Free Camping in Arizona

200 sites across 8 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

Bureau of Land Management sites

104 sites. Bureau of Land Management camping rules →

  • Ag Fields Group Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Agua Fria National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Airstrip Group Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arizona National Scenic Trail
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arrastra Mountain Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aubrey Peak Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baboquivari Peak Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Baker Canyon Wilderness Study Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Balance Rock Cove Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bass Bay 1 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bass Bay 2 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bass Isle Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bear Springs Badlands
    Developed· Indexing
  • Betty's Kitchen Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area and National Recreation Trail
    Developed· Indexing
  • Big Horn Mountains Wilderness
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bighorn Point 1 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bill Williams 1 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bill Williams 2 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bill Williams 3 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bill Williams 4 Shoreline Campsite
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bill Williams River
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bill Williams River Locality
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon National Recreation Trail
    Developed· Indexing
80 more Bureau of Land Management sites in Arizona.

Bureau of Reclamation sites

1 site. Bureau of Reclamation camping rules →

  • Davis Dam
    Developed· Indexing

National Park Service sites

16 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Antelope Point RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arizona Trail Thru Hiker Overnight Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • Beehives Primitive Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bonita Canyon Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bright Angel Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Canyon de Chelly National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Carl Hayden Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chiricahua National Monument
    Developed· Indexing
  • Chiricahua National Monument Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Coronado National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Coronado National Memorial Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cottonwood Campground
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Douglas Spring
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Fort Bowie National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fort Bowie National Historic Site Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing

PRIVATE sites

47 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • 195 Camping Area
    Developed· Indexing
  • Airplane Flat Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alamo Canyon Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alpine Divide Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Alpine Village RV Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aspen Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Aspen Campground - East Fork Black River
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Canyon Rim Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blackhawk Loop Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Blue Ridge Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bonito Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bouse - Plomosa Rd
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bouse Community Park Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Brookchar Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buffalo Crossing
    Developed· Indexing
  • Burnt Corral Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Avalon
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Levi Levi
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Saguaro
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Wamatochick
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canyon Point Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canyon View Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cave Springs Campground
    Developed· Indexing
23 more PRIVATE sites in Arizona.

State Agency Program sites

1 site. State Agency Program camping rules →

  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
    Developed· Indexing

US Army Corps of Engineers sites

1 site. US Army Corps of Engineers camping rules →

  • Alamo Lake
    Developed· Indexing

US Forest Service sites

26 sites. US Forest Service camping rules →

  • APACHE MAID CABIN
    Developed· Indexing
  • APACHE TROUT CAMPGROUND
    Developed· Indexing
  • Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
    Developed· Indexing
  • Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Christmas Tree Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • ASPEN (AZ)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bartlett Marina
    Developed· Indexing
  • BENNY CREEK GROUP AREA
    Developed· Indexing
  • Bonanza Bill Trailhead
    Developed· Indexing
  • BROOKCHAR
    Developed· Indexing
  • Burnt Corral Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • C C C (AZ) Tonto NF
    Developed· Indexing
  • Call of the Canyon Picnic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canelo Ranger Office
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canelo Ranger Residence
    Developed· Indexing
  • CANYON POINT
    Developed· Indexing
  • Canyon Vista
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cholla Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • CHRISTOPHER CREEK
    Developed· Indexing
  • Coconino National Forest Christmas Tree Permit
    Developed· Indexing
  • Coconino National Forest Recreation
    Developed· Indexing
  • CRESCENT MOON RANCH CABIN
    Developed· Indexing
  • Crescent Moon Wedding Reservations
    Developed· Indexing
  • DEMOTTE
    Developed· Indexing
  • Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River
    Developed· Indexing
2 more US Forest Service sites in Arizona.

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

4 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Arizona

How long can you camp on public land in Arizona?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Arizona is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Arizona have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Arizona right now?
Fire restrictions in Arizona change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Arizona state office page and the USFS Arizona forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Arizona?
Dispersed camping in Arizona means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. BLM land in Arizona carries most of the dispersed sites. USFS national forests in Arizona allow dispersed camping along MVUM-marked roads. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Arizona?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Arizona with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Arizona prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Arizona?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Arizona when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Arizona are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Arizona in winter?
Winter access in Arizona depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Arizona often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Arizona?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Arizona do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Arizona?
Coverage in Arizona varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Arizona sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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