Looking for the best dispersed camping near Rock River? Dispersed camping is an excellent way to get away from it all and to disconnect. Search dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots and read camper reviews.
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed in most places. From getting away from it all to just enjoying a weekend with friends, dispersed camping can make for a great story. Across the forests, opportunities range from dispersed camping miles into wilderness or just off a forest road in designated dispersed areas. Make sure to bring everything you need when dispersed camping, as water, restrooms, and fire rings may not be available nearby, and always remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Use the links below to explore the wide range of dispersed opportunities the forests and grasslands have to offer. For comprehensive information on dispersed camping opportunities, please contact the ranger district office in the area you plan to visit.
Setting up your own campsite away from developed fee sites, also known as dispersed camping, is allowed in most places. From getting away from it all to just enjoying a weekend with friends, dispersed camping can make for a great story. Across the forests, opportunities range from dispersed camping miles into wilderness or just off a forest road in designated dispersed areas. Make sure to bring everything you need when dispersed camping, as water, restrooms, and fire rings may not be available nearby, and always remember to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Use the links below to explore the wide range of dispersed opportunities the forests and grasslands have to offer. For comprehensive information on dispersed camping opportunities, please contact the ranger district office in the area you plan to visit.
This walk-in dispersed campground provides access to biking, hiking and fishing.
Guide
We found a great spot right next to the river on forest road 330C near North Fork Campground. The area was fairly busy on Labor Day weekend but we were basically isolated in this spot. One family was camping a little further up the road, but we had zero traffic on our road and the spot was beautiful. We were nestled up against the Little Laramie River which was awesome. We did explore the area a little and found numerous dispersed camping spots in/around the area but none as nice as the spot that we settled on. The exact coordinates are:
41.35475° N, -106.16955° W
Ranger
Great place to boondock for a few days. We stayed here for a week in our 20 foot skoolie. Short drive into the Medicine Bow National forest and you’re here. There are a couple of loops right as you enter, which are the most level places to park a rig. Then another path leads about a half a mile to a few other sites that are more secluded, but not very level. I wouldn’t recommend towing anything down there with the condition of the dirt road and low hanging tree branches. Those would be ideal for a camper van or tent. There is a lovely creek that runs along there. The dump/water is decommissioned at this site, but as you turn in there is dump/water at the forest station. During our stay there were a couple of RV’s and some off road fanatics. Quiet and cool summer evenings. Great cell service!
Traveler
Nice isolated spot in the National Forest, 5 mi from the main highway. Nice view with few fire rings. No one was around.
Guide
Great camping spot within Medicine Bow National Forest. Some of this area requires a $5 day fee which can be paid online or using an envelop system with cash.
When you first pull onto FS RD 200 you will wind down past many easy to reach sites with 2wd. Small RVs should be fine as well. As you continue on, you will come across multiple splits in the road leading to more sites. If you are going when there is still a lot of snow melt (through late June) I would recommend 4x4 the further back you go.
I personally camped across from the Keystone Reservoir and it included a level site and a nice fire ring.
TravelerVery few other boondockers, and well dispersed. Very quiet with minimal traffic.
Legend
We found a set of campsites specifically on the forest road 705F, near the Hidden Valley picnic area. The sites are free, as they are primitive set-up with only a fire pit. Although there are not facilities immediately there, if you finding camping in this area you are close by to a bathroom at Summit Trailhead and potable water at either Hidden Valley or the Abraham Lincoln rest area. We found a whole list of forest roads that allow dispersed camping 100 feet off-road: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3841999.pdf
Guide
Stayed 5 days here (stat limit 16 days). Close to Summit Rest Area (potable water March-October, flush toilets), Laramie for restocks, and the Vedauwoo Recreation Area. So much free camping here, only downsides are wind, & road noise. Absolutely beautiful views of the valley. Would stay again 100%
Traveler
Was very easy to find a spot on a busy Saturday. Just pull out onto one of the dirt roads and there are fire pits. Real dispersed camping.
GuideBeautiful area. There are a lot dispersed camping sites, you just need to get there early enough. You need to find a spot with a defined access road to it and a built fire ring. Generator use is allowed. Camp fires are allowed as well as long as the wind allows it.
GuideWe foolishly thought we might find a dispersed spot at Vedauwoo in mid-July and were disappointed, but not really surprised. We had another pin dropped on our map for the dry camping at Government Gully Rd and headed there in the late afternoon.
The road in is pretty good, our low slung front wheel drive Travato made it easily, although there is a bit of a short, steep hill to climb if you can't find a spot in the lower area.
During our visit, the lower area could probably have supported one or two more rigs, but it would start getting a bit crowded at that point. We headed up the hill and found a great spot overlooking a mountain meadow (and some really cool dispersed camping sites if it hadn't been closed for a reclamation project). There were plenty of rigs up there, including some pretty big travel trailers and fifth wheels, but it was still pretty quiet. We could see the lights of Laramie in the distance out our back door, which was kind of nice.
So a decent campsite if you don't mind neighbors!
Legend
This tiny dispersed site is on the North Platte River with boat access and a few weedy, private sites spread out in this area tucked inside private property. Since you have to drive over private property to get here, be mindful of speed on the dirt access road and clean up after yourself. I did not camp here as all of the sites were taken but I did visit with a couple traveling from Canada. They liked how quiet it was and loved how secluded it was. They said the mosquitoes were horrific, but worth dealing with to camp in such a great spot. Just up the road is the actual public access to the river, but in the campground there is a small boat ramp that you could use to launch a small boat or canoe. I'm keeping this one on my list for future reference- free, beautiful, and secluded. Hope I can get a spot in the future.
ScoutNear freeway, relatively secluded. Good camp site, some areas RV friendly. Tent sites hard to come by at night
Guide
A dirt road about 1.25 miles leading to a boat ramp, with parking for cars/ trailers. There is a bridge with a 12ton limit per vehicle. more allowed if you are towing. peaceful and quiet at night with a very nice trail and bridge over the river . This is not really a campsite, just a nice free place to spend the night and then move on, but you can stay up to 5 days. had dirty bathrooms, no toilet paper.
GuideThe washboard road coming off the highway is harsh but it smooths out when you get closer to camp. There are at least three camp site I saw that are all secluded by boulders and trees. Each one has established fire sites. Others have chopped trees and branches from the nearby trees, but I'm not sure if that is accepted.
On a Sunday night, a group of younger people were drinking and enjoying a fire. They weren't too loud and packed up and left before it got too late. It looked like it gets pretty popular so I'd get there early if you're planning to go on a weekend.
You'll hear distant gunshots from hunters in case you or others in your party are sensitive to that. There were also plenty of gnats in early October!
GuideThis place is down a long dirt ride through private property so be kind and mind the hours. When you get to the end, take the right fork and you’ll find two, rather close together, camping areas. When nobody is here it’s wonderful - right next to a creek, dogs can run around, and it is so very quiet and secluded. If I’m ever in Wyoming I’ll head back to this little spot.
There’s also a boat ramp, and I imagine if you fish, the creek would be a nice little spot to fish.
LegendWe found a set of campsites in the "Upper Blaire" climbing area.
**How to get there from US-30 **
*Refer map provided in campground website link
Approaching from the south: Take exit 329 for Vedauwoo Rd --> Turn left onto Vedauwoo Glen Rd --> Turn right onto Old US Hwy 30 E --> Drive 2.7 miles --> Turn right onto Blair-Wallis Rd / Forest Rd 705 --> Drive 3 miles --> Sharp right on Forest Rd 707 --> Drive 0.7 miles --> Turn right onto Forest Rd 707A then a few hundred feet turn right again onto Forest Rd 707AF --> drive to the end of the road a few hundred feet more and park.
**Approaching from the north: **Take exit 323 for WY-210 toward Happy Jack Rd --> Turn left onto WY-210 E / Happy Jack Rd then shortly thereafter turn left again to stay on WY-210 E --> Drive for 6 miles --> Turn right onto Headquarters Rd / Forest Rd 707 --> In 0.3 miles turn right to stay on 707 --> drive 2.7 mi --> Turn left onto Forest Rd 707A --> Turn right in a few hundred feet onto Forest Rd 707AF--> drive to the end of the road a few hundred feet more and park.
These sites are primitive and have a nice secluded feeling. You cannot see or hear the highway from here. There was spotty cell service (we have T-mobile). There are no facilities here, but if you would like to access picnic tables or a vault toilet, the Blair Picnic Area is not far away: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbr/recarea/?recid=22894. Make sure to pack plenty of water, you can fill up at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial rest area.
If you want to do some rock climbing in the area, these sites are very convenient.
Some words of caution:
RangerAbsolutely love this area of the Medicine Bow NF. Road in was manageable. Spacious dispersed sites. Most have fire pits. Lovely weather in June. Not as windy as the pilot hill rd or vedauwoo dispersed sites. Plenty of shade and hiking opportunities. Quiet throughout the week. Lots of vacant RVs. It appears that the locals leave their rigs and the forest service doesn’t enforce the 16 day limit. The same people will also ride their ATVs in your site. T-mobile signal is decent enough to code and to study. Lots of cows roaming around.
GuideLovely location with secluded spots. The stars and view were awesome and the wind blew just right all night.
ScoutStopped here on my way through. Got here around 3pm only 2 other people. Only a few spots are larger for 5th wheels etc. road was pretty bumpy coming down, you pass a few farms and a lot of private property which can be confusing. Boat launch doesn’t allow camping, camping is right around the bend. Right next to the river and absolutely beautiful. NO OPEN FIRES. Close to houses, secluded but not entirely out in nature by yourself. Would definitely camp again! Easy to find, good Verizon cell reception. Quiet spot.
Scoutthis was our second choice for a camp site, our 1st was the bridge upstream, and it was so grown up with weed there was no place to put a tent
TravelerCoordinates are accurate to camp location spot, it is right off the highway, giving you easy access. I recommend getting there early because minimal site locations. It was a bit windy when we went but found a grouping of trees. We also were lucky enough to see a moose walk right behind our campsite. It stopped and noticed us but eventually walked off.
RangerA few sandy campsites by the Platte River - had we gotten there earlier, we could have parked on the river's rocky shore. Someone beat us to it though!
There are actually two separate camping areas of this access - when you get to the fork, there are sites in either direction. Both are denoted with the Foote Public Access area signs, so you know you found it. There was also a boat ramp. I am not familiar with this section of the Platte, but I would imagine fishing and hunting are probably great activities if you're staying here for a few days. Wildlife appeared abundant in September - luckily, mosquitos and flies were not!
It is a road through private land, which is relatively well maintained, but please respect private property. Also be aware of current fire restrictions - there are no fire rings here, and open fires are not permitted. A firepan or fuel-based cooking system would be good to have.
Scout
We stayed here for a night with our dog while passing through Wyoming. The area is BEAUTIFUL. Lots of wildlife and scenic views. Bathrooms were clean and conveniently scattered throughout the sites. Easy to find if you just follow the signs for camping! We made it back pretty far in our all wheel drive lower clearance Subaru. LOTS of mosquitoes though, so make sure to bring bug spray or cover up!
GuideThis spot was a very pleasant surprise and quite frankly didn’t think this part of Wyoming would be so pretty! The sites are very well spaced so once you’re parked, you feel completely alone. There was a decent amount of road traffic but that wasn’t bothersome to us. We found a lot of good walking/hiking nearby with the closest being the medicine bow picnic area that we walked to from our site. We drove down nearly to the end of the road and are really glad we did because the sites were really nice. Cell crevice wasn’t great on t-mobile. Loved how close to the highway this spot was but how far away it felt. The gravel road was one of the most well maintained we’ve been on. Great easy access with trailers of just about any size. Would return!
ScoutWe have a 36 ft fifthwheel. The road has washboard and is quite steep in places. The biggest issue was finding a place to turn around. We did find a place to stay but most were already filled with hunting campers that had been brought up and left. I'm guessing hunting season starts next week and they have staked their claim. No sites are level so bring your legos. We work from our camper so cell service was important. T-mobile was dismal, but Verizon was usable with a solid 4G 2bars. The location is beautiful and remote. Lots of trees and the aspen are turning yellow. Probably won't come back again but plan to hike around and enjoy the area while we are here.
GuideAT&T 1-2 bars depending your location. Road in is about 5 miles, keeps going to few pullouts. Huge area for camping in groups if you continue down road make left. Use satellite view you’ll see what I’m talking about. 16 day limit. No water, garbage, restrooms, firewood everywhere no sure restrictions.
RangerStayed one night at the coordinates of camper 1 . Had a great time with my dog, very close to medicine bow, and awesome views of the river. Heard no cars throughout the night, there were three other campers I believe .
Dispersed camping near Rock River, Wyoming, offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities, this area is perfect for those seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Rock River, WY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Rock River, WY is White Rock Canyon Dispersed Site with a 3.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Rock River, WY?
TheDyrt.com has all 26 dispersed camping locations near Rock River, WY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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