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CALIFORNIA FREE CAMPGROUNDS
Highway Rest
Areas: Stays up to eight hours are
permitted. Many RVers stay the night at rest stops. But see
the warning below about this by a California Highway
Patrolman.
See
warning by a Highway Patrolman.
Wal-Mart stores.
Unless posted, RVers may spend the night for free in any
Wal-Mart parking lot. For a list of Wal-Mart stores that do
not permit free overnight stays, click here.
Northern California
Occidental
The Union Hotel offers some of the best Italian dining
in Northern California. RVers who partake of a meal at this
wonderful old hotel can park overnight in the parking lot.
Occidental is a picturesque little community inland from
Bodega Bay. No hookups. For more information call
707-874-3555.
Orick
Just south of Orick (between Crescent City and Eureka) on
US-101 is a free campground run by the state of California.
The camping spots are along the highway, between the highway
and the beach. There is no drinking water but
the state provides portable toilets. The state suggests a
donation of $5 per night. Although there is a lot of traffic
on the road during the day, there is little traffic after 10
p.m. so sleeping is no problem unless you are a light
sleeper. The scenery is great. -- A KESSLER
UPDATE 11-00: We
recently visited the Freshwater Lagoon Spit campground just
south of Orick Although it is currently a donation suggested
campground, after the first of the year (2001) the camping
fees will be mandatory. It is indeed a beautiful spot to
camp. Camping is limited to 15 nights at a time and 30
nights in a calendar year. There are both tent and RV
camping spaces. You are requested to park R's parallel to
the ocean and at least 30 feet west of the paved edge of Hwy
101. The crash of the surf helps cover the traffic noise
from 101. -- MICHELLE REOTT
Update: Jan, 2001:
Freshwater Lagoon Spit will revert to day use only sometime
in the Spring of 2003. -- The editor
Redding
The Win River Casino offers free overnight stays in its
parking lot. The casino is located west of I-5, north of
Anderson and south of Redding. Exit I-5 at Bonnyview Road
and travel south to the third street signal. Turn right and
you are there.
Ripon
Jimco Truck Plaza allows an overnight stay "as long as
it's in a parking space," according to the person we spoke
with. Look for Jimco at 1022 Frontage Road alongside
California Route 99.
Yreka
The Wal-Mart on the north end of town just west of I-5
allows overnight stays. Yreka is a good overnight stopping
point for RVers traveling north or south on I-5 between
California and Oregon or Washington. Yreka is near the very
northern border of California.
Central & east of the Sierra
Bakersfield vicinity
East of Bakersfield:
Hiway 58 just east of the intersection with Hwy 395 around
and behind the ARCO gas station. FREE parking. When we
were there, parked were everything from truck campers to
18 wheelers. Not fancy, but free. N. BURNS
Boron
"A rest area just outside of Boron, Calif., permits
overnighting. There are no hookups or dump, but it's
free." -- BOB IN CARMEL
Bridgeport
You can stay overnight
iat Busters Market which is along U.S. 395 in this
one-street town. There is a large parking lot on the west
side of the store, and a Texaco gas station across the
street with a dump station. There's a nearby laundry with
showers. Bridge is a good stopping point when traveling
between Northern and Southern California, and not far from
the best ghost town in the West, Bodie. (8-01)
Places to park overnight between Los Angeles
and Sacramento/San Francisco on I-5
The Apricot Tree
Restaurant, at exit 368 (north of the Coalinga exit)
allows RVers to stay overnight for free in its parking
lot. Be sure to order some apricot pie. A bit farther
south, Harris Ranch, at exit 333 (state route 198),
allows RVers to overnight for free in its quiet parking
lot between the hotel and restaurant (good food).
Lone Pine
Turtle Creek BLM campground is located off US-395, west of
Lone Pine. Go west about 3 miles on Whitney Portal Road,
turn left onto Horseshoe Meadows Road, just under 2 miles
turn right onto the campground road. There is water
available but is not tested and is not certified safe for
drinking. There is no charge for camping but they do
accept donations to help maintain the campground, water,
trees, etc. -- B. CASHMAN
Click to see a 360 degree
photo taken
Don Bain's Virtual Reality Panoramas!
Southern California
Adelanto (near
Victorville)
Adelanto allows overnight camping in its city park just
one short block off Highway 395. The restrooms are not the
cleanest I have ever seen but then, for that price, what
do you want? -- W. SCHAAFSMA
Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park
Twelve campgrounds are available in this huge park
(campsites are $7-$22 a night), but it is one of the few
California parks that allows free open camping throughout
its 600,00 acres. A daily park fee of $5 is required for
such primitive camping, and slightly more at designated
sites, so free is really "free," but five bucks isn't bad.
-- THE EDITOR
Baker
A large, free, overnight parking lot for trucks and
RVs isl ocated across the street from the Bun-Boy
Restaurant and Motel. It's right downtown -- can't miss
it. -- THE EDITOR
Death Vallley and
vicinity
 Free
camping areas between Las Vegas and Death Valley
Death Valley Junction
Actress/ballerina Marta Becket permits overnight RV
camping in the parking lot of her
Armagosa Opera House for a $2 donation. Be sure to see
her one-woman show, staged in the winter season only (too
hot in summer). And if you're interested in a really
unique experience, pop for a few bucks and stay in her
historic motel. -- THE EDITOR
Joshua Tree National
Park (29 Palms)
"Seventeen miles east of the Twentynine Palms on Highway
62 is the Star's Way Out Cafe. Owner Dave will let you
dry-camp on his property at no charge.If your rig is not
self-contained he will even leave the restroom open after
closing time." -- DUTCH
Niland/Slab City
Slab City, on the shores of the Salton City near Niland,
is a haven for boondockers. Camp for free forever here on
an abandoned military training center. Hundreds of RVers
hole up in the mild winter, many in organized groups with
special interests (single RVers, for example). Bring your
own water and power (solar panels are popular) and a
little extra cash to shop at the ongoing, informal swap
meet. Slab City isn't just a place, it's an experience. --
THE EDITOR
A READER RESPONSE ABOUT SLAB CITY (9-99): Your
suggestion of Slab City as an RV stop scares me a little.
Reading your post it seems like a pretty cool place to
stay. I would hate to be the person who sent an
unsuspecting elderly couple into this place. This is no
place for the average RV person to visit, let alone stay.
Needles
The city park by the old railroad station downtown
provides free overnight parking for self-contained RVs. --
THE EDITOR
Oceanside
A reader reported that the Oceanside Wal-Mart kicked
her out late at night. So avoid it. (7-00)
Dec. 2000: Replied a
reader named Kathleen: "But if you park at the the Sam's
Club right next to the Walmart in oceanside you will have
no problem. Actually it's inland a bit in the town of
Vista right off of Hwy 78 just east of Oceanside."
Palo Verdes
Palos Verde County Park
is three miles south of Palos Verdes on State Route 78. Up
to three days of free camping is permitted. Thirty sites
are available, 45 foot maximum on RVs. -- THE EDITOR
Pasadena
(Jan., 2001) A reader reports that it is illegal to
camp on city streets in Pasadena.
Santa Barbara/Malibu
Read a long letter from a reader: "For those of you
who are going to visit the Malibu-Santa Barbara coastline
in Southern California, there are several places to stay
free overnight.
(Read more)
Tecopa
Many RVers and tenters often camp on an open piece of BLM
land at the intersection of Tecopa Hot Springs Road and
Highway 127. There is a lot of free camping in this area.
Learn
more and see great photos. -- THE EDITOR
Walker Pass
A BLM campground is located on California route 178 east
approximately 30 miles past Lake Isabella; the campground
visible from the road. This is fairly close to U.S. 395
and Ridgecrest. -- THE EDITOR
A WARNING
FROM A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN:
"Overnighting at highway
rest stops in California: The law says "NO", but it really
becomes the discretion of the Patrol Officer, or Commander
for that area. Where we have high crime report activity we
will 'suggest' moving along. Some of our rest stops,
particularly those close to major metropolitan areas, are
prime "Gimme all your cash and credit cards!!" opportunities
for the missguided youth of the area. If you ARE going to
hole up there, make it one night only, lock every entry to
your coach to eliminate surprise visits, and don't open your
door for ANYONE except a law enforcement officer no matter
what the sob story, screaming or other enticement. We see a
lot of "Good Samaritan" robberies, where someone will knock
rapidly on the door late at night or early in the morning
and holler, "There's smoke and sparks coming from under your
***!!" Once you open the door to see what they're talking
about, you get shoved back to inspect the business end of
their weapon of choice. So.. don't overstay your welcome,
and....be careful! -- JIM IN SACRAMENTO, CHP. |
