As more and more Americans are choosing to get outside and camp, reservations and first-come, first-serve sites at established campgrounds have become harder to come by. Personally, we tend to prefer camping in the wild — better known as dispersed camping — versus staying at RV parks and established campgrounds. While campgrounds definitely have their perks, we enjoy the solitude and primitive experience that comes with camping off the grid.
We often get a lot of questions about what dispersed camping is, and how others can do the same. If you’re in this same camp (see what I did there?), you’re in luck! This blog post is just for you. But first, let’s cover the basics.
What is Dispersed Camping?
Dispersed camping is basically camping anywhere on public land outside of a developed campground, where it is permitted and lawful to do so. You might hear others also call this dry camping or boondocking — it’s all the same. Dispersed camping is free, which is a perk… but it does come at a different cost. When camping in the wild, there aren’t any services available, like restrooms, potable water, trash removal, picnic tables and so on. There’s no campground host to fetch you firewood, and there typically isn’t a usable cell signal. But if you can manage without these amenities, you can score some epic scenic views to fall asleep and wake up to!
Where Can You Dispersed Camp?
For the most part, dispersed camping takes place on National Forest land, or land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). One of the simplest ways to find a dispersed campsite is to drive out on Forest Service or BLM roads into the woods (or desert) and keep an eye out for a spot near a stream or with a view of the mountains. Stick to sites that have clearly been used before. These are fairly easy to find, as you’ll spot a well-worn area, most likely with a fire ring. Often times, this is a rule — not just a friendly suggestion.
Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by the establishment of new campsites, so please minimize your impact on the forest by camping only on pre-existing sites. Camp on bare soil to avoid damage or killing plants/grass. You should also note that dispersed camping in a motorized vehicle is only allowed 150 feet from any designated route to limit resource damage. For the most part, you’re also not allowed to camp in the vicinity of developed recreation areas like campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads or within 200 feet from any stream or other water source.
To help us with our search for the best dispersed campsites in a given area, we tend to rely pretty heavily iOverlander. It’s free, populated with user submissions, photos, and reviews and available to use offline. You can also find similar features in The Van Life App, Outly, Campendium and The Dyrt. The sites identified on these apps are great for pointing you in the right direction, but we have often found better sites nearby by driving just a bit further down the road or using satellite imagery to locate other potential sites in the same area.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Over the past several months we have been finding that even dispersed camping areas are starting to fill up at a much faster pace than we experienced pre-pandemic. The popularity of the apps listed above, and the desire to be as far away from other people as possible, have no doubt contributed to this phenomenon. As you might imagine, the natural consequence is a whole lotta people camping in the the backcountry who aren’t familiar with dispersed camping rules and etiquette. To help mitigate some of the negative impacts we have witnessed over the past few months, we have included an overview of how to be better prepared before setting off on your first dispersed camping trip.
Leave No Trace — Nada, Zip, Zilch
This next one is a biggie, so pay attention. YOU NEED TO PACK OUT EVERYTHING YOU PACK IN. As I mentioned earlier, dispersed camping means that no amenities are provided, like water, restrooms or trash cans. It’s your duty to Mother Earth, and everyone else who wants to wild camp after you, to pack out any and all garbage with you before you leave. This means picking up beer cans, cigarette butts, bottle caps, plastic bottles, empty food cans, leftover food items, toilet paper (yes, especially the soiled kind), baby wipes and anything else you might find yourself using during your time out in the wild. None of these things are good for the environment, nor will these decompose properly. If you pack it in, you need to pack it out. Follow Leave No Trace principals.
But How Do I Go to the Bathroom?
Important enough to be its own section, there are rules around how to properly use the restroom when at a dispersed site. If you’re not in an RV with a toilet, there are two things you can do if you gotta go No. 2. The first option is to dig a hole, also called a cathole. Dig at least 6-8 inches deep before you go, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Once you make a deposit, cover and disguise the cathole when finished. DO NOT BURY TOILET PAPER. Soiled toilet paper should be packed out along with all your other trash. As you might imagine, a camp shovel and a small bottle of hand sanitizer should be part of your dispersed camping toolkit.
Another alternative that works well, especially if you plan to dispersed camp a lot, or for more than a few days, would be to get one of these pop-up, portable toilets. We have one, and it works great! While you can buy special bags for it, that’s not necessary. We use scented 13-gallon garbage bags, and place it underneath the toilet seat. Once you’re done, aim to remove the air and tie off the bag — similarly how you would tie off a doggy poo bag. To minimize the smell, place the garbage bag into a 1-gallon Ziplock freezer bag and seal. Then before you depart, take it with you. You’d be amazed at this double-bag trick — you can barely smell anything!
Another helpful trick to minimize the smell of sold waste is to keep solids separated from liquids. This can be accomplished by going No.1 before/separately from No. 2, or by using a coagulating agent like Poo Powder. Because our young children cant seem to quite figure out how to separate these two movements, we have used this product quite often and it works very well.
Regardless of how you do your business, please pack out all toilet paper and other hygiene products. For those with camp trailers, simply dispose of waste and grey water at a nearby dump station, which you can also locate using some of the apps mentioned above.
(Shameless plug — shop our bathroom setup here! Just scroll down to The Outhouse.)
Be Mindful of the Length of Your Stay
Usually there is a time limit on how long you can camp within a dispersed area. For a majority of places, this is around 7-14 days. You’ll want to verify with whoever manages the land you’ll be on (aka National Forest or BLM office). Once you hit the max on days, it’s typically required that you move at least 10 miles to camp in another dispersed area. While this likely won’t apply to you, it’s good to know if you are planning a longer stay.
Look Up Fire Restrictions Before Camping
Make sure to contact the local forest service office to see if there are any fire restrictions in place. Many National Forests require that you have a valid campfire permit to have campfire in the backcountry, and often restrict campfires to only campgrounds. Just because there’s an established fire ring at your site, does not mean it’s cool to have a campfire. It is your responsibility to research fire restrictions in place in the area you will be camping and you should not expect sympathetic rangers if you plead ignorance.
If a campfire is an important part of your camping experience, and fire restrictions are in effect, you should opt for an established campground where campfires are almost always permitted year round.
If campfires are permitted, be sure is it completely out before you leave the site. This means bringing enough water to ensure you can put out your fire completely before bed — and anytime you plan to leave your site unattended. You should be able to put your whole hand into the ashes without being burned; it should be cool to the touch. Stir the ashes to make sure all embers have cooled. This is SUPER important.
Also, I shouldn’t have to say this but I will — only burn wood and paper products! We continually find glass, alumium foil, beer cans, and other trash in fire pits. Theses item do not burn completely, emit toxins and smell terrible. Spare yourself and future campers from contaminated campfires.
Also be sure to only collect firewood that is down and dead. Do not snap branches or chop down trees (yes, even dead ones). Most dispersed camping areas offer plenty of down and dead firewood for collecting and although we have yet to come across any restrictions on doing so, it is always best to check.
Plan Ahead
Let me just say that I write this next section based on experience! You’ll want to plan in advance of wherever you’ll be staying. Mostly because it’s unlikely that you’ll have cell service. Download offline maps prior to your arrival so that you’ll be able to navigate your entrance and exit. If you’re looking to hike, get the premium version of AllTrails and download the trails so you can access this info once out of range. Additionally, if there’s a BLM or Forest Service office nearby, stop in and talk to a ranger about the best places to dispersed camp. They’ll also be able to tell you if there are any regulations or animal activity that you should be aware of.
Some Final Thoughts
Dispersed camping certainly isn’t for everyone. I wasn’t even sure it was for me in the beginning. Camping out in the wild? Pooping out in the woods? I had a lot of initial concerns, but trust me, dispersed camping gets easier with time. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become. You start to understand your personal limits, as well as those within your rig (as it pertains to power, water, and off road capabilities).
We’ve come to really enjoy camping in the wild. After experiencing some of the most epic views, we’re not in a hurry to pay for an inferior crowded camping spot anytime soon. Dispersed camping is free, fun, and off the beaten path. Once you get comfortable with it, you’ll be hooked!
Have questions for us about dispersed camping? Drop a line below and let us know!
