UT · Mountain West
Bonneville Salt Flats & BLM West Desert
A cosmic, other-worldly landscape unlike anywhere in America. The Bonneville Salt Flats stretch 30,000 acres of perfectly flat, blindingly white salt crust. Adjacent BLM West Desert land is completely free to camp on. Rocket cars break land speed records here. At sunset with water on the flats, the reflections look like an infinite mirror.
- Nowhere else looks like this in the continental US. Alien landscape feels
- Photography potential is a 10/10, especially at golden hour and sunrise
- Completely free BLM camping right next to the attraction
- SLC is only 1.5 hours away, an easy day trip or overnighter
- In a wet year, flooded flats create infinite sky reflections
Free camping near Bonneville Salt Flats & BLM West Desert
BLM West Desert: Silver Island Mountains Dispersed
BLM Salt Lake Field Office
Free dispersed camping at the base of the Silver Island Mountains, just north of the salt flats. Dramatic backdrop of rocky ridges rising from the playa. Walk to the salt flat edge in 20 minutes. No services, no permit, no fee. 14-day limit, and pack out everything.
How to get there
From I-80 exit 4 (near Wendover UT), take the Bonneville Salt Flats Recreation Area road north. Continue past the race pit area toward Silver Island Mountains. BLM dispersed camping on the north side of the flats.
BLM West Desert: Floating Island / Leppy Hills Area
BLM Salt Lake Field Office
Remote BLM dispersed camping in the broader West Desert. Floating Island appears to rise from the salt flats at distance. Very isolated, zero light pollution, among the best stargazing in Utah.
How to get there
From SLC, take I-80 west to exit 41. Head north on county roads into the West Desert BLM land. Multiple dispersed camping spots along the dirt tracks.
Dispersed camping ground rules
- Usually a 14-night limit in one area, then you move on
- Camp at least 200 ft from water, trails and roads
- Pack out all trash. Leave no trace.
- Check local fire restrictions before building a campfire
- No potable water: bring or filter everything you drink
Rules vary by forest and BLM field office, so check with the local ranger district or field office before you go.
Find more free spots
Get an app like iOverlander to find places to camp on public land for free in the states. Other campers post what's there, how rough the road is and whether a ranger moved them on.
- iOverlander (opens in a new tab)Free. Campsites reported by other travelers, with recent notes on access, signal and rangers.
- Campendium (opens in a new tab)Free to browse. A map of free campsites across the US, much of it on public land, with reviews.
Spots change. Read the newest reports and any posted rules before you set up, and pack out everything you bring in.
When to go
- January
- February
- March: best month
- April: best month
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September: best month
- October: best month
- November
- December
WanderRank Scores
Daily Cost
$10 to $40
per day (food + transit)
Free camping available
Plus gas for the drive
Recommended Stay
1 to 3
days · easy difficulty
Drive time from your airport
Avoid if
- You need shade or trees. There are none, zero
- You hate heat. Summers are brutally hot
- You expect hiking trails. This is flat land, not trail country