Dispersed Camping Starter Guide [Free Guide]

Camp for Free. Do It Right.

Dispersed camping — free camping on public land — is one of the best things about having a capable rig. No reservations, no crowds, no fees. Just you and the backcountry.

But if you’ve never done it, it can feel intimidating. Where do you actually go? Is it legal? What if something goes wrong?

This guide covers everything from finding your first spot to leaving it better than you found it.

What’s Inside

Finding Spots

• How to use freecampsites.net, iOverlander, and Campendium
• Reading BLM and USFS maps for legal dispersed areas
• Google Earth scouting techniques
• What the road symbols on motor vehicle use maps actually mean

The Rules

• 14-day stay limits and how they work
• Distance from water requirements
• Fire restrictions and how to check current conditions
• State and regional differences you need to know

The Gear

• What you need that you wouldn’t need at a campground
• Water storage and filtration essentials
• Waste management (WAG bags, trowel, LNT principles)
• Navigation tools for areas with no cell service

10 Favorite Regions Quick profiles of the best dispersed camping areas in the US, with tips for each:

• Sedona, AZ
• Eastern Sierra, CA
• Sawtooth Mountains, ID
• White Mountains, NH
• Gila National Forest, NM
• Ouachita National Forest, AR
• San Juan Mountains, CO
• Boundary Waters, MN
• Big Bend area, TX
• Ozark National Forest, AR

Format: PDF — 28 pages