Free camping near Bermuda Dunes, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Bermuda Dunes, CA there are 22 camps: 17 free, 2 fee, 3 unpriced. The closest is Santa Rosa Wilderness, 14 miles south of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Santa Rosa Yellow Post 11, 17 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at.
Who manages them: 19 on the Forest Service; 3 on the BLM.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa Wilderness | 14 | Unpriced | — | 5.0 mi to Vista Santa Rosa | — |
| Pinyon Flat Cg | 15 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Indian Wells | — |
| Ribbonwood Equestrian Camp | 15 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Indian Wells | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 11 | 17 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Pinyon Pines | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 16 | 17 | Free | Deep Canyon Creek (stream) | 3.3 mi to Pinyon Pines | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 9 | 17 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post Sites | 17 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.7 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 7 | 17 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Spring Yellow Post 4 | 17 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.8 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 5 | 17 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.2 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Cedar Springs Yellow Post Site | 18 | Free | North Canyon Creek (stream) | 3.6 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Goff Flat Yellow Post Site | 19 | Free | Honor Lake (water) | 2.6 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Mecca Hills Wilderness | 20 | Unpriced | — | 6.3 mi to Mecca | — |
| Apple Canyon Yellow Post Sites | 22 | Free | Antsell Rock Creek (stream) | 3.8 mi to Mountain Center | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post Sites | 23 | Free | — | 2.6 mi to Idyllwild-Pine Cove | — |
| Ramona Campground | 23 | Free | — | 2.0 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Tool Box Springs Campground | 23 | Free | — | 2.0 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #2 | 24 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #3 | 24 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 1.2 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #1 | 24 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 0.9 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| San Bernardino National ForestDave slept here | 24 | Free | — | 3.1 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Orocopia Mountains Wilderness | 25 | Unpriced | — | 6.3 mi to Desert Beach | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Bermuda Dunes, 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.