Camping guide · All regions
Camping on public land in California
45.3% of California is federal land: 20.8 million acres of national forest, 15.0 million acres of BLM land and 7.7 million acres managed by the National Park Service (Congressional Research Service). Each comes with its own camping rules, and California adds one of its own.
New to dispersed camping? The region-by-region guide covers the basics. This page is about what's specific to California.
The campfire permit, including for a stove
On California's national forests, "Campfire Permits are required year-round for the use of campfires, charcoal barbeques, gas stoves and lanterns outside of developed recreation areas." That includes dispersed camping. The permit is free, and you can get it online or at any Forest Service, BLM or CAL FIRE office (Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region). A permit doesn't override a fire restriction: check the forest's alerts too.
National forests
The Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Region says dispersed camping is generally limited to 14 days, "usually 14 days, but this can be further limited in some National Forest areas," and asks you to camp at least 150 feet from any stream or other water source (Forest Service).
"Further limited" is real. On the Cleveland National Forest in Southern California, camping outside a developed campground is limited to 14 days in a calendar year, under an order running from July 17, 2026 to July 16, 2028. Other forests, such as the Inyo and Los Padres, post their own orders and alerts. Read them for the forest you're in, and carry its Motor Vehicle Use Map, which shows the roads you're allowed to drive.
BLM land
On BLM land in California, the national rule applies unless a field office says otherwise: "generally limited to 14 days within any 28-day period," then move, "often at least 25 to 30 miles away" (BLM).
For a whole winter in one place, BLM's Imperial Dam Long-Term Visitor Area sits on the California side of the Colorado River north of Yuma. BLM lists a $180 long-term permit covering September 15 to April 15, or a $40 permit for any 14 consecutive days (BLM, Imperial Dam LTVA).
Mojave National Preserve: roadside camping in a Park Service unit
Most Park Service land means a campground or a backcountry permit. Mojave National Preserve is an exception worth knowing (NPS, Mojave):
- Roadside camping is allowed in previously used sites, outside posted no-camping areas.
- Vehicles stay in previously disturbed areas, and new campsites aren't allowed.
- No camping within a quarter mile of paved roads unless the area is formally designated for camping.
- Camp more than 200 yards from any natural or constructed water source.
- 14-day camping limit.
Reading California in Grover
- Turn on the Public Land layers to see BLM, National Forest, National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and Reclamation land, and tap a patch to see who manages it.
- Turn on the MVUM layer for forest roads: surface, which vehicles are allowed, and the seasons each road is open.
- Check the fire perimeters, smoke and hotspot layers, updated four or five times a day, and the snow depth layer before a shoulder-season pass.
- Find developed campgrounds too: Grover shows 14,000 public campgrounds from recreation.gov.
See whose land you're on
Open the public land map, or get the app for the road.
More state guides: Arizona · Colorado · All regions
Sources
- Congressional Research Service, Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data (R42346), September 14, 2026; acreage as of September 30, 2024.
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Dispersed camping.
- USDA Forest Service, Cleveland NF stay-limit order.
- Bureau of Land Management, Camping on public lands; Imperial Dam LTVA.
- National Park Service, Mojave National Preserve camping.
Fees and orders change. If a source here and a sign on the ground disagree, the sign and the local office win.