BLM Camping

the great thing about BLM lands are that you can pull over ANYWHERE you are off of the road, and camp... yes, blm does have some campgrounds, but you dont need to look for one unless you want to... but you must strictly follow the minimal rules required to have a fire outside of a designated fire pit... a shovel and at least 2 gallons of water immediately available, as in a bucket or jugs setting not far from the fire. and during fire season, NO FIRES except inside a designated fire ring.

forest service lands are nearly the same, but some districts are becoming more limited, with more rules as to where and how you can and can not camp.... but there are LOTS of primitive, off the beaten path, out of the way forest service campgrounds that are free of charge and never full (except during hunting seasons)... some forest service districts do not allow an open fire to be built in the ground, but only in a portable fire pan..

I have found when one comes prepared and tries to be complaint, the rangers will give you a few reminders and wish you well....
but when one doesnt care and pretends ignorance, the ranger may cite you and/or at the very least tell you to leave...

BLM land is full of great places to camp. They have few developed campgrounds. Just go find a spot. My backyard is a million acres of BLM with wild horses on it.

It will be warm in the summer but try the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California, for Boondocking. Cowboy movies made there!

Out west in the summer doesn't sound like a good time. Very hot in most of those BLM states May through October.

Come on up to Northern Michigan, plenty of Federal land to camp on free, 14 days at a time. Other than July, it doesn't get hot here.

RV Camping in the Federal Forests is harder than BLM, those guys out west have it so easy. Tent camping is very easy in the Federal Forest.

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I agree... camping/boondocking on public lands is safe compared to being around a city. If the places you're looking at states a table or firepit then it's probably a dry campground, not boondocking.

Keep in mind that you mentioned a 'summer' trip. BLM lands in the West are usually in the desert areas so without electric it could be very hot. Check out the historic temperatures on a weather site before you make plans. You probably won't want the firepit. :)

Also keep in mind that there are tons of national forest service lands that have very nice dry campgrounds.

We have never had any security issues in many decades of camping. I worry more about that when we are in or close to a major city than I do when we are far out in the countryside. BLM, Forest Service and COE (Corps on Engineering) campgrounds are all great places to stay the COE campgrounds will be the most developed and are always on water than the other two. They have varying levels of development from: find your own place in the woods, to fully developed campgrounds.

Not only can you camp on BLM administered lands, but you can include US national forests as well. We've never had any safety issues camping on public lands other than an odd run-in with a fellow out in the desert outside Quartzsite, AZ.

BLM has developed campgrounds in some pretty great places in the west. The following link shows a map of BLM's numerous recreation areas. You might even notice one in Florida. Zoom out on the map to see Alaska too. Clicking on the green and yellow dots reveals the name, but I find you have to search for the name to find details...

BLM Recreation Areas

BLM has many different geographic areas. Some is desert or what ever.
Some have campfire rings but many have fire restrictions.
Tables could be depending on location.
Great views, and activities.
BLM

You'll have way more security issues in an RV park that on any BLM land. Thieves are lazy and don't normally target out-of-the-way places.