hi all, been camping a long while but never boondocked. going out west for a while and would like to try to get off the beaten path.seen lots of photos of campers in isolated places in BLM areas and nat parks. do you have to check in to go to these areas or just pull off the road and find a place to set up camp? we will be in Col. and Utah mostly but don't want to break any laws, but would love to see the area without the normal rv campgrounds. can self contain for 3 or 4 days with no gen. but that would be fine.then would need a to dump.27`TT with 2 deep cycl batts, fresh water,prop, and ammo ????? thanks for any input

I dont know about BLM rules but have had good luck with this site.http://freecampsites.net/

You usually can camp on federal land unless it is signed as "no camping" or unless you are in violation of local general rules. Best to check in at district office to learn about these rules. An example would be "no camping within 100 feet of any body of water or stream. That one is used often. Good luck / skip

The first thing we do when we arrive in a new area is to drop by a National Forest or BLM office to get their advice on local camping regulations and likely places to camp. They will also have current information on back-road conditions washouts and such.

johnna wrote:The first thing we do when we arrive in a new area is to drop by a National Forest or BLM office to get their advice on local camping regulations and likely places to camp. They will also have current information on back-road conditions washouts and such.x2.

Ah yes... the lure of boondock camping has a very strong appeal! Those great camping sites we see on the cover of magazines sure look like the kinds of places we look for, but most seldom find.We feel most "free campsite" location websites are filled with places we're not interested in staying. WalMart, Cracker Barrel, public parks and campgrounds and other commercial locations are not boondocking to us. This is boondocking!There are rules for "dispersed camping" (boondocking) and they are not consistent. The US Forest Service is changing their dispersed camping regulations in some area. USFS has developed, or is in the process of developing, Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MUVMs) that specify what forest roads are open and what activities are permitted in the forest. BLM has surface recreation maps with roads and other detailed information. This web page has a lot of information about the way we think works best for finding great boondocking locations... How To Find The Best Boondocking LocationsBy clicking on a specific state on the following web page, you can find virtually every federal and state public land managers official web site with state specific camping information. It is the only web site I know of that has cataloged every states public camping resources web sites. Since land management information is always changing, we find it's best to check with official land management sources. BTW - Arizona is unique with their state lands pass.www.rv-camping.org

boondocking newbe | Good Sam Community

Off_Pavement
Explorer II
May 25, 2014
Ah yes... the lure of boondock camping has a very strong appeal! Those great camping sites we see on the cover of magazines sure look like the kinds of places we look for, but most seldom find.

We feel most "free campsite" location websites are filled with places we're not interested in staying. WalMart, Cracker Barrel, public parks and campgrounds and other commercial locations are not boondocking to us.

This is boondocking!

There are rules for "dispersed camping" (boondocking) and they are not consistent. The US Forest Service is changing their dispersed camping regulations in some area. USFS has developed, or is in the process of developing, Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MUVMs) that specify what forest roads are open and what activities are permitted in the forest. BLM has surface recreation maps with roads and other detailed information.

This web page has a lot of information about the way we think works best for finding great boondocking locations...

How To Find The Best Boondocking Locations

By clicking on a specific state on the following web page, you can find virtually every federal and state public land managers official web site with state specific camping information. It is the only web site I know of that has cataloged every states public camping resources web sites. Since land management information is always changing, we find it's best to check with official land management sources. BTW - Arizona is unique with their state lands pass.

www.rv-camping.org
camper19709
Explorer
May 25, 2014
johnna wrote:
The first thing we do when we arrive in a new area is to drop by a National Forest or BLM office to get their advice on local camping regulations and likely places to camp. They will also have current information on back-road conditions washouts and such.

x2.
johnna
Explorer
May 25, 2014
The first thing we do when we arrive in a new area is to drop by a National Forest or BLM office to get their advice on local camping regulations and likely places to camp. They will also have current information on back-road conditions washouts and such.
skipnchar
Explorer
May 25, 2014
You usually can camp on federal land unless it is signed as "no camping" or unless you are in violation of local general rules. Best to check in at district office to learn about these rules. An example would be "no camping within 100 feet of any body of water or stream. That one is used often.
Good luck / skip
azrving
Explorer
May 25, 2014
I dont know about BLM rules but have had good luck with this site.

http://freecampsites.net/

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