Free camping near Anza, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Anza, CA there are 38 camps: 25 free, 9 fee, 4 unpriced. The closest is Tool Box Springs Campground, 4.0 miles north-east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Tool Box Springs Campground, 4.0 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at.
Who manages them: 37 on the Forest Service; 1 on the BLM.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Box Springs Campground | 4.0 | Free | — | 2.0 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| San Bernardino National ForestDave slept here | 4.1 | Free | — | 3.1 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Ramona Campground | 4.3 | Free | — | 2.0 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Goff Flat Yellow Post Site | 7.9 | Free | Honor Lake (water) | 2.6 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Apple Canyon Yellow Post Sites | 8.1 | Free | Antsell Rock Creek (stream) | 3.8 mi to Mountain Center | — |
| Beauty Mountain Wilderness | 8.2 | Unpriced | — | 5.1 mi to Chihuahua Valley | — |
| Cedar Springs Yellow Post Site | 8.9 | Free | North Canyon Creek (stream) | 3.6 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #3 | 12 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 1.2 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post Sites | 12 | Free | — | 2.6 mi to Idyllwild-Pine Cove | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #2 | 12 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #1 | 12 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 0.9 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| Oak Grove Campground | 13 | Fee | — | 5.9 mi to Aguanga | — |
| Santa Rosa Spring Yellow Post 4 | 13 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.8 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post Sites | 13 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.7 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 9 | 14 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 5 | 14 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.2 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 7 | 14 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Pinyon Flat Cg | 14 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Indian Wells | — |
| Ribbonwood Equestrian Camp | 14 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Indian Wells | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 11 | 14 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Pinyon Pines | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 16 | 15 | Free | Deep Canyon Creek (stream) | 3.3 mi to Pinyon Pines | — |
| Indian Flats Group Camp (Closed) | 15 | Free | — | 13 mi to Aguanga | — |
| Yellow Post 2 | 15 | Free | Stone Creek (stream) | 1.8 mi to Pine Cove | — |
| Fern Basin Campground | 16 | Fee | North Fork San Jacinto River (river) | 1.7 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Marion Mountain Campground | 16 | Fee | North Fork San Jacinto River (river) | 1.5 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Dark Canyon Campground | 17 | Unpriced | North Fork San Jacinto River (river) | 0.8 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Seven Pines Yellow Post Sites | 17 | Free | — | — | — |
| Dripping Springs Campground | 17 | Unpriced | Arroyo Seco Creek (stream) | 1.4 mi to Butterfield Lake Estates | — |
| Observatory Campground | 18 | Fee | — | — | — |
| Observatory Campground - USFS | 18 | Fee | Doane Pond (water) | 1.4 mi to Palomar Mountain | — |
| Fry Creek Campground | 19 | Unpriced | Fry Creek (stream) | 1.6 mi to Palomar Mountain | — |
| Boulder Basin Cg | 19 | Fee | — | 5.8 mi to Idyllwild-Pine Cove | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #1 | 19 | Free | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.0 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #3 | 19 | Free | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Group Campground | 19 | Fee | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.3 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #4 | 19 | Free | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.6 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #6 | 19 | Free | West Fork Snow Creek (stream) | 1.8 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Crestline Group Campground | 20 | Free | Iron Spring Creek (stream) | 1.2 mi to Palomar Mountain | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Anza, CA, not a driving distance — a camp four miles out across a canyon can be an hour of road. Cost is the audited three-state verdict on each camp's own record: free, fee, or unpriced where we could not confirm a price. A blank column is a gap in the record, not a statement that the thing is absent. Camps come from state and federal agency records, not from a visit, except the ones marked. Seasons, permits and fire rules change: confirm with the managing office before you go. Found a fee where we show free? Tell us on the contact page.