Camping for Free: How to Find and Utilize Free Campsites

When you are living on a budget, exploring the outdoors as frequently as you would like can seem an expensive endeavor. You have to invest in all the gear, travel to the campsite and then pay to set up your tent by the day as you would in a hotel. 

Communicating with nature should not require much. After all, the whole point of camping is to live minimally, refresh your body with fresh air and for many even go on a digital detox. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways and places in the United States where you can camp for free. 

Different Ways to Free Camp

Campers have been free camping in their vans, RVs, and tents all across the country. Over time free camping has been described through various names and styles. 

Dispersed Camping

The Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest Service have been using the term Dispersed Camping for free sites listed on their grounds. When you are searching for free campsites on BLM or the NFS website, you should use this term specifically in the search bar. If you are going to search on a government website, type Dispersed Camping instead of Free Camping. 

Dry Camping

Dry camping is when you find a campsite that will let you set up your camp for free overnight, but there is no electrical hookup or access to water on the site. 

Backcountry Camping

Also known as Primitive Camping, Backcountry Camping is when you go into the wilderness and trails less traveled and set up camp wherever you prefer. Campers will only take a backpack with them and therefore set up camp with only the bare essentials that they can carry. 

Boondocking

This is the most common term used by all campers. You will find this in online forums and amongst the camping community. Boondocking is the overarching term that refers to all types of camping whether you are using a vehicle or a tent as shelter. 

Where To Look For Free Campsites

National Forests

The USFS overseas around 193 million acres of public land that includes grasslands and forests. Before you browse their website, you can also look these up on Google Maps. On the official website, you will find a comprehensive map that not only shows these lands but also highlights hiking trails, and flat ground that is ideal for pitching a tent or parking a van. Remember that national forest camping grounds don’t offer any amenities for campers. 

There are rules for free camping in national forests: You can’t camp for more than 16 days consecutively. If you are building campfires you must follow all tips for a safe campfire and only in built-in fire rings. You should also adhere to the Leave No Trace policy so that you are part of the sustainable management of the site. 

Through The Bureau Of Land Management

BLM oversees a lot of unexplored public land. They use these lands for recreation, animal grazing, maintaining cultural landmarks, and much more. They have campgrounds that do charge a small fee but they also have grounds that offer Dispersed Camping. These grounds don’t have any amenities like restrooms, fire rings, and access to water. When free camping, you have to prepare everything yourself. 

On the BLM website, you will find an interactive map that highlights all suitable camping areas. Unlike national forests, BLM sites are not listed on Google Maps. 

BLM has strict guidelines for free campers. Campers can’t continue camping for more than two weeks. When you are pitching a tent or parking your RV, make sure you do it at least 200 feet from any water source. You should also follow the Leave No Trace guidelines. 

How To Search for Free Camping Sites

Mobile Applications

Several apps list free camping sites. Some of these apps charge a fee to access their directory. Free Roam, iOverlander, FreeCampsites.net, and Campendium are apps that are free to download and use. 

The Dyrt, Outly, Ultimate Public Campgrounds, and US Public Lands are sites that charge a small fee to use. 

Word Of Mouth

If you know any other avid campers ask them about their experiences in free campsites. They will likely recommend a tried and tested place for you to go camping yourself. 

Guidebooks

Several books have been published that list and review free camping sites. The most notable one out of these is the National Geographic Road Atlas which receives an annual update. Paper books are the best things to have on hand if you decide to go off the grid for some time so you can detox and explore the outdoors without any disturbances. 

Ask A Park Ranger

Stop at the visitors’s center of a national park and ask a park ranger about the closest or the most scenic free campsite. These are the professionals that know these lands best and will give you honest critique about campsites and throw in their recommendations too. 

Things To Remember When Free Camping

Leave No Trace

The LNT philosophy allows campers to minimize their impact in the wilderness. The basic tenet of LNT is to leave a site as you found it. This is all you need to keep wild public grounds clean. If you build a fire ring, it is your job to demolish it. There are no trash cans on public grounds so you have to create a system for disposing of your trash. There won’t be any public bathrooms so you have to dispose of all human waste according to the BLM and USFS guidelines. 

The Roads

The roads to free campsites are not always the best. These are secluded roads and because they don’t incur a lot of traffic they have bumps and potholes all along them that no one complains about. 

It is important to note here that some of the roads lead to deserted paths without cell service. To avoid ending up in these areas, check all road closures on the BLM and National Parks Service website. 

There Are No Amenities

Campsites usually have outdoor restroom units, a communal kitchen, fire pits, and electricity. Free campsites have none of these. However, campers can arrange for these themselves. You can take folding chairs, picnic tables, and clean water with you so you can recreate the campsite that you want. 

Why You Should Try Free Camping

You Don’t Need To Book Anything

Let’s be honest, there is a season when you will witness an influx of new campers. During warmer months, families and groups dominate the campsites. Most high-end camping grounds are booked well in advance. With a free campsite, you don’t have to worry about making reservations. If a spot is available as you get there, you can claim it. 

If You Like Solitude

If you are someone who needs a break from crowds and constant stimulation, free campsites are a great escape because they are often empty. There is not a lot of activity happening on these campsites because they are not driven by profit to cater to their clients and constantly procure engaging activities for them. 

You Can Be Spontaneous

If you like to indulge in last-minute plans, free camping is the way to go. You just have to pack and go to the nearest free campsite so you can enjoy spending time outdoors. 

You Can Do A Digital Detox

Because free campsites don’t have electrical hookups, they are perfect for campers looking to detox from digital devices during their camping getaway. 

Good For Emergencies

If you are traveling quite a distance and get delayed or get a flat, you can set up camp at the closest free campsite for a day. If you like road trips and want the option to be able to rest if need be, a list of free campsites around your itinerary is a great backup plan. 

Don’t get overwhelmed when shopping for camping gear. Purchase that large tent for sale if you are planning to camp with a group of people or your family. Traveling and the physical exertion that comes with camping can take a toll on your stamina. More than anything you want to be comfortable in your tent so you can have a peaceful night’s sleep.