Best Places to Camp for Free in California

[@Kya_._Papaya]

As a resident of Bishop, CA I live out of my van and am constantly picking up broken glass, bullet casings, toilet paper, dog poop, and a lot of trash on the BLM land out here. From Alabama hills(not too bad) up to the Glass Creek area please be respectful and clean up after yourselves. The Glass Creek area has trash all over it by the end of summer. A lot of it comes from the ATV crowd(most are good people... but as always there are a few bad apples that ruin it). Also please don't be afraid to help pick up other people's trash to help out. This is the most amazing place on earth out here so let's keep it that way.🙏🏽

[@Campendium]

"Please don't be afraid to help pick up other people's trash to help out. This is the most amazing place on earth out here so let's keep it that way.🙏🏽" - AGREED! For more information on conservation and stewardship of campsites (which Campendium is committed to): www.campendium.com/camping/category/sustainability/

[@pmp521]

Thank you for what you do and agree people should be respectful and clean up after themselves. Will also start picking up trash while hiking

[@andrewyi4477]

Thanks man, I hope I could visit that part of cali one day.

[@Ruthie888]

Thank you for picking up after the careless. I was always taught to do that too, even in my own urban neighborhood. The more we do that as a world community, the more blessed all will be. Great job.

[@stevetaylor4281]

Also from Bishop, getting sick of how people who FREE camp trash the Eastern Sierra.

[@jinjulee4356]

1)1:12 Joshua tree 2)1:54 Alabama 3)2:50 Sawtooth canyon 4)3:33 The pads 5)4:23 America girl mine road 6)4:56 Keysville north rec(Trees&water) 7)5:34 Glass creek campground(trees&water) 8)5:58 Owens River road dispersed 9)6:31 William hills rec 7:12 Find more free campground of CA

[@socalpilotjin3720]

감사합니다 이진주씨

[@markthompson7503]

Perfect.....

[@D-Harb]

Glass Creek is whispering my name!!

[@Nomaswearefull]

You can pitch your tent on the sidewalk in any town in CA

[@runecscapeman]

Not anymore

[@Atmosphere90]

😅

[@ArthurB26]

This aged like milk lol

[@jaycelcelestino4778]

😂

[@Veronica_and_Gang]

Alabama Hills is reservation only now, but still free. Over half of the campsites have been closed. We were just there end of March '23.

[@xfirehurican]

I've lived in Joshua Tree since 2012 and just found your site. Heading out to the Eastern Sierras tomorrow morning and Campendium will be my full-time guide! Thanks! ❤

[@danc1197]

The high desert off of hwy 395 east of Lassen peak is awesome for big sky night views. Just north of where 395 leaves Reno and goes back into California north of the split.

[@HazMat1012]

Anza-Borrego is a great place. The reason I haven't tried anywhere else is the rules aren't always the best/easy to figure out or it's crowded. Anza-Borrego is so expanse it's possible to get away or be in an area with other people. And the rules are super easy to follow

[@TouchofDepth]

It is awesome

[@MotoNCorps]

Hey, anyone that hasn't done boondocking before be prepared before just driving out to these spots. Have a plan and place to go for medical emergencies. No cell service should be assumed before going to enjoy these gorgeous yet unforgiving lands.

[@Campendium]

Absolutely! We have more info and tips for dispersed camping/boondocking here: www.campendium.com/camping/?s=boondocking

[@anonamoose1891]

Yes!!!! If you can bring it with you, you can bring it home or to a trash can! Please take care of our beautiful state guys! If you see trash pick it up.

[@Campendium]

♻️ ❤️

[@nathanielregierdp]

I'm here casually watching this and then my name pops up in a review! Haha, great spots, thanks guys

[@Campendium]

That's awesome! Thanks for contributing! 😊

[@swagman556]

Wow. Community.

[@neoudi2024]

That’s funny 😁

[@cramirez9944]

What minute

[@NinaRosesFoster]

California is really an amazing place, took my breath away

[@magalyrodriguez8309]

Thank you so much to cheer everything where I'm staying right now to Joshua Tree is like an hour and a half I might shake it out that place🚚🇺🇸😍😍

[@Campendium]

Enjoy! 🏜

[@magalyrodriguez8309]

😍😍🚚🇺🇸

[@jimc.6127]

A very informative vid. I live in the Central Coast and r.v. camping is expensive and booked. Travel within California and the price of fuel is also a factor. Thanks for sharing free camping when many others don't.

[@Campendium]

Happy (free) camping!

[@pmp521]

I would second Alabama Hills. I was just there last week and it was beautiful. Your backdrop is Mt. Whitney and Eastern Sierras

[@Campendium]

It's an awesome spot for sure. Enjoy!

[@shawnbreshears1102]

The shot at :10 looks like the drive from Big Pine towards Dyer NV. The road goes down to one lane through the narrow canyons and then spills out to one of the longest, straightest, loneliest stretches (17 miles) I’ve ever driven.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

I do it infantry style less than 18 inches off ground. In and out at dark dusk dawn. Pack everything out. 4x4 jeep 2dr so drive up where most can't or won't. Know the areas thoroughly though so that helps.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

395 plenty of camping except 4th. Mono Pass behind Tom's is madhouse on weekends now. Taboose is great pass less busy. 9 miles up though.

[@mikecowboygilbert9944]

Grow up in Alabama hills , lone pine mount Whitney lone pine creek Kennedy meadows back in the day when had movie theater nights. Fishing and camping kern river.

[@kerriskaraoke]

Kerri River? Where?

[@toddshook1765]

Thanks for sharing these spots. Most are very close from my home.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

On coast I go Nascimento road from hunter Piggott side. On coast at end left is SanSimeon Cambria right Ragged point sand dollar beach. Then of course rest up to Carmel, 9 miles south of Monterey. Those are biggest coves on coast. Marine reserve. North of Monterey is nice beach. In Oregon I stay between Dunes Florence and Yachats.

[@EffieG-ez9tf]

Thanks for sharing this video of good camping sites in California. We hope to visit at least one or two.

[@brianbeattyphotography]

lots of great ideas! Will definitely be making a trip up to photograph Mammoth region this summer, so will check some of these out.

[@Campendium]

Have a great time! 🏔

[@broinsocali]

New to car camping. Working my way to this type of camping.

[@unburriedtalents599]

Your videos are so helpful and legit. We had a great stay in Hurricane Cliffs in Utah last week! I'm hoping to find a good free camping spot on the central (CA) coast. Bless you guys!

[@Campendium]

So glad to hear they are helpful! If you're interested in seeing nearly all of the free (and paid) sites in the U.S., head to www.campendium.com and start search the places you want to be! - Liz

[@awitnessuntoallnations]

Well done! Very helpful when planning a trip to these places and can see why these camping locations made the list. Had the opportunity to visit the June Lake area in the Eastern Sierras for the first time in January. Already talking about going back! After watching this, would like to check out Keysville. Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@Campendium]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Happy planning - and travels!

[@robsomerton7390]

As a Mendocino local, thanks for sharing none of our boondocking spots.

[@RVAmerica]

These look amazing! I can't believe they were all free! Good share. Lynn and Danny

[@Campendium]

Happy travels!

[@realtorhectorreyes9785]

Can't wait to explore those camps! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@Campendium]

Absolutely! Happy camping!

[@Fizzled_89]

The best ones are the ones kept between family and friends.

[@LandElevated]

We’re glad that we found your channel! Your videos are awesome. You have a lot of creative ideas and we want to share them with our customers. We sell land close to camping areas. And we’re always on the lookout for channels like yours where we can send our customers to get awesome ideas for their next adventure.

[@jenniferknight66]

Thank you for making this video!

[@Campendium]

Glad it was helpful!

[@helenpomerleau6455]

So glad you have left out Northern Ca

[@Kya_._Papaya]

Lucky! As if we need any more campers at Alabama hills and Owens valley...😒

[@lucasjackson2022]

How’re you Helen?

[@mariettawarkentin2799]

Had downloaded “Campendium” on my phone last fall, so excited to watch this!

[@Campendium]

📱 🏕 ❤️

[@volocty]

Thanks, always good info!

[@luperamos7307]

Where do you camp for free in the Alabama Hills? I went all over the place and just kept on seeing signs that overnight camping is not allowed. So my only option was to get one of the two campgrounds further west.

[@coachprescott72]

They just updated it and limited camping there:(

[@luperamos7307]

@@coachprescott72 Thx for letting me know. Never made sense to me why everyone claimed camping there was free.

[@eugenethejeep9179]

Might as well skip Alabama Hills. The majority has been redesignated day use only. Sights are few and hard to find now. Very sad.

[@BadHikers]

Such a great video!! We had actually never heard of Campendium!! So helpful for our roaming hiking ways!! Thanks for the help!

[@Campendium]

Our pleasure! Glad you found us - head over to www.campendium.com if you're looking to search for, and/or review campsites!

[@BadHikers]

@@Campendium Already there scoping it out!! Thanks for such a great resource! We will be regulars before long!

[@mariselaguarcas3283]

Me gusta como esta el paisaje es muy bonito

[@sluggotinfantryman]

On west side. Sierra if at Oakhurst I spend weekend at Clover Meadow. Area. I never sleep in NPS. ever. Worked at Yosemite Rocky Yellowstone Teton and BLM AZ STRIP. Canaveral Seashore. Yellowstone I sleep in Beartooth. Teton just drive out toward Dubois into NF. Wind rivers have roads lake at South end Lander side. Dirt road goes on west side from south. Comes out in Pinedale.WY. Loop from Jackson around Yellowstone is 330 miles from Jackson around wind rivers 460 miles. Around Death Valley and down middle 900 miles lol. 😅

[@ModestBoxBread]

Wow thanks so much for this! Definitely will visit these locations

[@Campendium]

😃 Enjoy!

[@meatdog]

Wiw, thanks for all the places you reviewed.

[@erykasoto3749]

I saw no free beach camp spots. You should make a video of just beach spots in CA.

[@ayakwalker]

Can y’all do Orange County, or la county? This is way out of my region

[@thisnameinvolved]

Thanks! Great list, just in time for my vacation.

[@Campendium]

Have a great trip!

[@eeepee842]

Thank you for sharing. We’re definitely going to check out these places. Great for social distancing.

[@Campendium]

Looking forward to your reviews when you do. Happy camping!

[@MrMrsregor]

these places will all be packed now that 45,000 people have all watched this video and are now planning to go there... good luck social distancing at a place that is advertised on the internet. all of my local spots have been whored out by the bloggers and social media and now way to busy to enjoy, nothing but out of towners and lots of trash left behind :(

[@carmenmartinez2882]

@@MrMrsregor I feel the same way. Is like advertising these beautiful places so the bloggers can make money. Many of my favorites places have been ruined now and many have been shot down.

[@mickeyflores5331]

Doesnt the rake make joshua tree its home??

[@johnemanolis]

Can't wait to hit the road again.

[@christopherdaly1399]

Thanks for posting. Really good tips

[@Campendium]

Glad you found it helpful. Happy camping!

[@alicehallam8247]

I do pick up other's trash. Even in my home neighborhood. Some don't appreciate the gift of beauty that the natural world offers us every day.

[@Campendium]

Thank you ♻️

[@victorrafa6540]

Thank you. Do you make any type of reservation of just show up for these?

[@Campendium]

You'll want to check the requirements for a specific campsite you're interested in before arrival (links to Campendium review pages for each with more info are available above).

[@juliovasquez6010]

Hermosa vista

[@joshakaoger69]

Last one sounds nice new to this and actually have a car now that can make it placed 🤘 for these free ones do I need anything or to sign up someplace or?🤷🤔

[@Campendium]

No need to sign up anywhere! You can learn more about boondocking here: www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/

[@yoban2000]

Are reservations required or recommended? I’ve been looking online but they are booked and over priced. Thanks

[@nickt9467]

Glass Creek was the farthest north on this list by a country mile. Is Campendium based in LA and/or focused on southern CA camping?

[@Campendium]

The Campendium team consists of mostly full-time campers. The locations in this video are based on the top reviews on Campendium and just happen to be in the middle and southern part of the state. Check out www.campendium.com to search for great campsites in the areas you are most interested in. Happy camping! 🌄

[@aerohk]

Sounds like they are they all in and around SoCal? Nothing in North Cal?

[@Campendium]

You can find more great free camping locations across the state of California here: www.campendium.com/california/free-camping Happy camping - Liz

[@marcelasaloj8803]

Preciso lugar

[@franciscasaquic7247]

Hermoso lugar

[@syedjavedahmad9719]

Thank you very much for the review.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Movie road is over run. Was amazed at how many vehicles piled in. Inyo County took over Independence and other LA County campgrounds. I didn't know it was permitted now 23. Just drove to the top of last big hill. I sleep on ground. Jeep 2 door. Use vault toilets. Slept up at White Mountain 12800. Open other vehicles. There is a vault toilet now. I sleep at Grant Lake peninsula at dark. Windy so no mosquitoes if blowing. Get up at dawn. Drive up to Yosemite. T Meadows put each night. If someone is with me. Go to Lake Mary. Mammoth has everything. Pay. I go in at dark. Dusk. Leave at dawn. Off 395.

[@jeremiasbulux963]

Que impresionante

[@Yotrek]

I stayed at Keysville a couple nights ago. Doing cold water therapy at the local hot springs. Didn't like it. Within minutes of pulling in after dark somebody was rustling around my rear cargo box. Then searched online and read similar reports.

[@Campendium]

Sorry to hear that. We'd love for you to share your experience over on www.campendium.com.

[@ingricarrillo242]

Que lindo paisaje 🤗🤗🤗🤗😍🥰💥👏

[@kirstylim4500]

Thank you for sharing!

[@Campendium]

It's what we do! Happy camping!

[@amaliasaquic4589]

Lugares espléndidos

[@isis50590]

Bonjour, i have a question, i am starting to plan my road trip on your beautiful west coast, i will rent a small camper van or a car i can sleep in, my question is, is there toilet on free camp site? i will obviously to need to do my business but don't want to dirty mother nature. I don't know how your camping site work in US. merci

[@Campendium]

The availability of toilet facilities is dependent on the camping location. There are also many solutions for leaving no trace in regard to human waste. We address the issue in this article on dispersed boondocking: go.campendium.com/leave-no-trace-boondocking/ - Liz

[@isis50590]

@@Campendium thanks Liz!

[@alejandropichol2050]

Que bonito lugar

[@mikecowboygilbert9944]

Alabama hills camping 27 years ago Awesome

[@yojanalopez9265]

Un video con una información muy importante 👍👍👍👌

[@deisymaldonado4072]

Excelente material 👍 👌

[@isaurasay9323]

Son lugares hermosos

[@chrisadamson9556]

Pronounced PASA Row-bows. Pasa Robles

[@nefarious8066]

What would anyone recommend for a kinda colder fresh feel camping spot, closer to Fresno?

[@Campendium]

Head over to www.campendium.com to search and read reviews for camp spots in that area! 🥶

[@jasoncollins7875]

camping at Keysville is very sketchy, you dont want to leave your car there unattended because it will get broken into. each time we camp there the ranger comes around and tells us to be careful cause there is a group of homeless drug attics that live near by and will wonder the campground breaking into cars. we left for the day one time and came back and one of the homeless guys was sitting in our campground and he had gone in our coolers and made himself some food and got a beer and was just sitting in our camping chairs like it was his spot.

[@antoniotellez8461]

So basically anywhere in the middle of the desert?

[@Campendium]

There is a vast amount of land set aside for public use - some of it in desert climate. Be sure to check land use maps before scouting a new campsite, and stick to camping in previously disturbed areas. Campendium provides public land map overlay to supporters: www.campendium.com/camping/perks-for-campendium-supporters-explained/

[@juanamacario7517]

Excelente trabajo

[@NomadicFrames]

Excellent! Please keep them coming.

[@Campendium]

We plan on it! 👍

[@evegem8978]

Which ones were in northern Cali

[@solitudeinthewild82]

Wow that is awesome camping! Very good video, really enjoyed it! Regards from Russian winter camping! Yury!

[@Campendium]

Enjoy! ☺️

[@antonietasaquic9784]

Bonitos paisajes

[@juliachox819]

Hermoso paisaje😀😀

[@juanpedrochararaju5144]

Excelente viaje

[@acspirit]

I walked from Los Angeles to Washington State.

[@Campendium]

Sounds like an adventure!

[@acspirit]

@Thomas Bailey nice drive. I took the greyhound bus from virginia through texas to los angeles. Back on the east coast now. The forest fire that I woke up in the middle of at Blue River was enough for me. Can't wait for a decent thunderstorm either. Something Oregon doesn't have many of.

[@m.angelixcol9923]

Lindos lugares

[@ryangreen6734]

How far is a real grocery store around here ?

[@jasonabraham5687]

Is it possible to go camping just using a suv

[@robsomerton7390]

Yes 💯

[@jasonabraham5687]

I mean a sedan

[@teresapicholmacario4479]

Me gusta en lugar

[@freetrailer4poor]

There is another disperse camping between Shaver and Huntington lakes.

[@Campendium]

Awesome! If we don't have a review page created for the spot yet over on www.campendium.com, we'd love for you to use our Add a Campsite form so we can create one 🗺

[@timothykieper]

What about any current travel restrictions in CA, especially from out of state?

[@Campendium]

We're keeping track of campsite closures here: www.campendium.com/camping/covid-19-state-by-state-campground-closures-responses/

[@explore4vidawithdennness513]

Love all these locations in California. This is definitely a list for us to explore. We enjoy camping and exploring. We loved your video and descriptions of the places. Awesome :)

[@Campendium]

Happy camping! 🏕

[@mariaineschoxcoj2240]

Exelente video

[@cherylduckworth8185]

Great info!

[@mojavemel]

I love Sawtooth but unfortunately there were a lot of boondockers last time I was there and they took up most of the spaces :/

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Keararge easy 6 miles up. Cottonwood Lakes you park at 10k no real elevation gain. White 7 miles up a road. 14252. Shepherd Pass is long hot tough. 12800 Duck Pass at Mammoth lakes is shorty one. Gould at Kearsarge 13000 fairly easy. Dana hot. Hot. Exposed. 13000. Great view. Electric Yellowstone awesome. My favorite Barronette Yellowstone from ice box canyon up ridge Big boy Tyndall Williamson area. Tyndall is good views. University is tougher. Sierra.

[@Srorsprimitive]

The place have beauty picture.

[@transcend3145]

Duration of longest camping stay at one spot?

[@Campendium]

Depends on the area, but most are a max of 14-16 days. You can find the most up-to-date stay limit info by contacting the land management body for an area - or heading over to their official website. Happy camping! 🚐

[@clintduplechain6942]

Nice vid. Thanks alot

[@campingenfamilia2020]

Wonderful video

[@mymansawyer]

Does your website have directions to these places as well???

[@Campendium]

We provide the coordinates of each campsite on Campendium so that you can find route that works best for your particular rig.

[@photobizmethod]

Nice info... thank you!

[@johnwilliams640]

Thank you. Sure did enjoy ya video.

[@Campendium]

You're welcome 🌈