Free camping in the Northern Territory
Where you can legally park up for the night, how long you can stay, and 12 free and low-cost places near Darwin and Alice Springs and along the classic routes.
- Places listed
- 12
- Free
- 5
- Checked
- 25 October 2026, against official sources
The sign wins. Councils change rules often. If a site is signed "No camping", don't camp there, whatever this page or an app says.
Where you can sleep in a campervan in the Northern Territory
Roadside rest stops
The NT Government lists which highway rest stops allow overnight camping (marked '24 hour overnight camping allowed'). Some on the same list say 'camping not permitted', for example Manton Dam and Coomalie Creek just south of Darwin, so check the stop on the list before settling in.
Source: NT Government: Road rest stops in NTFree camping is limited to designated spots
Tourism NT says camping in the Territory is only allowed in designated areas. The free options are the roadside rest stops outside the towns, which are meant for overnight stays only, not as a base for an extended stay.
Source: Tourism NT: Camping around Alice SpringsSleeping in a vehicle in Darwin and Palmerston
Camping or sleeping in a public place in the City of Darwin, including in a campervan, caravan or car, is regulated under By-Law 103 and rangers can issue on-the-spot fines. Tourism NT says the same approach applies across Darwin and Palmerston. Use a caravan park or designated campground instead.
Source: City of Darwin: Camping in Public PlacesNational park campgrounds: book online first
In NT parks and reserves you must book and pay online before you go for designated campsites. You can't pay at the park. Fees depend on the campground category.
Source: NT Government: Camping feesPark camping fees
Category A campgrounds: $15 per adult, $8 per child (5 to 17 years), $38 per family (2 adults and 4 children). Category B: $10 per adult, $5 per child, $25 per family. Category D: $20 per adult, $10 per child, $50 per family. Generators and caravans are only allowed in certain campgrounds.
Source: NT Government: Camping feesAlice Springs
Camping around Alice Springs is only allowed in designated areas. Tourism NT points to the free roadside rest stops outside town and the West MacDonnell campgrounds, which are on sealed road.
Source: Tourism NT: Camping around Alice Springs12 free and low-cost places in the Northern Territory
Each one is confirmed on an official page, linked on its card. Prices and limits are as published on 25 October 2026; check the link before you go.
Near Darwin
- 1
Bridge Creek rest stop
Stuart Highway, 146 km south of Darwin
Free- Price
- Free
- Facilities
- barbecues, picnic tables, water supply, shelter, toilet
- Access
- 2WD (highway rest stop)
- Booking
- Not needed
The first overnight-allowed rest stop south of Darwin; the two closer to the city say camping not permitted.
Official info: NT Government: Road rest stops in NT ↗ - 2
Warloch rest stop
Stuart Highway, 142 km south of Katherine
Free- Price
- Free
- Facilities
- barbecues, picnic tables, water supply, shelter, toilet
- Access
- 2WD (highway rest stop)
- Booking
- Not needed
Useful break on the long Katherine to Tennant Creek stretch.
Official info: NT Government: Road rest stops in NT ↗ - 3
Attack Creek rest stop
Stuart Highway, 72 km north of Tennant Creek
Free- Price
- Free
- Facilities
- barbecues, picnic tables, water supply, shelters, toilet
- Access
- 2WD (highway rest stop)
- Booking
- Not needed
Closest overnight stop north of Tennant Creek; shelters and water on site.
Official info: NT Government: Road rest stops in NT ↗ - 4
Florence Falls 2WD campground (Litchfield National Park)
Litchfield National Park
National park- Price
- Category A: $15 per adult, $8 per child (5 to 17), $38 per family
- Facilities
- Category A: moderate facilities which may include showers, toilets, rubbish bins, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Caravans and motorhomes allowed, no generators. Hosts present May to September per the Litchfield park page, which also says bins aren't provided (take rubbish with you) and no pets are allowed in the park.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗ - 5
Wangi Falls campground (Litchfield National Park)
Litchfield National Park
National park- Price
- Category A: $15 per adult, $8 per child (5 to 17), $38 per family
- Facilities
- Category A: moderate facilities which may include showers, toilets, rubbish bins, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Caravans and motorhomes allowed. Campground hosts present May to September. Check swimming signs: any NT waterway can hold crocodiles.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗ - 6
Leliyn (Edith Falls) campground (Nitmiluk National Park)
Nitmiluk National Park, near Katherine
National park- Price
- Category A: $15 per adult, $8 per child (5 to 17), $38 per family
- Facilities
- Category A: moderate facilities which may include showers, toilets, rubbish bins, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Caravans and motorhomes allowed, no generators. Good stop between Darwin and Katherine's gorge country.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗ - 7
Jalmurark - 12 Mile Yard campground (Elsey National Park)
Elsey National Park, near Mataranka
National park- Price
- Category A: $15 per adult, $8 per child (5 to 17), $38 per family
- Facilities
- Category A: moderate facilities which may include showers, toilets, rubbish bins, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Caravans and motorhomes allowed, no generators; overflow open camping areas listed. Coordinates are for Elsey National Park, not the exact campground.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗
Near Alice Springs
- 8
Mt Polhill rest stop
Stuart Highway, 61 km south of Alice Springs
Free- Price
- Free
- Facilities
- barbecues, picnic tables, water supply, shelter, toilet
- Access
- 2WD (highway rest stop)
- Booking
- Not needed
The nearest free overnight stop south of Alice Springs, on the way to Uluru turn-off and the SA border.
Official info: NT Government: Road rest stops in NT ↗ - 9
Frewena rest stop
Barkly Highway, 132 km from Threeways
Free- Price
- Free
- Facilities
- barbecues, picnic tables, water supply, shelter
- Access
- 2WD (highway rest stop)
- Booking
- Not needed
For the Barkly route (Mount Isa to the Stuart Highway); no toilet listed here, the next stops are 62 and 95 km away.
Official info: NT Government: Road rest stops in NT ↗ - 10
Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) campground
Karlu Karlu Conservation Reserve, south of Tennant Creek
Low cost- Price
- Category B: $10 per adult, $5 per child (5 to 17), $25 per family
- Facilities
- Category B: basic to moderate facilities which may include toilets, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Main campground allows caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers; the overflow area doesn't. No generators. The rest-stop list notes camping fees apply here.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗ - 11
Ellery Creek Big Hole campground (Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park)
West MacDonnell Ranges, west of Alice Springs
National park- Price
- Category B: $10 per adult, $5 per child (5 to 17), $25 per family
- Facilities
- Category B: basic to moderate facilities which may include toilets, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers allowed, no generators. Tourism NT says the West MacDonnell drive is on sealed road.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗ - 12
Ormiston Gorge campground (Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park)
West MacDonnell Ranges, west of Alice Springs
National park- Price
- Category B: $10 per adult, $5 per child (5 to 17), $25 per family
- Facilities
- Category B: basic to moderate facilities which may include toilets, picnic tables, barbecues, tap water (boil before drinking)
- Access
- 2WD
- Booking
- Book and pay online before you go (parkbookings.nt.gov.au); you can't pay at the park
Caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers allowed, no generators. Further out than Ellery Creek, so plan a full day trip from Alice.
Official info: NT Government: Where you can camp (NT parks) ↗
Tips for camping in the Northern Territory
- Between October and April (Build-up and Wet Season) Tourism NT says camping needs a robust set-up and good shelter for rain and heat; May to September is the comfortable window around Darwin. Source: Tourism NT: Camping around Darwin
- Any NT waterway, including creeks and dams, can hold crocodiles. Only swim at designated safe swimming areas and follow the signs. Source: Tourism NT: Camping around Darwin
- Central Australian nights can drop below zero in winter, so pack blankets even if the days are mild. Camping is best April to September. Source: Tourism NT: Camping around Alice Springs
- NT road rest stops are listed with their distances to the next stop; the NT Government recommends a break every 2 hours on long drives, and distances between listed stops can be 100 km or more on the Katherine to Tennant Creek stretch. Source: NT Government: Road rest stops in NT
- Park campgrounds must be booked and paid online before you arrive; there is no paying at the park, so sort it out before you leave town. Source: NT Government: Camping fees
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