By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Most INPA campgrounds are off public-transit routes. A rental car is the only practical way to reach campsites in the Negev, Golan, and inland Galilee — and lets you distribute gear without carrying it on public buses. Compare all Israel rental agencies before booking.
Live prices & reviews on DiscoverCars
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Compare car rental ratesvia DiscoverCars
INPA campgrounds in the Negev and Golan are remote enough that a sprained ankle or dehydration incident needs medical evacuation cover. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance covers worldwide travel including Israel — buy before you fly.
Live prices & reviews on SafetyWing
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Get camping travel covervia SafetyWing
Not ready to self-organise? Guided Negev overnight camping and crater jeep tours handle logistics — gear, transport, permits, and a licensed guide who knows the desert. Depart from Tel Aviv or Mitzpe Ramon.
Live prices & reviews on GetYourGuide
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Browse Negev camping toursvia GetYourGuide
Israel has one of the most dramatic camping landscapes in the Middle East — crater floors under dark skies, Golan rivers in forested gorges, Mediterranean coastal sites, and the ancient hills of the Galilee — and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) runs a network of roughly 40 designated campgrounds across its national parks and nature reserves. These sites are well-maintained, affordable, and largely unknown to international visitors who haven’t navigated the INPA booking system.
This guide covers how INPA camping works, the best sites by region, gear essentials for Israeli conditions, and the legal rules you need to know (including why campfires and wild camping carry legal penalties). For a comfort-level-up alternative, the glamping in Israel guide covers eco-lodges and tented camps; for touring in a self-contained vehicle, see the Israel campervan guide.
The INPA system has two campground types:
Type A — full facilities. Flush toilets, cold showers, covered cooking shelters, BBQ areas (enclosed charcoal only — no open fires), parking, and in some cases an on-site ranger. Fees in 2026 typically run ₪60–100 per person per night; confirm current rates at inpa.gov.il before booking as prices change seasonally.
Type B — basic. Portable toilets only, no showers. Some sites have water; many do not. Fees ₪30–50 per person per night, or free at trail water-points on the Israel National Trail. These suit experienced campers who are self-sufficient on water.
Booking is done through inpa.gov.il/en/camping. The English-language interface works reasonably well; payment steps sometimes redirect to a Hebrew page — use Chrome’s auto-translate function. Book holiday periods (Sukkot, Passover, Yom Ha’atzmaut) 6–8 weeks ahead — these periods fill completely. Spring and autumn weeknight bookings typically clear with 2–4 weeks notice.
INPA helpline: 076-800-0088. Cancellation policy: refund if cancelled 48+ hours before check-in at most sites.
Wild camping outside INPA-designated sites is illegal under the Israel Nature and Parks Authority Law. This applies to all national parks, nature reserves, and most public land. INPA rangers patrol popular areas and issue fines for overnight stays outside designated campgrounds, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like Makhtesh Ramon crater and the Judean Desert. If you want to sleep under Israeli skies, use an INPA site or an Israel National Trail camping station — both are legitimate, well-located, and inexpensive.
The Negev is the centrepiece of Israeli camping. Makhtesh Ramon — a 40km-long, 10km-wide erosion crater — holds the most dramatic campsite in the country.
Makhtesh Ramon Campground sits on the crater rim near Mitzpe Ramon, with views over the entire crater floor. It is the only official camping site in the crater area, and the night sky at Makhtesh Ramon is certified as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association — the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye on clear, moonless nights. Demand is high; book well ahead for spring and autumn weekends. For the full crater context, see the Makhtesh Ramon and Negev guide and the Mitzpe Ramon guide.
Nahal Ardon streambed (near Mitzpe Ramon) offers a more primitive Type B experience in the crater watershed.
Sede Boker area has a campground adjacent to the Ben-Gurion tomb heritage site — combine with Sde Boker and Ein Avdat on the same day. The 3 days in the Negev itinerary builds a multi-day camping route through this area.
Seasonal warning: Summer camping in the lower Negev (below Mitzpe Ramon’s 900m elevation) involves daytime temperatures of 38–44°C and minimal night cooling. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are strongly recommended; summer visits should be reserved for the Mitzpe Ramon altitude sites with careful planning.
The Galilee and Golan offer a completely different camping register: forested gorges, rivers, ancient ruins backdrops, and temperatures 10–15°C cooler than the Negev in any given season.
Nahal Hermon / Banias area campground (Golan Heights) sits adjacent to the Banias waterfall and Roman-period temple complex — one of Israel’s most dramatic ancient sites. Note: the campground closes in winter due to cold temperatures and access conditions. The broader Golan highland hiking context is in the Golan Heights hiking trails guide.
Ein Afek Nature Reserve (north of Haifa) offers a more accessible freshwater wetland camping experience with strong birdwatching draw — one of the few remaining lowland river habitats in Israel.
Horshat Tal National Park (Upper Galilee) is a forest camp with kayaking on the Hatzbani river — one of the most family-friendly INPA camping sites.
Nimrod Fortress campground (Golan Heights, 850m elevation) sits in the shadow of a medieval Crusader-era fortress with cool summer nights and dramatic castle-wall views.
Ein Gedi campground is adjacent to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve — the spring-fed oasis above the Dead Sea. This site has the highest demand of any INPA campground outside the Negev: book 6–8 weeks ahead for Sukkot and Passover. The trade-off is location: Ein Gedi’s hiking and the Dead Sea floats in the morning are both within easy reach.
Summer note: The Dead Sea shore sits at 430m below sea level — the lowest surface point on Earth. July and August temperatures at Dead Sea campsites reach 38–42°C at night; this is not a comfortable camping environment in peak summer and carries genuine dehydration risk. Spring and autumn are the correct seasons for Dead Sea camping.
Achziv National Park (Mediterranean coast, north of Nahariya) offers beach camping — a rarity in Israel where most coastline is either urban or privately managed. Type A facilities; advance booking required in summer when Israeli domestic camping demand peaks.
The Israel National Trail (Shvil Yisrael, 1,100km north to south) has approximately 70 camping stations spaced 15–25km along its length — a mix of INPA campgrounds and basic water-point clearings. Through-hiking season is November to March: the northern and central sections are ideal in late autumn and early spring; the southern Negev desert section is best in winter (December–February). Full trail completion takes 45–60 days at a steady pace.
“Trail angels” — private households near the trail — provide water resupply and sometimes hospitality in remote sections; the trail community is active and well-documented at israelnationaltrail.com.
Key differences from European camping conditions:
The INPA campground map, available at inpa.gov.il, lists current sites (the number changes seasonally as INPA opens and closes sites; approximately 40 are typically operating in any given season). Pair with:
Wild camping outside designated INPA (Israel Nature and Parks Authority) sites is illegal under Israeli law. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority Law prohibits overnight stays in nature reserves and national parks except at official campgrounds (אתרי לינה). INPA rangers patrol popular areas; fines are issued for illegal camping, particularly in sensitive ecological zones like Makhtesh Ramon crater and the Judean Desert. There are no exceptions: fires, which are themselves a separate legal offence on all public land in Israel, compound the issue. If you want to sleep under the Israeli stars, use the INPA booking system or the established Israel National Trail camping stations — both are easy to access once you understand the system.
Book at inpa.gov.il/en/camping (English-language page; some payment steps may redirect to a Hebrew interface — use Chrome's auto-translate or Google Translate on the page). Key tips: holiday periods (Sukkot, Passover/Pesach, Yom Ha'atzmaut long weekends) book out 6–8 weeks in advance — do not plan a Makhtesh Ramon crater camp for a Sukkot weekend without booking months ahead. Standard weeknights in spring and autumn typically have availability with 2–4 weeks notice. INPA helpline: 076-800-0088. Cancellation: full refund if cancelled 48+ hours before check-in at most sites.
INPA campground fees vary by site type and season. Type A sites (full facilities: flush toilets, cold showers, BBQ areas, covered cooking shelters) typically run ₪60–100 per person per night in 2026; these are indicative ranges — confirm current prices at inpa.gov.il before booking as rates change seasonally. Type B sites (basic: portable toilets only, no showers) run ₪30–50 per person per night, or are free at some trail water-points. All prices should be confirmed directly with INPA as they are subject to change.
Summer camping in the Negev and the Dead Sea area carries genuine health risk — not merely discomfort. At lower Negev elevations and the Dead Sea shore (below sea level), July and August temperatures reach 38–44°C, including at night. Even at Makhtesh Ramon (900m elevation), nighttime lows rarely drop below 20°C in peak summer. Heat exhaustion and dehydration are real hazards; INPA rangers and emergency services have dealt with incidents at remote campsites. Strongly recommended: confine Negev and Dead Sea camping to spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when daytime highs reach 20–30°C and nights genuinely cool. Galilee, Golan, and coastal campsites are more manageable in summer, with temperatures typically 10–15°C lower than the desert.
No — campfires are absolutely prohibited at every INPA campground in Israel, year-round, with no exceptions. This is a legal requirement under Israeli fire-risk law, not a guideline. Israel's dry landscape makes wildfire a year-round hazard; the country has experienced multiple devastating wildfires. INPA rangers will issue fines for open fires, including in designated BBQ areas — those areas use enclosed charcoal grills only (some sites provide them; bring your own charcoal grill if required). For cooking, bring a portable gas or alcohol stove. Never use a fuel stove inside a tent or enclosed shelter.
Essential differences from European camping: (1) sleeping bag — even in spring and autumn, desert nights drop sharply after midnight; Makhtesh Ramon crater rim can reach 5–10°C in October-November; a bag rated to 5°C is minimum even if daytime temperatures were 25°C; (2) tent stakes — rocky limestone and basalt ground in the Negev and Golan shreds standard aluminium pegs; bring spiral/screw stakes; (3) gas or alcohol stove only — campfires are illegal (see above); (4) water — most Type B and trail camping stations are dry; carry minimum 3 litres per person per day in the Negev in spring, more in summer; (5) sun protection is absolute — SPF 50+, hat, UV-blocking arm sleeves, hiking sunglasses; (6) snake and scorpion awareness — shake out shoes before putting them on; don't put hands under rocks or into crevices.
Yes — the Israel National Trail (Shvil Yisrael, 1,100km from north to south) passes through or adjacent to many INPA campgrounds and has approximately 70 dedicated camping stations every 15–25km along its length. Camping stations on the trail range from basic water points with flat ground (free) to INPA-operated paid campgrounds. Through-hiking season runs November to March to avoid the worst summer heat in the southern desert sections. Many international through-hikers complete the full trail in 45–60 days. Trail angels (private households near the trail) provide water resupply and sometimes hospitality in remote desert sections. See the full guide at israelnationaltrail.com; cross-reference with the INPA camping map for official site bookings.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated