The Beginner's Guide to Boondocking: Camp Free on Public Land

Boondocking is the art of camping on public land for free — no electric hookups, no water connections, no sewer. Just you, your rig, and a few million acres of Bureau of Land Management and National Forest land.

What is Boondocking?

The term covers any dry camping away from developed campgrounds. Most boondockers camp on BLM land, National Forest dispersed sites, or state trust land. In most cases you can stay up to 14 days in one spot before moving on.

What You Need Before You Go

• Fresh water capacity — fill your tank before leaving civilization. Plan on 2–3 gallons per person per day for conservative use.
• Power — at minimum, a battery bank you can charge from your vehicle. Ideally, 100–200W of solar and 100Ah of lithium battery storage.
• Waste management — know where the nearest dump station is. The Sanidumps app has a comprehensive map.
• Offline maps — cell service disappears fast on BLM land. Download your area in onX Offroad or The Dyrt Pro before you leave.

Where to Find Free Sites

The best free resource is the BLM's own website and the Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) for National Forests. For crowd-sourced spots, The Dyrt Pro and Freecampsites.net are invaluable.

The 14-Day Rule

Most BLM and Forest Service areas limit stays to 14 consecutive days. After that you need to move at least 25 miles before returning to the same area. Some popular areas like Quartzsite, AZ have seasonal limits — always check local regulations.

Start simple: find a flat spot with cell service for your first trip. Once you're comfortable with your power and water consumption, you can venture further out.