A detailed guide to FREE BLM dispersed camping near quaint Bisbee in Arizona.
As shown on the map below, this article covers dispersed BLM camping along Juniper Flats Rd off Historic Route 80 just west of Bisbee.
Location
Take Historic Route 80 from Tombstone (or 90 from Sierra Vista to 80) and turn left to N. Old Divide Rd. Drive a short distance then turn left on N. Juniper Flats Rd. The paved road will soon stop then continue uphill for 1.5 miles to the first campsites. While in good condition, it is a very steep and curvy dirt road. Please trust your vehicle and do not attempt this if your vehicle struggles on uphills.
Area GPS Map
I highly recommend the Avenza Maps App!
Unfortunately, there is no feasible Avenza map for this area. Just use my Google Map below.
On the map below, click on the square in the top-right corner for a full-screen view.
Juniper Flats Road Camping
Please know there is limited camping near the top. I counted 15-20 sites but it depends on how folks park. The sites are just informal pullouts meaning there are no rules in terms of sharing or proximity to neighbors, etc.
While it may be tempting to camp in one of few pullouts lower down the road, it is a residential area and you may be trespassing. As shown on my map above, the actual BLM boundary begins at about 1.5 miles and stops near the radio towers – according to official BLM GIS data.
There are campsites on both sides of the road. You may be able to see Bisbee from one of the upper 2 or 3 sites to the left – these sites have the best views of the valley below.
In terms of site size, there is a large pull-thru site near the towers to the right. All the other sites require some maneuvering to fit and require backup skills if you have a trailer.
Most of the sites are sloped so bring your leveling jacks!
Verizon service was spotty but workable.
There is a small parking area at the junction of Juniper Flats Rd just before driving up the hill. It is on BLM land and I’ve seen vehicles overnight there but it is not a long-stay spot next to the road.
RV size limits?
This area is popular with vans, schoolies, car campers, and truck campers. Small trailers with powerful tow vehicles won’t have any issues either. I’ve seen larger trailers up there and even Class A’s but these large RVs have very limited options in terms of sites. I suggest scoping out the camping area with your toad or tow vehicle before committing your RV.
There is a large turnaround area near the towers and I guess one can camp there for a night but it is technically not on BLM land.
