What is Dispersed Camping?
by Aventura on August 01, 2022
If you’ve ever tried to cruise into a popular campsite without a reservation only to get laughed out of the park, this article might be for you. Dispersed camping is basically just camping anywhere outside of a designated campground; but don’t be fooled, without the right knowledge or planning, you could end up driving around at 2am searching for cell service to book a hotel. Not that chill, promise you - I’ve been there.
Dispersed camping is sort of just a fancy word for “free camping”. But for many people, especially the adventurous, the spontaneous (aka late planners), or those not wanting to get hammered by campsite fees, this can absolutely be a valuable tool in your camping arsenal.
Dispersed camping (sometimes more recently referred to as “boon-docking”) allows increased flexibility, but doesn’t necessarily mean you can camp anywhere you so please. Popular locations include any public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or US Forest Service. Make sure to double check with the local District Ranger to confirm there aren’t any special regulations to be aware of. Some basic restrictions typically include not being within a mile of developed recreational areas or next to a major highway route.
It’s important to remember that cell service is usually pretty spotty (at best) in these locations, so coming prepared in terms of food, water, maps, safety equipment, etc. can be especially important. That being said, if you plan accordingly and bring the right equipment along, dispersed camping could be your best guide towards getting off the grid and enjoying some of the most beautiful and lightly trafficked parts of nature we have to offer.
