Free camping near Mesa Vista, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Mesa Vista, CA there are 39 camps: 13 free, 20 fee, 6 unpriced. The closest is Crystal Springs Campground, 3.9 miles south-west of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Alpine County, 4.6 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at. The circle crosses a state line: CA and NV.
Who manages them: 36 on the Forest Service; 2 on the BLM; 1 on an agency our record does not name.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Springs Campground | 3.9 | Unpriced | West Fork Carson River (river) | 1.4 mi to Woodfords | — |
| Indian Creek Campground | 4.6 | Unpriced | Indian Creek Reservoir (water) | 3.0 mi to Woodfords | — |
| Alpine CountyDave slept here | 4.6 | Free | Merk Creek (stream) | 1.8 mi to Sorensens | — |
| Indian Creek Recreation Area | 5.0 | Unpriced | Indian Creek Reservoir (water) | 3.1 mi to Markleeville | — |
| Kit Carson Campground | 5.6 | Fee | Willow Creek (stream) | 0.3 mi to Sorensens | — |
| Markleeville Campground | 8.0 | Fee | Markleeville Creek (river) | 0.4 mi to Markleeville | — |
| Scotts Lake Dispersed Camping | 8.1 | Free | Maxwell Creek (stream) | 2.2 mi to Sorensens | — |
| Hope Valley Campground | 8.8 | Unpriced | Red Lake Creek (stream) | 3.4 mi to Sorensens | — |
| Luther Pass Overflow Campground | 11 | Free | Grass Lake Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Little Norway | — |
| Centerville Flat Campground | 13 | Free | East Fork Carson River (river) | 5.4 mi to Markleeville | — |
| Centerville Flat Campground | 13 | Free | — | 6.6 mi to Markleeville | — |
| Woods Lake Cg | 14 | Fee | — | 2.5 mi to Kirkwood | — |
| Nevada Beach Campground | 14 | Fee | — | 0.8 mi to Stateline | — |
| Caples Lake Cg | 15 | Fee | — | 1.0 mi to Kirkwood | — |
| Silver Creek Campground | 15 | Fee | Raymond Meadows Creek (stream) | 7.4 mi to Markleeville | — |
| Fallen Leaf Campground | 16 | Fee | — | 3.8 mi to South Lake Tahoe | — |
| Kirkwood Lake Cg | 17 | Fee | — | 2.1 mi to Kirkwood | — |
| Lovers Leap Cg & Day Use | 18 | Fee | — | 7.0 mi to Meyers | — |
| Bayview Campground | 18 | Fee | — | 6.5 mi to South Lake Tahoe | — |
| Bloomfield I | 19 | Fee | — | 10 mi to Markleeville | — |
| Martin Meadow Cg | 19 | Free | Caples Creek (river) | 1.9 mi to Kit Carson | — |
| Grouse Flat | 19 | Free | North Fork Mokelumne River (river) | 5.9 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Kennedy Flat | 19 | Free | North Fork Mokelumne River (river) | 5.7 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Hermit Valley | 19 | Free | North Fork Mokelumne River (river) | 5.0 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Highway 4 Ohv-Hermit Valley | 19 | Free | North Fork Mokelumne River (river) | 4.9 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Silver Lake Cg | 20 | Fee | — | 3.7 mi to Kirkwood | — |
| Bloomfield Ii | 20 | Free | North Fork Mokelumne River (river) | 8.4 mi to Peaceful Pines | — |
| Pacific Valley | 21 | Free | Pacific Creek (stream) | 3.9 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Mosquito Lakes | 21 | Fee | — | 8.0 mi to Bear Valley | — |
| Highland Lakes | 22 | Fee | — | 13 mi to Bear Valley | — |
| Silver Fork Cg | 23 | Fee | — | 8.3 mi to Kirkwood | — |
| Meeks Bay Campground | 23 | Fee | — | 1.9 mi to Tahoma | — |
| Wrights Lake Campground | 23 | Unpriced | Wrights Lake (water) | 2.8 mi to Lower Forni | — |
| Wrights Lake Equestrian Cg | 23 | Fee | Wrights Lake (water) | 2.7 mi to Lower Forni | — |
| Wrights Lake Campground | 24 | Unpriced | Wrights Lake (water) | 3.0 mi to Lower Forni | — |
| Gray Rock Camping Area | 24 | Free | Silver Fork American River (river) | 4.0 mi to Kyburz | — |
| Backpackers | 25 | Fee | Silver Creek (stream) | 1.2 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Silver Valley | 25 | Fee | Duck Lake (water) | 1.3 mi to Cape Horn | — |
| Pine Marten | 25 | Fee | — | 3.4 mi to Bear Valley | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Mesa Vista, 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.