These Are The Best Random Campsites In Your State
Americans love to get outdoors and camp—sometimes year-round! This can often mean spending money on a campsite, but random camping, or rough, back-country style camping is becoming far more popular and many states have dedicated random campsites for camping outdoors that are totally free to use. Check out where you can camp for free in your state.
California: The Alabama Hills
Owned and operated by the BLM, The Alabama Hills is a spectacular site to pitch your tent, without paying a dime! One of the best free campsites in the area is a few minutes outside of Lone Pine, which is about three hours north of Los Angeles. As the area is popular, the BLM has zoned off a few areas to campers—check the regulations before you pitch your tent.
Oregon: Fremont-Winema National Forest
Oregon's Summit Rock random campsite is located in the Fremont-Winema National Forest: look for signs for Forest Road 960 and you'll find dispersed campgrounds along the road. You can also park and continue on foot to Summit Rock, which gives you a gorgeous view from the top.
U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Flickr
Washington: Quinault Ridge Road, Olympic National Forest
Another vote for random camping in a national forest, Washington's Quinault Ridge Road is the perfect opportunity to stretch out your tent poles alongside Forest Road 2258 (Quinault Ridge Road) and camp there for free. Ensure you're camping in Olympic National Forest, though, and not Olympic National Park, where random camping is not allowed.
Paul Schultz, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alaska: Chena Hot Springs Road, Chena River State Recreation Area
There's nothing better than kicking back and relaxing in a hot spring after a hard day on the trail. Well, now you can go from the hot spring directly to your tent if you pitch it on Chena Hot Springs Road in the Chena River State Recreation Area.
Craig Talbert, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada: Spencer Hot Springs
In the desert, you might think you can random camp just about anywhere—and you're (pretty much) spot on, but we would recommend Spencer Hot Springs in Nevada, about 20 minutes outside of the town of Austin. There are many pull-offs that you can freely camp near. However, do not freely camp directly at the hot springs themselves, and observe Leave No Trace principles and camp more than 300 feet away from the rustic tub.
New Mexico: Cebolla Mesa, Carson National Forest
Located about 25 minutes north of Taos, this campsite is tucked away from the world on the edge of the Rio Grande Gorge. Beware that the road to access the site is three miles long and very rough terrain (if you don't have an ATV, you'd be better off walking in and out, don't try to take your car in). While the campground is free, it does have a few picnic tables, fire pits, and a pit toilet for you to use.
Arizona: Pumphouse Wash, Coconino National Forest
Another score for a national forest offering sublime random camping! Pumphouse Wash, located on Forest Road 237, sits between Sedona and Flagstaff, AZ. While you can't camp anywhere on the road (there are four designated free sites to choose from), they all offer relative privacy and easy access to hiking and biking trails within the National Forest.
Coconino National Forest, Flickr
Utah: Muley Point, Glen Canyon Recreational Area
Set within the Glen Canyon Recreational Area, Muley Point is one of the finest free campsites in the country, well-known for its stunning views. Set atop cliffs that are a thousand feet high, Muley Point is located at the end of Muley Point Road (it's a dirt road, so drive with caution), set off Utah State Route 261. Be aware of where you're parking your vehicle (away from the edge of the canyon, please), winds can get pretty extreme up top.
Colorado: Piney Lake, White River National Forest
Driving from Vail, Colorado toward Piney Lake will take you about 45 minutes on the dirt road through the area, despite it being only an 11-mile trek. However, once you get to Piney Lake and White River National Forest, you're spoiled for choice: There are several designated free campsites that you can choose from. Just remember to observe the best practices of random camping and to camp more than 300 meters from a body of water.
Idaho: North Fork Of The Big Wood River, Sawtooth National Forest
This place is so popular that signs are telling you where the free campsites are located. The North Fork of the Big Wood River is otherwise known as Forest Road 146, about 10 miles north of Ketchum. Due to its popularity, it is hit-or-miss as to whether you'll get a spot—an alternative is the North Fork Campground, which costs about $20/night.
Wyoming: Shadow Mountain, Bridger-Teton National Forest
The gorgeous Bridger-Teton National Forest is incredibly popular during the summer, but there's almost no availability. Plan to arrive early and snag yourself the first available site! Tucked along the roadside in the designated free camping areas of Bridge-Teton National Forest, these sites offer stunning views of Shadow Mountain, Gros Ventre, and the Teton mountain ranges. A special place that's in high demand.
Montana: M-K Campground, Custer-Gallatin National Forest
Montana's M-K Campground in Custer-Gallatin National Forest features ten riverfront sites located along Rock Creek and is maintained by the Forest Service. Take Main Fork Creek Road off Beartooth Highway (if you're headed toward Yellowstone National Park) and you'll come to the designated spots: complete with picnic tables and toilets, but no trash collection—pack in, pack out your trash, please!
Yellowstone National Park, Flickr
Nebraska: Samuel R McKelvie National Forest
For those looking to random camp in Nebraska, you may be a little disappointed—although the state does offer random camping in its National Forests, trying to find free camping outside of those locations can be challenging. Luckily, you've got 116,000 acres to choose from in the Samuel R McKelvie National Forest. For those who need or want facilities, the Steer Creek Campground is a great option, otherwise: pick your spot!
U.S. Forest Service, Wikimedia Commons
Kansas: Woodbridge Primitive Park, Lawrence
Located in Lawrence, KS, Woodbridge Primitive Park is the perfect opportunity to camp for free, less than an hour from a major center like Topeka. The park is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and offers two main spots for camping: the grassy entrance to the park, or on the shores of Clinton Lake, where there are dug fire pits ready and waiting to be used.
Texas: Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Alpine
In general, you can camp for free in Wildlife Management Areas in Texas (there are 47 across the state), but Black Gap Wildlife Management Area stands out: the Rio Grande flows through it for 25 miles, allowing for gorgeous riverside camping and access to drinkable water (if you filter it properly—do not drink it directly from the river).
Glysiak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hawaii: Papalaua Wayside Park, Maui
Hawaii doesn't allow you to camp anywhere on the island for free. This is to protect the sacred nature of the land to the original inhabitants. However, beautiful camping can be had at a low-cost at the Papalaua Wayside Park in Maui. It's $15 per person, but beware that the campground closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You must obtain a permit from the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation district permit offices (we promise it's not as convoluted as the department's name may suggest).
National Parks Gallery, Picryl
North Dakota: Camels Hump Lake, Medora
For a wild campsite, the access to Camels Hump Lake is sublime (it might be the best-maintained dirt road in the state). Conveniently located just off Interstate 94, you'll be lakeside camping merely 15 minutes from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Be aware that some of the sites here are closed for maintenance on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and three of the sites come with picnic tables and fire rings, while others do not.
South Dakota: Badlands Overlook, Wall
Not far from Badlands National Park (three miles), Badlands Overlook, or "Nomad View", as some call it, is the perfect (free!) escape from the throngs at Badlands National Park. It's located within Buffalo Gap National Grassland, off Highway 240, and is the perfect rustic spot to park your camper or pitch a tent. But beware of the wind again.
Minnesota: Six Mile Lake, Chippewa National Forest
Located off a Forest Service road near the town of Bena, Six Mile Lake is the perfect free campsite with boat access to Six Mile Lake. You can also fish in the lake's waters. There are a dozen sites on this spot, which used to be an established campground.
Wisconsin: Porcupine Lake Wilderness, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
The Porcupine Lake Wilderness is a stunning swath of land located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, however, the free campsite is about a half-mile walk from the nearest parking spot and runs along the shores of Porcupine Lake. It's a popular spot with anglers, so be sure to get here very early in the morning or later at night to nab your spot.
Michigan: Hovey Lake Campground, Hiawatha National Forest
Hovey Lake is a 99-acre plot that's located in Hiawatha National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. This gorgeous, serene location offers plentiful lake trout, picnic tables, and fire rings (and no cell reception, if you really want to unplug). You're also about half an hour from Lake Superior.
Iowa: Eagle Lake State Game Management Area, Britt
The Eagle Lake State Game Management Area is located in a grassy field near Mason City—the best part is that you can stay there for up to 14 days. You may find the area busy with boondockers, so you should always have a backup plan.
Indiana: Blackwell Horse Camp, Hoosier National Forest
Want easy access to hiking trails? Indiana's Blackwell Horse Camp in the Hoosier National Forest is the place to wild camp. Located about 30 minutes from the town of Bloomington, IN, and about a mile off Highway 446, Blackwell Horse Camp is the perfect spot to pitch your tent and enjoy some free camping in Indiana.
Illinois: Dutchman Lake, Shawnee National Forest
If you're a bass fisher, or maybe like catfish, then Dutchman Lake is the perfect place to wild camp. Located within Shawnee National Forest, Dutchman Lake doesn't have an official campground, but as it sits on the largest piece of public land in the state, you're free to camp for up to 14 days in any of the five sites established on the lake.
Ohio: Jesse Owens State Park, McConnellsville
The 5,735 acres of the Jesse Owens State Park (Ohio's newest and largest State Park, having been purchased by American Electric Power in 2017), comes with spectacular ponds and lakes to explore, hiking trails—oh yes, and free camping at any of the five campgrounds. There are no electric hookups or running water, but there is a picnic table, fire pit, and bathroom access.
Missouri: Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, Mark Twain National Forest
The Mark Twain National Forest is located three miles from Ellsinore. Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area is huge (spacious enough to turn your RV around with ease), nestled along Pinewood Lake, the 16 designated sites are all free with access to toilets, a fishing pier and a boat ramp, so that you can explore the 32 acres of Pinewoods Lake with ease. You can also walk the 1.3-mile walking trail that circumnavigates it if you're not feeling aquatic.
Oklahoma: Black Kettle Campground: Black Kettle National Grassland
Black Kettle Campground has a dozen designated sites, complete with a fire pit and picnic tables. It's nestled on the shores of Dead Warrior Lake and is part of the Black Kettle National Grassland.
Arkansas: Big Fir Campground: Ouachita National Forest
Those near Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas should check out Big Fir Campground on the northwest end of Ouachita Lake. It's a primitive campground amidst many established sites (all maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers), so it should be less crowded than those around it. The campground is home to 50 campsites that provide gorgeous views of Ouachita Lake.
U.S. Forest Service, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: Rutherford Beach, Creole
It may surprise you to learn that free beach camping is difficult to find in the US, certainly in Louisiana. However, Rutherford Beach on the Gulf of Mexico is the perfect spot for those who love the sand in between their toes and the wind in their hair. You'll need to go an hour south of Lake Charles to get here and then follow the signage for Rutherford Beach—don't look for huge amounts of development, it's pretty remote.
Mississippi: Point Pleasant, Enid Lake
Come for the fishing, stay for the free camping? Another site maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers is Point Pleasant, on the shores of Enid Lake (a famous fishing spot where a white crappie weighing five pounds three ounces was once caught, besting a world record for the largest white crappie ever caught). If you live in Memphis, Tennessee, and want a weekend away? Point Pleasant is just 80 miles north of you.
Alabama: Tuskegee Primitive Camp, Tuskegee National Forest
Just 20 minutes outside of the city of Auburn, Alabama, the Tuskegee National Forest is only 11,000 acres in size, yet more than makes up for it in hiking trails (notably, the Bartram Recreational Trail and the Pleasant Hill Trail—popular among mountain bikers) and its fantastic free campsites. However, it's worth noting that you must obtain a free camping permit for the designated 14-site campground, which offers little more than a flat place to park (no amenities).
Georgia: Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest
Located a mile from Lake Conasauga, Georgia's highest lake at 3,150 feet, the Ball Field Dispersed Camping Area is the perfect low-amenity, high-nature campground in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. You can reward a hard day's hiking with some gorgeous stargazing in this isolated free camping spot, or join the crowds at the more developed campground on Lake Conasauga.
Florida: East Tower Hunt Camp, Osceola National Forest
East Tower Hunt Camp is incredibly busy with small-game hunters during the fall hunting seasons, so if you don't like waking up to the sounds of rifle fire, we recommend you come outside of the hunting season. As a bonus, the East Tower Hunt Camp is fairly secluded, so you should have the area to yourself. You'll be able to camp there uninterrupted for 14 consecutive days.
National Forests in Florida, Flickr
Kentucky: Turkey Foot Campground, Daniel Boone National Forest
Entry to Turkey Foot Campground is down a long, steep gravel road that's mostly suited for off-road vehicles (please don't try to bring your trailer down here), but the reward for your efforts is spectacular. Located along War Fork Creek are 15 campsites that are primitive and rustic, but maintained by the Forest Service. There is no trash collection or running water on-site, but you will find tables and fire rings. Additionally, the trout fishing in the creek is (apparently) excellent.
Patrick Jennings, Shutterstock
Tennessee: Paint Creek Corridor, Cherokee National Forest
Located inside the boundaries of Tennessee's only National Forest, Paint Creek Corridor is home to free camping sites that are incredibly popular on the weekend among those looking to escape the world. Just outside the town of Greenville, TN, you'll come to Paint Creek Road, or Forest Road 41, where you'll find designated free camping spots. You're not allowed to camp anywhere else inside Cherokee National Forest except for these designated spots. Alternative options include Paint Creek Campground, which is a paid option of 20 campsites.
North Carolina: Linville Gorge Wilderness, Pisgah National Forest
If you're going to Linville Gorge Wilderness on the weekends or public holidays, beware that you'll need a permit to camp there—reach out to the Grandfather Ranger District. You'll be camping along the canyon's western rim, with a stunning view of the 2,000-foot gorge plummeting into the Linville River. There's easy access to hiking trails and most free campsites are accessible right off the rugged Old North Carolina 105, now known as the Kistler Memorial Highway.
South Carolina: Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area, Francis Marion National Forest
Located about an hour north of Charleston, SC is the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area, within the Francis Marion National Forest. It might as well have been called "Sanity Coastal Reserve", because that's what returns when you visit the serene and peaceful wetland area, where there lie eight designated free camping sites. There are no amenities at these sites, so bring out what you bring in!
Virginia: Little Fort Recreation Area, George Washington National Forest
Located inside one of Virginia's two national forests (the other being Jefferson), Little Fort Recreation Area allows random camping at any of its nine primitive campsites, located next to the largest ATV trail system in the state. Bring your off-road whip and give it a whirl! Or, ascend the Woodstock Fire Lookout Tower, a mere two-mile trek from the campsite.
Chesapeake Bay Program, Flickr
West Virginia: Lake Buffalo, Monongahela National Forest
Swimming in Lake Buffalo is prohibited (nothing to do with the lake buffalos, honest), but free camping is not! (Rejoice!) The 22-acre lake is a hotbed for trout fishing and the free campsites are located mere steps from the lake. Inside the Monongahela National Forest, you'll need to drive a few miles down a Forest Service road outside the town of Bartow, WV, to reach Lake Buffalo.
Maryland, Green Ridge State Forest, Allegany County
If you want true wilderness camping in Maryland, you're going to be out of luck, I'm afraid. However, the Green Ridge State Forest does offer $10/night camping at 100 sites on its 49,000 acres of forest land. They come with picnic tables and fire rings, mostly without bathrooms or water. Show up at the Ranger Station and procure the overnight pass.
Delaware: Blackbird State Forest, Smyrna
The great state of Delaware used to offer free camping at Blackbird State Forest near Smyrna. Unfortunately, that changed in 2021, when the place became a hotbed for campers, so the government introduced a $25-per-night fee and an online reservation system—much to the chagrin of Delawareans, I assume. However, Blackbird State Forest does offer stunning surroundings, a fishing pond, and a few hiking trails. There are only eight sites, though, so book quickly.
Delaware Forest Service, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania: Moon Lake State Forest Recreation Area, Pinchot State Forest
Moon Lake is a 48-acre spring-fed lake that's perfect for a paddle. There are also 20 miles of mountain bike trails to explore if the water isn't your thing. You'll need to complete an online application ahead of time to camp here, but the permits are free. Located just an hour from Scranton, PA, the campsites are basic, offering fire rings and picnic tables.
New Jersey: Bodine Field Campground: Wharton State Forest
Bodine Field Campground isn't technically free ($3/person/night), but it's as low-cost as you're likely to find in NJ. However, the campground does hug the Wading River and is located 15 minutes outside the township of Bass River. You'll be taking a dirt road to get there, so bear that in mind. However, there are 20 sites to choose from, so securing your reservation (you'll need to) shouldn't be a huge problem.
New York: Sugar Hill Fire Tower Recreation Area, Watkins Glen
New York's Sugar Hill State Forest offers 9,000 acres of stunning scenery begging to be explored, and with dozens of free spots near the Sugar Hill Fire Tower Recreation Area, you're spoiled for choice. Simply fill out a no-cost, self-issued camping permit (if that sounds confusing, you're not the only one), and enjoy! Dozens of hiking trails leave right from the campsite.
arthurgphotography, Shutterstock
Connecticut: Green Falls Campground, Pachaug State Forest
Unfortunately, Connecticut also doesn't offer much outside of a parking lot/rest stop for free camping, so you're gonna have to settle (again) for cheap—sorry. Green Falls Campground in the Pachaug State Forest is as near to a wilderness experience as you'll get for under $20. There's a nearby pond at Green Falls for a paddle or fish, but these 18 sites also require reservations, so please book ahead accordingly.
U+1F360, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rhode Island: George Washington State Campground, Chepachet
Rhode Island is another one of those states where finding free camping is like pulling teeth. The state doesn't officially (or unofficially) offer any random camping, so you'll have to settle for cheap instead. Under $20 cheap. You'll find those at the George Washington State Campground near Chepachet. This 100-acre area has 45 sites for RVs and tents, with easy access to hiking and biking trails. Make your reservations now!
Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts: Beartown State Forest, Great Barrington
Unfortunately, visitors to Massachusetts will be hard-pressed to find free camping that isn't in a parking lot or truck rest stop. So, you'll have to pay $14 to make a reservation at Beartown State Forest instead. There are only 12 primitive sites, so book quickly. There's also Beartown's neighbor, Benedict Pond, if you find these campgrounds are all gone.
NewtonCourt, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire: Glen River Loop Road, White Mountain National Forest
New Hampshire's White Mountains are particularly stunning during the fall season, so there's never been a better time to explore the Glen River Loop Road's free campsites. You've got 750,000 acres to play with in White Mountain National Forest, where you can wild camp pretty much anywhere as long as you're 200 feet or more from trails and bodies of water. The Glen River Loop Road is a popular free campsite with 11 free sites that are accessible from late May to late October, but are closed for the winter.
Jiaqian AirplaneFan, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Vermont: Somerset Airfield Campground, Green Mountain National Forest
Located in southern Vermont near the town of Searsburg, the Somerset Airfield has been converted into a free campground with few amenities. These dozen spots are located mere steps from the Somerset Reservoir, which features hiking trails around it.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wikimedia Commons
Maine: Round Barn Campsite, Bigelow Preserve
Those in Maine are often spoiled for choice when it comes to naturally beautiful campgrounds. However, the Round Barn Campsite in the Bigelow preserve is something else: 10, free first-come-first-serve sites are located off a highly-accessible gravel road known as East Flagstaff Road, north of Carrabassett Valley. Flagstaff Lake is right on your doorstep at the Round Barn Campsite, with 20,000 acres to explore and hundreds of miles of hiking trails, the Bigelow Preserve is special.
These Outdoor Enthusiasts Sued The Government
This is one lawsuit worth noting in the context of free camping on public lands. Recreation.gov is an app and website that is supposed to act as a national portal for accessing activities held on public lands.
In February 2023, seven outdoor enthusiasts sued the federal government and their contractor, Booz Allen, alleging that hundreds of "junk" fees were charged to users of the recreation.gov website and app. App users, according to a class-action lawsuit, are suing Booz Allen for $5 million in damages.
Have you been to any of these free campsites in your state? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
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