Can you camp for free in Anza-Borrego? The open camping rules
Yes. Anza-Borrego lets you camp along its dirt roads, parked no more than one car length off the road, or anywhere roadless on foot. Fires only in a metal container, bring your own wood, 30 nights a year max. No camping near Borrego Palm Canyon Campground.
- Off the road
- 1 car length
- Per calendar year
- 30 nights
- If you want a site
- $20–$45
- From downtown
- ~2 hr
Max parking distance from a dirt road
Total, across the park
Developed and primitive campgrounds
About 85 miles to the Visitor Center
The short version
- Superintendent's Order 940-005-14 allows camping along Anza-Borrego's designated dirt roads and on foot in roadless areas.
- Park no more than one car length off the road; vehicles must stay on designated roads.
- Campfires only in a camp stove or a metal container with a bottom and sides; firewood can't be collected in the park.
- No camping in the zone around Borrego Palm Canyon Campground bounded by Hoberg Road and Palm Canyon Drive.
- Developed sites cost $20 to $45 a night; the Visitor Center is about 85 miles (2 hours) from downtown San Diego.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is unusual among California state parks: you don't need a campsite. The park's own camping page says the entire backcountry is defined as a camping facility, and a standing Superintendent's Order spells out how open camping works. Late fall through spring is the season, when nights are cool and days are mild. We checked the State Parks camping page and the park's posted orders on November 7, 2026.
The open camping rules
- 01
Camp along a dirt road, or walk in
Camping is allowed along designated dirt roads, and on foot in roadless areas. All vehicle travel has to stay on designated roads.
- 02
One car length, no more
Park no more than one car length off the road, without disturbing plants, rocks or other natural features.
- 03
Fire in a container only
Campfires must be in a camp stove or a metal container you bring, with a bottom and sides. No ground fires. Bring firewood from outside the park; collecting wood, including dead and down wood, isn't allowed.
- 04
Pack out everything
That includes your ashes. Nothing in the park may be removed or disturbed, plants and rocks included.
- 05
Watch the calendar
The same people, gear or vehicles can occupy park camping facilities for a total of 30 days per calendar year.
| Campground | Type | Nightly fee |
|---|---|---|
| Borrego Palm Canyon | Tent / RV full hookups | $35 / $45 |
| Tamarisk Grove | Tent (RVs to 21 ft, no hookups); cabin | $35; cabin $70 |
| Bow Willow | Tent / RV | $20 |
| Mountain Palm Springs | Tent / RV | $20 |
| Sheep Canyon | Tent / RV | $20 |
| Fish Creek Primitive | Tent | $20 |
Borrego Palm Canyon
- Type
- Tent / RV full hookups
- Nightly fee
- $35 / $45
Tamarisk Grove
- Type
- Tent (RVs to 21 ft, no hookups); cabin
- Nightly fee
- $35; cabin $70
Bow Willow
- Type
- Tent / RV
- Nightly fee
- $20
Mountain Palm Springs
- Type
- Tent / RV
- Nightly fee
- $20
Sheep Canyon
- Type
- Tent / RV
- Nightly fee
- $20
Fish Creek Primitive
- Type
- Tent
- Nightly fee
- $20
California State Parks, Anza-Borrego camping page, checked Nov. 7, 2026. Seniors 62+ pay $2 less. Extra vehicles $10 a night. Reservable up to six months ahead on ReserveCalifornia.
Is open camping free? The park's camping page lists fees for its developed campgrounds and for Fish Creek, but lists no fee for backcountry camping or for the Blair Valley and Culp Valley primitive camps. In 2021, the Colorado Desert District superintendent told Campendium that dispersed camping was free and would stay that way. The $10 day-use fee applies at specific lots like the Visitor Center and the Borrego Palm Canyon trailhead, not along backcountry roads.
Start here
Developed campground
Primitive camp
Geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Valley pins mark the valley, not a specific campsite.
See these on the full San Diego mapHoping for wildflowers? Read whether El Niño could bring a 2027 superbloom. Day-tripping instead? See the Galleta Meadows metal sculptures in Borrego Springs, or check whether your library card gets you a free state parks pass.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 7, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
KEEP READING
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
California State Parks · Checked November 7, 2026
Backcountry defined as camping facility, 30-day limit, one car length, fire rules and restrictions, campground fees, day-use fee, closures, phone numbers
- PrimaryColorado Desert District Active Superintendent's Orders (Order 940-005-14, Primitive Camping)
California State Parks · Order dated July 1, 2019; checked November 7, 2026
Where open camping is allowed and prohibited, fire container and firewood rules, pack out ashes
- PrimaryPark Rules and Regulations
California State Parks · Checked November 7, 2026
Vehicles on designated roads, no gathering of down wood
Campendium · Published April 12, 2021
District superintendent quoted saying dispersed camping is free
OpenStreetMap / Project OSRM · Checked November 7, 2026
About 137 km (85 miles), about 2 hours 5 minutes