Yes, I am thinking about getting out in the RV. It is spring isn’t that what your supposed to do? Since the motorhome, we have not been big on “remote” camping. We have hit the Walmart parking in a couple of places and one night stayed in the back of a truck-stop, but to actually look for and stay for days in some “non serviced” spot, we just haven’t done that. I am however thinking maybe we should get back to that, even though we are in a motorhome – so what. IF we can find a good spot away from too people all cramped into a private campground it might be worth it? So I did a little search and found this info as a really good starting point. Actually you can find the same info if you just Google it but if I put it here, I have links and good starts all in one spot. The original article I copied all this from is www.rv-camping.org (permission to repost granted by the author at rv-camping.org) although I have added some other things and other links to it as well. I hope to add more over time. – WD0AJG
Boondocking – Pike National Forest
What Is Boondocking?
The term "boondocking" means different things to different people. Free camping, overnight RV parking at places such as Wal-Mart or truck stops, and any time RV hookups are not available (dry camping) have been referred to as boondocking.
www.rv-camping.org defines boondocking as remote location dispersed camping. With this in mind, you might call boondocking advanced RV camping. This type of camping isn’t for everyone. Dispersed camping in remote areas requires research, exploration, and a sense of adventure to find great campsites.
The term "dispersed camping" has started showing up in official US government agency web sites. It also has been referred to as "car camping", and is defined by the USDA Forest Service as "camping outside developed campgrounds".
Boondocking Locations – Where You Can Camp
The USA Camping Map on our home page has links to each individual states public lands administrators website. It’s a great place to start looking for RV camping and boondocking locations.
To find boondocking campsites, you need a good map. We recommend Benchmark Maps and the Atlas & Gazetteer by DeLorme Publishing Company to find RV camping locations and as a great paper recreation atlas. Put that together with DeLorme Topo 6.0 Software and you have a powerful set of tools to help find the best RV camping sites.
As a general rule, boondocking is allowed anywhere on federal public lands within 300 feet of any established road, except where otherwise restricted. That’s not to say that you can cut down trees or build a new access way into your RV campsite. The idea is to utilize previously used campsites, or areas that will not be damaged by your vehicle.
US National Parks do not allow overnight RV parking and boondocking, and overnight stays are limited to designated campgrounds. USFS (United States Forest Service) and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) high popularity areas often have restricted camping areas. For example, the area around Mammoth Lakes, CA is extremely popular with tourists, and many areas allow camping only in designated campgrounds. Information about camping restrictions are available at USFS Ranger District and BLM Resource Area offices.
Generally speaking, you can stay 14 continuous days for free, but subsequent camping days must be 25 miles away. This rule applies to most BLM and USFS administered lands, but there are exceptions. For example, the INYO National Forest of California allows 42 day stays at designated camping areas, while the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming has areas that it allows only 3 day stays near Grand Teton National Park. BLM LTVAs (Long Term Visitor Areas) allow stays of several months for a nominal fee.
We’ve only mentioned the USFS and BLM so far, but FWS (US Fish & Wildlife Service), USACE (Army Corps of Engineers), Bureau of Reclamation, State Parks, and State owned lands offer boondocking opportunities. Arizona for example has a permit available for a nominal fee allowing boondocking on State lands.
There are also boondocking opportunities to be found on private lands. Ranches and farms may have a corner of the "back 40" they will allow you to stay for free or small fee. If you find a spot you would like to camp that is on private land, it never hurts to ask. We’ve had good success in farm country asking permission to camp at nice areas near a river with good access for overnight boondocking…we usually share the space with cows.
We know of no public land locations that allow unlimited length of stays, and while BLM Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVA) permit multiple month stays, some Public Lands have specific length of stay limits of as little as two days. It is your responsibility to learn and follow the rules. Rules are published on official Internet web sites, and are available at public land managers offices.
Photo courtesy Jerry Campbell – Boondocking On The Beach
How To Find The Best Boondocking Locations
So now that you know that you can set up camp just about anywhere in the forest, how do you go about finding a great RV camping/boondocking site? This is where the work starts, but the harder you work at it, the better the RV campsite you’ll find. If you live near the public lands area you wish to camp in, your task is easier as you can explore more frequently and learn the area completely. For those of us that travel and want to find great boondocking sites, we’ve found that doing our homework before we get to a new area will always pay off with a great boondocking site.
RV type and size sometimes determines where you can boondock. Pop up and truck campers have a distinct advantage for getting to really remote RV camping sites. When you have a large 5th wheel or motor home, boondocking seems more difficult, but with just a little practice, you will soon determine how to explore effectively to accommodate your rig.
The easiest way of finding RV boondocking sites in a new area requires that you:
- Have maps and navigational information.
- Contact Public Lands administrators for the area being visited.
- Locate a "base" campground.
- Exploration.
After determining a general location you wish to boondock, it’s time to examine some general information. USFS – USDA Forest Service, the BLM – Bureau of Land Management, and other State and US Government departments have Internet web sites with recreation information. Getting official travel maps of a new area can help in finding a good RV camping site. Topographical maps are in our opinion the best way to determine where we want to camp. We prefer DeLorme Topo 6.0 maps for our personal exploration needs. MapTech is our choice for online topo mapping information. Examine the Topo map for areas that look interesting for your type of RV camping. It won’t take long to find areas that look interesting to you.
The areas you find with your Topo map can further be researched by contacting the local public lands administrators. Ask about dispersed camping in the area you are interested in. You may or may not get the answers you need. Some of the folks providing information may not be aware of some great RV camping sites. Get information about designated campgrounds and if reservations are required.
Armed with the campground information, locate one near where you think you want to boondock. This campground will be your "base" camp to explore for that perfect RV boondocking site. You will often find a great RV camping site on the way to the designated campground, which eliminates the need for exploration, but always plan on needing to find your own RV camping site.
Exploring can be fun, but it’s also frustrating from time to time. Our frustrations always come from finding great RV camping sites that don’t offer a clear view of the southern sky for our satellite Internet connection. Most folks won’t have that as an issue, and will easily find boondocking sites. The size of your RV is a major consideration when heading into remote areas, and be sure to consider potential weather changes and how they might effect road conditions where you want to camp.
RV Camping And Boondocking – Public Lands
Click on the following links for information about camping and recreation on your Public Lands.
Boondocking – Learn how to find the best RV camping locations. Tips and ideas you can use to find remote area free camping sites, often referred to as dispersed camping, on public lands.
NPS – National Park Service – NPS campgrounds are located at the mostscenic and historic locations in the USA. Get more information about America’s gems and what to expect when you get to the campground.
USFS – United States Forest Service – USDA Forest Service campgrounds can get you into some great camping areas. Information about locating all 4300 campgrounds throughout the USA, and ideas of how to find the best campgrounds wherever you are.
USACE – Army Corps of Engineers – US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE/COE) administers over 450 lakes throughout the USA. These water based recreation areas are great destinations for RV camping. Links to official USACE websites.
BLM – Bureau of Land Management – The Bureau of Land Management has great RV camping locations from mountains to desert. Information about developed BLM campgrounds, dispersed camping, and LTVA’s (Long Term Visitor Areas).
State Parks – These parks are located in beautiful surroundings and are great recreation destinations. Our state park section gives you easy access to all 50 state park and campground systems.
Public Lands has information and resources about state and federal public lands camping. General public lands information and RV camping etiquette to help everyone enjoy their RV camping trips.
Free RV Camping, Campsite Location Maps, and Camping Check Lists
Free RV Camping has information about finding free camping and overnight RV parking locations. We include some places to stay for free that you may not have thought about.
We’re building an extensive Maps Section of RV camping Locations state by state. We show you on Topographical Maps where free RV camping sites can be found as well as fee public campgrounds. You will also find links to official public land web sites for more information about RV camping regulations, access, and availability.
Our free RV Camping Check Lists will insure you don’t forget a thing on your next outing. Copy the list, then edit it for your specific camping needs. You should have just about everything you could possibly need in your RV for a safe, comfortable, and trouble free camping trip.
RV Camping – State by State
Click The State Specific Map Below For RV Camping Information
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa KansasKentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Boondocking locations can be found on the Internet on RV forums and newsgroups. Local chamber of commerce offices and visitor centers are good places to inquire at too. Talking to other RVers is one of the best ways to find new places, but be aware that many people don’t want to share their favorite RV camping and boondocking sites. Finding great RV camping and boondocking sites can be a bit of work, but with some research and exploration, you should find exactly what you are looking for. One really good site is RV NET FORUM.