Dispersed Camping is the term given to camping in the United States on public land other than in designated campsites. This type of camping is most common on national forest and Bureau of Land Management land. Designated campsites often offer services to the campers, such as trash removal, toilet facilities, tables and/or fire pits, which are not available at dispersed camping locations. Although dispersed camping takes place on public land, each managing agency has specific regulations for dispersed camping, though they generally all also require campers to follow Leave No Trace guidelines.[1][2] In addition, some public lands restrict camping to 14 days. Other terms used for this type of camping can be boondocking, dry camping or wild camping.
Boondocking
Boondocking on wheels is a common term used by travelers to describe camping without connection to any services such as water, sewage, electricity, and Wi-Fi.[3][4][5] This is a general term for camping, but it is more common in motorhomes, RVs, and out-of-country communities because they tend to have the supplies and storage space needed for proper backcountry accommodations. Anyone can boondock, whether it's camping in a car or boondocking in a Class A van.
Many national forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands throughout the United States offer primitive campgrounds with no facilities whatsoever.[6][7] You can generally camp anywhere in the national forest unless there are signs indicating otherwise. This makes the backcountry an option for travelers looking to visit various national parks. Follow the access roads into the woods to find places where you can park and "camp" for free.
Camping closer than 300 feet from a water source is generally restricted. The USFS offers free travel management maps called MVUMs (Motor Vehicle Use Map) that show exactly where dispersed camping is restricted and what roads can be traveled on.[8]
Allowed to stay in the campground for 14 consecutive days for free,[9] but subsequent camping days must be within 25 miles of the hotel. This rule applies to most BLM and USFS-managed lands, but there are exceptions. For example, the INyo National Forest in California allows 42 days in designated camping areas.[10]