Free camping in California

170 free and low-cost places to camp in California, with facilities and directions, and the ones we’d go back to first.

Our picks

Free camping usually means dispersed camping on national forest or BLM land, typically up to 14 days, with no facilities. Some free campgrounds have toilets and fire rings. Check the land manager’s current fire rules.

Every other place we know

From OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), the Department of Conservation (CC BY 4.0) and Roadtrip’s own research. Check prices, rules and booking with the site.

More free camping in the USA

Know where you’ll sleep before you set off

Roadtrip plans the drive: the fuel cost for your car, the best stops each day and campsites near the end of each one.

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The Roadtrip app showing a drive into London that costs £4.81 each, with fuel prices along the way