Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands

UPDATED FOR 2024. Did you know that you can camp for free on much of America’s public lands?
Boondocking/dispersed camping is growing rapidly in popularity as more and more people take to their vans, RVs, SUVs, trucks, and cars to explore the backroads of America’s forests and deserts in search of solitude and natural beauty. I Have a Lot of Experience Doing Dispersed Camping!
I'm John Soares, a writer for businesses and nonprofits for over three decades, and also the author of four hiking guidebooks on Northern California. I've been doing dispersed camping for 30-plus years in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and other states. In this book I bring all my knowledge, experience, and research together to clearly explain everything you need to know to get out into nature on national forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands and find primo camping spots, while saving a ton of money in the process. This Book is Your Bible for Dispersed Camping and Boondocking
Here’s what Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands covers: In-depth discussion of the different types of federal and state lands where you can camp for free, including dispersed camping and boondocking on national forests, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, national monuments, and more Clear explanation of how to research the best areas to go dispersed camping and boondocking, and where to find the best advice on finding campsites Detailed guidelines that help you find excellent campsites once you’re out on dirt roads in the hills, forest, or desert – and what you need to do to not get lost! A list of the key characteristics of a good dispersed campsite, and how to make sure it’s a good fit for your specific needs How you can minimize your impact on the land, including applying Leave No Trace principles What you need to do to be as safe as possible when camping and exploring How to keep your dogs safe Advice on where to legally sleep along highways and in and near towns and cities A comprehensive list of everything you need to take with you to have a thoroughly enjoyable dispersed camping experience A clear definition of dispersed camping, and why I use it more than “boondocking,” which is more common among RV folks. I also define similar terms, such as free camping, primitive camping, dry camping, and wild camping. A comparison of dispersed camping with regular pay campgrounds, and why, despite the cost and potential noise and other hassles, it can occasionally be a good idea to stay in a campground. Discussion and ranking of the variety of vehicles you can use for dispersed camping: full-size vans, trucks with camper shells, minivans, RVs, travel trailers, cars, and motorcycles. Only have a regular car? No problem—you can still do this!
The book includes 25 photos, plus maps showing the distribution of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands across the United States. What This Book Is – and What It Is Not
There are hundreds of thousands of places where you can legally boondock and do dispersed camping in the United States, so this is not a guidebook to specific places. Rather, it’s how-to manual that makes sure you know how to find the best dispersed camping and boondocking sites in the United States, and that you maximize your enjoyment and safety. My Website Has a Wealth of Boondocking/Dispersed Camping Resources
In the introduction and throughout the book you'll see my website address. The website helps you find the best dispersed camping spots and get the most out of your dispersed camping experiences. It includes websites and apps that help you find specific campsites.