Free camping and cell signal in Southern California
Where dispersed camping is allowed in Southern California: LA, San Diego & the mountains, which carrier will reach you to work or call for help, and what's on the road in. One map, saved to your phone for use with no signal.
Open Southern California in the mapCan you camp for free in Southern California?
On most national forest and Bureau of Land Management land, yes: dispersed camping is allowed outside developed sites, usually for up to 14 days, unless an area is posted closed. California state parks and wildlife areas are not open for dispersed camping, and a free campfire permit is needed on public land. National and state parks, wildlife refuges, tribal land and private timberland are not. In Southern California the map shows who manages every piece of public land, wilderness boundaries and the land with no public record, which you should treat as private.
Where will I have cell signal?
From the carriers' own coverage filings with the FCC, strong (in-vehicle) LTE covers about 55% of Southern California for AT&T, 49% of Southern California for Verizon, 43% of Southern California for T-Mobile, 0% of Southern California for worldmobilenetworksllc. Carriers model their coverage optimistically in the mountains, so the map also collects speed tests from other campers. Canadian phones usually roam on AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon here: check which one your plan uses.
Remote spots with coverage in Southern California
Ranked by distance from town and signal. Tap one to open it on the map.
- Pine Springs Çampground · gravel road · 9.2 km from Stauffer · AT&T
- Public land near McPherson Peak · gravel road · 13.3 km from New Cuyama · AT&T
- Oak Flat Campground · gravel road · 5.2 km from Naylor Place · AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
- Miranda Pine Campground · unpaved track · 25.5 km from Renshaw Place · AT&T, Verizon
- Public land · gravel road · 13.3 km from Midoil · T-Mobile
- Public land near Soda Lake · gravel road · 12.5 km from California Valley · AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon
- Dutchman Campground · rough road · 11.9 km from Stauffer · AT&T
- Campsite near Traer Agua Canyon · unpaved track · 20.1 km from Desert View Housing Area · AT&T, Verizon
- Campsite near Goat Spring · unpaved track · 20.1 km from Daggett · AT&T
- Campsite near Stoddard Ridge · unpaved track · 14.5 km from Bell Mountain · T-Mobile
Road access and wildfires
The map shows which roads in Southern California are paved, gravel, rough or unpaved tracks, plus parking lots and trailheads, and live wildfire hotspots and perimeters while you're online.
Open Southern California in the mapCosmic's Camp Map puts all of this on one map with land status, cell coverage by carrier, recreation sites, wildfires, services and road reports, and saves it to your phone for use without signal. See everything the map does.