Sedona Dispersed Camping: Where It's Still Allowed and the Rules

Sedona used to be one of the easiest places in Arizona to camp for free: you drove up a forest road, found a flat spot and stayed. That's over. The Coconino National Forest now prohibits camping and campfires on 82,650 acres around the town, and the free camping that remains is concentrated in eight designated areas west of Sedona.

Here's how it works now, and where to camp instead.

What's banned, and where

Two Forest Service orders cover the land around Sedona:

• Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon: an order first put in place in 1999 (the current version runs from January 24, 2023, to January 24, 2033) prohibits camping and campfires on 50,520 acres around the northern and southern parts of Sedona, including Oak Creek Canyon, outside developed campgrounds.
• West Sedona: since 2022, a second order prohibits dispersed camping and campfires on another 32,130 acres, most of the national forest west of town, except within the designated camping areas.

Violations can bring a fine of up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.

The West Sedona order was last listed with an end date of August 31, 2026, and we couldn't confirm the text of a renewal. The Forest Service's own page for the designated area still describes the restrictions as in force. Call the Red Rock Ranger District (928-203-2900) or check the Coconino National Forest alerts page before you go.

The West Sedona designated dispersed areas

When it brought in the west Sedona order, the Forest Service opened eight designated dispersed camping areas covering nearly 36 acres:

• Five along Forest Road 525, reached from State Route 89A.
• Two along Forest Road 89B.
• One along Forest Road 9570A.

Each area holds roughly 10 to 35 campsites, 150 to 200 in total depending on vehicle and trailer sizes. They are:

• First come, first served, with no reservations.
• No wood or charcoal fires at any time. Stoves and grills running solely on liquefied petroleum gas that can be turned on and off are allowed.
• Free, with a 14-day stay limit.
• No potable water, so bring all you need.
• Bring water and pack out all trash.

The Forest Service counts roughly 200 campsites in all, and they fill fast. Arrive early on a weekday, and have a backup plan.

Oak Creek Canyon campgrounds

If you want a campground instead, the Forest Service runs three in Oak Creek Canyon on Highway 89A, north of Sedona. All take reservations on Recreation.gov, and campgrounds in the Red Rock Ranger District have a 7-day stay limit.

Manzanita

A small, tent-only, year-round campground on Oak Creek, with gravel beaches, swimming holes and good bird watching. No RVs or trailers, and only one vehicle per site with no extra parking. It fills very quickly.

Cave Spring

The largest campground in the canyon, with 84 sites under ponderosa pine, many right on the bank of Oak Creek. It has drinking water, vault toilets and token-operated showers, and takes RVs up to 36 feet.

Pine Flat

59 sites in ponderosa pine in the upper canyon, many on the creek, with drinking water and vault toilets but no showers or hookups. Parking-spur length includes both your RV and tow vehicle, so check the site before you book.

Rules for all three

• Sites must be occupied the first night of the reservation and can't be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
• No radios or amplified devices, and no portable showers or toilets.
• No hookups.
• The Forest Service says Oak Creek is very crowded on weekends; come on a weekday and arrive early.

Other options

• Further from Sedona, the Coconino National Forest outside the restricted areas allows dispersed camping under the forest's general rules: 14 days in any 30-day period. Check the order maps for the restricted zones first.
• Flagstaff, about 30 miles north up Oak Creek Canyon, has its own campgrounds and restrictions; see our Flagstaff camping guide.
• RVs looking for hookups should read our guide to Sedona RV parks.

For dispersed camping across the rest of the state, see dispersed camping in Arizona.