Boondocking

Boondocking is parking and camping for free on public lands or other areas without any connections to the power grid or other utilities, and not in an established campground with toilets and other visitor facilities. You are parked "out in the boonies", a term for rural areas far from civilization or other habitation. For related terms and concepts, such as dispersed camping and free camping, see Camping away from campgrounds.

Length of stay

While dispersed camping usually allows multiple night stays, it is not for squatting or building structures. You are expected to do your recreation then move on. Check the local district and signage for local regulations. When talking to a park ranger or other officials, use the term "dispersed camping" for best results. Remember that you do not own the land, so you cannot live on the land. You are there for recreation and/or camping.

In the United States, the most common rule for dispersed camping in one place, on BLM, Fish & Wildlife, and other non-National Forest land is a 14 day stay in any 28-day period, then mandatory relocation at least 25 miles away.  Read more about stay length rules …

services, or lack thereof

Boondocking in the isolated hills along a gravel road.

Assume there will be no water, trash, or toilet services. There may be no shade, or so much shade no solar harvest is possible. If you do find a free site with a pit toilet or trash cans use them appropriately and with consideration for others.

Open fires and firewood collection may be banned in some places/times. Have a camping stove for cooking in case you can't make a fire. When camping in areas that forbid firewood collection, park well away from fire rings. Nails may be present from the burning of wood pallets.

Note: California requires a free permit for fires, including stoves.

timing your arrival

At some times the areas may be overrun by weekenders (recreational weekend campers):

> "During tourist season (Memorial Day to Labor Day), getting off paved roads usually gets me away from crowds. The exception to this is hunting and fishing openers. You might want to plan for some in city camping during these weekends. " -- Spaceman Spiff

To avoid competition from weekenders try to arrive at new sites mid-week. Arrive early enough in the day that you can see where you are driving and setting up camp.

If you need to run to town for reprovisioning or work, it is common to "save" your campsite by erecting a small tent or similar in the spot. Theft is rarely an issue but valuables should probably be left in your vehicle. Be sure to mark your campsite on the nav so you know how to get back to it!

Elevation

Elevation can be an important part of the decision where to camp, as it affects ambient temperature. If the listing you are using does not show elevation you can find approximate elevation on a site like this.

Where to boondock

The most common place to boondock is on US Federal lands, which is surprisingly massive:

(external image)

Not all land is available for boondocking but this gives an idea of where boondocking on federal land is easier or harder to find.

National Forests and National Grasslands

National Forests (NF or USNF) in the United States are popular boondocking destinations, managed by the US Forest Service.

It is common for National Forest (NF) boondocking to be limited to 14-16 days in one spot, after which one must move at least X miles away; 5 and 25 miles are common limits. Some areas have no stated length of time for return; others say days, one month, or one year. Some NFs like the Tonto National Forest require passes.  Continue reading … National Grasslands have similar rules for use.

Bureau of Land Management areas

In this pic the lighter tan areas are BLM-managed land: (external image)

Boondocking at any given location is generally limited to 14 days on BLM land. Because the land is more extensive it is common to require a move 25 miles away after the 14 days has elapsed. Note that some heavily used areas like Quartzsite and Lake Havasu require (free) permits to camp on the BLM land -- if there is a camp host check in with them.((Camp hosts are typically in larger RVs at a site near the entrance. If the site has a flagpole the flag is displayed when the camp host is available. If the host is not available (after hours, on errands) find your spot then return to do the minor paperwork.))

An exception to the limit on stays are the Long Term Visitors Areas in California and Arizona.

Animal grazing is common on BLM lands and fences may be put up. Unless posted otherwise you may open go through gates; remember to close them again after you pass. The general rule is to leave gates how you found them; leave open if they were open and close them after passing if they were closed.

• [Arizona]

National Monuments

National Monuments are areas of federal land set aside by the Congress or most often by the President, under authority of the American Antiquities Act of June 8, 1906, to protect or enhance prominent or important features of the national landscape. They are managed by BLM, USFS, NPS, Fish & Wildlife, etc. Check the monument's website for dispersed camping opportunities.  More …

US Bureau of Reclamation

The USBR maintains some paid campgrounds. [note: secessus is currently researching the possibility of dispersed camping, but it doesn't look promising. -- UPDATE: Poverty Flats is reported to be USBR.]

Their main site says:

> There are some Reclamation project areas that do not have developed recreation facilities for public use; however, dispersed recreational opportunities such as hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, and fishing may be available in such areas.

National Parks

  Continue reading …

State trust lands

State trust lands, are often non-free (low-cost permit required).

State forests

• Oregon Dept. of Forestry: "Dispersed camping is allowed in Oregon State Forests year round. There are no fee or permit requirements. Campers are required to adhere to ODF regulations regarding placement of campsites, campfires, sanitation, and stay limits. Campfires and charcoal barbeques are not allowed in dispersed campsites during the Regulated Use portion of fire season. There are no maps for dispersed campsites.​​"

Wildlife refuges

Refuges managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service may allow dispersed camping. Some are day-use only or are accessible by foot only. There are often additional rules in place to protect wildlife. This example is from Kofa:

> Campers may select their own campsites and are limited to camping 14 days in any 12 month period. Camping within one quarter of a mile of water is prohibited by Arizona state law. All vehicles must remain within 100 feet off of the road. Campfires are allowed but only dead, down, and detached wood may be used. Uprooting dead stumps, trees, and bushes is forbidden. In addition, dead wood may only be collected from areas on the refuge that are not designated as wilderness. Please consider bringing your own supply of wood as wood is very scarce.

Rules for dispersed camping

Rules vary by specific area but these are common:

• 14 day stay, then relocate ≥25 miles away, and do not return for at least 28 days
• dispersed camping not allowed near (within miles) of any recreational improvement like "campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads."
• talk to local rangers / hosts to see if any special conditions exist
• practice leave no trace camping
• camp no further than n-hundred feet from a road/trail allowing public motor vehicle use
• camp (and use cat hole toilets) no closer than n-hundred feet from any water source
• camp at the location no more than n days, after which move a minimum number of miles and not return to the site for a length of time. See below.
• camp in established (already used) spots to minimize additional damage. The presence of a fire ring is a good indicator of an established site.
• adhere to restrictions on fires and firewood
• you can generally go through any unlocked gates you find on public land unless indicated otherwise. If you find the gate open then leave it open. If you find the gate closed, unlatch it and pass,then relatch after you are through. This will keep grazing animals from wandering off.
• you are allowed to recreate on public land but not live on it permanently. So when talking to rangers you are traveling, camping, recreating, passing through, etc.

Proving the length of your stay

In some heavily-used BLM areas, like Quartzsite, AZ and Lake Havasu, AZ a free permit is mandatory; it will show the date range you are allowed to stay. To get the permit check in with the civilian "camp host", usually positioned near a main entrance and flying a flag. If the flag is up you can come up and sign in; if they flag is down they are "off duty". Find a spot and watch to see when the flag goes up so you can register.

In most areas the length of stay is on the honor system, perhaps spot-checked by rangers. Sometimes rangers drive by noting vehicles or photographing plates. If they see the same vehicle after the allowed number of days they know that camper is violating the rules. It is also common for rangers just to chat or share local regs and information so don't be anxious if they stop to talk to you. They may remind you of the rules but they do this routinely during contacts and is no judgement on you.

It's not normally required or requested, but in areas with a great deal of lawless camping (or aggressive enforcement) you can distinguish yourself from squatters by keeping an especially-tidy campground and having supporting evidence for the duration of your stay:

• receipts from the last town you were at
• email district office when you arrive, including GPS coords and pic of your rig.

Some or all of the content on this page was originally sourced from this page on RVWiki

---

DRAFT

Reminder: articles in the Opinion section are written in a more personal voice -- secessus

Successful boondocking

With some planning and organization boondocking can be relaxing and very cheap. If one is unprepared or inexperienced it can be expensive and miserable.

preparation

provisioning

Do you have enough fuel (vehicle, cooking, etc), food, water, and power to make it through your outing?

finding a spot

Not every spot is good for every boondocker. Some like shady areas while those dependent on solar may want open field.

apps and websites

It is common to find spots on freecampsites.net, iOverlander, Campendium, the Dyrt, FreeRoam, etc. Since others are using those same sources of information you may want to consider the spots as general areas to start looking. The area near the lat/long will often be the most crowded, so if you go a bit further down the dirt road you will likely have fewer neighbors.

Some terms to be aware of:

• trailhead: an area where people park to go off hiking or riding. Likely to be quite busy. Might be a pit toilet there.
• day use: only for day use (and may require a fee). No overnight camping.
• OHV area: O**ff **H**ighway **Vehicle area for quads, dirtbikes, UTVs, etc. You can camp there but noise and dust are in the forecast.

You can use an app like U.S. Public Lands((written by experienced nomads Technomadia)) to ensure you are still on public lands while you wander.

day of the week

Boondocking spots are often relatively open on weekdays and crowded on weekends; locals swarm public lands on late Friday through Sunday when they are off work. Since some will take off an extra day you may find the most open spots if you arrive Tuesday through Thursday.

The worst time to arrive is during a holiday or other 3-day weekend when even the most casual of Weekenders drags out their long-neglected RV.

time of day

Arriving with plenty of daylight left is highly preferable. You will be able to:

• find the campsites
• see how close any neighbors will be
• see obstacles and other issues with the campsites((I've found places in the dark then saw a huge cow carcass when the sun came up))
• get camp made before the sun goes down.

If you arrive mid-morning you may be able to hear where the generators are.

Arriving in darkness can be stressful. It may be best to pull over into a temporary spot at night then resume your hunt when the sun comes up.

fitting your rig

A 40' Class A or big trailer is going to take up more room than a minivan. If you want to be especially polite you might take the smallest spot that will fit your rig instead of the bigger spot that a bigger rig needs.

flat ground

Flat ground is nice, but if you carry leveling blocks you can stay level even on uneven ground. If your vehicle rolls a bit when you put it in Park consider using the parking brake to lock in the position before shifting out of Drive.

cell signal

You might use an app like OpenSignal to estimate coverage in the general area, or look at user reports.

Once you get near the sites you can drive with your cell phone in your line of vision to see whether or not you have "bars". If you are using the phone as a hotspot note that you can put the phone anywhere in the vehicle that may have better reception.

In extreme cases (like digital nomads) a cell booster might be helpful.

Verizon tends to have the best coverage in rural areas so many nomads use it. This can mean, however, that where nomads gather together Verizon can be congested. A cheap secondary AT&T line might be useful, and even T-Mobile has more coverage than it used to.

sun

Apps like Sun Surveyor can help verify the number of hours of sun you will get in a spot/position. This video is shaky and rotated, but you can see that the app plots the path of the sun across the camera view as you look around. Particularly useful for picking out the best spot in a heavily-shaded area like a forest.

wind

Trees and other features can help limit the effects of wind. Camping on the edge of a cliff, mountaintop, or in a saddle may increase winds.

neighbors

If you want privacy look in a 360 around the site to see if there are neighbors with uncomfortably close views.

If you drive by and see large RVs with generators outside you can expect them to run the generators quite often. Some "contractor"-style generators are obnoxiously loud.

Folks who value solitude over social interaction may want to find sites:

• further down crappy roads
• further away from published coordinates
• away from conspicuously-gorgeous views
• away from OTA tv reception
• away from cell reception
• in areas where larger rigs can't (or won't) go

These factors tend to weed out the less-motivated boondocker.

proximity to the road

You may want proximity to paved roads if you predict many trips to town. Otherwise getting away from pavement often means quieter and less-crowded camping.

If you are camping off dirt roads be aware of weather patterns; a good rainstorm may make passage impossible. After a few days it will dry out and you can leave. Have enough food and water just in case.

orientation in within the campsite

Drone view from above North Yorkshire United Kingdom

You may want to find a spot where you can park the right facing the road in case you need to make a quick exit.

If you have to park close to a road you may want to face the door that is open most away from the road. This would minimize noise and dust.

If you use the van like an office with the side doors open you may want to face the opening to the north to keep direct sunlight out.

If winds are strong from one direction you may want to park the vehicle facing into (or away from) the wind to reduce rocking and noise.

camping

You may want a folding lawn chair, hammock, or other furniture to allow comfortable outdoors sitting.

breaking camp

Arrange your campsite such that you can leave in a few minutes in the case of danger or discomfort.

The day before a departure start packing up the site. Before driving off walk around the campsite and around the vehicle to make sure you didn't miss anything.

reprovisioning

Having more food and water storage can extend your camping and minimize reprovisioning runs. Consider adding nonperishable foods as backup.

weather, relocating, and errands

Consider this weather forecast:

(external image)

There are warmer/cooler days, windier/calmer days, and sunnier/cloudier days.

If you need to drive and winds are favorable a day earlier or later you might want to take advantage of tail winds. Try not to drive into headwinds.

If you need to drive, use solar and have alternator charging, you may want to drive on a cloudy day. This will allow the alternator to help charge the battery without unnecessary idling.

If you have a pet with you consider running errands early in the morning when temps are cooler.

Also note that there are two freezing overnights that might damage plumbing, water containers, or lithium batteries. If you are depending on electric heat (battery warmer, electric blanket, etc) be sure your battery bank has sufficient charge going into that night.

further reading

• camp cook's guide to weather

Some or all of the content on this page was originally sourced from this page on RVWiki

---

DRAFT

Full-time boondocking

People who are successfully boondocking may start thinking about going full-time (FT). IMO anyone who is already making 14d outings without drama can do it FT.

There are a few things that will change.

but first

We are not allowed to live on public lands. We are allowed to recreate or camp according to the rules, then move on according to the rules. Remember this when speaking to rangers or LEOs.

rig setup

A rig that is barely making 14d on water, food, etc, should be addressed. You could get caught behind a washed-out bridge, waterlogged roads, etc, and be incapable of getting out to resupply in time.

If your battery bank is on 0% when you get home and requires shore power charging to catch up then charging needs to be augmented.

mail

Since you no longer have a home base some form of mail forwarding will be required. It common to have one's mail sent General Delivery to the nearest post office.

relocation

The relo will involve timing, route planning, provisioning, and site selection.

timing

Although there are firm limits on maximum stay, it may be advantageous to leave early

• tailwinds are favorable on a given day
• poor solar forecast on a given day could be counterbalanced with alternator charging if we were driving
• gas prices are traditionally lowest on Mondays

reprovisioning

A checklist on the phone can help the boondocker remember what needs to be picked up in town. Add it to the list the moment you think about it. I maintain separate lists for grocery runs, thrift stores, and hardware stores.

site selection

Areas where different public lands abut are especially useful; you can easily jump between jurisdictions to meet time limit restrictions. BLM -> NF, etc. If there is a town nearby you can pad in a few stealth camping days if the time limits are coming up a bit short.

A site that might be tolerable overnight might not be tolerable for 14d; choose carefully.

Boondocking gallery

• 
• 
• 

See more in the Boondocking category. For image credits, open image and click More Details.

Resources

	Resource	Description
	Dispersed Camping	Private Facebook group, 90k members. "A community of boondockers for boondockers!"
	Free Camping, Boondocking on Public Lands	Public Facebook group with 11k members as of August 2024. "A group to discuss travel, sightseeing, camping and equipment for off-grid boondocking on public lands."
	Boondocking	Subreddit for boondocking
	USFS Interactive Visitor Map	Online map from the US Forest Service to explore all USFS properties and roads, create geo-enabled PDFs, and see warnings and fire activity.
	Search forums and groups	Search van life discussion groups for "boondocking"
	Search related sites	Search van life sites for "boondocking"
	Search NomadLife.wiki	Search other pages on this wiki for "boondocking"

Some or all of the content on this page was originally sourced from this page on RVWiki