Free camping
Free camping in Arizona, on the public-land road network.
Zoom into the map below, click any purple forest service road, and open a pin in Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. Save spots for later — all stored on your device.
Last updated June 27, 2026 · Editorial maintained by Kimbo Campers
Loading…
Tiles: OpenStreetMap contributors (streets) · Esri World Imagery (satellite). National forest boundaries + forest service road network: USFS Enterprise Data Warehouse. National park boundaries: NPS Land Resources Division.
About
How free dispersed camping works in Arizona.
Arizona has roughly 12.2 million acres of BLM land (third-largest in the lower 48 after Nevada and Utah), 11.2 million acres across 6 national forests (Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto, Prescott, Apache-Sitgreaves, Coronado), and three national parks: Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Saguaro. The year-round climate makes Arizona one of the few states with a real winter dispersed-camping season — the snowbird audience that drives Quartzsite, Lake Havasu, and the Colorado River corridor.
The rules vary by who manages the land. USFS dispersed camping across Arizona's national forests follows the federal default: pull off any forest service road into a previously-used site, camp up to 14 days in a 30-day window, pack out everything you packed in. Coconino National Forest around Sedona has additional permit + designated-site requirements in the most-visited red-rock corridors (the Red Rock Pass program). BLM camping is free with one important Quartzsite exception: the BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) at La Posa, Imperial Dam, and Mittry Lake charge a $40 short-visit or $180 winter-season permit for stays beyond 14 days. Grand Canyon National Park does not allow vehicle dispersed camping at all; inside park boundaries, you reserve a developed campground on recreation.gov (Mather, Desert View, North Rim Campground). Free dispersed camping near the Grand Canyon is in the surrounding Kaibab National Forest (North Rim) and Coconino National Forest (South Rim approach via Williams).
The map below covers Arizona's public land. Click any purple forest service or BLM road for coordinates plus a one-tap link to Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. Fire restrictions tighten significantly between April and the start of monsoon season in July, and summer monsoons can produce flash floods on washes that look bone-dry an hour earlier. Quarterly data refreshes cannot track weekly closures and seasonal restrictions in real time.
By the numbers
Free camping in Arizona, by the numbers.
Public-land acreage, governance, and access facts for Arizona, sourced from the federal and state agencies that manage the land.
BLM-managed public land
~12.2M acres
Source: BLM Arizona State Office (third-largest in lower 48 after NV and UT)
Federal forest land
~11.2M acres
Source: USFS Region 3 (Southwestern) annual summaries
National forests in AZ
6
Source: USFS Southwestern Region
National parks
Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro
Source: National Park Service
USFS / BLM dispersed stay limit
14 days in any 30
Source: 36 CFR 261.58 (USFS) and 43 CFR 8365 (BLM)
BLM Long-Term Visitor Area (LTVA) season permit
$180 (Sept 15 – Apr 15)
Source: BLM Yuma Field Office (La Posa, Imperial Dam, Mittry Lake)
Annual visitors — Grand Canyon NP
~4.7M (no in-park dispersed)
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Sedona Red Rock Pass (USFS day-use)
$5 / day · $15 / week
Source: USFS Coconino National Forest
Coconino NF (Flagstaff + Sedona base)
~1.9M acres
Source: USFS Coconino National Forest
Rules at a glance
Dispersed-camping rules in Arizona, by land manager.
Quick reference for the rules across every public-land type in Arizona. See the FAQ + Permits sections below for the full version of each rule.
| Land manager | Dispersed allowed | Stay limit | Fees / permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| USFS — National Forest | Yes | 14 days in any 30 | Free EXCEPT Sedona Red Rock Pass zone ($5 / day or $15 / week) |
| BLM — Public Land | Yes | 14 days in any 30 (LTVA areas offer longer stays with paid permit) | Free EXCEPT BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas (Quartzsite La Posa, Imperial Dam, Mittry Lake) |
| NPS — National Parks + Monuments | No (Petrified Forest NP allows wilderness backcountry with free permit) | Reservation-only at developed in-park sites | $35 / vehicle 7-day at Grand Canyon · $25 / vehicle Saguaro · $25 / vehicle Petrified Forest |
| Tribal Land — Navajo Nation, Hualapai, others | No (separate tribal permits where allowed) | Per-permit; varies by nation | Navajo Nation Backcountry Permit (for Monument Valley + Canyon de Chelly outside park borders) |
Permits & passes
What you need to pay or carry in Arizona.
Most BLM and USFS dispersed camping in Arizona is free with no permit. These are the exceptions and add-ons by destination.
Coconino NF Red Rock Pass (Sedona day-use)
Anyone parking at the popular Sedona trailheads + some designated dispersed sites in the red-rock zone. NOT required for dispersed camping on Forest Roads outside the pass zone (FR 525, FR 152, FR 535 corridors).
$5 / day · $15 / week · $20 / annual
fs.usda.gov ↗BLM Long-Term Visitor Area (LTVA) Permit
Anyone staying more than 14 days at the Quartzsite-area LTVAs (La Posa, Imperial Dam, Mittry Lake). Snowbird audience uses the full-season permit for Sept-April winter stays.
$40 short-visit (14 days) · $180 full season (Sept 15 – Apr 15)
blm.gov ↗Grand Canyon NP entrance fee
Required to enter Grand Canyon National Park. In-park campgrounds (Mather, Desert View, Trailer Village, North Rim) reservable on recreation.gov.
$35 / vehicle 7-day pass · Annual America the Beautiful $80 covers all NPs
nps.gov ↗Coconino NF backcountry permits (some Wilderness areas)
Sycamore Canyon Wilderness + a few other Coconino NF wilderness areas require free self-issued backcountry permits at trailhead registers for overnight stays.
Free (registration only)
fs.usda.gov ↗BLM vs USFS
BLM vs USFS dispersed camping in Arizona.
Arizona has the third-largest BLM portfolio in the country (~12.2M acres BLM, behind Nevada and Utah). BLM dominates the low-desert winter-camping season (Lake Havasu, Quartzsite, the Colorado River corridor) and the high-desert public lands east of Phoenix. USFS dominates the high-elevation summer-camping season (Coconino around Flagstaff + Sedona, Kaibab on the Grand Canyon rims, Apache-Sitgreaves on the Mogollon Rim). The two agencies serve different audiences in different seasons — both are critical to the year-round AZ dispersed-camping season.
| Category | BLM (Bureau of Land Management) | USFS (US Forest Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Acreage in AZ | ~12.2M acres (3rd in lower 48 after NV and UT) | ~11.2M acres across 6 national forests |
| Typical stay limit | 14 days in any 30 (LTVA permits override for paid season-long stays) | 14 days in any 30 |
| Typical fees | Free EXCEPT LTVA Quartzsite/Yuma area ($40 / $180) | Free EXCEPT Sedona Red Rock Pass zone ($5 / day) |
| Where it dominates | Lake Havasu, Quartzsite + Colorado River, Sonoran Desert south | Flagstaff + Sedona + Grand Canyon area (high country), Mogollon Rim |
| Best season | Winter (snowbird season, Sept-April best) | Summer at altitude (May-Sept), shoulder seasons lower |
Frequently asked
Free camping in Arizona, answered.
Is dispersed camping legal in Arizona?
Yes. Dispersed camping is legal on most BLM land and USFS land in Arizona, subject to the standard 14-day stay limit and the rules of whichever agency runs the specific area. BLM camping is free with one exception: the Long-Term Visitor Areas (La Posa near Quartzsite, Imperial Dam, Mittry Lake) charge a $40 short-visit or $180 winter-season permit for stays beyond 14 days. USFS dispersed camping is free on most forest service roads, but the Coconino National Forest around Sedona has additional permit + designated-site requirements in the most-visited red-rock corridors. Grand Canyon National Park does not allow vehicle dispersed camping at all; inside park boundaries, you reserve a developed campground.
Where can I camp for free in Arizona?
Free dispersed camping in Arizona is concentrated in three mega-regions. Around Flagstaff (forest roads through Coconino National Forest, including the dispersed corridors off Highway 89 to Sunset Crater, the Lake Mary Road area, and the San Francisco Peaks back roads). Around Sedona (Coconino NF outside the Red Rock Pass zone, including Forest Road 525 near Loy Butte and Forest Road 152C). Along the Colorado River from Lake Havasu to Lake Mead (BLM dispersed sites at Standard Wash, Crystal Hill, Craggy Wash, plus the Quartzsite-area LTVAs and free 14-day BLM sites at Hi Jolly, La Posa South-of-the-LTVA, and the Plomosa Road area). Plus the Mogollon Rim (Apache-Sitgreaves NF, between Payson and Show Low), the Kaibab Plateau (north of Grand Canyon, on Forest Roads 213 and 248), and Tucson-area BLM south of Saguaro NP.
Do I need a permit for free camping in Arizona?
Most BLM and USFS dispersed camping in Arizona does not require a permit. Exceptions: the BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas around Quartzsite + Yuma charge $40 (short-visit) or $180 (full Sept-Apr season). The Coconino National Forest Red Rock Pass ($5 daily or $15 weekly) is required for day-use parking at most Sedona trailheads and for some designated dispersed camping in the red-rock zone — but standard dispersed camping on forest service roads outside that zone does not require it. Grand Canyon NP and Saguaro NP charge per-vehicle entrance fees, and in-park developed campgrounds reservation-only. Arizona State Parks always require entrance + camping fees and reservations.
What is the 14-day rule for dispersed camping in Arizona?
On BLM and USFS land in Arizona, you can camp at one dispersed site for up to 14 consecutive days. After 14 days you must move at least 25 miles away (BLM rule, applied strictly in the Quartzsite-Lake Havasu corridor given the snowbird volume) and cannot return to the same camping area for 28 days. To stay longer at a BLM Long-Term Visitor Area (La Posa, Imperial Dam, Mittry Lake), you buy a $40 short-visit or $180 season permit, which lets you stay all winter at the designated LTVA. The cap is the federal standard published in 43 CFR 8365 and 36 CFR 261.58.
Can I camp near the Grand Canyon for free?
Yes, but not inside the park itself. Grand Canyon National Park allows no vehicle dispersed camping; in-park developed campgrounds (Mather, Desert View, Trailer Village, North Rim Campground) are reservation-only on recreation.gov. For free dispersed camping near the South Rim, head into Kaibab National Forest along Forest Roads 302, 305, or 307 (off Highway 64 between Williams and Tusayan) — the closest free corridor to the South Rim entrance. For the North Rim, use Kaibab NF Forest Roads 213, 248, and 461 across the Kaibab Plateau (open mid-May through mid-October due to snow). Both corridors follow standard USFS 14-day dispersed rules.
Where is the best free camping near Sedona?
Sedona's most-visited dispersed corridors are inside the Coconino National Forest Red Rock Pass zone, which requires a $5 daily or $15 weekly pass at designated trailheads + some camping sites. For free dispersed camping outside the pass zone, the most popular corridors are Forest Road 525 northwest of Sedona (toward Loy Butte and the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness boundary), Forest Road 152 / 152C (Schnebly Hill Road area), and Forest Road 525C (Dry Creek area). Loy Butte and Forest Road 525 are also the most-used dispersed corridors for sunrise views of Cathedral Rock and the back-of-the-monastery vistas. North of Sedona toward Flagstaff, the Forest Road 535 corridor (off Highway 89A) opens up additional pull-offs.
Where is the best free camping near Lake Havasu?
Lake Havasu City sits on BLM land managed by the Lake Havasu Field Office, with multiple free 14-day dispersed sites within 30 minutes of town. The most popular are Craggy Wash (north of Lake Havasu City on Highway 95), Standard Wash and Crystal Hill (east of the lake, off Highway 95), and the Lake Havasu State Park concession camping (developed, fee-required). For the long-term snowbird audience, the BLM Long-Term Visitor Area at La Posa (just south of Quartzsite, about 70 miles east of Lake Havasu) is the closest LTVA. Across the river in California, Pirate Cove and the Big River BLM area also offer free dispersed camping for the Colorado River corridor audience.
Are there fire restrictions for dispersed camping in Arizona?
Yes, and Arizona has some of the strictest fire-restriction regimes in the country between April and the start of monsoon season (typically early July). Restrictions are set per national forest and per BLM district and are updated weekly. Stage 1 typically prohibits open campfires outside designated rings. Stage 2 typically prohibits all campfires, plus most off-road vehicle use, plus chainsaw and welding work. Stage 3 closes the land entirely. The Coconino, Kaibab, and Tonto national forests issue the most frequent restrictions historically. Monsoon season (July through September) brings flash floods in washes that can be deadly even when it's not raining where you are — never camp in a dry wash bottom from July through September.
Featured regions
Where to look first in Arizona.
Five regions that account for most of the high-quality free dispersed camping in the state. Each one is a multi-day base.
USFS — Coconino National Forest
Flagstaff & San Francisco Peaks
Coconino National Forest covers about 1.9 million acres around Flagstaff, including the San Francisco Peaks (Arizona's highest at 12,633 feet) and the forest road network out to Sunset Crater and Wupatki. Free dispersed camping is concentrated on Forest Roads 222 and 552 north of town (Cinder Hills OHV adjacent), the Lake Mary Road corridor southeast toward Mormon Lake, and the Forest Road 151 / 245 area west toward the Bellemont and Garland Prairie meadows. Elevation runs 6,500 to 9,500 feet, which makes Flagstaff one of the few summer-temperate dispersed-camping bases in Arizona.
35.20°N, 111.65°W
BLM — Lake Havasu and Yuma Field Offices
Lake Havasu & Colorado River corridor
Lake Havasu City sits on BLM land along the Colorado River, with multiple free 14-day dispersed sites within 30 minutes of town: Craggy Wash north of the city, Standard Wash and Crystal Hill east of the lake. South toward Quartzsite, the BLM manages the Long-Term Visitor Areas at La Posa (the snowbird capital — $180 season permit lets you stay all winter), plus free 14-day sites at Hi Jolly, Plomosa Road, and Dome Rock. North toward Lake Mead, the Black Canyon and Temple Bar areas open up Colorado River shoreline camping. This corridor is the heart of Arizona's winter dispersed-camping season.
34.46°N, 114.32°W
USFS — Coconino National Forest
Sedona red-rock country
Sedona's red-rock corridors sit inside Coconino National Forest, with the Red Rock Pass program covering day-use parking + some designated dispersed sites in the most-visited zones ($5 daily / $15 weekly). For free dispersed camping outside the pass zone, the most popular roads are Forest Road 525 northwest toward Loy Butte and the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness boundary, Forest Road 152C in the Schnebly Hill area, and the Forest Road 535 corridor north toward Flagstaff. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon are the iconic photo backdrops; Loy Butte and FR 525 are the easiest dispersed bases for that scenery.
34.87°N, 111.76°W
USFS — Kaibab National Forest (NPS — Grand Canyon for in-park sites)
Grand Canyon area (Kaibab + Coconino NF)
Grand Canyon National Park does not allow vehicle dispersed camping; in-park developed campgrounds (Mather, Desert View, Trailer Village, North Rim Campground) are reservation-only. For free dispersed camping near the South Rim, head into Kaibab National Forest along Forest Roads 302, 305, or 307 (off Highway 64 between Williams and Tusayan). For the North Rim, use Kaibab NF Forest Roads 213, 248, and 461 across the Kaibab Plateau (open mid-May through mid-October due to snow). Both corridors follow standard USFS 14-day rules and put you within 15 to 30 minutes of the rim.
36.06°N, 112.14°W
USFS — Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Mogollon Rim & Apache-Sitgreaves
The Mogollon Rim is the dramatic 200-mile escarpment that divides central Arizona from the high country to the north. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest covers the eastern portion of the rim (Payson to Show Low to the New Mexico border), with extensive dispersed camping along Forest Road 300 (the Rim Road), Forest Road 86 toward Knoll Lake, and the area around Heber-Overgaard. Elevations on the rim run 6,500 to 8,000 feet, providing a summer-temperate escape from Phoenix heat. Tonto National Forest covers the western portion below the rim.
34.40°N, 110.70°W
Camping Arizona in a truck camper
Will a slide-in camper handle the road network here?
The dominant Arizona dispersed-camping corridors are graded gravel any stock pickup can handle: Forest Roads off Highway 89 north of Flagstaff (Coconino NF), Schnebly Hill + Loy Butte west of Sedona, Lake Mary Road southeast of Flagstaff. Kaibab NF Forest Roads 302/305/307 (South Rim Grand Canyon approach) are also stock-friendly. BLM dispersed corridors around Lake Havasu + Quartzsite are flat washboard — easy for any rig. The deeper spurs into the Mogollon Rim country (Tonto + Apache-Sitgreaves NF) and the Coronado sky islands (Mt Lemmon, Mt Graham) reward higher clearance + a lighter camper.
A Kimbo 6 at 830 lb base dry weight is one of the lightest hard-side options for the small-pickup payload range; the Kimbo 8 (1,125 lb base dry) is the full-size option with a queen cabover and dedicated wet bath — both built for the kind of road network Arizona has.
If you already have the truck and you're trying to figure out whether a Kimbo fits it, the per-truck fit guide is the right next step.
Land managers
Who manages the land in Arizona.
The forests, parks, and recreation lands you can camp on across Arizona.
BLM — Arizona State Office
Manages about 12.2 million acres in Arizona, second-largest BLM portfolio in the lower 48 after Utah.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Lake Havasu Field Office
Lake Havasu City and the central Colorado River corridor — Craggy Wash, Standard Wash, Crystal Hill dispersed areas.
blm.gov ↗
BLM — Yuma Field Office
Long-Term Visitor Areas at La Posa (Quartzsite), Imperial Dam, and Mittry Lake — the snowbird capital corridor.
blm.gov ↗
USFS — Coconino National Forest
About 1.9 million acres surrounding Flagstaff and Sedona; the program's biggest single AZ NF (Red Rock Pass for Sedona day-use).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Kaibab National Forest
Surrounds Grand Canyon NP on both rims — the dispersed-camping alternative for the GC audience (about 1.6 million acres).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Tonto National Forest
Central Arizona including the western Mogollon Rim and the Phoenix metro hinterland (about 2.9 million acres).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Prescott National Forest
Central Arizona around Prescott and the Bradshaw Mountains (about 1.25 million acres).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
Eastern Mogollon Rim from Payson to the New Mexico border (about 2 million acres combined).
fs.usda.gov ↗
USFS — Coronado National Forest
Southern Arizona sky islands around Tucson (Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita, Huachuca ranges — about 1.78 million acres).
fs.usda.gov ↗
NPS — Grand Canyon National Park
About 4.7 million annual visitors. Developed campgrounds only; reserve on recreation.gov. No dispersed inside park boundaries.
nps.gov ↗
NPS — Petrified Forest National Park
Northeastern Arizona. Backcountry wilderness camping with free permit; no developed campgrounds inside the park.
nps.gov ↗
NPS — Saguaro National Park
East and west of Tucson. Backcountry wilderness camping with permit (East unit only); no developed campgrounds.
nps.gov ↗
NPS — Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Lake Powell area on the AZ-UT border. Developed campgrounds plus shoreline camping with the appropriate permits.
nps.gov ↗
Leave no trace
Pack out everything. Stay 200 ft from water. Use existing fire rings only.
Free dispersed camping survives because the people doing it leave campsites better than they found them. The 14-day rule, the fire restrictions, and the road closures all exist because previous visitors did not. Pack out trash. Bury human waste 6 inches deep, 200 feet from any water source. Use existing fire rings only and drown campfires until the ash is cold. Park on durable surfaces. Drive existing roads.
Last updated: June 27, 2026. First published June 27, 2026. Editorial maintained by the Kimbo Campers team in Bellingham, Washington — we've been camping Arizona public land for 9+ years and update this page when agency rules or seasonal access changes.