Permit-Free Camping Near America's Best Hiking Destinations
A hand-researched directory that helps hikers, backpackers, and travelers find free, permit-free dispersed campsites near popular US hiking destinations.
Find Free Campsites Along Your Route
Enter a start and end point to see listed free campsites within about 15 miles of your driving route. Coordinates are approximate area centers, not exact GPS pins — always verify access with the local ranger district before you go.
Browse by Hiking Region
Shenandoah / Appalachian Trail, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park & Appalachian Trail (VA section)
Dispersed camping is allowed forest-wide outside developed recreation areas, with no permit required. 14-day stay limit, 100 ft from water.
4 free campsites listedWhite Mountains, New Hampshire
White Mountains (Franconia Ridge, Presidential Traverse, AT)
Dispersed camping allowed along many forest roads, no permit needed except a small self-pay parking fee on Tripoli Rd. Seasonal road closures (roughly late May–autumn).
3 free campsites listedRocky Mountain National Park area, Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park (Longs Peak, Bear Lake, Wild Basin)
No dispersed camping inside the park itself, but the surrounding National Forest allows free no-permit dispersed camping on both the east and west sides.
4 free campsites listedMoab / Arches & Canyonlands, Utah
Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Moab-area trails
No dispersed camping inside Arches or Canyonlands, and camping is restricted within ~20 miles of Moab. Free BLM dispersed camping is available further out along several well-known roads.
5 free campsites listedYosemite / Eastern Sierra, California
Yosemite National Park, John Muir Trail access points
No dispersed camping inside Yosemite outside wilderness permits. Free dispersed camping is available on the eastern side in Inyo NF and BLM land near Mono Lake; a free CA campfire permit is required for any open flame or stove.
3 free campsites listedMount Rainier / North Cascades, Washington
Mount Rainier NP, North Cascades NP
Not allowed inside the national parks, but surrounding National Forest land allows free no-permit dispersed camping. No pass needed for the campsite itself (only for parking at some fee trailheads).
3 free campsites listedZion National Park area, Utah
Zion National Park (Angels Landing, The Narrows, Kolob)
Free, no-permit BLM camping near the SR-9 corridor and Kolob Terrace Road, though BLM has been moving some heavily used areas toward designated-site-only management — check current status before relying on open dispersed camping here.
2 free campsites listedGreat Smoky Mountains / Pisgah & Nantahala, North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, AT (NC/TN section)
Not allowed inside the national park (permit required there), but the bordering National Forests allow free dispersed camping with no permit, 14-day limit.
4 free campsites listedAdirondacks, New York
Adirondack High Peaks
Free dispersed camping on state Forest Preserve land with no permit needed for small groups/short stays (permit only required for groups over 10 or stays over 3 nights).
1 free campsites listedAll Free Campsites
| Campsite | Region | Land Type | Permit Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzer Lake Dispersed Area | Shenandoah / Appalachian Trail, Virginia | National Forest | No permit required |
| Flagpole Knob Dispersed Area | Shenandoah / Appalachian Trail, Virginia | National Forest | No permit required |
| Braley Pond Dispersed Area | Shenandoah / Appalachian Trail, Virginia | National Forest | No permit required |
| Veach Gap Backpacking Site | Shenandoah / Appalachian Trail, Virginia | National Forest | No permit required |
| Tripoli Road Dispersed Sites | White Mountains, New Hampshire | National Forest | No permit required |
| Town Hall Road Dispersed | White Mountains, New Hampshire | National Forest | No permit required |
| Cherry Mountain Road / Haystack Road Dispersed | White Mountains, New Hampshire | National Forest | No permit required |
| Ceran St. Vrain Trail Dispersed Camping | Rocky Mountain National Park area, Colorado | National Forest | No permit required |
| Gordon Gulch Dispersed Area | Rocky Mountain National Park area, Colorado | National Forest | No permit required |
| Pole Hill Road Dispersed | Rocky Mountain National Park area, Colorado | National Forest | No permit required |
| Stillwater Pass Dispersed (near Grand Lake) | Rocky Mountain National Park area, Colorado | National Forest | No permit required |
| Willow Springs Road BLM Dispersed | Moab / Arches & Canyonlands, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| Klondike Bluffs Road BLM Dispersed | Moab / Arches & Canyonlands, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| BLM 143 – Copper Ridge Dinosaur Trackway Dispersed | Moab / Arches & Canyonlands, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| Hatch Point / Anticline Overlook Dispersed | Moab / Arches & Canyonlands, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| Yellow Cat Road BLM Dispersed | Moab / Arches & Canyonlands, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| Mono Mills Dispersed Area | Yosemite / Eastern Sierra, California | National Forest | No permit required |
| Owens River Road Dispersed | Yosemite / Eastern Sierra, California | National Forest | No permit required |
| Rattlesnake Canyon Dispersed (Lee Vining) | Yosemite / Eastern Sierra, California | National Forest / BLM | No permit required |
| Forest Road 52 Dispersed (Nisqually River) | Mount Rainier / North Cascades, Washington | National Forest | No permit required |
| White River Dispersed Sites | Mount Rainier / North Cascades, Washington | National Forest | No permit required |
| Salmon la Sac Dispersed | Mount Rainier / North Cascades, Washington | National Forest | No permit required |
| Kolob Terrace Road Dispersed | Zion National Park area, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| Hurricane Cliffs / Sheep Bridge Road Dispersed | Zion National Park area, Utah | BLM | No permit required |
| Long Hungry Road Dispersed (Lake Santeetlah) | Great Smoky Mountains / Pisgah & Nantahala, North Carolina | National Forest | No permit required |
| Wesser Bald Fire Tower Dispersed | Great Smoky Mountains / Pisgah & Nantahala, North Carolina | National Forest | No permit required |
| Black Balsam Knob Dispersed | Great Smoky Mountains / Pisgah & Nantahala, North Carolina | National Forest | No permit required |
| Wash Creek Dispersed Campsites #4/#5 | Great Smoky Mountains / Pisgah & Nantahala, North Carolina | National Forest | No permit required |
| Cranberry Lake Backcountry Island Sites | Adirondacks, New York | State Forest Preserve | No permit required |
No campsites match your search.
Before You Go
Free dispersed camping means no facilities: no water, no toilets, no trash service. Read our Leave No Trace & safety guide and always confirm current road and fire conditions with the local ranger district before heading out.
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