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Make sure Dispersed Camping is permitted in the area you intend to use.
A few years ago, I rarely spent the night in a tent, didn’t know what “dispersed camping” meant, and had no idea of places across the country where camping is completely free. Now, after more than a year on the road (and hundreds of nights camping across North America), I can say without a doubt that dispersed camping is my favorite.
Not only does it save major cash, but by getting off the beaten path you will discover some of the loveliest and most isolated spots available. Camping for free can take a bit more effort but leads to adventure far and wide.
Primitive, Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping (also called Wild Camping, Boondocking, Primtive Camping, Backcountry Camping or Dry Camping) is not about luxurious amenities. It is about beautiful natural places and camping in an area that is not a designated campground.
Imagine driving into the forest, turning down a dusty dirt road, and discovering a spot right in the wilds with no camp noise, bathrooms, or showers.
However, you’ll need to do a bit of extra planning. Make sure to bring everything you need – most importantly, plenty of water. Because there is no way to reserve a dispersed camp spot, plan to arrive with plenty of daylight.
Research ahead of time helps, but finding an ideal campsite can still take time. A search that’s fun in the daylight can be miserable in the dark.
Find Your Free Camp Site
In the United States, you can camp on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas and in national forests across the country. You can also find free camping opportunities in some Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), state forests, and grasslands.
Certain high-use areas or sensitive habitats are marked with “no camping” signs. Other environments have specific ways to minimize damage, like avoiding the living biological crusts of desert environments or fragile plants of high alpine areas. But the majority of public lands are available for respectful use. Below is my favorite strategy to find an epic camp spot.
Scour Google Maps. Look for the green areas on Google Maps that signify public lands. This is a rough demarcation of national forests and other public areas, so be sure to respect private land at the fringes. Take note of what’s available in the region you plan to explore. Use the Google Earth mode and zoom function to get an idea of roads and landscapes.
Use a paper map. Some wild spaces don’t show up on Google Maps. And once you’ve gotten off the beaten path, cell service may not be available. This is where paper maps come in handy. Choose one of the options listed below or stop by the ranger station for a local map. These will help you identify roads, trails, potential obstacles, and water sources.
Look up rules and regulations for the area you plan to visit.
Talk to a ranger. Call or stop by the local National Forest or BLM office. These folks are full of useful information and are usually happy to share advice. Get firsthand tips on where to go and what to avoid. Plus, it’s always a good idea to let someone know where you’ll be when you head off the grid.
Head into the wilds with a sense of adventure and an open mind. The spot you pick on the map might be perfect or might not. Remember the journey is the destination. If it was just about rolling into a spot and setting up the tent, there are plenty of campgrounds meant for that.
Leave No Trace
There’s nothing sadder than finding a spot in the middle of nowhere covered in garbage. Leave things better than you found them. Pick up trash, pack out waste, and tread lightly.
Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace and keep the rugged places pristine and wild for future adventurers to come.
Park only where legal and safe, and don’t create new paths with vehicles. Your goal should be to leave the place without any evidence of your visit.
Be a Better Camper Every Time
I once awoke floating in a field because I didn’t understand local tides. It was an unpleasant lesson, but one that I won’t soon forget. Mistakes are an inevitable part of learning something new and also valuable lessons that make us better campers.
But when you wake up, unzip the tent, and lie back to enjoy the rising sun, disconnected from the frantic pace of modern civilization, you’ll realize the extra effort is worth the hassle.
When you sink into the mellow rhythm of nature, surrounded by open spaces and wild places night after night without any wallet-pinching worries, you’ll be hooked.
So don’t wait. It’s time to get off the beaten path, live outside, and enjoy nights under the stars. Best of all, it’s time to do it all for free.
By Mallory Paige
Mallory Paige is a Storyteller and Adventurer. As the creator of the Operation Moto Dog adventure, she spent a year traveling and camping her way across North America on a motorcycle-sidecar with Baylor the Dog, proving you don’t need to be fearless or perfect to live your dreams