Free and winter camping in the West

This hub is for you if you want to spend winter, or a long road trip, camping in the Southwest and along the California coast without paying campground fees every night. Free camping still exists across much of the region, but many popular areas have moved to permits, designated sites or paid fees since 2021. Each guide here is checked against the managing agency's current rules, so use them to plan and then confirm with the field office before a long stay.

The key decisions

• Elevation and cold: the low deserts around Quartzsite, Yuma and Joshua Tree South stay mildest. The Alabama Hills and Moab work in winter only if your van handles hard freezes.
• How long you want to stay put: ordinary BLM land is generally 14 days in any 28, then you move. BLM's Long-Term Visitor Areas let you stay the whole season on one permit.
• Dispersed versus designated: more areas now limit camping to signed or numbered sites, first come, first served. Arrive early and have a backup.
• Self-sufficiency: most free areas have no water, toilets or trash. Some, including the Alabama Hills and Moab, require a portable toilet or waste bags.

A sensible order

Start with the Southwest free winter camping overview, which compares the main areas by elevation, cost, stay limit and winter conditions. Then go to the area guides for the places on your route.

Area	Cost	What to know
Quartzsite and Yuma LTVAs	$180 season or $40 for 14 days	One permit works at every LTVA; water, trash and dump stations but no hookups
Joshua Tree BLM	Free	No free camping inside the park; South BLM is lower and milder, North turns to mud after rain
Alabama Hills	Free permit	Designated sites only; the permit doesn't reserve a spot
Sedona	Free	Only eight designated dispersed areas west of town; camping banned elsewhere by Forest Service order
Moab	Free to $30	Willow Springs is now a $30 state park area; free options remain outside closed zones
Zion	Free designated sites	Springdale banned overnight vehicle camping in 2026; BLM's SR9 corridor is moving to designated sites
Big Sur	Paid campgrounds	Highway 1 pullouts aren't legal overnight spots; check fire closures and road status first

Big Sur is the exception in this hub: free options there are few and rough, so plan on reserved campgrounds that can book up months ahead.

Before you go

• Rules in this region changed repeatedly in 2025 and 2026. Check the BLM, Forest Service or state park page for each area the week you travel.
• Fire restrictions and forest orders can close areas with little notice, as the 2026 Big Sur fires and the Sedona forest orders show.
• Set your van up for desert nights: the condensation guide and cold-weather battery guide help at higher camps.
• For overnight stops between camps, see free overnight parking and stealth camping.