Dispersed camping near Steamboat Springs is a great way to experience the area and get away from busy campgrounds. There are some great free and dispersed campsites just outside of town.
Steamboat Springs has beautiful camping nearby. I camped in the area for 2 weeks while working remotely and exploring the area.
Dispersed Camping near Steamboat Springs
Free and dispersed camping near Steamboat Springs is available in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest just outside of town. As a plus, there are plenty of spots with cell service.
Steamboat Springs sits around 6,700ft above sea level. The primary camp I describe below was just over 10,000ft.
What does that mean for camping in the area?
It was about 15 degrees cooler here in the summer than in the town of Steamboat Springs which was clutch! Some campsites can be windy, but it was pretty easy to avoid as there were ample trees and hills to camp around.
Before I get into the 5 free dispersed camping areas I found, I just published an article on how you can find your own free campsites with a step-by-step process. I actually use the Steamboat Springs area as an example.
Best Dispersed Camping Near Steamboat Springs: A Boondocker’s Paradise
The best dispersed camping in Steamboat Springs is on Forest Road 302 (at least the best campsite I found). Here is the location 40.367661, -106.690760.
The road to this dispersed campsite dead ends at the top overlooking the forest below. That campsite was taken most of the week I was in this location, and plenty of people drove up to the overlook in hopes of that site OR just to hang out at the overlook for a few minutes.
You drive a dirt road about 3 miles to get to this free campsite, but it’s in good condition (as of 2021). A Prius made it to this dispersed campsite and then the person walked the rest of the short way to the overlook because of a few potholes.
The coordinates above lead to a large-ish flat spot which was great for my ginormous canvas tent and included some trees for privacy from the other site at the end of the road.
It is exposed to the road, so you should expect some ATV and vehicle traffic occasionally. If you’re lucky, you might even get a bunch of dirt bikes that do constant out-and-back routes during the day and kick up a ton of dust seemingly on purpose ha! But hey, that’s what we sign up for when we find free dispersed camping!
I will say, I was happy to not have the “end of the road” campsite because that was the destination of many people. If you camp at the end of the road, expect many people per day hanging out just a few feet away from your camp.
Discover 3,704 camping areas in 154 national forests. From remote mountaintops to secluded canyons, alongside streams, rivers, and lakes.
Direction Clarifier
Here’s a map of the end of the road. The sites are just past a tower of some sort (maybe cell related since I had perfect service ha).
There are a ton of other sites on the way up to these and a few split offs from the main road to explore.
Rabbit Ears Pass Free Dispersed Camping
Steamboat Springs dispersed camping is also available at Rabbit Ears Pass. It’s around 40.376923, -106.730481 and had some cell service.
But it also had a lot more people as it was closer to the highway. I also didn’t go all the way in, so who knows what is all back there!
Make sure to check out Campendium or something similar.
Dispersed Camping: The Road to and from Steamboat Springs
Going in and out of Steamboat Springs from these dispersed campsites can be a hassle if you have a large vehicle or if you’re towing anything.
There is a highway with a pretty steep grade to and from town. My 2009 Subaru Forester definitely was working hard to climb and many vehicles that are towing are moving at a snail’s pace.
If Steamboat Springs (the city) isn’t your reason for visiting, my advice is to plan ahead and try to minimize the amount of driving back and forth as it got tiresome (I had to get ice a few times and dreaded it each time – there was construction as well in 2021 so maybe it’s better now).
Other Areas to Disperse Camp
Note: I don’t have personal experience on these roads, but I’ve read and looked at maps while planning the trip. Since I haven’t been to these, I don’t have as much info on them.
Free Camping Pullouts Near Steamboat Springs, CO
General area: 40.354325, -106.764498
On your way out of Steamboat Springs into the national forest, it is pretty well marked where the national forest starts (or ends if you are leaving the area).
There were several pullouts available, but they seemed busy since they are literally right off the main road. It didn’t look like you’ll have much privacy. Good for an overnighter.
This one seemed to have a little more space than the other pullouts: 40.349889, -106.743639.
Also Forest Road 295 seemed like a decent option to check out as well 40.368500, -106.741972.
I opted out of those dispersed camping sites because I assumed I wouldn’t find a spot or it would be right next to another camper since they are a little more popular.
Buffalo Pass Dispersed Camping near Steamboat Springs
Google Maps: 40.534780, -106.784197
Buffalo Pass is an area northeast of Steamboat Springs. Up until now, I have been discussing the area southeast.
Buffalo Pass is said to be a popular area for dispersed camping, but I never made it that way. You can go along Forest Road 60 aka County Road 38.
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Where is the Best Camping Spot Near Steamboat Springs, Colorado?
Overall, there are several areas to checkout when planning camping trip to Steamboat Springs.
In my opinion, I think the area I wrote about first is the best! So head down Road 302!
Wondering how I research how to find free dispersed camping? Check out my full article to finding the best free dispersed camping in the U.S.
Discover 3,704 camping areas in 154 national forests. From remote mountaintops to secluded canyons, alongside streams, rivers, and lakes.
