Free camping exists on public land, and the rule that governs it is almost always the same: you may camp outside a developed campground, on land managed by a federal or state agency, for up to 14 days, if you can reach it and there is no local closure. Knowing which agency owns the land tells you which rules apply.
Who manages the land
| Agency | Land | Free dispersed camping |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 245 million acres, mostly west | Usually yes |
| US Forest Service | National forests | Usually yes |
| National Park Service | Parks, monuments | Rarely; designated sites only |
| Fish and Wildlife | Refuges | Rarely |
| State trust land | Varies | Often requires a permit |
| State forests | Varies | Sometimes |
| Private timber land | Varies | Usually paid permit |
The practical answer for most people: look at national forest and BLM land first, and assume national parks are out.
The dispersed rule
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Outside developed sites | At least 200 ft from water, trail, road |
| No facilities | Pack out everything |
| Stay limit | 14 days in most areas, 30 in some |
| Move requirement | Usually must move 25 mi after the limit |
| Fire | Check current restrictions |
| Vehicles | Stay on existing tracks |
Dispersed camping is free because you provide everything: water, toilet, trash removal. It is not a cheaper campground; it is a different category of trip.
Stay limits
| Agency | Limit | Re-entry |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 14 days | Move 25 mi |
| Forest Service | 14 days | Move 25 mi |
| Some districts | 7 days | Move 25 mi |
| Long-term visitor areas | Seasonal, paid | Permit |
Rangers check. Overstaying is the most common violation and the fastest way to lose access for everyone.
Road access
| Road type | Vehicle needed |
|---|---|
| Paved to the site | Any car |
| Graded gravel | Any car, slowly |
| Maintained dirt | Higher clearance |
| Two-track with ruts | 4WD, high clearance |
| Sand or mud | 4WD, recovery gear |
Most free sites are 1–5 mi down a dirt road. Check the road on a map with satellite view before committing; a “road” that is a rutted track is not a road for a sedan.
Water
| Source | Availability |
|---|---|
| None | Assume this on most dispersed sites |
| Seasonal creek | May be dry in summer |
| River | Needs filtration |
| Developed spring | Rare |
Carry all the water you need: 1 gal per person per day minimum, plus cooking. A 5 gal container per two people for a weekend is the usual starting point.
Permits and closures
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Most national forest | No permit, but check fire restrictions |
| Some BLM areas | Free permit or registration |
| California | Campfire permit required |
| Wildlife areas | Often a permit |
| Tribal land | Permission required |
| Private inholdings | Permission required |
Check the specific district website, not the national page. Closures are local and change seasonally.
How to find a site
- Open the agency’s motor vehicle use map (MVUM) for national forests.
- Look for land outside the “no camping” buffers.
- Check satellite view for existing pull-outs and fire rings.
- Confirm the road type and your vehicle.
- Download the area offline before you lose signal.
Existing fire rings are the strongest signal that a spot has been used and is tolerated. A pristine meadow is not a campsite.
What free camping costs in effort
| Item | Developed campground | Dispersed |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Provided | Carry |
| Toilet | Vault or flush | Pack out |
| Trash | Dumpster | Pack out |
| Table and fire ring | Provided | Maybe |
| Neighbours | Close | Usually none |
The trade is money for effort. For a weekend, the effort is small; for a week, it becomes the main work of the trip.
When free is the wrong choice
Free camping is a bad trade when you arrive after dark, when the group includes young children, or when the weather is turning. The savings are $25–40 a night; the cost of a bad night with no toilet and no shelter is much higher.
Use free sites for the second or third trip, once the routine is established and you know how your group handles discomfort.
Leave it better than you found it
Free sites are lost one bad camper at a time. Pack out your trash and one extra piece, keep fires in existing rings, and do not widen the pull-out by driving around a rut.
Access is a privilege granted by an agency that receives complaints. The behaviour of the last person at a site decides whether the next one is allowed.
Where to go next
For the site routine, see the Leave No Trace guide; for the toilet, the camping toilet guide; for water, the water planning guide.
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