Best Dispersed Camping in Oregon
Looking for the best dispersed campgrounds in Oregon? Dispersed camping gets you off the grid so you can disconnect from technology. These scenic and easy to access Oregon campsites are perfect for dispersed campers.
Best Dispersed Sites in Oregon (211)
1. Mount Thielsen Wilderness
Diamond Lake, Oregon19 Reviews•86 Photos•621 SavesMt. Thielsen Wilderness encompasses 54,914 acres and runs along the crest of the Cascades 80 miles east of Roseburg and just north of Crater Lake National Park. Elevations range from 5,000' to the 9,182' summit of Mount Thielsen. Born of the same volcanic activity that created Crater Lake, this is the land of fire and ice.
Much of the Mount Thielsen Wilderness is made up of high alpine forests and open meadows. The terrain is moderate but becomes very steep toward the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Timberline stands at about 7,200 feet, just above a forest of mountain hemlock and fir mixed with whitebark pine. Lodgepole pine dominates the vegetation at lower elevations. The many streams in the area carry a substantial amount of snowmelt in spring.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail winds through the Mount Thielsen Wilderness for 26 miles along the summit of the Cascade Range. For a more serene wilderness adventure, hike into Lake Lucille or Maidu Lake on the North Umpqua Trail #1414. The trail passes over deep pumice that was deposited when Mt. Mazama erupted to form Crater Lake. The famed North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River begins at Maidu on its long trek to the Pacific Ocean.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
2. Oregon Badlands Dispersed
Bend, Oregon19 Reviews•50 Photos•414 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
- Alcohol
3. Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site
Fort Klamath, Oregon18 Reviews•61 Photos•636 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Dispersed
- Trash
- Picnic Table
$11 - $14 / night
4. Painted Hills Dispersed
Mitchell, Oregon15 Reviews•88 Photos•725 SavesDispersed camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) lands without a permit, but it is recommended that campers obtain a map that shows current property boundaries. Please contact the BLM , (541) 573-4400 or (541) 416-6700, or the USFS, (541) 575-3000 or (541) 416-6500, for more information. While camping is not allowed within the three units of the monument, there are many nearby campgrounds. Some have full service amenities, some are quiet and remote, some are in the forest, and some are right on the John Day River.
- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
5. South Lake
Beaver, Oregon16 Reviews•28 Photos•787 SavesAt an elevation of 2400 feet, this area offers dispersed camping along the northern edge of the lake. The lake is stocked periodically with rainbow trout. There is access for launching non-motorized boats. A vault toilet is provided but no potable water. It is also the eastern trailhead of the Pioneer – Indian Trail.
- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- ADA Access
- Dispersed
- Trash
6. Steelhead Falls Trailhead & Campground
Terrebonne, Oregon14 Reviews•46 Photos•468 Saves- Pets
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Toilets
- Alcohol
7. Hult Pond
Blachly, Oregon14 Reviews•47 Photos•335 SavesThis site, sometimes referred to as Horton Lake, Hult Marsh, Hult Reservoir, or Mill Pond, was developed in the early 1900s for logging operations. The reservoir and surrounding wetland is about 40 acres and supports a rich diversity of wildlife, fish, and plant species. This recreation site is popular for activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and scenic driving.
- Pets
- Fires
- ADA Access
- Tents
- Dispersed
- Picnic Table
8. Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
Tillamook State Forest, Oregon12 Reviews•50 Photos•641 SavesDispersed camping is allowed in Oregon State Forests year round. There are no fee or permit requirements. Campers are required to adhere to ODF regulations regarding placement of campsites, campfires, sanitation, and stay limits. Campfires and charcoal barbeques are not allowed in dispersed campsites during the Regulated Use portion of fire season. There are no maps for dispersed campsites.
- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
9. Elliott State Forest Dispersed
North Bend, Oregon12 Reviews•22 Photos•523 Saves- Pets
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
10. Sisters, Oregon - Dispersed Camping
Sisters, Oregon10 Reviews•16 Photos•259 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Oregon
511 Reviews of 211 Oregon Campgrounds
Nicholas G.
Guide
Burma Pond BLM
I was the only one there
I camped one night right off the water. Quiet and clean. I slept great. Had 1 bar of att. Google maps took me right to it
- NNoah Y.
Scout
Redwood Bar Dispersed Camping
Favorite site near the coast
This camp site is amazing. 10/10. Nothing fancy like bathrooms, but a beautiful rocky terrain! Me and my girlfriend tent camped here and although the ground was rocky we managed to pitch the tent just fine. The road leading to the site is long, flat, relatively slim, and windy. A few cars were pulled off on our way to the side camping at pullouts. The site is right off the road but still felt secluded, we heard maybe 1 or 2 cars each night we stayed here. Easily accessible for most cars, my girls Nissan versa managed to climb the very slight incline with slight loss of traction out of the site and onto the road so. Overall great spot right next to the coast
- Seth M.Guide
Forrest Road 280 near Humbug
Many spots, a bit exposed
At least 3 spots near or right off the road. Good road. Very windy. Secluded.
- Seth M.Guide
Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping
Great views & secluded
Great little spot. Watch your GPS and use some dead reckoning with the topographic map. There is a little side road that gets a bit narrow and then opens into a beautiful spot.
Picked up a small bag of someone else’s trash. Don’t leave trash in the woods — pick up after yourself
Road is fine and easy. AWD is nice but isn’t necessary if the road is fairly dry.
- NNudistGirl M.
Traveler
Oregon Badlands Dispersed
This was a great place to be nude
I was nude here for a week in July last year. Great place to stay and not far from town. Wasn't too crowded and my neighbors didn't seem to mind. I had a great time hiking nude on some of the trails as they weren't too crowded. I'll definitely be back again.
Fred S.
Legend
Succor Creek State Natural Area Dispersed
Beautiful view of Succor Creek canyon and surrounding hills
Free. Coordinates: 43.43811,-117.11743. Camped here at the end of Sept, 2024. Located at the southern end of Succor Creek State Natural Area, close to the boundary with BLM land. 1/10th of a mile from Succor Creek Road. Access from Succor Creek Road is okay; rocky and eroded in a few places on an uphill drive. The site is located on a loop where the access track ends at a livestock fenced. You pass another large dispersed site on the way up. The dirt site is not quite level. Lots of cow patties. Surrounded by grass and sagebrush. Site has a rock fire ring. Open to sky, no shade; solar recharging and Starlink possible. It may be possible to set up a tent in the grass. There is a view of Succor Creek canyon. Fantastic views of surrounding mountains. No hiking trails, but one can explore that area beyond the fence and get additional views of the canyon and creek. No cell service. Very remote location. Except for a few cows and coyotes, very quiet area. I loved this spot!
- MMike S.Scout
FSR 4610 Dispersed
Decent dry camp in trees, no amenities
Quiet, close to Bend, numerous sites in Ponderosa forest.
- Kenny L.Scout
NF2656 - Mt. Hood Dispersed Camping
Great Spot!
Such an awesome find! The first campsite is small and perfect for a couple tents. The second site could easily fit 3 or 4 tents and has plenty of additional space for parking, kitchen set-up, etc… both sites also have really nice fire pits. Also don’t let the Trillium Lake camp hosts scare you. They told us the gravel road to access the sites was “rough as hell” and were completely wrong. Nothing more than a few potholes. Any vehicle could make the trek.
Daniel M.Traveler
Juntura Hot Springs Dispersed
Easy and peaceful spot
Getting there from the coordinates on this app was easy, although maps said I would have to walk I was easily able to drive a small trailer in all the way back. Nice open spot with lots of places to park, was a bit worried how open it was but there were a few other campers all spread out so it just felt homey.
- SSophia S.Traveler
Sisters, Oregon - Dispersed Camping
Easy, beautiful, free
Maybe 15min outside bend, a little hard to see the turn off in the dark, but once we did it was easy to find a spot and set up camp! We only stayed one night and were car camping so it was perfect!
- JJustin L.Guide
Whiskey Jack Dispersed Campsite
Close to traveled road, dusty!
Ok site. Not especially scenic, but good outdoor space with lots of owl and bug noise at night.
Right next to road. Cars come by somewhat regularly, at some speed, kicking up dust.
There is an open spot suitable for solar and starlink.
Jeffrey P.Guide
Lightning Springs Backcountry Dispersed Campsite
Quiet Spot with Incredibe Views
After parking right off the trail head and hiking down about 0.8 miles, you have three “established” spots to chose from. I say established in quotations because they are marked with plaques but are all the way rustic sites. The middle sight is definitely the biggest and is where me and four others stayed for two nights. This is a very busy national park in the summer months but going the first week of October (as suggested by the ranger) made it so that we were the only ones in this area. We did have a couple backpackers stop for the night at the first site but other than that is was really quite. The lightning springs trail itself is incredibly long and we only went to where water was flowing so that we could fill up. We opted to hike out the first day and then drive to the Watchman Lookout Trail head and do that one first. It was only 0.8 miles long but I believe a 400 foot elevation change. Absolutely incredibly view. After that we drove north and did the Cleetwood Cove Trail which was around a mile with a 600 foot elevation change. This allows you to get right next to the water. Both hikes we semi challenging but well worth it. While the backcountry campsites do not allow fires, there are other location around Rim Village that have established sites that you can. When we went it was a little colder and windy but the tree coverage offered some shielding from that. There are plenty of other longer hikes as well in the area and other established sites if you are looking to have a more traditional camping experience. The Rim Village center was open and we were able to get a meal and visit the gift shop as well as go farther south and get our NPP stamped. Definitely recommend checking the NP website to see what is opened and closed as well as fire bans. We were lucky that the entire loop was open and got to drive all the way around the second day. While not directly at these sites, there are trash and bathroom areas really close. Really all around incredible views and an incredible weekend stay.
Nick J.Traveler
Aneroid Lake Backcountry Dispersed Campsite
Great Backcountry High Alpine Lake
Aneroid Lake is one of my favorite locations in the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The dispersed camping for backpackers is on the North side of the lake, whereas the South side is private property (Camp Halton). The lake is stocked every few years with rainbow trout, and has a good supply of brook trout.
The water is very cold but worth the dip if it's a hot summer day.
- JJustin L.Guide
Dispersed Rock Quary
Rock quarry = shooting range
This is an active shooting range, so if you're looking for peace and quiet or a spot that is not littered with pulls of trash, you've come to the wing place.
On the upside, when there is not shooting, the quarry is an ok view (if you can get past the litter), and there is endless space and open skies for solar or starlink. It's also easy to reach and rig friendly, but not far from main highway for access.
- MMayre J.Guide
China Hat Staging Area Rd 18
Camp at OHV Trailhead
Nice open spot with some shade. Quiet and close to town. May get busy during day with riders. A good parking spot.
- JJustin L.Guide
Forest Road 960 by Pacific Crest Trail PCT
Views in all directions, multiple spots
Great spot. Go all the way to the end of the road to reach the top. There is ample room to turn around, in spite of a step climb.
Was able to pull 15' trailer up with 4wd.
Wide open sky for solar and starlink.
Mid 60s f during day in early October. 40 f at night.
- MMayre J.Guide
China Hat Rd Dispersed Campsite
A spot.
Long term campers and trash. Some interesting folks for sure. Prob harmless but camp at own risk.
- GGarrett B.Guide
Thousand Springs Sno-Park
Very good spot
Large, paved parking lot. Plenty of room for big rigs and vault toilets. Some road noise, but nothing that bothered us. Great location for access to Glacier NP and a small town with a few restaurants was not far away.
Huge thanks to Rogue Snowmobilers - there was Wi-Fi available while we were there, which helped out a lot!
- GGarrett B.Guide
White River West Sno-Park
Good camp site, but hard to level
This is a large, paved parking lot with a stream nearby. Has a good view of Mt. Hood and vault toilets, so that's a positive. The downside is that it's not level. Trailers shouldn't have a problem, but even with several blocks under our tires, our 39ft Class A was still un-level.
- JJustin L.Guide
Dispersed wikiup camping
Dusty and featureless, but flat
Only about 70 yards from main road. Super fine dust, everything will be dirty.
Tall trees so no good vantage point for starlink or solar.
No water features right at site.
- JJustin L.Guide
Sparks Lake Recreation Area
Perfection!
Amazing views. Access to water. Gorgeous sunsets. Not far from toilet if you're up for a walk, or have wheels. Firepits. This site has it all.
Room to back in 15' trailer to camp or of.
Early October, 70 f during day 30 f at night.
- SSabrina V.Guide
Great Meadow Sno-Park
Just a large empty lot with bike trail access
There’s nothing here except the highway but you can drive down the bike trail and stay there as well, just so your further away from the lot and the road.
- DDale R.Scout
Sparks Lake Recreation Area
Nice spots near Spark Lake
There are several spots off of the road to the Spark Lake Day Use area. The road is very rough, but taken slow does not require a 4wd.
Rachele V.Traveler
Crooked River National Grasslands Dispersed Camping
Only a mile out of town
Super easy to find and nobody around. Easy to jump back on the hwy in the morning.
- MMayre J.Guide
Mt Hebo Lake Dispersed Campsite
One free spot across from lake
One spot with its own driveway. A nice flat and private spot. A legit pack in pack out spot. Too bad there is trash everywhere and a big puddle on one side. If you have a rake and shovel then may be a good one day or 14 day spot after a few hours of TLC. Nice trails for walking.
- MMayre J.Guide
Mt Hebo Horse Trail Dispersed CampSite
Camp across from Horse Trailhead
Coordinates 45.230277,-123.777780. Across street from Horse Trailhead about half way up Mt Hebo. A good flat spot with nice trails around. Too much trash and glass left at the site though.
- MMayre J.Guide
Deschutes River Overlook Dispersed Camping
Not ideal spot for car parking
Its a big lot area with a view of the river close to the dam. Theres a day use area and resort campground down the road which I asked the hosts there about the dispersed camping and they gave me an attitude saying that because its a state site that the sheriff may come check to ask me to leave. I told that that made no sense as its on usa owned land but they insisted not to park there. I believe they were just jealous because almost noone was at their campground. The day use area is small and watch for the tire strips. The parking area up the hill (at these coordinates) is a bit trashy but its a good spot for walk or bike.
Guide to Oregon
Oregon offers a wealth of opportunities for dispersed camping, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to immerse themselves in nature without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of amenities, these spots are perfect for a weekend getaway or an extended stay.
Top Activities While Free Camping in Oregon
- Enjoy hiking and breathtaking views at Mount Thielsen Wilderness, where you can explore numerous trails and enjoy the serene environment.
- Experience the beauty of the Painted Hills while camping at Painted Hills Dispersed, which offers easy access to scenic trails and unique geological formations.
- Take a short drive to Crater Lake from Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site for a day of exploration and stunning views of one of the deepest lakes in the U.S.
Dispersed Campers Should Check Out These Unique Spots
- For a peaceful retreat, South Lake provides a quiet atmosphere with picnic tables and access to beautiful lakeside views.
- If you're looking for a family-friendly environment, Steelhead Falls Trailhead & Campground offers a great base for hiking and enjoying the nearby river.
- Experience the rugged beauty of the Oregon Badlands at Oregon Badlands Dispersed, where you can find solitude and expansive views of the desert landscape.
Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping in Oregon
- Be prepared for bugs, especially at Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site, where mosquitoes can be plentiful during warmer months.
- Bring your own water and supplies, as many spots like Elliott State Forest Dispersed lack amenities such as potable water and trash disposal.
- For those seeking adventure, Tillamook State Forest Dispersed Camping offers numerous trails and scenic views, but be cautious of the rugged roads that may require a high-clearance vehicle.