One of the most frequent questions I get asked is how to save money while travelling. My immediate response is to take a look at where you’re sleeping. It’s easy to shell out a lot of money just for a place to lay down overnight.
If you’re used to staying in hotels, then maybe try a more modest motel. If you’re a motel user, then it might be time to try a campground. And for folks who are already using campgrounds, the final step to save money is to start dispersed camping.
All three of these terms refer to the free camping available throughout our public lands outside of an established campground. This style of camping is different from your typical campground scene because it is remote and has little to no amenities.
Benefits of dispersed camping are:
But dispersed camping isn’t for everyone:
As a general guideline, National Forests, National Grasslands, Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife Management Areas (and even the occasional National Park such as Death Valley) are open to dispersed camping. But there are some exceptions and rules that are important to know about.
Since most of these agencies are located in the west, with some exceptions in Maine and the midwest, east-coasters are somewhat out-of-luck. Still, it’s a good option to be aware of for your next trip out west.
Beyond the common Leave No Trace philosophy, here are some additional guidelines for dispersed camping:
While these general guidelines are a good place to start, it’s always smart to check in with the land agencies you’re planning on visiting. Some places have specific rules regarding how far you can camp from a road, where you can camp, if a permit is needed, or if camping is even allowed.
Head over to the agency specific website -- just Google “Superior National Forest Dispersed Camping,” or whatever location you’re interested in and check out what it says on their website. Alternatively, drop by their ranger station or give them a quick call.
Most land agencies allow for you to build a campfire and use a stove while dispersed camping. You should always use established fire rings when available, and be mindful of current fire restrictions (especially in the west). Some agencies (like Inyo National Forest) require you to obtain a free stove permit before using campfires or stove. Make sure to check in about any specific restrictions.
Fireworks are never permitted and fires must be COMPLETELY OUT when unattended -- this is a big one. Many of the huge wildfires in recent years have been caused by people who have left a fire unattended. You should dose and disperse the fire, and it needs to be cool to the touch before moving on.
A stove is always the preferred option for cooking your food since they don’t have lasting impacts -- something to keep in mind.
While you can just drive into a National Forest and try to find a good place to sleep, you’ll end up at a much better location with a little bit of prior research.
Back in 2005, National Forests instated a rule that each area must provide maps of roads open to motor vehicles. This is awesome, because now there is an entire database of information regarding where you can camp! Here’s how it works:
Head over to the Forest Service MVUM page, this lists all of the National Forests that are open to motor vehicles. Scroll down to find the National Forest you're looking for in order of states.
Most National Forests are further broken down into specific regions. In this case, I am interested in camping somewhere along the Kern River, so I will select the “Kern River MVOG Page 1.”
Each MVUM is different. Some of them won’t have any information regarding camping while others, like this one, has a complete key. If your map doesn’t have camping information, try Googling the forest + “dispersed camping” for more specifics. Chance are good that it simply means you can camp anywhere.
Now is the fun part. Using the symbols provided, locate a spot that looks good on the map. I want to stay on the Kern, so I’m going to look upstream for dispersed campgrounds. Spring Hill has a dispersed camping icon, so that seems like a good spot that likely has some amenities provided.
You can get a better idea of what the area looks like using Google Maps. Type in a nearby location (in this case Kernville, CA) and locate your campsite. Try turning on the Google Earth layout for even more details -- look for it on the bottom left.
This one looks like there is plenty of room, but also potential for other people (good to know!).
No worries, you can always check out a user-curated database such as FreeCampsites.net or Boondocking.org. These sites make it easy to find a free camping spot and are fairly accurate, the only downside is that they only represent a small percentage of places you could camp, and those represented are more often busy.
Dispersed camping is my preferred method nowadays. I love the privacy that these out-of-the-way roads afford, and the costs savings as well. If you’re an RVer or campground goer, I’d encourage you to try dispersed camping and see if it’s a good fit.
Are you a seasoned dispersed camper? Let us know your tricks in the comments below!
