California’s camping landscape ranges from crowded RV parks charging $50 per night to remote dispersed sites where you’ll pay nothing and see nobody. Free camping—often called boondocking or dispersed camping—lets you experience California’s diverse terrain without the reservations, crowds, or fees that plague state and national parks.
You’ll sacrifice amenities like showers and electricity, but gain solitude and save money for other parts of your trip. Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service offer most free opportunities.
Here is a list of 15 free camping spots in California.
Alabama Hills, Lone Pine
The Alabama Hills provide stunning camping beneath the Sierra Nevada’s eastern slope with Mount Whitney looming behind. Hundreds of dispersed sites are scattered among the rock formations where you can camp free for up to 14 days…