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

EPISODE · Jun 4, 2026 · 18 MIN

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

from Bay Curious · host KQED

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

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

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