Campsites Are Hard to Get in California. Try Dispersed Camping Instead

Campsites Are Hard to Get in California. Try Dispersed Camping Instead

From Bay Curious by KQED

June 4, 2026 · 18 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the benefits and preparation needed for dispersed camping in California as an alternative to traditional campsites.

If you aren't the type of person to wake up at 6:30am six months before you want to go camping to reserve a spot, you might be interested in dispersed camping. It's a free way to get outside and into nature that takes a little more preparation, but can yield big rewards. We break it down for you with KQED's Sarah Wright. Additional Resources: Dispersed Camping 101: How to Find Free Campsites Near the Bay Area How to Find Free Camping in California's National Forests Tips and Tricks to Snag A California Campsite Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Sarah Wright. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Olivia Allen-Price

Guest: Sarah Wright

Topics covered

  • dispersed camping
  • California
  • outdoor activities
  • nature
  • camping tips

Keywords

  • dispersed camping
  • California camping
  • free campsites
  • outdoor preparation
  • nature exploration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KQED, Bay Curious

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