Want to camp for free? You’re in luck! There are states where boondocking and free camping gives you access to amazing spots to park your RV or pitch your tent. From desert sunsets to mountain views, these states with free camping will give you the perfect outdoor adventure on any budget.
1. Idaho
Idaho ranks among the best states for boondocking and might surprise you with how much free camping it has available. About 62% of the state is public land, which means you have tons of options for setting up camp. This makes Idaho one of the best states for free camping in the western United States. The state sits right between Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Wyoming, making it a perfect stop on any road trip through the northwest.
You’ll find great boondocking spots in places like the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where Forest Road 146 leads to dozens of beautiful campsites along the Big Wood River. The Treasure Valley area near Boise also has plenty of spots for RVers looking for a temporary home base.
What makes Idaho special is how peaceful it can be. Since it’s one of the least populated states in America, you’ll often have these gorgeous mountain and forest locations almost to yourself. Just make sure your vehicle can handle some bumpy dirt roads to reach the best spots.
2. Montana
Montana is one of the best states for free camping and lives up to its “Big Sky” nickname when it comes to boondocking opportunities. The state has huge national forests and well-maintained BLM lands that make it perfect for free RV camping. Whether you head north toward Glacier National Park or drive into the Bozeman area after visiting Yellowstone, you’ll find amazing dispersed camping options.
Popular spots include the Otter Creek Fishing Access Site near Big Timber, which sits right on the Yellowstone River. Campers love how easy it is to access with any size RV, and the gravel road down to the river is well-packed without big ruts or potholes.
The North Fork Road area near Columbia Falls gives you beautiful mountain views and is just 15 minutes from the West Glacier park entrance. Most sites come with fire rings, and you can stay up to 16 days in this area.
3. California
California ranks as one of the top states for free camping with an incredible 15 million acres of BLM land. This makes it one of the best states for boondocking, stretching from the southern deserts near Death Valley and Joshua Tree all the way up to the northern rainforests where the giant Redwoods grow. This huge variety means you can find the perfect weather and scenery no matter what time of year you visit.
Down south, places like Fossil Falls Dry Lake Bed give you easy access just a mile off Highway 395. The road is good, the land is flat, and many campers say they feel like they hit the jackpot when they find this spot.
In the Death Valley area, The Pads campground sits on old concrete patios from an abandoned housing project. It’s about 25 minutes from Death Valley National Park and sits 3,000 feet higher than the valley floor, making it 15 to 20 degrees cooler. The star viewing here is incredible, with shooting stars and planets clearly visible on clear nights.
4. New Mexico
New Mexico is among the best states for dispersed camping and truly earns its nickname as the “Land of Enchantment,” especially for free camping. The state’s high elevation makes it tricky for winter camping, but spring and fall weather can be absolutely perfect for boondocking adventures.
Angel Peak Campground near Bloomfield gives you amazing views of Angel Peak and the badlands below. The grounds are well cared for, and the road is better than most BLM areas with this level of scenery and privacy. It makes a great base for visiting Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the Bisti Badlands.
Chosa Campground near Carlsbad sits perfectly between Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. Campers rave about the incredible sunrises and sunsets, plus you can get supplies, showers, and laundry done at the RV park in White’s City just 5 minutes away.
5. Texas
Texas stands out among states with free camping by giving you a completely different camping experience with hundreds of miles of beaches and thousands of acres of publicly-managed land. While Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains national parks have small fees, you can still find great dispersed camping spots throughout the state.
Sam Forse Collins Recreational Park in Burkeville provides beachside camping with plenty of space and even free hot showers. Sure, the facilities aren’t fancy, but you get what you don’t pay for, and many campers say this is the best free camping spot they’ve found.
Magnolia Beach Camping near Port Lavaca puts you just 20 feet from the water. The area has both tent and RV spaces, clean restrooms, and it’s especially popular around holidays like July 4th for family fun. Some campers end up staying for weeks because the location and price can’t be beat.
6. Colorado
Even with more tourists visiting Colorado these days, it remains one of the best states for free camping in the mountains. You can still find beautiful dispersed camping spots that work great as a base for all kinds of outdoor activities. Rocky Mountain National Park is nearby for epic adventures, and the mountain scenery is hard to beat anywhere else among states with free camping.
Lizard Head Pass Dispersed Camping near Ophir gets called “the best boondocking spot ever” by many campers. The BLM manages a pretty large area that can fit campers and rigs of all sizes, and the mountain views are spectacular.
Madden Peak Road Dispersed Camping near Hesperus is perfect for people who work remotely while camping. Each campsite is separated by woods and boulders for privacy, and the cell phone service is strong enough to run a mobile hotspot for work. The area is open from late April to December.
7. Utah
Utah ranks among the top states for boondocking with its landscape of red rocks, forested mountains, lakes, and rivers that comes with tons of free camping opportunities throughout the entire state. The scenery here is so unique that many people plan entire road trips just to see Utah’s natural wonders and take advantage of the excellent dispersed camping.
Old Highway 89 Dispersed Camping near Mount Carmel works perfectly for visiting Zion National Park and the Kanab area. Campers love the sunset views on the mountains every night and morning walks through the forest with their dogs.
Parowan Gap Petroglyphs Dispersed Camping near Cedar City has stunning views everywhere you look. There’s a historic petroglyph site with a short hike, and camping spots are so abundant that you can pretty much camp anywhere and everywhere in the area.
8. Wyoming
Wyoming is definitely one of the best states for free camping, with boondocking opportunities almost everywhere you go. It’s easy to find beautiful areas without many people around, making it perfect for those seeking solitude. While Yellowstone National Park gets most of the attention, you can continue south into the Wind River Range and see snow-capped peaks for much of the year.
All four of Wyoming’s national forests allow dispersed camping, and there’s free camping near both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Spread Creek Dispersed Campsite #4 near Moose only requires 2 miles of good gravel road to reach, and it has lots of spaces for any size RV.
Lewis Park Campground in Wheatland sits right in the city park and has about 15 RV camping spots, some with electric hookups. The area also has mini golf, basketball courts, tennis courts, a small skate park, baseball fields, and a playground for families.
9. Washington
Washington is among the best states for boondocking and manages over 16 million acres of BLM public land together with Oregon, giving you incredible variety from coastal areas to mountain forests. While some developed camping areas charge fees, dispersed camping on public lands stays free, making Washington a top choice for budget-conscious campers.
The state works great for people with different camping styles since you can find everything from beach camping to high mountain spots. Veterans with service-related disabilities and active military on official leave can get special passes for free camping in Washington state parks too.
Many of the BLM areas follow the standard 14-day stay limit, and after that time you need to move at least 25 miles away to find a new campsite. The variety of landscapes means you can easily find a different type of scenery just by driving a short distance.
10. Arizona
Arizona rounds out our list of the best states for free camping by giving you one-of-a-kind desert landscapes. You can easily escape cold winter weather by heading south to this boondocking paradise. Much of Arizona is public land managed by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service, with dispersed camping available in many locations throughout this top state for free camping.
Indian Bread Rocks near Bowie takes you off the beaten path with stunning sunrises and the sounds of coyotes in the morning. The area isn’t too crowded, and you can get solid cell phone service for working and streaming video.
Coconino Rim Road Dispersed Camping near the Grand Canyon has lots of big spaces for large RVs and trailers over 40 feet long. Some spots sit right across from lookout towers, which are amazing for sunsets and serve as starting points for multiple trails in the Kaibab National Forest.