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Bay Curious

Bay Curious

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

Bay Curious · Jun 4, 2026 · 18:27

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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

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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.
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Episodes: Bay Curious

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