Best Dispersed Camping in Oregon

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Oregon

523 Reviews of 210 Oregon Campgrounds

• 

  Mark F.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 12, 2021

  Historic Clackamas Ranger Station - Dispersed Camping - Roadside

  Convenient, free roadside site near trails, lakes, & meadow in Mt Hood NF

  I was running in an ultramarathon race in September in the Mt Hood National Forest and all of the local campgrounds managed by PGE around Timothy Lake were closed due to the end of the season.  I was able to use map layers in The Dyrt PRO to identify where I was within National Forest boundaries and was able to confirm with local officials that I was in a free, dispersed camping zone. So, using the map layers and the search function on The Dyrt I looked for an area near the race start at the Historic Clackamas Ranger Station to park my RV for a 2 night off-grid stay.  The location was a wide gravel area on the side of the road that allowed for enough space to park, put out my awning, set up some chairs and a propane fire pit (no live campfires - propane only) while being within a few hundred yards of the Ranger Station.  There was room to walk along the road on the shoulder and you are very close walk to the Historic Clackamas Ranger Cabin with a beautiful meadow view, the Joe Graham Horse Camp, and just a couple of mile drive from Timothy Lake.  Clackamas Lake Campground was nearby as well with many accessible miles of hikable trails, including access to the Pacific Crest Trail, for hikers of all levels. There was some smoke from local wildfires but that went away as the fall rains arrived that weekend.  If you are looking for a place to park your RV near all of these amazing views and experiences this free, dispersed camping site worked great for me and my family for a couple of nights.

• 

  Jacob D.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 5, 2025

  Crooked River National Grasslands Dispersed Camping

  Open and calm

  Open grounds away from everything. There was a dirt square right off the dirt road we parked in. The only noise was the power-lines close by, which weren’t bad. Decent stargazing and had no issues. Just a little muddy and a little clearance on your car would be helpful. Really close to the highway. It’s all free dispersed camping so there is no development besides the dirt road

• 

  Kevin L.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 9, 2020

  Kevin's Mt Hood OG

  Dispersed Camping - Get away from it all

  This is a dispersed camping spot in the Mt.Hood National Forest that is free --- from both campground payment and people. It's an old forest road off the main gravel road that has been blockaded and closed down, giving you a wide open area that gets sun, mixed with good tree coverage from the wind. 

  The spot is flat and great for an RV, van or trailer. It's just a 100 meters off the main gravel road where the old forest road is dug out/blockaded from cars getting through. 

  We parked and camped right there. Or, if you want even more solitude, park at the blockade and walk 3/4 of a mile to the end of the forest road strip for some tent camping. Not sure if that is needed as I think we only heard/saw a few car drive by the entire time (on a beautiful August weekend). 

  Love this place. Happy to share it with others. If you are looking for some dispersed camping in the summer that's not a far drive from Portland, this spot is for you. If it's full, there are a half dozen to a dozen other dispersed camping spots along this gravel road between Frog Lake Campground and Clear Creek Crossing Campground. Enjoy.

• 

  aaron S.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 29, 2023

  Owyhee-Dispersed

  Beautiful but boisterous.

  Our site was located right off the road along the river. The views of the canyon were spectacular and our site was about a 5 minute walk along the road to Snively Hot Springs. Amazing backdrop for free dispersed camping. HOWEVER, the clientele around us wasn’t so idyllic. We were surrounded by loud campers that were partying and yelling well past 11 PM (most of the noise was coming from the hot springs). Cars were coming and going all night (Wednesday) so it was hard to get a peaceful night’s rest. To top it off, we witnessed our neighbor get into a verbal altercation with some interlopers who were fishing near his tent. He was very aggressive, threatening them with a large log and shouting expletive loaded threats at them….all in front of my 7 and 4 year old daughter. It was a bit freaky. I’d give the location 5 stars, the the experience 1 star. If you manage to hit it in a down time when you can get some solitude, this area would be hard to beat.

  On a side note, we checked out the hot springs in the morning. They were cool, but again the experience was tainted by the amount of trash and litter around the fringes of the hot springs from partying the night before.

• 

  Quinn Z.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 29, 2020

  Elk River "Stony Beach" Dispersed Camping

  Wonderful and free dispersed camping right on the river.

  I stumbled on this site accidentally back in early August when en-route to some of the official campgrounds on the Elk River that were just a bit further down the road. Wasn't too impressed with those, so on the way back toward Port Orford I decided to pull off at this spot to see what might be found as you can find dispersed camping spots up and down the river. So glad I did.

  The area is a large stony beach, hence the name I made up when I created this listing. It's good for cars and smaller campers / RVs. I'm not sure big RVs would be good for this setting. The dirt path from the main road down to the beach is very short but a bit steep and with some big dips when I was there so very low-clearance vehicles might have an issue getting in and out. For tents, the beach would likely be uncomfortable given its rockiness, but that's OK because there are a few places just off the beach that have dirt and tree-cover and are perfect for tent camping. I found a great spot with good shade, a well-made stone firepit, and an easy place to hang my hammock. Loved it so much I decided to hunker down for four days and just settle in.

  The river is crystal clear and was refreshing in August. It gets deep on the left side of the beach area so you can properly swim if you want to (see my silly "let's test out my new GoPro" video to see what I mean). That area is popular with locals for day-use so you'll often see more people during the day then at night. Only had a few other campers staying the nights, and we had enough space between us. Privacy wasn't an issue. No toilets though, so you'll need to get creative with that.

  For camp fires, make sure to check the local regulations. When I was there they had a burn ban and the forestry guys came through somewhat regularly to check. They will ticket you if you break the rules. $250 fine I believe.

  The drive to Port Orford, the closest town, is about 30 minutes each way. Not too bad, but if you want to settle in and not move for a while, you'll want to stock up. No cell phone reception either, at least for me on Verizon, but I got to the point where I really appreciated that. This is a damn fine spot to really unplug. That said, there are some great hikes around Port Orford (check out Humbug Mountain if you want a proper workout) so there are more reasons than just supply runs to go out and return.

  All in all a phenomenal free dispersed camp site that I would 100% recommend and return to.

• 

  Tia A.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 21, 2024

  Terrebonne West Camp Dispersed

  Nice and Peaceful

  EDIT: We had a park ranger stop by and inform us that this location is closed to passenger vehicles. No passenger vehicles are allowed past the boulders. We are currently parked at the one and only camp slot that passenger vehicles are allowed, so this is a 99% dispersed camping location that you have to walk to your camp site location. The Park Ranger also reminded me that all BLM land is a 14-day stay for recreational camping only, and if you are living out of your RV, you are liable to be harassed more often then others.

  Original Review: We parked in a space close to the main road. Minus the sounds from it, the place is very peaceful. There's lots of sage bushes, and trees are plenty but not clustered. There is a lot of wildlife in the area if the animal bones are anything to judge by. There are a lot of ant colonies and other burrowing creatures in the area as well. If you choose to walk off designated paths, watch your step, or you might end up in a shallow hole like I did. Some spots are more solar friendly than others, but none of the trees are overbearingly tall to completely block out the ability for it. Flies aren't too bad compared to other places, and honestly, I'm not sure if the ones we are dealing with are from here or left over from our 1 night stay at another location. The river is only a shortish walk away, and field mice do live in some of the boulders in the area.

• 

  Charyl B.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 1, 2020

  Oregon Badlands Dispersed

  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.

• 

  allison W.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 17, 2022

  Southern Elkhorn Mtn/Powder River Basin Area

  Huge and diverse area

  Boondocking is easy with a camper van or tent setup in this national forest area, but it’s hard to make a generalization that covers this vast collection of campgrounds and areas. It earns a good review at the end of the day for being conveniently located and hassle free; you can always find a decent spot up around the bend and it’s the right mix of privacy and tranquility while being reasonable close to civilization if calamity strikes.

• F

  Fu yang J.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 28, 2022

  Owyhee-Dispersed

  Amazing views! Sunset to sunrise

  Was driving thru to seattle from the Midwest. My last stop! Easy to find. No signal and no fires allowed due to BLM land. Was a brisk 12° in mid/late November. A few campers. If you have an off road vehicle- it’s great to climb up some hills to find the perfect spot!

• 

  Fred S.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 2, 2024

  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!

• 

  Ariel & John W.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 14, 2020

  Siuslaw National Forest Dispersed Camping

  Remote, wild, beautiful

  This is for dispersed camping in the Siuslaw NF off Forest Road 55, off 101. Turn into 55 from 101 between Thor’s Well and Devil’s Churn. There is a FS paid campground (Cape Perpetua Campground) right off FS 55.

  If you follow 55 about 10 miles in, there are lots of established boondocking spots at around 4000 elevation. Additionally there are unmapped logging roads which can also be explored for camping.

  Scenery is spectacular, lots of wildlife, deer, elk, coyote, and amazing old growth forests. No amenities of any kind, no cell service.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 27, 2021

  Hogback Road Dispersed

  Free camping near Adel

  As we were driving on along Highway 140 near Adel, it was getting dark and we needed a place to camp overnight.  I used PRO map layers to navigate a little way up Hogback Road / CR 3-10 toward Plush and found this handy turnout on BLM land.  The night sky with Milky Way was amazing and we didn't hear any traffic during the night.  In the morning, we awoke to a beautiful sunrise and sounds of migrating birds taking flight from their nighttime stopover at (mostly dried up) Crump Lake, across the street.  We also enjoyed watching a herd of Bighorn sheep grazing by the side of the road.  This site was free and fine for one night if you're in the area, but don't expect any privacy or amenities.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 11, 2021

  Hyatt Reservoir BLM Dispersed

  Loud and Poopy

  Not far from Ashland and right past the Hyatt Lake Resort are some dispersed spots on BLM land near the lake. The lake level is very low so at this time you could drive quite close to it but it gets really muddy so watch out because it looks grassy and deceivingly dry. 

  There is road noise but quiets down at night. 

  Also there is a large flock of geese that honk all day and night and there is goose poop everywhere! 

  The site we stayed at had a stone fire pit and not very level but we made it work. It is a good spot for a night or 2 and we would stay here again if passing through. There are no amenities so bring water and pack in and out all trash. The resort nearby has a restaurant and small store. No service from ATT and TMobile but Verizon had 1-2 bars of LTE roaming.

• 

  Sean S.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 3, 2021

  Deschutes National Forest Dispersed Camping Spot - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

  Close to Bend - full bars

  Great dispersed camping spot, close to Bend with full cell service. 25 mins to jump into Bend for breakfast on the way back to Portland. Loud Coyotes.

• 

  Alyse L.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 8, 2023

  North Thomason Meadows

  Wildflowers, raptors, beautiful views at the top of Imnaha Canyon

  I recommend this section of Wallowa-Whitman NF Rd 46 (4600) between Thomason Meadow Guard Station and Buckhorn Lookout because it is grazed less than surrounding areas, and thus has more plant diversity--i.e. great WILDFLOWER BLOOM in the spring. At 5000 feet, June to early July is a peak bloom time.

  This is the top of the Imnaha River breaks, and you can see fully down into the BEAUTIFUL canyonlands of the Imnaha and Snake. Birdwatching was good for us out here too, especially raptors. One of the trailheads to the historic Nez Perce Nee -Me-Poo Trail is near this "Camp-1" dispersed spot.*

  *One of our maps calls the marked spot "FSR 46 Camp-1," but the dispersed camp sites are all along NF Rd 46 from here north to Buckhorn.

  The drive up to this area is well-maintained gravel, and an SUV with decent tires can do it. (We did it with a truck hauling a toy-hauler trailer). Bring all the water and supplies and tools you need--this area is REMOTE.

  Take Crow Creek Rd off of Hwy 82 (btwn Enterprise and Joseph). All is paved until your intersection with Zumwalt Road, where you veer R to stay on Zumwalt (aka Zumwalt-Buckhorn Rd). It's gravel after that intersection.

  Follow signs to Zumwalt Prairie or Buckhorn Lookout.

  Crossing over Zumwalt Prairie is a GORGEOUS drive. The Nature Conservancy has their Zumwalt Prairie Preserve here, and it's a great side trip from the camp spot.

  This section of NF-46 road is extremely quiet. Only the occasional ranch vehicle travels through. In fall this is a popular camp area for hunters.

  I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because of zero water, zero data, the ecosystem/soil that has been abused in the past (not wilderness), the 50-minute drive to WiFi/ restaurant/ water refill/ black water dump. But if I was comparing primitive camping to primitive camping, this would be a 5 of 5.

  I would go back here (in late spring or early fall) in a heartbeat.

• R

  Ron G.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 14, 2024

  Zigzag River Camp

  Side of the road camping?

  These coordinates get you the Kiwanis camp, other than that I wouldn't say a great dispersant camping spot, area is nice though.

• 

  Ed E.

  Legend

  

  May. 22, 2018

  Owyhee River - Below Dam - Owyhee Dam Park

  Trophy Brown Trout Fishery!!!

  If you enjoy Fly Fishing for Brown Trout, this place is awesome. There is dispersed camping all along the river below the dam. It is very rugged, but there are amenities for camping. Just follow Owyhee Lake Rd along the river and you will find spaces to set up your tent or RV. It is a bit deserty, so beware of snakes. You will find quite a few places before the tunnel. There are some places for RVs after the tunnel as well. But there are quite a few places to set up tents. There are some J-Jons along the stretch of river with camping spots near them.

• K

  Kaelin P.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 23, 2019

  Deschutes National Forest Dispersed Camping Spot - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

  Free camping

  It’s free camping so who can complain! Pull off from the main road onto a dirt single lane road. Many “campsites” along the road. No amenities. Quiet place.

• Z

  Zezi D.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 3, 2022

  NF 4610 Roadside Dispersed Camping

  Big Burn Rd

  Dispersed National Forest

• A

  Allison

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2021

  Sisters, Oregon - Dispersed Camping

  Great spot!

  Great spot for dispersed camping! Very secluded and quiet. There are lots of spots. The dirt road getting to the different roads to turn on is a little bumpy, so we took it slow. Definitely would stay here again!

• M

  Mark W.

  Guide

  

  Apr. 7, 2024

  Peterson Ridge Road Dispersed

  Peterson Ridge Road dispersed

  14 day free camping

• 

  Braden M.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 13, 2022

  Steelhead Falls Trailhead & Campground

  Favorite type of terrain to camp in

  Beautiful trip. Breathtaking drives and not hard to find with given coordinates. Dirt roads are not too hard to drive but during the dry months it is extremely dusty. The campground on the trailhead is nice but a little too close for dispersed camping. Trail is not too long to a waterfall. You can fish and jump off the rocks into the water. We stayed one night at the designated camp site but ended driving about 10 minutes down a dirt road next the the campground entrance that is actual dispersed camping. Really enjoyed that spot with a trail down to the river and 2 drive in spots and multiple walk in campsites along the cliffs. 

• 

  Kelda C.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 17, 2024

  Cyrus Horse Camp

  Nice but Rough Road

  Great secluded dispersed camping. It was obviously meant for folks with horses, but I was the only one there, so there were no horses in sight. The road getting there entailed about 5 miles of bumpy, windy dirt roads. Not totally worth it for a one night stay in a van, but might be for a 4wd car.

  GPS: 44.448114, -121.102884

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 27, 2023

  Lunch Creek

  For Cars and Tiny Rigs

  Sweet little spot for smaller vehicles. We walked along the path to check it out before attempting it in our 26ft class c and I’m glad we did. The path was too narrow for us, and the road rose up a bit too high along the middle. A smaller vehicle shouldn’t have a problem. There’s a nice little clearing at the end of the path right along the little creek. Very peaceful and green when we came here in July. 

  At the main road there IS a spot large enough for our RV (that’s where we parked when we got out to walk to the creek spot) but we decided not to stay the night there. It wasn’t flat at all and a little too noisy and close to the main road. But it would definitely do in a pinch- very easy to get to- just off the main road to the right. There’s a fire pit marking the spot. 

  Zero cell reception in this entire area for verizon and ATT. No amenities here, this is a FS dispersed camping spot so please keep the area clean and pack out your waste.

• 

  Heather C.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 7, 2017

  Moraine Lake Dispersed Camping

  Beautiful views of Broken Top and South Sister

  Wonderful backcountry camping accessed by a mostly uphill 2 mile hike. You are surrounded by the peaks of South Sister and Broken Top and are welcomed each morning and night with the gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. These camping sites make for a perfect spot to catch some rest before making the hike up to the summit of South Sister. The lake sits below the Lewis glacier and, like many alpine lakes, the lake stays frozen for several months out of the year and the trail can be packed with snow as late as August.

  Campsites are located above the lake on two sides and are under tree cover for those rainy nights. To reach the sites you will need to take a right at 1.5 miles in on the trail. There is no potable water nearby. Pack in and out all waste and everything you will need for the night. Make sure to bring bug spray as the mosquitoes love that chilly lake.

• 

  Laura M.

  Legend

  

  May. 18, 2022

  Thousand Springs Sno-Park

  Very Handy

  These sno parks that are available for boondocking throughout Oregon are so handy!  Sno park is maintained by the Rogue Snowmobilers.  Free boon docking during off season (May to October). Otherwise you need a permit (November to April).

  There is a huge lot that would fit many RVs, easy turnaround and plenty of room to spread out.  It is right on 62 so you'll hear cars go by but traffic was really light in May, and quiets down significantly overnight.  

  In mid May there was a ton of snow at Crater Lake but only minimal snow on the ground here, and the weather was cool but not freezing, and was above freezing temps overnight.

  There are restrooms and a really nice warming room, with firewood and wall plugs (that I didn't test).  I didn't see any garbage bins (though I didn't look inside the bathrooms).

  Zero cell service anywhere in this entire area.  Crater Lake visitor center had good wifi for free though.

• 

  Sarah R.

  Traveler

  

  Dec. 8, 2021

  Black Pine Dispersed Camping

  Spacious and remote

  We drove around looking for a place to boondock near Sisters for what felt like forever, but all the remote sites we planned on were taken. When we arrived at the Black Pine dispersed area, it was surprisingly empty for how busy the rest of the area was. 

  The sites were huge with enormous fire rings and would be ideal for groups. We just had one small van, but there was one other large party with multiple vehicles and a large camper van, and they fit comfortably in one site. 

  The actual sites are not very forested or private, but it still felt secluded since only two of probably 10 sites were taken. Definitely recommend this area, especially for groups!