Big Sandy Dam and Reservoir
Great spot for all!
GO! Easy access, good road, and beautiful. Bring your swimsuit!
56 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dispersed camping dominates the landscape around Farson, Wyoming, with several free options concentrated near Big Sandy Reservoir. The area features both established campgrounds and primitive sites on public lands, with Big Sandy Reservoir Recreation Area offering tent and RV camping with basic amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Other options include Big Sandy Dam and Reservoir and White Mountain Road dispersed camping areas, which accommodate both tent and RV camping with minimal facilities. The region's campgrounds typically provide access to fishing, hiking, and water recreation opportunities.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with many dispersed sites requiring high-clearance vehicles to access. Most campgrounds operate seasonally, typically closing during winter months when snow makes access difficult. "There are many types of camping areas with a variety of ground. This beach area was beautiful. We were greeted with a huge herd of sheep one afternoon. Lots of wildlife. Very windy but it's Wyoming; about 11am-dusk," noted one visitor about Big Sandy Reservoir. The 14-day stay limit applies to most BLM lands in the region. Visitors should prepare for limited cell service, no drinking water at most sites, and significant wind exposure typical of Wyoming's high desert environment.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews, with Big Sandy Reservoir sites particularly appreciated for their privacy and water access. Several campers mentioned the excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. According to one visitor, "The stars were amazing. There was a thunderstorm in the distance that made the sky look like a dance party." Wildlife sightings, including sheep herds, are commonly reported. Mosquitoes can be problematic near water, especially during summer months. Campers should be prepared for variable conditions, as some areas may have construction or maintenance underway. The reservoir areas provide good fishing opportunities, though some visitors noted floating algae in certain sections of the lake. Most dispersed sites lack shade, so campers should bring appropriate sun protection during summer visits.
"Very windy but it’s Wyoming; about 11am-dusk. Lots of great rockhounding in the area. BLM land; so 14 day limit. Would definitely return."
"Super private area with great access to the reservoir. We swam most of the afternoon."
"Only stayed a night, got in at 9pm and left around 8am. Peaceful and quiet with no one else around. No mice, just some moths. Had some great views when the sun came up!"
"Really nice view right by the water with the mountains in the distance. Saw lots of birds, pronghorns, horses, and a couple of jack rabbits."
"Warm respite for weary travelers after 3 days of primitive camping and 8 hours crossing the Great Divide Basin desert following in the path of westward emigrant trails."
"With a nice view of a beautiful Wyoming mountain ridge, this is basically a massive RV park for events at the events center."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"I’ve lived near here for years and this weekend was my first visit. The dunes are amazing!! Bring your dirt bike, side by side or other ORV and play your heart out!"
"Results in your campside facing a neighbor campside. Might feel awkward if you are trying to enjoy the outside. The bathrooms looked clean and everything else seems fine."
"It might be right off the freeway in the middle of Wyoming sparseness but it was a pleasure to stay here for the night. Clean facilities and bathroom, laundry room, exercise room."
"Minimal bugs considering we were so close to the water, nice and quiet!"
"Small campground but seems like you could easily pull off and camp nearby if it were full. Pit toilets were clean. No water on site and no stores nearby so make sure to bring your water with you. "
"Very remote location with a primitive, yet beautiful campsite. The only services are a couple of bathrooms, which were nice and clean, otherwise you are on your own."
"We were able to find a level spot with trees around it and an easy walk to the toilet. The toilet was clean and well stocked."
"On the down side there is a lot of glass at this site so stay close to the road. Cool overlook into the town."
"This particular spot is easily accessible, although I couldn't tell how friendly other campers were and you have to drive over sagebrush to really pull off the road if the one or two real pull offs are"
"Easy dirt road access to many camping spots. Att had great service, very windy and some road noise from the interstate. 10/10 would recommend."
"Further on the path, it did get rockier though. The view is so cool."











GO! Easy access, good road, and beautiful. Bring your swimsuit!
Great place to stay. Got everything but work out area
We stopped here for splurge on our way to our destination. By splurge, I mean full hookups and not having to unhook our rig.
It was ok for the price. We had only electric & water. Space was adequate, but we were at the end of a row, so lots of traffic circling us as others checked out in the morning. Plus, one of the employees was riding around in an ATV / Gator (?) and it was so loud it woke us up. An added benefit was the ability to order pizza from the office and have it delivered to the campsite. Not the tastiest, but was good in a pinch.
This location may be better suited for people traveling with kids or families, but was just ok for us.
This is a nice spot and we are the only campers here making it even nicer. We have a Super C and had no difficulty getting in/out and leveling was pretty easy. Yes there is am oil refinery but it’s far off in the distance.
Getting here is hard but there are great dispersed camping along the drive in. I used my friends car and made it but if it’s raining I would suggest all wheel drive cars due to muddy road conditions. I ended up coming here on a Thursday night, car camped at the sandy trail head. The parking lot fills up very fast due to this trailhead being a backpacking location. On Thursday night the parking lot was already full and the street parking was filling up. I, along with a few other people I could see, were car camping, no fire rings but there is a bathroom( no water). Friday night- Saturday night back packed. Sunday afternoon the parking lot was slightly less crowded but maybe 4 parking spots available. My car and supplies in my car were not touched or messed with. I have a camera playing on my car 24/7 and did not see one person around my car besides to walk by.
The pullthru pads are deep and wide that's a big plus, and asphalt. It does have shade trees. Another camper said they have $3 growler mugs of beer. (Nice). The park is clean and seems well taken care of. It is noisy from Interstate-80 but if You Are A Camper you can tune it out.
We arrived here late on a weekday and found lots of open spots. Although, it wasn't always clear where the actual sites were and where the road was. There were quite a few campers set up along the river, and several people fishing.
We were able to find a level spot with trees around it and an easy walk to the toilet.
The toilet was clean and well stocked.
Saw lots of pelicans and other water birds in and near the river.
Very easy access with a good road.
Very quiet and pleasant stay.
This location is at the top of some hills just a few miles from the Green River visitor center. I plugged the waypoint into my phone and Google maps took me right to the spot. There were other obvious spots on the way up. They might have the advantage of less wind.
Sunrise was fantastic. The gorge was to the west and caught that “magic hour” light at sunrise.
This is a fully dispersed site— it’s about ten minutes from Blue Forest if you’re interested in rockhounding for fossilized wood.
We pulled up at 6pm on a Saturday night, and most of the spots were still available.
The entire camp was maintained and clean. There’s a river to fish on and swim in (if you can brave the cold) and a hill to the river which makes it easier to put a boat in.
We had no issues until sunset around 9pm and the amount of gnats that came out was so insane, you could hardly breathe without inhaling a few.
Not mosquitos— gnats.
We had bug nets for our van so it was fine, but it forced an early bedtime. 🤣
Dispersed camping sites near Farson, Wyoming accommodate travelers at elevations around 6,580 feet, creating a high desert camping environment with temperature fluctuations between day and night. The area experiences strong winds, particularly during midday hours, with gusts continuing until dusk in many locations. Most camping areas sit on BLM land surrounding the region's reservoirs and along dirt access roads that range from well-maintained to rough depending on recent weather conditions.
Fishing opportunities: Big Sandy Reservoir offers productive fishing from shore or small watercraft. "The lake is beautiful as well. There are lots of bugs, but overall it was still a great spot for the night," notes a visitor to Big Sandy Reservoir Rec Area.
Rockhounding: The White Mountain area provides excellent opportunities for collecting interesting rocks. According to a camper at White Mountain Road, "The walk along the water was beautiful and we had found some incredible rocks. The sunset and the stars at night are definitely the worth the visit."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife viewing, particularly birds. A camper at Slate Creek Campground reported, "Bird watching was fantastic with dozens of species spotted in one evening." Other visitors have encountered pronghorns, horses, rabbits, and other desert wildlife.
Sunset views: Many campsites offer remarkable sunset vistas over water. A visitor to Big Sandy Reservoir remarked, "Got to the West Campground at dusk. Bugs were swarming. The view of the Wind River range at sunset is gorgeous. Not too many campers."
Easy access: Most camping areas maintain accessible roads for standard vehicles. "We arrived at night and had no troubles finding it. We just drove around the lake to the camping area that was marked right on Google maps," reported one camper at Big Sandy Reservoir Rec Area.
Solitude during weekdays: Campsites typically remain uncrowded on weeknights. "Hardly any people and lots of camping on the lake!" noted a visitor at Big Sandy Reservoir Rec Area. Another camper at White Mountain Road observed, "2 other spots near me and that's it as far as I know but I didn't continue to explore."
Wind exposure: Persistent winds affect most campsites, particularly at higher elevations. A visitor at Big Sandy Dam and Reservoir explained, "The sunset water views and the Tetons in the background. Also saw some cute cows right by camp and heard the coyotes at night. Very clean, quiet and peaceful. Only gave it 4 stars because of the insane amount of bugs (you can hear the buzzing in the video there were so many)."
Road conditions: Access roads vary from well-maintained gravel to rough dirt tracks. "The road to get out there was washboard. There was an active construction site around the reservoir and parts of the road were closed," noted one camper about White Mountain Road.
Insects: Mosquitoes and other insects can be prevalent, especially near water and during summer evenings. "Lots of bugs. That said, sunset was pretty & there was a lot of space!" observed a camper at Big Sandy Reservoir Rec Area.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites lack amenities beyond basic vault toilets. A visitor to Slate Creek Campground noted, "Very remote location with a primitive, yet beautiful campsite. The only services are a couple of bathrooms, which were nice and clean, otherwise you are on your own."
Cell service: Signal strength varies by location and carrier. "Cell service was good as well. I have AT&T and had 3-4 bars the entire time," reports a camper at White Mountain Road, making this spot workable for families needing connectivity.
Shade limitations: Most sites provide minimal natural shade. "There are many types of camping areas with a variety of ground. This beach area was beautiful," noted a visitor at Weeping Rock Campground. Consider bringing shade structures during summer visits.
Safety considerations: Some waterfront areas have steep dropoffs. "Our one dog fell 10 feet into the Reservoir because the edges are not sturdy. We had a hard time getting him out as the walls are straight up," warned a visitor to Big Sandy Dam and Reservoir.
Site selection: Most dispersed areas have no designated sites but rather informal pull-offs. "We dispersed by boat launch. By ourselves on a Wednesday after labor day. Construction at east and west campgrounds. 5g cell T-Mobile. Roads only slightly muddy but after a rain. Yikes," advised an RVer at Big Sandy Reservoir.
Level parking: Many sites offer naturally level areas suitable for RVs. "We had a 24 ft camper and trailer with two side by sides. We had plenty of room for both. Lots of places to choose from. All open and easy to turn around campers," noted a visitor to White Mountain Road.
Weather preparation: Sudden weather changes can impact road conditions. "Seemed like there were plenty of spots for campsites and RVs. The gravel road was well maintained. It was EXTREMELY windy but it had calmed down by the time the sun had began to set," observed a camper at Big Sandy Reservoir Rec Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find camping spots in Farson, Wyoming?
Farson, Wyoming offers several nearby camping options. Big Sandy Reservoir Rec Area provides dispersed camping with beautiful beach areas, great wildlife viewing, and a 14-day stay limit on BLM land. The reservoir offers swimming and rockhounding opportunities. Another excellent option is Boulder Lake, accessible via a gravel road from Boulder, Wyoming. This desert oasis features established campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets, and trail access. The campground accommodates tents and smaller RVs, while bigger rigs can find space near the Boulder Creek trailhead. Both locations provide a peaceful Wyoming camping experience within reasonable driving distance of Farson.
How far is Farson, WY from Rock Springs and what camping is available along the route?
Farson is approximately 40 miles north of Rock Springs on Highway 191, a drive of about 45 minutes. Along this route and in the surrounding area, several camping options are available. Fontenelle Creek Campground is a BLM facility offering paved sites with metal shade structures, picnic tables, and barbecue grills - one of the few developed campgrounds in this part of Wyoming. Heading into the mountains east of the route, Worthen Meadow Campground provides a peaceful lakeside experience with private sites, pit toilets, and walking trails. The campground offers beautiful sunrise views over the lake and typically has available spots even during busier periods. Both provide good stopping points when traveling between these two Wyoming destinations.
What accommodation options exist in Farson, Wyoming for campers who need alternative lodging?
When camping isn't ideal in Farson, Wyoming, alternative accommodations are available in the region. Sweetwater Event Complex Fairgrounds in Rock Springs offers well-maintained RV parking with 15/30/50 amp and water hookups on a gravel surface. The location provides beautiful mountain views despite being near I-80. For those seeking more amenities, Rock Springs/Green River KOA Journey provides clean facilities including bathrooms, a laundry room, and an exercise room. Their deluxe spots feature concrete pads and privacy fences. The KOA is conveniently located off the freeway, making it an excellent stopover when traveling through the area. Both options provide comfortable alternatives when traditional camping isn't suitable.
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