Central & east of the Sierra

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 at 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)

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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).

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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 at this beautiful campground. Warning: You'll want to be there!

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

Needles
The city park by the old railroad station downtown provides free overnight parking for self-contained RVs. -- THE EDITOR

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

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NO, NO, NO!!!

Towns and places in California where you cannot stay overnight in your RV

CORONA: It is illegal to park an RV on a city street between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.

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Free Campgrounds of Southern California web site!

CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY REST STOPS:
A lot of RVers hole up in these places. We have never heard of anyone being kicked out for spending the night. You can figure that if you see a lot of other RVers and truckers parked late in the evening, they will likely be around until morning. It's unlikely you will encounter any problems if you join them (other than noise from big rig trucks). -- THE EDITOR

Reader Ed Miller wrote (in August, 1999): We have stayed overnight in a couple of California rest areas, one on California Highway 99 and the one at Frazier Park on I-5. The Frazier Park rest area has dump stations at no charge. Also, there looked like a number of trucks and RV's overnighting in the rest area on Highway 99 near Tipton.

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.

OTHER FREE CAMPING. California has many, many inexpensive free or inexpensive campgrounds, most on National Forest or other public lands. Most require a bit of a drive, but often not too far offf the beaten path. Don Wright's Guide To Free Campgrounds lists more than 400 such free campgrounds. If you plan to spend any time camping in Oregon and are on a budget, this guide is essential.

Read messages about free camping from RVers who do it.

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