Dispersed camping is camping outside a designated campground on public land - no numbered site, no bear box, no potable water spigot, no fee. You drive down a two-track or hike away from the trailhead and camp where the ground is flat and you are not in anyone's way. It is legal on most BLM land and national forest land in the United States, and for a lot of people it is the best kind of camping there is.
What dispersed camping means, exactly
Dispersed camping is a term used by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to describe camping that occurs outside of developed recreation sites. Developed sites are the campgrounds with reserved sites, fire rings, vault toilets, and fee stations. Dispersed camping is everything else - camping on the open land managed by the agency, subject to the general rules rather than campground-specific rules.
It does not mean camping anywhere you want. It means camping on land where dispersed camping is allowed - which is most, but not all, public land. Some areas are closed to dispersed camping due to resource damage, wilderness permit requirements, or proximity to sensitive habitat. The starting assumption on most BLM and forest land is that dispersed camping is allowed unless a sign says otherwise.
Where dispersed camping is allowed
BLM land
The Bureau of Land Management administers 245 million acres, mostly in the West. The BLM's general policy permits dispersed camping on most land it manages. No permit is required for standard short-term camping. The 14-day stay limit applies: no more than 14 days in any location within a 28-day period. After 14 days, you must relocate at least 25 miles from your previous campsite.
Some BLM areas have additional rules - designated camping corridors, campfire restrictions, and in heavily used areas like the Sonoran Desert National Monument or Moab, required camping areas or fee-based zones. Always check the specific field office that manages the land you are planning to visit. Use the Find Land tool to identify BLM parcels near you, then look up the relevant field office for current restrictions.
National forests
The US Forest Service manages 193 million acres across 155 national forests in 44 states. Most national forest land allows dispersed camping under a similar framework to BLM - camp on any unposted land, follow Leave No Trace, observe fire restrictions, and move on after 14 days.
High-use national forests have added permit requirements in recent years. Parts of Inyo National Forest in California, Deschutes in Oregon, and several Colorado forests now require camping permits or fee passes for certain corridors during peak season. Check the specific ranger district's website before your trip - not the national forest's main page, but the ranger district that covers your intended area.
What is off limits
- Designated wilderness areas with permit quotas. Many popular wilderness areas require a permit for overnight use, even if dispersed camping is otherwise the norm on surrounding forest land.
- Areas with posted closure signs. If a sign says camping is not allowed or the area is closed, it is closed. Do not assume the sign is wrong.
- Within 200 feet of water sources, trails, or roads in most forest and BLM guidance. Camp back from water to reduce impact on riparian zones.
- Private land. Public and private land boundaries are not always obvious on the ground. Check a land ownership map before assuming the land is public.
How to find dispersed camping near you
The most direct method: open the Find Land tool, allow location access, and the map will show public land parcels within driving distance with labels for BLM, Forest Service, and other public land types. From there, you can identify which parcels are close enough to drive and look up the managing field office for current conditions.
Using Gaia GPS or CalTopo
Both mapping apps show public and private land ownership layers. In Gaia, enable the "Public Land" or "Land Management" overlay. In CalTopo, use the "Land Ownership" layer under "Map Layers." Zoom into an area and look for BLM (yellow) or national forest (green) parcels. Find a road access point, check the land status, and plan your approach.
Call the ranger station
This still works and often gives you information that is not posted online - recent fire restrictions, road conditions after storms, bear activity, or an area that has informally closed because of overuse. Rangers are usually straightforward about what is allowed and what is not.
Site selection - how to pick a good spot
Choosing where to set up matters both for comfort and for minimizing your impact on the land.
Use durable surfaces
Camp on rock, dry grass, gravel, or ground that is already hardened from previous use. Avoid camping on cryptobiotic soil (a dark, lumpy biological crust common in desert BLM land - it looks like the ground is growing something). That crust takes 50 to 250 years to form and a single footstep can crush it. Stay on established two-tracks or rocky surfaces in desert country.
Distance rules
- At least 200 feet (about 70 paces) from any water source - lake, stream, or spring.
- At least 200 feet from trails.
- At least 200 feet from roads where the goal is a quiet camp.
Existing sites vs. new sites
In heavily used areas, camp on an existing impacted site rather than creating a new one. A new site spreads impact; an existing hardened site concentrates it. In remote, rarely visited areas, the opposite is true - scatter impact and avoid using a spot that hasn't yet formed an established footprint.
The goal is to leave no trace that anyone camped there - not because regulations require it, but because the next person deserves the same experience you had.
What to bring for dispersed camping
Dispersed sites have nothing. No water, no waste disposal, no firewood for sale, no ranger nearby to help if something goes wrong. Plan accordingly.
Water
Carry more than you think you need, and carry a filter. Most dispersed sites in the West have no reliable water within walking distance. A Sawyer Squeeze or similar hollow-fiber filter handles creek and spring water effectively - see the water filter buying guide for options at different price points.
Shelter
A tarp and ground cloth covers most three-season conditions, packs smaller than a tent, and sets up faster once you have practiced. The tarp shelter guide covers three configurations - lean-to for clear nights near a fire, A-frame for rain, and porch pitch for cooking in wet weather. For full shelter reviews, see the best bushcraft tarp guide.
Waste management
Pack out all solid waste where a cat hole is not appropriate (desert soil under 6 inches, alpine above tree line, high-use areas). A WAG bag system weighs almost nothing and keeps you legal in areas where cat holes are not allowed. For cat holes: 6 to 8 inches deep, 200 feet from water and trails, covered and disguised after use.
Fire prep
Check fire restrictions before you go - not the day before, but the day of your trip, since conditions can change quickly. Carry a small gas canister stove as a backup so you can cook regardless of fire restrictions. If conditions allow a fire, use an existing fire ring where one exists. Where there is no ring, build a mound fire on mineral soil rather than scarring new ground. See the ferro rod guide for reliable fire starting technique.
Common mistakes on a first dispersed camping trip
- Assuming cell service. Download offline maps before you leave. Google Maps does not work offline by default. Gaia and CalTopo do with a downloaded map.
- No camp shovel for waste. A small plastic trowel weighs 1.5 oz and is required for responsible dispersed camping. Do not skip it.
- Arriving at dark. Finding a dispersed site in the dark on an unfamiliar road is stressful. Arrive before sunset on your first trip.
- Underestimating road conditions. Many access roads are high-clearance or 4WD in wet conditions. Check road condition reports before committing.
For a full gear list suited to overnight dispersed camping, the bushcraft starter kit guide covers the essentials without overloading your pack. Ready to find a spot? Use the Find Land tool to locate public land near you and plan your first dispersed camp.
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