Best Free Car Camping on the West Coast

We couldn’t put together this list without including Alabama Hills, one of our favorite free camping spots in our home state of California. Located in Lone Pine, along HWY 395, in the Eastern Sierras, Alabama Hills is one of the most interesting and beautiful places you could spend the night. Nestled beneath Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, this entire area is owned and managed by BLM, so you can camp anywhere you’d like that is off the road. There are hundreds of different little nooks beneath rock formations that make this the perfect car camping area. Make sure that you practice Leave No Trace principles, and pack out what you pack in. Fires are allowed unless otherwise specified. Try to keep your fires only in pre-made fire rings. There are no amenities at Alabama Hills, so make sure you bring everything you need (and pack everything out). Lone Pine is a short drive from the area though, so if you want to go out to eat, or need to grab anything from a store, you’ll easily be able to. During the summer, this area can get very hot during the day. We recommend checking out the 4-mile round trip trail to Lone Pine Lake to get out of the heat. The trail starts at the Whitney Portal, just above Alabama Hills. This area is also super popular among climbers and photographers - it’s an excellent spot for night photography on a clear night. If you don’t want to make your own food, there are several restaurant options in Lone Pine, as well as a grocery store. If you’re visiting on a weekday, we highly recommend checking out Tacos Los Hermanos Food Truck for some of the best tacos you may ever eat, north of the border. Also, try to catch at least one sunrise from Alabama Hills in your lifetime. The Alpenglow on the Sierras is unparalleled.

This dispersed campground is located up Prewitt Ridge Rd, which starts just past Plaskett Creek Campground (southbound) in Big Sur. The general Big Sur campgrounds tend to get booked up months in advance, and can be pretty pricy, so if you don’t mind dispersed camping, this ridge is a great option. It is highly recommended for only 4x4 or AWD vehicles because the road is not paved and can get a little rough, especially as you get higher up it. Camping is allowed on any pull off from the road, unless otherwise specified. Be sure to practice Leave No Trace when camping here, in respect to the locals who live on the road, and for the general public. This campsite will offer you access to Big Sur, but also will give you easy access to some of the hilltop trails above Big Sur, plus incredible views over the ocean, and if you’re lucky, some insane cloud inversions. There are no amenities available on the ridge, so bring everything you need (and pack everything out). This includes water, food, fuel, etc. Big Sur is also not an easy place to find things you might have forgotten, but if you do, you can drive to Monterrey, or down to San Simeon, or check out one of the small stores or restaurants connected to any of the hotels in Big Sur.

Located about a 15 minute drive from Mammoth Lakes, the Whitmore Hot Springs recreation area is a must do while visiting the Eastern Sierras, even if you aren’t camping. There are a number of hot spring pools in the area for you to explore. Some are easier to get to than others, depending on the type of vehicle you have. Most are accessible with 4x4 or AWD vehicles. The entire area is owned and operated by the Bureau of Land Management, so you can park and camp any where that is off a road. This means you can camp and wake up right next to some of California’s best natural hot springs, all while enjoying the incredible mountain views of the Eastern Sierras. Some areas may be more flat to park on than others, so you may want to bring some blocks to put under your tires if necessary. Campfires are allowed in fire rings or grills unless otherwise specified during fire season. Pets are allowed, but be respectful of others in the area. This area is pretty popular, and can get crowded. The only time you might be able to be alone in the hot springs is at sunrise. There are no amenities anywhere in Whitmore Hot Springs area, so make sure you bring everything you need (and pack everything out with you). If you forget anything, Mammoth Lakes is a short drive away and offers shops and restaurants.

This expansive camping area is located in Anza Borrego Desert State Park and is a great jumping off point for visiting Anza Borrego, Joshua Tree, the Salton Sea, or any part of Southern California’s desert. You won’t have to worry about crowds here, since the area is so big. Just pull your vehicle off the road on any of the pull outs and set up camp. Nearby you can find hiking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, and more. The night sky here is incredibly clear, so get ready for some epic stargazing. The further you drive in, the rougher and sandier the road gets, so keep that in mind depending on the type of vehicle you’re driving. There is very little shade here, so we recommend bringing some sort of tent to relax under, as well as our Luno Window Screens so that you can sleep with your windows open in the hotter months. Campfires are allowed in fire rings unless otherwise specified. There are no amenities at this campground, so make sure that you bring everything you need, pack everything out, and practice Leave No Trace. This area also has a lot of decent space to support larger groups for camping, if you’re looking to visit with a group of friends.

Most people think of lush forests and the coast when they think of camping in Oregon, but there’s a lot to be said for the high desert landscapes of Eastern Oregon. Follow Owyhee Lake Rd along the Owyhee River to find dispersed riverside camping spots that are owned and managed by BLM, and so free. You’ll be able to pull your vehicle up pretty close to the river in most places, and camp along side it. Camping here offers easy access to hiking, fishing, stargazing, rafting, and more. It is a bit of a desert landscape, so be aware of snakes. There are lots of places, so you’ll most likely be able to find a good one. There are no amenities or services nearby, so make sure that you bring everything you need, pack out everything you bring in, and practice Leave No Trace.

If you’re looking for a classic Oregon mountains camping trip, look no further. Mount Ashland Campground is a marked campground with regular campground amenities, and it’s free! This campground definitely has a remote feeling to it, but most of the sites are drive-in making it easy for you to car camp. In the Spring, expect wildflowers and excellent bird watching. In the summer, expect to see PCT campers, since this campground has direct access to the famous trail. The campground is first come first serve. Amenities at this campground include trash, picnic tables, vault toilets, and fire pits. Pets and alcohol are allowed. Be sure to practice Leave No Trace.

If you’re looking to soak in the popular Breitenbush Hot Springs before the crowds arrive, or if you’re just looking to get away from crowds in general in a beautiful place, Breitenbush Lake Campground is for you. The campground offers access to the Pacific Crest Trail, so you may encounter hikers if you visit during the summer. This campground has minimal facilities, with no trash pick up, so be sure to pack out everything you pack in and practice Leave No Trace. There are toilets and picnic tables at each site. Sites are first come first serve, but due to the drive, this campground rarely fills up. It’s recommended to have AWD or 4x4 wheels on your vehicle. You cannot swim in the lake here since it is located on the Warm Springs Reservation, and rules are stricter for swimming than on National Forest land.

Though this isn’t a set area for dispersed camping, you can pull over on the side of the road by Cook’s Chasm and Thor’s Well and spend the night listening to the sound of the waves crashing below you, or the occasional blow of Thor’s Well blowhole. Just make sure you don’t park anywhere that has a “No Overnight Parking” sign, and you’ll be good. This area of the coast tends to be less busy than the southern and northern areas. In Oregon, you can legally boondock (stay parked) for up to 12 hours in any spot as long as it’s not otherwise posted, or not in a state park. If you’re there on a moonless night, you may get lucky enough to see the phosphorescent glow on the waves. South of Cook’s Chasm there are a few day use areas which make for a good place to grab a picnic table and prepare breakfast in the morning, or dinner in the evening if you don’t have the full set up in your car. Nearby you’ll have easy access to incredible coastal views, beaches, hiking, fishing, and more. If you need any supplies, Yachats is the nearest town.

This campground consists of 59 sites located along the north fork of the Teanaway River in Washington State. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and there are toilets available for all campers. This campground is first-come-first-serve and sites are free with a Discover Pass (which can be purchased in the link provided). Most sites are drive up, so it’s perfect for car camping with your Luno gear. Make sure to practice Leave No Trace and pack out everything that you pack in. This campground sits on Department of Natural Resources Land, so it is not often maintained. If you forget anything, the campground is pretty close to the nearest town, Cle Elim, so you can pick up anything you might need. This campground is very woodsy and forested, and will make you feel like you’re in a secluded area. Pets and fires are allowed unless otherwise specified.

Located on the Olympic Peninsula, this campground is in a beautiful, lush old growth forest. The road to get here is windy and long, but that makes the campground an even more welcome site upon arrival. There are 21 marked sites on pull offs off the road, all good for car camping with your Luno Gear. This campground is completely free and first-come-first-serve. There are pit toilets available for visitors. Hiking trails will take you from the road into the forest if you’re keen on exploring. There are small foot paths that connect campsites, but each site is surrounded by trees and feels private.

This gorgeous Washington campground can actually only be reached when coming down through Canada, but it is still in Washington. This has to be one of the state’s most incredible free campgrounds, as it sits right on a beautiful alpine lake, surrounded by mountain peaks. All campsites are drive up making it the perfect spot to camp in your car with your Luno gear. It can get pretty bust in the summer, so if possible it’s a good idea to arrive during the week, instead of on a weekend. There is a boat launch if you have a boat, and the water gets warm enough in the summer for comfortable swimming. Each campsite has picnic tables and fire pits. There are also toilets and two running water faucets. Make sure you pack out everything you pack in, as there is no trash pickup here. There is absolutely no cell service, and the nearest services are a ways away, so make sure you have everything that you need. If you’re looking to fish, make sure you have the correct licenses.