Free & Dispersed camping · Oregon
Alvord Desert
Camp on a white playa under Steens Mountain
SettingFree & Dispersed
StateOregon
Best seasonLate spring & fall (avoid when wet)
ReserveFree dispersed when dry (small fee at Alvord Hot Springs)
A vast, cracked alkali playa in remote southeast Oregon, where you can drive out and camp on a dead-flat white expanse beneath the mile-high east face of Steens Mountain — with a soakable hot spring at the edge. As surreal as the Southwest, with a fraction of the people.
Don’t missThe playa under Steens at sunrise
RVs & rigsRV & van friendly when dry — NEVER drive a wet playa; no services
What’s here
- Alvord Hot Springs
- Steens Mountain
- Mirror-flat playa
- Incredible dark skies
Reservation windows, fees, and seasonal/road closures change — confirm with the managing agency (Recreation.gov, the state park system, or the forest/BLM office) before you go, and check fire restrictions and pack-it-out rules, especially for free dispersed sites.
Build a trip around a camp like this.
Roamward turns spots like this into a real road trip on your phone — the scenic drive, the stops, and the detours, planned around the vibe you’re after. Get early access: