The Best Places to Camp in the Desert, Across the Great Southwest
Alvord Desert
We searched the backroads and scanned the map for the best places to sleep in the desert—sometimes stylish, always scenic.
Desert camping is a pursuit of its own, sometimes calling for intrepid spirit, always offering an inspiring taste of wild beauty. These 18 spots offer exceptional experiences of radically different kinds.
Arizona
PRIVATE
Spark in the Dark, Ash Fork
CHOICE SITES: “The Famous Easy-Breezy Desert Shelter”
NOTED FEATURE: 40 wild acres, small crowds
QUICK TRIP TO: The Grand Canyon
Gotta love the spirit at this “Primitive Plus” spot (“boondocking with benefits”), a place of dark skies, exuberant blog posts from host Clifford and both drive-up and hike-in spots.
PUBLIC
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
CHOICE SITES: Cottonwood sites, near the water
NOTED FEATURE: Extensive trail system
QUICK TRIP TO: Sedona
If Arizona brings desert vistas to mind, prepare for a script-flip in the Verde River Valley, land of fishing, boating, lagoons and shady hikes.
OFF-GRID
“Edge of the World,” Coconino National Forest
CHOICE SITES: Early birds get the view
NOTED FEATURE: 1943 lookout tower
QUICK TRIP TO: Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Famed among venturesome travelers of the Arizona highlands, this vaguely named area lies up a long Forest Service road south of Flagstaff. Google, and consider your vehicle choice.
California
Big Sur & HWY 1
Sea creatures and legendary poets, redwood forests and winding roads, secret beaches and famed retreats.
PRIVATE
Fernwood Resort
CHOICE SITES: 11-15
QUICK TRIP TO:
Noted Feature: On-site espresso bar!
Nearby: Henry Miller Library
The epitome of Big Sur funk, with cabins and tent sites in addition to blissed-out RV berths. The tavern is a community hub, too.
WILD
Hot Creek
Choice Sites: Off Whitmore Tubs Road
Noted Feature: "Hidden" hot springs
Nearby: Yosemite
QUICK TRIP TO:
So many sites in this zone, high enough in elevation that you'll want a summertime puffer. Numerous springs and dips.
Colorado
PRIVATE
CampV, Naturita
CHOICE SITES: Near Airstream Row
NOTED FEATURE: Historic baseball field
QUICK TRIP TO: Moab
Venerable but futuristic, this remote creative hub is long on art and high-design community spaces, but also close to mountain adventure.
Nevada
PRIVATE
Wine Ridge RV Resort, Pahrump
CHOICE SITES: Casitas and cottages
NOTED FEATURE: Lighted pickleball courts
QUICK TRIP TO: Red Rock Canyon
With more than 130 RV sites, two pools, and various recreation options on site, this is a luxe basecamp only an hour from The Strip.
PUBLIC
Valley of Fire State Park
CHOICE SITES: Atlatl Rock Campground, 004 to 008
NOTED FEATURE: Ancient petroglyphs
QUICK TRIP TO: Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
Get up close and personal with the famed 40,000-acre domain of Aztec sandstone and big horns. Desert trails for days.
OFF-GRID
Poverty Flats
CHOICE SITES: Room to roam
NOTED FEATURE: Stellar off-roading trails
QUICK TRIP TO: Valley of Fire
You’re out there if you’re here, on BLM land also known as Snowbird Mesa. Incredible night skies, plenty of room for big rigs.
New Mexico
PRIVATE
Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu
CHOICE SITES: Can’t go wrong
NOTED FEATURE: Dramatic Chimney Rock
QUICK TRIP TO: Taos
Ghost Ranch’s tent and RV sites (some full hook-ups) are situated in one of the most vivid red-rock landscapes in New Mexico, made famous by the painter Georgia O’Keeffe.
PUBLIC
Gallo Campground, Nageezi
CHOICE SITES: 11-16
NOTED FEATURE: Unreal stargazing
QUICK TRIP TO: Chaco Culture National Historical Park
People come here to surround themselves with the mystery of Chaco Canyon. Sites are basic, but the stunning landscape and fascinating historic ruins nearby more than make up for it.
OFF-GRID
Caja del Rio, near Santa Fe
CHOICE SITES: Near Camino Real National Historic Trail
NOTED FEATURE: Cows and coyotes
QUICK TRIP TO: Santa Fe
True boondocking, yet very close to town. Many spots for all kinds of vehicles in wide-open piñon pine territory.
Texas
PRIVATE
Tumble In RV Park, Marfa
CHOICE SITES: All about location!
NOTED FEATURE: $15 tent sites
QUICK TRIP TO: Marfa galleries and Chinati Foundation
Camping at a small campground like this is the best way to see Marfa, West Texas’s unlikely but legendary art outpost. The landscape is rugged, intensely empty. The night sky goes on forever.
OFF-GRID
Elephant Mountain, Alpine
CHOICE SITES: Northside of the campground
NOTED FEATURE: Covered picnic tables
QUICK TRIP TO: Big Bend National Park
Looking for free camping in West Texas? Hard to beat Elephant Mountain, home to desert bighorn sheep, covered picnic tables and barbeque-style fire rings.
Utah
PRIVATE
Goulding’s Lodge and Campground, Monument Valley
CHOICE SITES: Various sizes for rigs big and small
NOTED FEATURE: Earth Spirit cinema
QUICK TRIP TO: The Grand Canyon
Surely one of the most dramatic campgrounds anywhere: Monument Valley’s iconic stone cathedrals loom on the horizon.
PUBLIC
Ponderosa Grove, Kanab
CHOICE SITES: 10-15
NOTED FEATURE: Camp on pink sand
QUICK TRIP TO: Kanab
Small, shaded, easy to overlook amid Utah’s ample beauty. But because of the size restrictions for rigs, it stays quiet and pretty chill. Plus, the nearby pink sand dunes are pretty hard to beat.
OFF-GRID
Moonscape Overlook
CHOICE SITES: Close to the edge
NOTED FEATURE: Um, the view
QUICK TRIP TO: Capitol Reef National Park
You’ll likely want a high-clearance vehicle, ample research and a good amount of time to reach this outlook over extraterrestrial desert landforms.
(BONUS PICK!)