What are the rules for dispersed camping?
Dispersed camping is free, undeveloped camping on public land — no campground, no hookups, no fee. On the gold BLM and green national-forest land that makes up most of our map, it's generally allowed up to a 14-day limit, away from developed sites. The catch: 'generally allowed' is not 'allowed everywhere,' so the color tells you the rule-of-thumb and the source tells you the specific rule.
Find free dispersed camping near you →Dispersed camping (also called boondocking or primitive camping) is camping outside a developed campground, on public land, for free. The two great sources are BLM land and national forest, both typically capping a stay at 14 days within a 28-day window. But 'generally allowed' carries real exceptions: field offices and forests close high-use corridors, post fire restrictions, designate day-use-only areas, and on national forest tie legal camping to a posted distance from a road open to motorized use (the MVUM). Beyond federal land the rule flips — state parks are designated fee sites, national parks are campground-or-permit only, wildlife refuges generally prohibit camping, and private land is off-limits without permission. The community-mapped dispersed pins are a starting point, NOT an official designated-site list. Leave No Trace, pack out everything, and check fire restrictions before any flame.
Common questions
- What is dispersed camping?
- Dispersed camping is free, undeveloped camping on public land — outside a developed campground, with no hookups and no fee. It's also called boondocking or primitive camping. It's generally allowed on BLM and national-forest land up to a 14-day limit.
- How long can you dispersed camp?
- The standard limit is 14 days within a 28-day period on both BLM and national-forest land, after which you must move out of the area. Some high-use areas post shorter limits — verify with the managing field office or forest.
- Where is dispersed camping allowed?
- Generally on open BLM land and national forest, away from developed sites. It is NOT allowed in national parks (campground/permit only), state parks (designated fee sites), most wildlife refuges, or on private land. Check the land color and the source before you go.
- Do you need a permit to dispersed camp?
- Usually no — dispersed camping on open BLM and national-forest land is free and needs no permit. A few special areas (some desert Long-Term Visitor Areas, certain wilderness) require one, and California requires a Campfire Permit for any flame. Always check fire restrictions first.
Sources — verify before you camp
- Camping on public lands — Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov). The dispersed-camping rule-of-thumb and the 14-day limit. As accessed 2026-06.
- Camping & cabins — USDA Forest Service (fs.usda.gov). The dispersed rule and the MVUM. As accessed 2026-06.
- Land status: PAD-US (USGS, public domain). Campsite points: OpenStreetMap, community-mapped (not an official designated-site list). As accessed 2026-06.
This page aggregates public data; the linked official pages are authoritative — verify before you camp. The color on our map is the disclaimer, never a permit.