Alternative Camping Options at City of Rocks

Does anyone have beta on alternative camping options at/around city of rocks? It looks like all campsites are booked during my upcoming trip April 25-29!

Thanks,

-Evan

Do a search as this question gets asked frequently. But there is camping outside of the Reserve on BLM land.

City of rocks RV is pretty good option they have reasonable prices for tent sites they are located at the entrance of the city of rocks. I wouldn’t recommend the BLM spots if you have a low clearance vehicle.

Lol! It's early. 

Sites are wide open, not "totally booked up". "W" stands for walkup. This time of year, they don't make staff go drive around to stick reserved cards on shit, you just show up and do self service. Simply grab a blue envelope at Bath rock, then go pick where you want to camp. Fill out the flap, tear it off, stick it in the post at your site. Stick money or a check in the envelope, then put it in the box at Bath Rock. Easy! 

Be prepared for cold nights still, and batten down everything, every time, any time you turn your back. It gets super windy now and then, with no warning!

Have fun! My first trip over for this season is the weekend after you depart. 

Best, Helen

I am looking to go May 14th-16th. Looks like all the online bookable camping is reserved. Curious about the BLM camping as a back up plan - can a subaru make it? 

If the BLM is packed, and the camping is all reserved, what are the other options? Don't mind driving a bit (20) minutes for some back up plan camping.

Thanks in advance.

There are several more options for primitive dispersed camping on FS and BLM land other than the two popular BLM locations just south of Almo.  You can check them out here:   mountainproject.com/photo/1…

Reserved camping was packed this weekend. It's people who are there to camp, not primarily climbers, as in the past. 

Climbing was wonderfully uncrowded, but hey, it was a tiny, lucky, weather window, until the cold front roared in Saturday.

Sorry guys. This feels like the new normal, for weekends. Unexpected and kinda unfortunate result of the pandemic.

Best, Helen

Mike, thank you so much, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for.