Free camping near Clearlake, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Clearlake, CA there are 27 camps: 18 free, 5 fee, 4 unpriced. The closest is Cache Creek Wilderness, 8.5 miles east of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Cache Creek Wilderness, 8.5 miles out.
Who manages them: 14 on the BLM; 12 on the Forest Service; 1 on an agency our record does not name.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cache Creek Wilderness | 8.5 | Free | Cache Creek (river) | 7.9 mi to Lower Lake | — |
| Cache Creek Natural Area | 8.9 | Unpriced | Cache Creek (river) | 8.6 mi to Clearlake | — |
| Indian Valley Management Area | 11 | Free | — | 2.7 mi to Spring Valley | — |
| Lakeview | 12 | Free | Morrison Creek (stream) | 2.3 mi to Lucerne | — |
| Lake view Dispersed Camping | 12 | Free | Morrison Creek (stream) | 2.3 mi to Lucerne | — |
| Knoxville Management Area | 17 | Free | — | 7.9 mi to Rumsey | — |
| Pacific Ridge Camp | 18 | Free | — | 0.4 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Wilson Camp | 19 | Free | Hospital Creek (stream) | 2.0 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Green Flat Camp | 19 | Free | Hospital Creek (stream) | 1.9 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Benmore Ridge Campground | 21 | Unpriced | Benmore Creek (river) | 3.2 mi to Oasis | — |
| Cedar Camp Campground | 21 | Free | Root Creek (stream) | 4.5 mi to Pole Garden | — |
| Woods Camp | 22 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.8 mi to Oasis | — |
| Tucker Camp | 22 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.7 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Knobcone Camp | 22 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.2 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Cow Mountain Recreation Management Area | 22 | Unpriced | Benmore Creek (river) | 3.8 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Jerky Camp | 23 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 3.9 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Simms Camp | 23 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 4.2 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| South Willow Creek Camp | 23 | Free | Willow Creek (stream) | 5.5 mi to Nacomis Indian Rancheria | — |
| Little Stony | 23 | Fee | — | 4.0 mi to Lodoga | — |
| Dry Oak | 23 | Free | — | 6.2 mi to Upper Lake | — |
| South Cow Mountain Ohv Management Area | 24 | Unpriced | — | 7.2 mi to Hopland | — |
| Main Letts C.G. | 24 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Old Mill Campground | 24 | Free | Mill Creek (stream) | 3.3 mi to Fouts Springs | — |
| Saddle Camp Loop C.G. | 24 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Spillway C.G. (Letts Lake) | 25 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Stirrup C.G. (Letts Lake) | 25 | Fee | — | 10.0 mi to Stonyford | — |
| Goat Rock Primitive Campground | 25 | Free | — | — | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Clearlake, 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.