PORTLAND, Ore., May 19, 2026 — The Dyrt, the app to get the best campsites, built by the largest RVing and camping community in the U.S., has announced the 2026 Best Places to Camp for Free Presented by Vanlife Trader, a modern marketplace for buying and selling campervans that helps vanlifers find the right rig for life on the road.
Americans are looking for ways to save money as the summer vacation season approaches, and what better way to save money than to camp at an amazing campground for free? The Dyrt community loves its free camping — according to the 2026 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, 59.8% of campers camped for free at least one time in 2025.
There are many ways to camp for free. Some stay on property they own or the private property of friends or family. Others pull their RV or campervan into a rest stop or parking lot. But the most popular type of free camping is what is represented primarily on this list — dispersed camping on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.
Best Places to Camp for Free recognizes the top campgrounds in the country rated highly by The Dyrt Community where there are no fees to stay overnight. From dispersed camping to free established campgrounds, these areas will make you wonder how something so spectacular is simply available to everyone.
Raw, undisturbed nature and dark skies are dominant features in many of these primitive areas. Dragoon Mountains in Tombstone, Arizona, No. 1 on this list, is known for its rock climbing and hiking trails. Mower Basin, in the underrated camping state of West Virginia, is third on the list and a perfect spot for breathtaking views of the valley and the sky.
Utah, a very appropriately rated camping state, is home to No. 4 Meadow Hot Springs and its trio of natural pools. More hot springs and starry night skies await in Nevada at No. 5 Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs.
The most important part of camping on public lands is to practice Leave No Trace principles and try to leave each place better than you found it. Where fires are allowed, be sure to check local regulations first, as many of these spots are in forested land that may be subject to temporary fire bans.
In addition to Best Places to Camp for Free, take a look back at Best Places to Camp: National Park Neighbors and Best Places to Camp With Kids and keep an eye out in the coming weeks and months for more Best Places to Camp awards for those looking for a very specific, once-in-a-lifetime camping adventure.
1. Dragoon Mountains — Arizona
Location: Tombstone, AZ
What makes it great: A favorite of rock climbers, this camping area managed by the U.S. Forest Service is part of Coronado National Forest. The terrain features picturesque granite rock formations that look especially great in early morning or evening light. Nearby trails also draw hikers and mountain bikers.
Campers report that the approach roads can be rough and washboarded, but are generally navigable by RVs and passenger vehicles if you take it slow. Several campsites are clustered around Council Rocks, but for even more seclusion, plenty of other spots can be found by exploring along FR 687.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Amazing sunsets and rock formations, very safe, highly recommend.” — Alexandra D.
“Peace and solitude. Many secluded spots.” — Dave B.
“Lots of sites, beautiful and peaceful.” — Julie F.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
2. Felt Picnic Area — Oklahoma
Location: Felt, OK
What makes it great: Part of Rita Blanca National Grasslands, this spot in the Oklahoma Panhandle provides a welcome oasis on a lonely road. Convenient to Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways, it is a quiet, safe and easily accessible place to camp for a night.
There’s a flat, grassy area for parking, toilet facilities and designated campsites that feature fire pits, grills and picnic tables.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Beautiful sunrise and the stars are phenomenal at night.” — Lily N.
“Got the experience of deer bedding next to my site.” — Gavin K.
Campground details
Number of sites: 5
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
3. Mower Basin — West Virginia
Location: Durbin, WV
What makes it great: Convenient to the Monongahela National Forest, these dispersed sites are arrayed on a ridge overlooking a fishing lake and the surrounding woodlands, including an often cinematically fog-draped valley below. Sites are secluded and far apart, most with fire rings and plenty of room for a tent and vehicle.
The features of each site are varied: Campers can opt for a perch with a view or a spot that catches the morning light. Stargazing from this spot is epic, and there’s a network of hiking trails as well as notably good mountain bike trails crisscrossing the area.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “I do a lot of dispersed camping, and have done several dispersed camping sites in West Virginia recently. Mower Basin is, hands down, my favorite one so far.” — Ric M.
“Very quiet, beautiful views, amazing drive from VA. Multiple campsites and they all have beautiful views.” — Waseem H.
Campground details
Number of sites: 25
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
4. Meadow Hot Springs — Utah
Location: Meadow, UT
What makes it great: Utah is almost unfairly rich in excellent places to camp, but not all of them come with a hot spring right at your door. As you might guess from the name, Meadows features three natural hot spring pools nestled among wide-open meadows, not far off Interstate 15 (but worlds away, vibe-wise).
It’s located on private property; the owners graciously share the place with visitors, so be sure to help keep it clean. Some campers note that the road in can be very bumpy, but the springs are worth the drive.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Mountains to the east and plains to the west. Sunrises and sunsets are gorgeous.” — Chenoa E.
“Full moon, silent and serene.” — Elizabeth P.
“Camping among the cows and having a bath in a natural hot tub while the sun is rising — it’s a dream.” — Jenny & Tobias
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
5. Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs — Nevada
Location: Dyer, NV
What makes it great: Natural hot springs and wide-open starry night skies are the draw here. A series of man-made structures works to collect the springwater into pools of varying temperatures.
There’s a large, flat parking/camping area with a well-maintained restroom, plus opportunities for dispersed camping further out along the road. Minimal light pollution makes for excellent stargazing. As the only water source for miles of surrounding desert, the springs are also a great place to spot birds and wildlife in the evenings and early mornings.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Super clean, beautiful and remote. There is a man-made pool and then several concentric pools coming out from that each cooler in temperature. There’s even a restroom. Very clean. Highly recommend. Best hot springs in Nevada.” — Matt G.
“There is absolutely no light pollution here, so the skies when clear are awesome, as was the view of the snow capped White Mountains to the West.” — Ray & Terri F.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
6. Mt. Roosevelt — South Dakota
Location: Deadwood, SD
What makes it great: This dispersed camping area within the Black Hills National Forest is only a couple of miles outside everyone’s favorite TV-famous Old West town, Deadwood. Campsites are scattered along the road leading to the trailhead for the Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower hike, making this a convenient launching point to take in some of this area’s rich history.
Friendship Tower was built in 1919 by Deadwood’s first sheriff, Seth Bullock, as a memorial to President Roosevelt; the easy hike in is about a mile round trip. Several other hiking trails start nearby, and of course Deadwood itself and the Black Hills in general deserve a place on any traveler’s bucket list.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Awesome views. Close to town but quiet.” — C G.
“Very convenient if you are traveling between Teddy Roosevelt National Park and Mt Rushmore.” — Taz G.
“Some nice hiking opportunities with great views.” — Milo D.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
7. Minietta Road — California
Location: Death Valley, CA
What makes it great: An almost eerily quiet area off Panamint Valley Road, just outside of Death Valley National Park, this spacious camping zone appeals to those who like to camp with absolutely zero noise pollution, light pollution or any signs of civilization.
Although it feels like the middle of nowhere, most of the sites are accessible to big rigs, as the road is in good shape and you only have to drive about half a mile after turning onto Minietta Road. Particularly for self-contained campers, this is a great base for exploring the Panamint Valley and this section of Death Valley NP.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “The night sky was the highlight of the experience. If you’re looking for a spacious, peaceful dispersed camping spot with epic stargazing and don’t mind true desert solitude, this spot is a great choice.” — Mary B.
“We even encountered a little kit fox while I was brushing my teeth before bed. I will definitely be back.” — TJ B.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
8. Osage State Fishing Lake — Kansas
Location: Scranton, KS
What makes it great: This woodland campground beside a manmade fishing lake, managed by Utah’s Department of Wildlife and Parks, is a favorite of birdwatchers. The lake attracts snow geese, common mergansers and other waterfowl, and the surrounding woods and fields are home to a huge variety of bird life.
Camping is in designated sites with fire rings, most of which are nicely secluded with lakefront views. There are well-maintained pit toilet facilities in the main camping loop. And the property is just a few miles south of Topeka off I-70, with easy access even for larger RVs.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “So glad we chose this dispersed camping location as an overnight stay. It’s fantastic! Beautiful area, campfire rings in several locations, and our 43′ RV navigated smoothly (well, husband navigated smoothly!) Easy to drive through, well-maintained roads….leave no trace, and enjoy!” — Brenda Y.
“Beautiful and quiet.” — Joseph J.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
9. Cosmic Campground — New Mexico
Location: Glenwood, NM
What makes it great: Part of the Gila National Forest, Cosmic Campground is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary 40 miles from the nearest source of artificial light. So it’s no surprise that the stars on display here are incredible.
This is the place to get your Milky Way shot. There are four concrete pads for telescopes and night-sky observation. There are picnic tables and fire rings at each campsite, and a vault toilet in the main loop, plus other spots farther out.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Beautiful view of the mountains. The night sky is dark and the campground is quiet and peaceful.” — Brendon S.
“Heaven on earth! … If you have this place on your bucket list of places to stop, do it! It’s beautiful.” — Carlos A.
“Love it! Clean pit toilets, beautiful sky views, quiet.” — Desi T.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
10. Morgan Mountain Road/Spy Rock — Arkansas
Location: St. Paul, AR
What makes it great: Along a dirt road toward the Spy Rock Overlook trailhead in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest is this quiet, wooded camping area with views of the surrounding mountains. It’s a convenient stop for campers exploring this part of the Ozarks, smack in the middle of dozens of scenic overlooks, beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails to check out, including the Wild and Scenic Mulberry River.
There’s also easy access to a handful of outfitters and general stores on the road to this spot, so you can stock up with everything you might need before hunkering down to enjoy the tranquility.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Perfect spot with a great view. We were the only ones and it was super peaceful. Good amount of shade for when it’s hot and good amount of trees to hang tarp when it’s raining. Big area so multiple tents and cars can pull in.” — Hannah M.
“The forest surrounding this campsite is beautiful.” — Fred S.
Campground details
Number of sites: Dispersed (space for 3-4 vehicles)
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes