Free camping near Thousand Palms, CA
Within 25 straight-line miles of Thousand Palms, CA there are 33 camps: 24 free, 6 fee, 3 unpriced. The closest is Pinyon Flat Cg, 17 miles south of town. The closest one our audit calls free is Cedar Springs Yellow Post Site, 17 miles out. One of them is a camp Dave has slept at.
Who manages them: 30 on the Forest Service; 3 on the BLM.
| Camp | Miles | Cost | Water | Nearest town | Season today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinyon Flat Cg | 17 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Indian Wells | — |
| Ribbonwood Equestrian Camp | 17 | Fee | — | 11 mi to Indian Wells | — |
| Cedar Springs Yellow Post Site | 17 | Free | North Canyon Creek (stream) | 3.6 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Goff Flat Yellow Post Site | 18 | Free | Honor Lake (water) | 2.6 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 11 | 20 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Pinyon Pines | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post Sites | 20 | Free | — | 2.6 mi to Idyllwild-Pine Cove | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post Sites | 20 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.7 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 16 | 20 | Free | Deep Canyon Creek (stream) | 3.3 mi to Pinyon Pines | — |
| Santa Rosa Wilderness | 20 | Unpriced | — | 5.0 mi to Vista Santa Rosa | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 9 | 20 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.9 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Spring Yellow Post 4 | 20 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 2.8 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 7 | 20 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.1 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Santa Rosa Yellow Post 5 | 20 | Free | Omstott Creek (stream) | 3.2 mi to Ribbonwood | — |
| Apple Canyon Yellow Post Sites | 20 | Free | Antsell Rock Creek (stream) | 3.8 mi to Mountain Center | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #2 | 21 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #3 | 21 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 1.2 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| South Ridge Yellow Post #1 | 21 | Free | Dry Creek (stream) | 0.9 mi to Idyllwild | — |
| Dark Canyon Campground | 22 | Unpriced | North Fork San Jacinto River (river) | 0.8 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Marion Mountain Campground | 22 | Fee | North Fork San Jacinto River (river) | 1.5 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Seven Pines Yellow Post Sites | 22 | Free | — | — | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #6 | 22 | Free | West Fork Snow Creek (stream) | 1.8 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Fern Basin Campground | 22 | Fee | North Fork San Jacinto River (river) | 1.7 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Group Campground | 22 | Fee | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.3 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #3 | 22 | Free | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.1 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Ramona Campground | 22 | Free | — | 2.0 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #1 | 22 | Free | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.0 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Black Mountain Yellow Post #4 | 22 | Free | Brown Creek (stream) | 1.6 mi to Pine Wood | — |
| Tool Box Springs Campground | 23 | Free | — | 2.0 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| San Gorgonio Wilderness | 23 | Unpriced | — | 2.7 mi to Morongo Valley | — |
| Boulder Basin Cg | 23 | Fee | — | 5.8 mi to Idyllwild-Pine Cove | — |
| San Bernardino National ForestDave slept here | 23 | Free | — | 3.1 mi to Thomas Mountain | — |
| Sand To Snow National Monument | 23 | Free | — | 3.1 mi to Morongo Valley | — |
| Yellow Post 2 | 24 | Free | Stone Creek (stream) | 1.8 mi to Pine Cove | — |
Every distance on this page is a straight line from Thousand Palms, 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.