free camping map of Canada
14,657 free, crown, dispersed, and first-come camp sites across Canada — the ones the big booking sites don't list. Pan the map, or jump to a province below. No account, no paywall.
13,959 dispersed & crown sites · 543 named crown areas · 155 first-come campgrounds
Green = community-mapped dispersed sites (crown pullouts, forestry roads, informal spots). Purple = named crown-land areas where dispersed camping is generally allowed. Amber = verified first-come campgrounds (no reservation — some charge a nightly fee). Click any pin for details.
browse by province
Free and dispersed sites we've mapped in each province — tap through for the detail view.
| Province / territory | Dispersed & crown | First-come | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 5,194 | 20 | 5,214 |
| British Columbia | 3,129 | 37 | 3,166 |
| Quebec | 2,551 | 5 | 2,556 |
| Alberta | 1,494 | 76 | 1,570 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 461 | 1 | 462 |
| Saskatchewan | 408 | 1 | 409 |
| Manitoba | 346 | 3 | 349 |
| Nova Scotia | 331 | 1 | 332 |
| New Brunswick | 252 | 1 | 253 |
| Yukon | 226 | 0 | 226 |
| Northwest Territories | 55 | 0 | 55 |
| Prince Edward Island | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| Nunavut | 6 | 0 | 6 |
how to use this
Crown land is publicly owned land where dispersed (free) camping is generally allowed, subject to provincial rules — no booking, no fee, but no services either. We map the named crown areas where those rules apply, plus tens of thousands of dispersed sites people have tagged on OpenStreetMap: forestry-road pull-offs, lakeshore pullouts, and informal spots.
First-come campgrounds are managed sites you can't reserve — you show up and take an open site. Most are cheap; some are free. They fill fast on summer weekends, so they're shown as a separate layer with a link to each site's page.
common questions
Is crown land camping really free?
On most crown land, dispersed camping is free for Canadian residents, usually up to 14–16 days per site. Rules and stay limits vary by province, and some areas are closed or require a permit — always confirm with the province before you go.
How do I find free camping near me?
Pan and zoom the map to your area, or open your province below. Green pins are free dispersed / crown sites; amber pins are first-come campgrounds. Zoom in until the clusters break apart into individual sites.
Are these sites verified?
The dispersed / crown pins are community-mapped from OpenStreetMap — a great starting point, but not individually verified, so conditions and access can change. The first-come campgrounds come from official provincial and federal sources. When in doubt, check current fire bans and road closures first.
What should I bring to a dispersed site?
Everything — dispersed sites have no water, toilets, or garbage service. Pack out all waste, follow Leave No Trace, and check the fire ban before lighting anything.
Dispersed and crown-land sites are community-mapped and unverified — rules, access, and fire bans change constantly. Verify current conditions with the relevant land manager before heading out.
Dispersed camp-site locations © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).