The BLM manages land for a number of uses, including recreation, grazing, logging, and resource extraction. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a government agency that manages land primarily in the western United States, and generally in open, desert landscapes.

Use a text search to zoom into the area you’re interested in.How to Find Free Camping in the National Forest on Campendium Drive a few minutes out of the park, pull into a quiet spot in the national forest, and enjoy the solitude. The added bonus? While few national parks allow for free camping, many national parks are bordered by national forest or grasslands. Check the local regulations by either stopping in at the nearest ranger station, or calling ahead before you arrive. Most national forests that allow dispersed camping have a 14 day stay limit, though it can vary from as short a time as one day to as long as 30 days. National forests exist in almost every state in the US, and though not all allow dispersed camping, many (especially in the western US) do.Ĭamping in a national forest is suited not only for RVs and vans, but for tent camping as well.

National forests are public lands managed by the USDA Forest Service. From Walmarts to national forests, there is a wide range of convenience, beauty, and enjoyment to be found with regard to free camping. Where can I find free camping?įree camping abounds through the United States and Canada, but not all free camping is created equal. If you’re camping in an area that allows overnight parking, such as a truck stop or Walmart parking lot, you will likely have access to a bathroom and a place to dispose of garbage. If you’re camping in a remote, wild area (such as in a National Forest or on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands), in addition to your RV or tent, be sure to bring:Ī working knowledge of Leave No Trace principles is essential to camping responsibly in free campsites, including how to dispose of waste properly. What do I need to camp for free?īecause most free campsites do not have any amenities, you’ll need to arrive prepared. Free camping is sometimes called boondocking, primitive camping, dry camping, and dispersed camping.įree camping areas appeal to some campers simply because it doesn’t cost money, but others may find additional benefits to a free camp site, including the pleasures of camping without amenities, the option to camp farther away from other people than can be found in a campground, and the remote nature of many free campsites. Most free campsites are not in developed campgrounds. What is free camping?įree camping is camping overnight in your RV or tent at a location where you do not have to pay. However, if a member of the community finds one of these locations to be useful for overnight RV parking and creates an entry, we may approve the listing.They say the best things in life are free, and when it comes to the thousands of camp spots across the US and Canada that don’t charge a dime for camping, who is to argue? Here is Campendium’s definitive guide to free camping: what it is, how to find it, and what you’ll need to bring. There are enough Wal-Mart and truck stop directories out there already. We are not actively seeking Wal-Marts, truckstops or other parking lots and will not be adding very many of these. We hope you enjoy the same style of camping. We especially like camping on Forest Service land, BLM (Bureau of Land Management) areas, WMA's (Wildlife Management Areas) and county or city parks. You own these lands and you are entitled to use them. We believe that free camping areas are often the most beautiful and peaceful camp sites. Whether you enjoy tent camping, car camping or RV camping, our goal is to help you find the best places to go camping. The more information you have, the more informed your decisions. Please come back and let us know what you find! User reviews help other campers decide on their next camping destination. If everyone contributes a few campsites, we'll all have more places to go camping. By sharing camping information freely, we can all spend less time researching campgrounds, spend less money, and more time camping. We are community driven, and while we will be adding many free camping spots, we hope that you will add some of your favorite camping places as well. This is a platform for sharing campgrounds and camp sites you have discovered. Community reviews and ratings provide you with up to date information and help you select the best camp site for your next camping trip. We give you a simple, map based search engine to find free and cheap camping areas. Our community provides the best free camping information available. You can simply use your smart phone's GPS to find camping near you or even use our trip planner to plan your route from coast to coast. Whether you just need to know where to camp nearby or you want to plan a free camping road trip, we've got you covered.

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