15 of the most scenic locations in the U.S. where you can camp in a 4x4 vehicle, offering stunning landscapes, remote wilderness, and unique terrain.

These locations offer some of the best scenic camping spots accessible by 4x4 vehicles, combining adventure with breathtaking landscapes. Whether you’re after mountains, deserts, coastlines, or forests, these destinations provide unforgettable experiences for any overlanding enthusiast.

1. Alstrom Point, Utah

Scenery: Panoramic views overlooking Lake Powell, with dramatic rock formations, mesas, and the distant Colorado River.
Camping Experience: This remote, cliffside camping spot offers breathtaking sunrise and sunset views. The 4x4 road to Alstrom Point is rugged and remote, ensuring privacy and a true wilderness experience.

2. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Scenery: Towering mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and vast open valleys.
Camping Experience: You can camp near Shadow Mountain, which provides stunning views of the Grand Tetons. The 4x4 roads here allow access to remote spots with few visitors, making it perfect for an immersive nature experience with dramatic mountain vistas.

3. Death Valley National Park, California/Nevada

Scenery: Stark desert landscapes, sand dunes, salt flats, and rugged mountains.
Camping Experience: Death Valley offers a range of remote 4x4-accessible campsites, such as those near Racetrack Playa or Titus Canyon. These isolated spots let you experience the beauty of the desert with crystal-clear night skies and no light pollution.

4. Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho

Scenery: Majestic mountains, alpine meadows, and pristine lakes.
Camping Experience: Overlanders can access remote campsites with sweeping views of the jagged peaks of the Sawtooth Mountains. Stanley Lake and Redfish Lake are prime spots for scenic camping, offering reflection views of the peaks on the lake’s surface.

5. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Scenery: Desert landscapes, rugged mountains, and the winding Rio Grande River.
Camping Experience: The park’s River Road is a great 4x4 route for accessing remote campsites along the river. The scenery is striking, with vast desert vistas and views of Mexico’s towering mountains. Solitude and stargazing are unmatched here.

6. White Rim Trail, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Scenery: Red rock canyons, sandstone spires, and the Colorado River cutting through the canyon.
Camping Experience: This iconic overlanding route offers multiple campsites along the trail, each with epic views of the Canyonlands. White Rim is perfect for a multi-day 4x4 camping adventure where you can wake up to awe-inspiring canyon views every morning.

7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

Scenery: Desert landscapes with unique rock formations, wildflower blooms (in spring), and mountain backdrops.
Camping Experience: The Borrego Badlands provide secluded and scenic desert camping, especially around Font’s Point. The 4x4 routes lead you to sweeping views of eroded hills and desert basins with colorful sunset displays.

8. Olympic National Park, Washington

Scenery: A diverse range of landscapes, from temperate rainforests and rugged coastlines to snow-capped mountains.
Camping Experience: The park’s Sol Duc Valley and Queets River offer remote campsites accessible by 4x4, where you can immerse yourself in dense, moss-covered forests and the calming sound of flowing rivers.

9. Ouray, Colorado (San Juan Mountains)

Scenery: Towering alpine peaks, waterfalls, and wildflower-filled meadows.
Camping Experience: Ouray is often called the "Switzerland of America," and the area offers fantastic 4x4 camping options. Imogene Pass, Engineer Pass, and Black Bear Pass provide access to scenic campsites at high elevations with jaw-dropping mountain views.

10. Outer Banks, North Carolina

Scenery: Coastal dunes, sandy beaches, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Camping Experience: Drive your 4x4 right onto the beach and camp along the remote Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The ocean views and the opportunity to fall asleep to the sound of waves make this a unique camping destination, perfect for beach lovers.

11. Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument, Utah

Scenery: Unique sandstone formations, slot canyons, and vast desert wilderness.
Camping Experience: This remote region is accessible via 4x4 routes like Hole-in-the-Rock Road. You can camp among striking rock formations and vast open spaces, offering unparalleled solitude and some of the best night skies in the country.

12. Kaibab National Forest, Arizona

Scenery: Pine forests, meadows, and views of the Grand Canyon.
Camping Experience: North of the Grand Canyon, this forest offers dispersed camping along rugged 4x4 roads. Sites on the edge of the canyon provide breathtaking views of the Colorado River gorge, especially at sunrise and sunset.

13. Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

Scenery: Dense forests, granite peaks, and historic landmarks like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
Camping Experience: The Black Hills offer numerous 4x4-accessible campsites deep in the forest, surrounded by wildlife and stunning rock formations. The area around Custer State Park provides some of the most scenic and secluded spots.

14. Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Utah

Photo: https://redcliffsdesertreserve.com

Scenery: Colorful sandstone cliffs, desert landscapes, and ancient petroglyphs.
Camping Experience: The reserve provides a beautiful setting for camping with your 4x4 vehicle, with a mix of desert beauty and remote wilderness. You can explore old Native American rock art and camp near stunning red cliffs.

15. Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina

*Morrow Mountain State Park (photo: Stanly County CVB)*

Scenery: Rolling hills, hardwood forests, and scenic lakes.
Camping Experience: Uwharrie offers off-road trails that lead to picturesque camping spots. The forest is known for its rugged terrain and peaceful, remote campsites ideal for those seeking both adventure and relaxation.

15 of the most scenic camping locations in the U.S.