US Forest Service
Learn about camping and boondocking in national forests and grasslands.
Javelina Designated Camping Area, Sedona, AZ
Javelina Designated Camping Area, Sedona, AZ Javelina Designated Camping Area, situated west of Sedona, AZ, within Coconino National Forest, offers a mixed camping experience. The campground seems to draw a steady crowd, requiring you to get here early to secure a site. Despite the popularity, spaces appear to be relatively plentiful, though there are reports of a few long-term residents, potentially impacting availability. The atmosphere at Javelina is described as a mix of natural beauty and occasional disturbances. While the stunning sunset views and starry nights receive praise, insect presence, specifically flies and gnats, can be bothersome during meal times. ... Read more
Homestake Pass Dispersed Area, Butte, MT
Homestake Pass, Montana, Camping At 6,400 feet elevation, Homestake Pass Rd heads north from I-90 towards Delmoe Lake about 7 miles away. The road itself follows the much documented Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Along this route towards the lake, you will find numerous places to pull in trailer or set up a tent. The largest and most popular place to camp is only 1/4 mile from I-90. It’s a clearing that doubles as both a campground and OHV staging area. There’s enough room here for about 12 large fifth wheel trailers and tow vehicles, and maybe double that if you ... Read more
Greasy Spoon Designated Camping Area, Sedona, AZ
Greasy Spoon Designated Camping Area, Sedona, AZ Crowdedness: The campground’s popularity is evident, with reports of high occupancy levels. Some visitors found the area to be busy, though it tends to vary from mid-week to weekend. The road leading to the campground, FR-525, can be congested, and campers should be prepared for a competitive environment. Noise Level: Reports on noise levels vary. While road noise from occasional commercial vehicles is mentioned, some campers found the area surprisingly quiet and peaceful, particularly in the evenings and at night. However, a few noted disturbances from nearby cattle. Cellular Phone Signal: Verizon and T-Mobile tends to ... Read more
Goff Flat Yellow Post Site
Goff Flat Yellow Post Site, Idyllwild, CA Campsite is suitable for any sized RV. How Crowded: This site is lesser known, but still seems to be occupied more often than not. This is a great alternative to Thomas Mountain Yellow Post Site #1 How Noisy or Peaceful: Very peaceful here, and quite secluded. Not many people travel along Goff Flat Road. Cellular Phone Signal: Verizon and T-Mobile tends to come in okay, with AT&T struggling behind. Road Conditions: Goff Flat Road (Forest Road 6S53) is well-graded and suitable for any vehicle. Amenities Within Campground: Just picnic tables and fire rings. Cost of Camping: It’s free to camp ... Read more
Forest Road 904, Decatur, TX
Forest Road 904, LBJ National Grasslands, TX Nestled within the heart of North Texas, the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grasslands sprawl across a vast expanse of nearly 20,250 acres, offering a serene retreat for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the grasslands provide a harmonious blend of diverse scenery, pristine lakes, abundant wildlife, and a variety of recreational opportunities. Forest Road 904 provides a handful of boondocking sites, most notably the camping loop depicted in the map above. The USFS has blocked off other areas along the road, but these sites still remain open. ... Read more
Forest Road 689, Oak Creek, AZ
Forest Road 689, Oak Creek, AZ Crowd Density: Forest Road 689, starting from Exit 298 at the south end to Exit 306 at the north end is often crowded due to Coconino NF officials having shut down all dispersed camping in and around Sedona and Oak Creek. Arriving in the evening may leave you without any camp sites along Forest Road 689. Noise Levels: Noise can be bothersome in some areas, particularly where campsites are close together. Otherwise, in most cases, it remains fairly calm. Cellular Signal Strength: Connectivity from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T remains average to good along much of the road. ... Read more
Forest Road 120A, Oak Creek, AZ
Forest Road 120A, Oak Creek, AZ Forest Road 120A, is located within Coconino National Forest, about 5 miles from Oak Creek, AZ. It’s a dirt road that winds through scrub and chaparral. It runs about 1 mile north, becoming increasingly bumpy and rutted, requiring 4WD and high clearance vehicles. The few sites closest to Beaver Flats Road are suitable for 2WD motorhomes and trucks pulling trailers. Cellular Signal: Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T is reachable, though signal strength is weak. Trash: Sites closer to Beaver Flats Road sees more trash laying around to heavier campsite use.
Firehole Canyon Beach, Flaming Gorge, WY
Firehole Canyon, Dispersed Camping, Flaming Gorge, WY There isn’t any “bad” place for camping at Flaming Gorge. However, there are some really spectacular places. Firehole Canyon is one of them. It’s located in the northern portion of Flaming Gorge, just north of where the Green River empties into the main body of the Gorge. It lies nestled between sandstone walls, offering fascinating views of chimney-like rock formations. It’s not busy here either. In fact, there’s plenty of available boondocking space. One of the best reasons to camp here is that it’s accessed mostly by paved road. Flaming Gorge Road (FR ... Read more
East Flats Road
East Flats Road, San Bernardino NF How Crowded: This area gets heavily used during the warmer months, though there are plenty of campsites that it’s unlikely you’ll get denied. How Noisy or Peaceful: Weekends can get noisy from numerous campers throwing parties through the night. During the week, it’s far more peaceful. Cellular Phone Signal: Weak signal from all three carriers. Road Conditions: Hard packed dirt & gravel all the way in, 2WD vehicles are fine. Site are large enough for any sized RV. Amenities Within Campground: None. Cost of Camping: It’s free to camp at these sites, first come, first serve. Campfires: Campfires are allowed ... Read more
Cougar Dispersed Camping Area, Ketchum, ID
Cougar Dispersed Camping Area, Ketchum, ID Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) covers a large area of land with hundreds of options for boondocking and developed camping. The most popular area to camp is along the North Fork of the Big Wood River, at a place the Forest Service has named, “Cougar Dispersed Camping Area”. Cougar starts where the North Fork Visitor Center is located, right at the intersection of SR-75 and and FR-146. When driving north from Ketchum, you’ll see a sign for “SNRA Headquarters”. If you keep going up FR-146, it turns into gravel. The road runs for about 5 miles ... Read more
