engine bay, though. After a few days I noticed a nest on the engine.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed May. 14, 2022

Chill spot

Fairly accessible dispersed camping just outside of Bend. The roads are easily maneuverable in a Subaru.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Jan. 9, 2022

Perfect camping sites near Bend

Close to Hwy 20. Can see traffic lights at dark but still quiet. Gorgeous night skies. Occasional coyotes barking. Lots of space between camp sites.

Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Dave B., January 9, 2022
Reviewed Sep. 28, 2021

Rad place to post up

We loved this spot, it was a perfect place to stay with our camper van. Easy to find in the dark and the roads, paved & dirt, were easy to maneuver. We were pleasantly surprised with the open deserty views when we woke in the morning. Nice and close to Bend, too. Will definitely stay here again.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Sadie P., September 28, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 24, 2021

First time here

Although the previous reports said road went back for miles, this one this time was closed at the Rock quarry. There are still parking lots and a few places other than the dirt road however, and was pretty nice location. Quiet, coyotes and stars!

Sitetrailhead parking lot 1 mile in
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Randell C., September 24, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2021

Road noise, but perfect otherwise

Needed a place to camp last minute and this was perfect. Near a pretty major highway, so you can occasionally hear cars and trucks, but the site itself was quiet. Sites are nestled between different rock formations, so it's quite easy to have some privacy from your neighbors. Full night sky. Hiked the WSA up the road the next morning, very neat and special place. No amenities, so you'll need to pack it in and pack it out.

Sitedrive up campsite off the road
Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2021

Great dispersed camping

I camped here with a group of work friends and we had plenty of space and privacy. Some of us pitched tents, some slept in the open, and others camped in cars/vans/trucks. It was perfect for our needs. Close to Bend and not too far from Smith Rock. We did see a couple scorpions.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2021

Quiet

Our 26 foot class c had no issues and the dirt road going from the hardball to the sites would be easy for even bigger rvs. There are plenty of turnarounds. The dirt road keeps going for about a mile or two, with sites all along it, eventually splits into two east west running roads, both keep going for about another mile or so with plenty of sites along both. If you go that far up it gets really rocky so I wouldn't recommend and rv. Any campsites along the first 2 miles of the dirt road seem pretty level and big enough for bigger rigs. Passed the fork looks best for 4x4s and tent campers. You can kind of hear sounds from the highway, but at night it's dead quiet. Sites are also spread out enough that you can find a spot without being in direct view of someone's rig

Sitebig pull thru spot about 500m off the hardball
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed May. 16, 2021

Pretty cool place right outside of bend

Stopped here on my way up north, and was not disappointed. There are quite a bit of spots down the road after the no shooting sign. Some closer are easy to access while others further on can be quite challenging with how many rocks are sticking a foot out of the ground and then the roads start to slant at points as well. I only know that because I walked the whole badlands from the sign to both ends where one ends with a cliff, and the other ends up at some off limits industry zone. There were a lot of open spots further on if you can make it passed the rocks.

Some great views so it was worth the walk, and had no problems with neighboring campers either, might be more fun to come back with a bigger car haha

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Trenton S., May 16, 2021
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Trenton S., May 16, 2021
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Trenton S., May 16, 2021
  • (12) View All
Reviewed Oct. 12, 2020

Convenient, gorgeous dispersed site

Close to Bend, easy to get to and find, quiet, views for miles. The dogs loved romping around here. The only drawback was the dust and wind. I was sure equipment was being ripped off the top of our RV roof much of the night, and there were periods of intense dust storms while we were there. Not sure if it is always like that or we just got lucky, but It would have sucked to be in a tent during all of that. Still, really gorgeous panoramic views made it worth all the shaking.

  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Jennifer R., October 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Jennifer R., October 12, 2020
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Jennifer R., October 12, 2020
  • (14) View All
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2020

Nice BLM camping

Pretty standard dispersed camping within the Oregon badlands. Signs for the Badlands are right off the 20 then follow the road straight until you see a dirt turnoff with a sign about no shooting, this will set you right in the correct area. Some rock fire rings, dusty, but nice.

  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Alex P., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Alex P., August 14, 2020
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2020

Great Dispersed Spots

Easy to get too. BLM Land. Many spots in the area. Flat spot for our tent. Our spot already had a fire pit and we definitely made use of it! It was a Great Find! A lil noise from trucks but not a big deal.

  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Charyl B., June 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Charyl B., June 1, 2020
  • Review photo of Oregon Badlands Dispersed by Charyl B., June 1, 2020
  • (4) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the elevation of Oregon Badlands Dispersed?

    Oregon Badlands Dispersed is located at 3593 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Oregon Badlands Dispersed?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Oregon Badlands Dispersed, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Oregon Badlands Dispersed?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is good.