Dispersed Camping: How to Find Free Campsites on Public Land

Dispersed camping means camping on public land outside a developed campground, usually for free and with no facilities. In the US you can do it on most Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and in most national forests and grasslands, but rarely in national parks. The catch is that each office sets its own rules, so you need to check stay limits, fire orders and closures for the exact area before you park.

What dispersed camping is

The Forest Service uses “dispersed camping” for camping anywhere in a national forest away from a designated campground. That also means no services. There’s no trash pickup, no drinking water, and usually no tables, fire pits or toilets, though a few popular areas have toilets and marked spots.

Our beginner’s guide to boondocking covers off-grid stays of every kind. This guide goes deeper on one piece: the public-land rules and how to find a legal site.

Where dispersed camping is allowed

BLM land

The BLM manages about 245 million acres, mostly in 12 western states, including Alaska. Dispersed camping is generally allowed on BLM land unless an area is posted as closed. Temporary closures for fire danger, flooding or resource protection do happen, so check the field office website before you go.

National forests and grasslands

National forests allow dispersed camping across most of their land, with vehicle access set by each forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Map (more below). National grasslands work the same way. The Dakota Prairie Grasslands, for example, allow dispersed camping for up to 14 days within any 30-day period.

National parks

Don’t plan on it. Most national parks limit car camping to campgrounds or designated roadside sites, and backcountry camping needs a permit. Grand Canyon doesn’t allow vehicle dispersed camping anywhere in the park. Big Bend allows vehicle camping only at designated backcountry road sites. Some national seashores and recreation areas have designated areas, so read each park’s camping page.

State land

State rules vary a lot. Arizona State Trust Land requires a paid recreational permit, and the Arizona State Land Department caps overnight camping at 14 cumulative days per calendar year. In Washington, you need a Discover Pass to camp on Department of Natural Resources land. Other states set their own rules, so check with the state land agency before you camp.

Land type	Dispersed camping?	Common stay limit
BLM	Yes, unless posted closed	14 days in a 28-day period, then move 25 miles (varies by office)
National forest	Yes, in areas the MVUM allows	Often 14 or 16 days; some forests allow 21
National grassland	Yes, in most areas	Often 14 days in 30
National park	Rarely, and only at designated sites	Set by each park
State trust land	Varies by state	Varies, often with a paid permit

How to find dispersed campsites

Start with official maps and offices

For national forests, the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is the key document. It’s free online and at ranger offices, and it shows which roads are open and where you can pull off to camp. If a Forest Service road isn’t on the MVUM, it’s closed to public motor vehicles.

How far off the road you can drive differs by forest. The Willamette National Forest allows vehicles up to 300 feet off the road in marked corridors. The Dixie National Forest’s map lists up to 150 feet from the road centerline. The Stanislaus National Forest only lets you park within one vehicle length of the road and walk in.

For BLM land, go to the local field office. Many offices publish camping brochures with stay limits, closed zones and fire rules, and staff can tell you about current road conditions and closures.

Recreation.gov mostly lists developed campgrounds, since dispersed sites aren’t reserved. Still, some high-use areas and trailheads require a permit sold through Recreation.gov or the ranger station, and each listing’s “Alerts and Important Info” tab notes closures.

Use crowd-sourced apps

Apps show where other people have camped, but they aren’t the authority on what’s legal. Treat them as leads to confirm.

• iOverlander: free and crowd-sourced, listing campsites plus water, fuel and mechanics. Listings can be out of date or describe spots that have since closed.
• Campendium: the free app searches dispersed camping on BLM, Forest Service and Park Service land, with user reviews. Public land and cell coverage overlays need the paid Roadpass Pro membership, and Campendium notes its overlays can include private land.

Check satellite view

Once you have a candidate area, switch to satellite view. Look for cleared pullouts, existing fire rings and flat, bare ground near the road, plus any washes you’d need to cross and room to turn around. Then compare it with a land ownership map, since private parcels often sit inside public land.

The rules you need to follow

Stay limits and moving on

On BLM land, the most common rule is 14 days within a 28-day period. After that, many offices require you to move at least 25 miles away. Those 14 days count across separate visits too, so a few short stays can add up. Some offices use a different window or distance, so read the local rule.

National forests set their own limits. Many use 14 or 16 days, the Olympic National Forest allows 21 consecutive days, and some forests require you to move a set number of miles when your time is up.

Distance from water and roads

The most common setback from lakes and streams is 200 feet, but some forests use 100 feet or even 50 feet. Do dishes and wash up away from water sources too. For roads, follow the MVUM corridor rules above.

Fire restrictions

Many areas use staged fire restrictions. In Colorado, BLM Stage 1 restrictions limit campfires to agency-provided grates at developed sites, and fire pans or rock rings don’t count. Stage 2 bans campfires and charcoal entirely. Gas stoves and lanterns with a shut-off valve are generally allowed under both stages. Stage 3 is a closure that blocks access to the land itself.

California adds a step. To use even a gas stove on Forest Service or BLM land there, you need a free California Campfire Permit, available online at Ready for Wildfire or at Forest Service, BLM and CAL FIRE offices.

Trash and human waste

Pack out everything, including food scraps, since buried or burned food draws animals. For human waste, the cleanest option is a portable toilet or waste bag system you carry out. If you dig a cathole, make it 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails, and pack out your toilet paper.

Permits and fees

Most dispersed camping is free with no permit, but there are exceptions:

• High-use areas: some busy trailheads and wilderness areas require a permit and sometimes a fee, sold at the ranger station or on Recreation.gov.
• Free permits: on the Long Cane, Enoree and Francis Marion districts of the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests in South Carolina, you need a free permit approved in advance.
• BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas: these desert areas in Arizona and California charge $180 for the season (September 15 to April 15) or $40 for a 14-day permit.
• State land permits: Arizona State Trust Land needs a paid recreational permit, and Washington DNR land needs a Discover Pass.

When there’s no public land nearby, a paid membership like Harvest Hosts gets you overnight stays at wineries and farms. Our Harvest Hosts review covers what you get, or you can see current Harvest Hosts plans.

Seasonal closures

On the Stanislaus National Forest, all forest roads are subject to seasonal closure from December 15 to April 15, and traditional dispersed camping isn’t available during that time. Forest roads generally aren’t plowed in winter.

Some closures protect wildlife. The Black Hills, Carson and San Juan national forests all close gates seasonally to give deer, elk and other animals space in winter and early spring. Some forests also close roads in spring mud season to protect them from damage. Check the forest’s alerts page and the MVUM’s seasonal dates before you drive in.

Road and vehicle considerations for vans

Forest Service roads are rated by maintenance level. Level 2 roads are for high-clearance vehicles, and passenger cars aren’t considered. Level 3 roads are maintained for a careful driver in a standard passenger car. On MVUMs, Level 2 roads often show as “not maintained for passenger car,” so a two-wheel-drive van with low clearance should stick to Level 3 and up.

A few habits help:

• Arrive in daylight so you can scout first.
• Walk any wash, rut or mud patch before you drive it. Don’t leave the road to go around an obstacle.
• Make sure you have room to turn around.
• Watch the forecast. A dirt road that’s easy when dry can trap you after rain.
• Carry enough water for your whole stay, since dispersed sites usually have no drinking water. A filter like the LifeStraw is a good backup.

Leave No Trace at dispersed sites

Dispersed sites have no staff cleaning up, so their condition depends on campers. The seven Leave No Trace principles are a good checklist:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of other visitors.

In practice, park on bare ground that’s already been used, reuse existing fire rings when fires are allowed, keep generators and music down, and give other campers space.

Frequently asked questions

Is dispersed camping really free?

Usually, yes. Most BLM and national forest land charges nothing. Exceptions include some high-use areas, BLM Long-Term Visitor Areas and state trust land that requires a paid permit.

How long can you stay at one dispersed campsite?

On BLM land, the common limit is 14 days in a 28-day period, after which you move at least 25 miles. National forests set their own limits, often 14 or 16 days. Always check the local office, since rules vary.

Can you dispersed camp in a national park?

Generally not with a vehicle. Most parks limit car camping to campgrounds or designated sites. Look for national forest or BLM land near the park instead.

Do I need a permit for dispersed camping?

Most of the time, no. Some areas require a free or paid permit, and in California you need a free California Campfire Permit to use a stove on federal land. Check the forest or field office page before you go.

What’s the difference between dispersed camping and boondocking?

Boondocking is any camping without hookups, whether on public land, private land or a parking lot. Dispersed camping means camping on public land outside developed campgrounds, so it’s one type of boondocking.

Stay limits, fees, fire orders and closures change often, so confirm current rules with the managing agency before your trip.