Free is a price. Boondocking is a setup. A no-hookup campground can charge a fee, and a free parking stop may allow rest but not campsite-style setup. This hub is a planning resource, not a directory of verified campsites. Last checked October 15, 2026.
🚐 Start here
📘 Your first boondocking trip
LearnChoose a manageable place, practice without hookups and plan a two-night trip with a backup.
🔋 What runs out first?
CalculateCompare fresh water, gray and black tank space and battery energy to see which limit comes first.
📍 State-by-state rules
CheckStay limits, permits, fire rules and official map links for ten western states.
💰 Free vs paid camping cost
BudgetCount extra driving, service fees and generator fuel to see what free camping really costs.
🗓️ Trip planner worksheet
PlanRecord each night, who manages the land, the rules you checked and a legal backup.
🧰 Equipment worth buying
GearWhat to buy first, what can wait, and how a trial tells you which is which.
🗺️ Rules by state
More states are planned. Each page links to the agencies that set the rules.
📊 Quick comparison
| State | Stay-limit detail we verified | Also know |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | BLM generally 14 in 28 (varies by office) | State Trust Land: Recreational Permit, 14 cumulative nights per year |
| Utah | 14-day limit on BLM land | Check SITLA before camping on trust land |
| Nevada | 14 in 28, move 25 miles | Most BLM sites free; a few charge |
| New Mexico | 14 in 28, move 25 miles | State Land Office recreational access permit |
| California | 14 in 28, move beyond 25 miles | Free California Campfire Permit for any fire or gas stove |
| Colorado | Grand Junction office: 14 in 30, move 30 air miles | Limits differ by office and forest |
| Idaho | 14 in 28, move 25 miles | Portable latrine expected in undeveloped areas |
| Oregon | General BLM 14 in 28; confirm with district | District offices are the source |
| Washington | DNR campsites 10 in 30; dispersed only in some forests | Dispersed fires prohibited on DNR land |
| Wyoming | General BLM 14 in 28; confirm with field office | Parks are not dispersed camping areas |
🧭 Which kind of stay are you planning?
| Term | What it describes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Free camping | No camping charge for the particular stay. | Permits, access fees, time limits and the cost of reaching and servicing camp. |
| Boondocking / dry camping | RV camping without utility hookups. | Water, tanks, power and the operator's rules. The site may charge a fee. |
| Dispersed camping | Camping outside developed campground facilities under the land manager's rules. | Authorized areas, legal roads, current restrictions and the vehicle-use map. |
| Overnight parking | A permitted rest stop or parking stay. | Property permission and whether any outdoor setup is allowed. |
Need a travel-night stop rather than a remote site? See our overnight RV parking guide.
🏞️ Know the land
BLM land
Dispersed camping, developed campgrounds and permit-based Long-Term Visitor Areas, each with different rules.
National forests
Each forest has its own limits and a Motor Vehicle Use Map that shows where you can drive and camp.
State trust land
Not public land in the BLM sense. Arizona and New Mexico require a state permit, and other states have their own rules.
National parks
Not dispersed camping areas. Use park campgrounds or nearby public land.
🔎 Find legal camping in four steps
- Identify the manager or owner. A map pin, tire tracks or another RV does not establish permission.
- Check the exact activity and dates. Ask about camping areas, fees, permits, stay limits, fire restrictions and closures.
- Check motorized access separately. A road being legal does not make it suitable for your RV.
- Keep a service and fallback plan. Confirm potable water, an authorized dump and a legal overnight alternative before you lose signal.
💰 Free still has a trip cost
Compare extra driving, paid water or dumping, generator fuel where permitted and time spent finding a legal alternative. A paid campground near your route can be better value than a distant free site. Put numbers on it with the trip budget calculator and record your checked plan in the trip planner. Need a campground? Browse the campground directory or the U.S. destination guides for places to go.
📚 Official sources
Checked October 15, 2026. Rules, closures and local orders change; confirm with the land manager before you travel.