Dispersed camping is a style of off-grid camping on public lands without hookups for water, electricity, or sewer. Also known as boondocking, dry camping, or wild camping, it allows travelers to stay for free in remote areas managed by the BLM or Forest Service while relying entirely on their own self-contained resources.
But with phrases like ‘dry camping’ or ‘boondocking,’ there’s a lot of terminology to contend with whether you’re a seasoned camper or just starting out. Here’s our take on dispersed camping – what it is, and what it isn’t.
Key Takeaways
- Boondocking or dry camping (often used interchangeably) refers to camping or overnighting without hookups or amenities like bathrooms, water spigots, or picnic tables. You can boondock or dry camp in any legal overnight location, including parking lots, or public lands.
- Dispersed camping means boondocking on public lands without a designated site assignment.
- Popular areas often shift to designated dispersed camping, with clearly marked sites required to spend the night.
- The easiest way to find dispersed camping or boondocking locations uses Campendium filters, set Price to Free and Category to Public Land or Parking Lots.
Further reading...
What Is Dispersed Camping? Dry Camping Basics, Where it’s Allowed, and What to Expect
Dispersed camping has two main components: how you camp and where you camp. ‘Dry camping’ and ‘boondocking’ are two ways to describe the “how” of dispersed camping. When you boondock, there are no connections to water, electricity, and sewer like you’d find in a developed campground.
There aren’t any bathrooms, water spigots, or picnic tables. It’s just you, your camper, and a piece of land to call your own for a night or two. Dispersed camping is generally free, though sometimes a permit is required.
Now, let’s tackle the second component of dispersed camping, the “where” of camping. Here’s our take on what is dispersed camping, and what is not.
Dispersed Camping on Public Land: Free Camping Options and Rules
Dispersed camping is on public land. Dispersed camping is camping outside of a designated campground, on lands that are managed for this purpose. You find a durable surface to park your rig or pitch your tent, but little else.
The National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and Department of Fish and Wildlife are great examples of public land management agencies that allow dispersed camping on some of the lands that they manage. You can find locations on Campendium or check directly with the managing agency for more information.
Once you’ve found a place where you can enjoy dispersed camping, be sure to adhere to the Leave No Trace principles. Good campsites are found, not made!
Designated Dispersed Camping: Marked Sites, Shorter Stays, and Crowd Control
Due to skyrocketing interest in dispersed camping, some popular destinations have suffered from issues like irresponsible campsite creation, littering, and overcrowding. In an effort to keep these areas open, the Forest Service and BLM are increasingly transitioning these areas to “designated dispersed camping.”
In these areas, campsites are clearly marked and you must be at a campsite to spend the night. Some designated dispersed areas are also shortening the amount of time you’re allowed to stay so that more people have the opportunity to camp. Be sure to confirm the stay limit with the managing agency before settling in.
How to Find Dispersed Spots: Using Campendium Filters for Free Public Land Camping
The easiest way to find boondocking is by searching Campendium for your general destination. Click on the Price filter and select “Free.” Then, click on the Category filter and select “Public Land.”
What Doesn’t Count as Dispersed Camping? Dry Camping That Isn’t on Public Land
At Campendium, there are some forms of dry camping that, to us, simply don’t capture the essence of what dispersed camping really is. They are:
Dry Camping in Developed Campgrounds: Fees, Hosts, and Basic Amenities
While not being plugged in may feel like you’re roughing it, developed campgrounds often have some amenities that differ from dispersed camping. Camp hosts, vault toilets, and picnic tables are some of the tell-tale signs of a developed campground, along with the fee you’ll often pay for your stay.
Parking Lot Camping: Walmart, Casino, Truck Stop, and Rest Area Overnights
Overnight parking at a Walmart, casino parking lot, truck stop, or rest area is dry camping in a parking lot. Because these aren’t public lands, they can’t be considered dispersed camping. Wally-docking and casino camping are some cute names we’ve heard tossed around.
Mooch-docking and Driveway Camping: Private Property Stays
Even though there is a website that welcomes boondockers to private driveways, camping in a driveway isn’t dispersed camping. If you aren’t paying to stay overnight, it’s fun to call it mooch-docking. If you are paying, then it’s more accurately described as driveway camping.
How to Start Dispersed Camping Safely: Practice Dry Camping, Arrive in Daylight, Scout Roads
While dry camping is not always dispersed camping, it’s a great way to test the waters.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to dispersed camp but are nervous about taking the leap, an RV Park or even your driveway is a great place to practice dry camping before heading out to find a gorgeous place to plop down your levelers. Put away the power cable, water, and sewer hose and see how long you can go!
The next step will be to move on to an actual dry camping spot. You’ll be in the comforts of an organized campground where your spot is clearly marked and the road in should be easy to access. After a few nights of dry camping in a campground, you’ll be ready to head out into the wilderness.
How to Prepare for Your First Dispersed Camping Trip
When researching your first dispersed camping spot, be sure to read the reviews. You’ll want to go somewhere that’s easily accessible (keep an eye out for road condition reports in the reviews themselves). Plan to arrive during the day when there is enough light to find a spot.
Most importantly, before pulling down any dirt road with your rig, be sure to find a safe place to pull over and get out and scout the road. The last thing you want to do is get stuck! Sometimes you can scout on foot, and in other cases, you may have to unhitch and drive. It’s worth repeating: arrive during the day, and be sure to scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
There is nothing like the wide-open space of a dispersed spot where the only sounds you hear are the birds chirping and it doesn’t cost a dime. You might find that you’re not keen to return to an RV park anytime soon (until it’s time to empty your holding tanks, that is!).
While dispersed camping, make sure to follow Leave No Trace principles and adhere to any posted stay limits. Camping on public lands is a privilege. Treat the land with respect and care, and we’ll all be able to enjoy the experience for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dispersed camping means camping in a self-contained RV, van, or tent on public lands without any hookups, such as water, electricity, or sewer connections. It is a form of off-grid travel where you rely entirely on your own onboard resources (solar power, water tanks, and batteries) while staying in remote, undeveloped, legal areas.
No, dispersed camping is legal in the United States, primarily on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). However, it is subject to regulations, which typically include a 14-day stay limit and a requirement to camp in designated areas or previously impacted sites to protect the environment.
The term “boondock” originates from the Tagalog word bundok, which means “mountain.” It was adopted by American soldiers stationed in the Philippines in the early 20th century to describe remote, wild, or rural areas. Over time, “the boondocks” became shorthand for the middle of nowhere, and “boondocking” slowly became a sometimes used verb for camping in those isolated spots.
The primary difference location versus action. Boondocking is camping or overnighting without hookups or amenities like bathrooms, water spigots, or picnic tables. Dispersed camping is a specific subset of camping that is always off-grid, usually free of charge, and located in remote areas publicly managed areas with zero provided infrastructure.
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