15,500+ Campsites Verified By Aussie Campers Over 30 Years
15,500+ Campsites Verified By Aussie Campers Over 30 Years
Camps Australia Wide
South Australia is a free camper's dream, from the rugged Flinders Ranges and the red-dirt outback to the Murray River, the Yorke and Eyre peninsulas and the Limestone Coast. There are free and low-cost camps scattered right across it, and the trick is knowing which ones are worth the drive. That is where we come in. We have been on the road checking camps since 1992, so every site below is one our team has seen for itself.
Foul Bay, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
Below is a preview of the free and low-cost campsites we rate across South Australia, grouped by region and by season, with the local know-how you actually need. When you are ready to map out the whole trip, the Camps Australia Wide App and our CAMPS 13 and CAMPSPendium 2 guides put every Personally Checked site, with GPS coordinates and offline maps, in your pocket.
Six South Australian camps we rate, from the Flinders to the coast. Every one is listed in the Camps Australia Wide App, where you will find exact coordinates, current conditions and notes from fellow travellers.
Between Parachilna and Blinman, Flinders Ranges
26 km south-east of Burra
10 km east of Border Village, the Nullarbor
3 km west of Nildottie, near Swan Reach
Kingston SE, beside the jetty
Kinto Park, Moonta
South Australia runs from desert ranges to a long southern coast, so timing matters. Head inland and north in the cooler months, and keep to the coast and the hills through summer.
The cooler months are the time to explore the Flinders Ranges, the Outback and the Mid North, when the days are mild and the desert is at its best. This is when we point the rig north.
We rate: Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders, Burra Creek Gorge, and the 10k Peg on the Nullarbor.
When summer arrives and the interior heats up, swap inland for the Yorke Peninsula, the Limestone Coast and the Murray, or cool off in the Adelaide Hills.
We rate: Kingston SE on the Limestone Coast, Greenways Landing on the Murray, and Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula.
South Australia splits into roughly six camping regions, each with its own character. Here is the lay of the land, then jump into the Camps Australia Wide App to see every Personally Checked site in the area you are headed.
Gorges, station stays and red-dirt camps around Wilpena, Hawker and the far north.
Riverside reserves and houseboat country around Nildottie, Swan Reach and the Riverland.
Quiet beach camps, boat ramps and copper-town history right around the boot.
Seafood towns, surf beaches and the epic Nullarbor crossing to the west.
Coastal reserves and jetty towns from the Fleurieu down through Kingston and Robe.
Wine country, gorges and reserves from the Adelaide Hills up to Burra.
Fresh from our blog. These six update on their own as we publish new South Australian free camping stories, so the page never goes stale.
The Camps Australia Wide App finds Personally Checked free and low-cost sites near wherever you are, works offline when you lose coverage, and lets you filter for your setup, whether that is a tent, a camper or a big rig. It is $14.99 a year, and most travellers tell us it pays for itself on the first night.
Get the Camps Australia Wide AppPrefer a book on the dash? CAMPS 13 is our go-to for free and budget camping right around the country, CAMPSPendium 2 is the full state-by-state trip planner, and Caravan Parks 7 has the caravan and holiday parks. All personally checked, the same as the app.
Shop the print guidesNothing takes the shine off a morning like a fine you did not see coming, or a No Camping sign you missed in the dark. A few simple habits keep these spots open and free for the rest of us.
South Australia has plenty of free and low-cost camps, from the Flinders Ranges and the Nullarbor to the Murray River, the Yorke Peninsula and the Limestone Coast. Some of our favourites are Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders, Burra Creek Gorge, and Kingston SE on the coast. The easiest way to find one you can trust is the Camps Australia Wide App, where you can filter Personally Checked sites by price, facilities, pets and rig type.
It depends where you are headed. The Flinders Ranges, the outback and the Mid North are at their best in the cooler months from April to October, while the coast, the Yorke Peninsula and the Adelaide Hills are popular through spring and summer.
Most genuine free camps are first come, first served. National and conservation parks are the exception, where you may need a booking or, in the far north, a Desert Parks Pass. We record the current details on each listing we check.
Many are, especially along the coast and the Murray, though national and conservation parks usually do not allow dogs. Filter for pet friendly stays in the Camps Australia Wide App and confirm the conditions before you arrive.
We are a bit biased, but the Camps Australia Wide App is built around Personally Checked listings, with clear access notes, facilities, GPS coordinates and offline maps so it keeps working when reception drops out. You can filter by price, pets, vehicle type, facilities and connectivity, and save your favourites to build a trip.
Heading across the border? We have checked the free camps there too.
Wherever the road takes you across South Australia, we hope you find a cracking free camp and love it out there. For new sites as we check them, our free weekly newsletter is well worth a look.
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