Dispersed Camping on Public Lands Explained! (Finding Free & Cheap Campsites)

Dispersed Camping on Public Lands Explained! (Finding Free & Cheap Campsites)

In this video I talk about the various types of public lands in the US (national forest, BLM, national park, national monument, national recreation area, national wildlife refuge, national preserve, wilderness area, wildlife management area, state park lands, etc.) and how friendly they are to dispersed camping.

PUBLIC LAND MAPS ONLINE
** PublicLands.org: http://publiclands.org/
** CalTopo (select the “Land Management” option from the top-right corner drop-down menu): https://caltopo.com/
** USGS Survey Map: https://maps.usgs.gov/padus/

► My online store (SUV camping/vandwelling/overlanding accessories & SUV RVing merch): https://KamchatkaGear.com

OTHER LINKS
** Gear I use: https://suvrving.com/gear
** SUV RVing the Book: https://amzn.to/2SUrtme (Affiliate link)
** The blog: http://suvrving.com
** Instagram: http://instagram.com/suvrving
** My other YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/tenkaraaddict

#camping #publiclands #dispersedcamping

50 Comments

  1. Mac14⚡⚡88 on March 24, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    0:01 Introduction
    1:10 National Forests
    3:45 BLM Land
    6:05 National Parks
    8:25 National Monuments
    9:55 National Recreation Areas
    11:30 National Wildlife Refuge
    12:30 National Preserves
    13:20 Wilderness Areas
    14:15 Wildlife Management Areas
    15:30 State Parks
    16:10 Outro

  2. J P on March 24, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    What about firearms on public lands?

  3. Alexander Weaver on March 24, 2022 at 6:18 pm

    That list would be a tremendous help, Tristan.

  4. Christopher Leamons on March 24, 2022 at 6:18 pm

    Thank you for this bit of information.
    I’m just starting out so, this video helps.

  5. eat more meek on March 24, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    great video! thanks for the amazing publiclands.org site! I’ve been looking for a site like this for a while now, thankfully I found your video and awesome resources. CHEERS!

  6. Keefer Caid-Loos on March 24, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Superb video! Subbed

  7. stalin1909 on March 24, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Man . I gotta thank u . I’m a big fan of camping exactly your way . I’m actually camped now in Lassen national forest . You pointed the national forest fact before . And it’s excellent. I bought your guide as well .
    So again best of luck and never stop .

  8. thetommantom on March 24, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    You just have to have a back country back packing permit like $10 and you can say you want to hike a 20 mile 3 night trail

  9. Zander on March 24, 2022 at 6:21 pm

    I knew this was Pebble Creek! Hope you enjoyed your time in our neck of the woods.

  10. Dee Whitney on March 24, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    I have only recently found your site which I love. What I’m wondering is do you have a site that tells what you take in your car. Do you travel in the winter?

  11. whitney on March 24, 2022 at 6:23 pm

    love how ur explaining this while hiking. great vid!

  12. woof 359 on March 24, 2022 at 6:23 pm

    we wont have access to a mobile app so we were looking for a paper map we could buy and take along for Utah, not an easy thing to find

  13. pru6er on March 24, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    Yes! Create a list!

  14. Yosi Natural (Guerrera) on March 24, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    Hi, yes make the list.

  15. Dick Zenormus on March 24, 2022 at 6:28 pm

    Good Vid. Plotted out a couple spots that have a bit of water I plan to investigate. I want to do some bushcrafting and test out some of these survival products to see if they actually work. Like my Sawyer water filter, Silky saw, this "survival" shovel I have a few doubts about, and see if I can start a fire with a ferro rod. My Estwing hatchet was a champion on my last trip. It would be nice to find a spot where I can blow up my Intex Mariner 4 for a float in the summer even on a small micro pond that might have some fish in it. While it would be enjoyable to rough it a bit, getting a couple of practice reps in before any SHTF situation would be beneficial.

  16. justin1108 on March 24, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    When I look at a site like freecampsites.net, it seems like the campsites are actually few and far between for how much public land there is. Are you better off just driving down some roads till you find a spot? Are they much more plentiful and ubiquitous than that site would suggest?

  17. Kristy St. Germaine on March 24, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    On a side note Anza Borego is an amazing place to camp and hike. You can see rams in action, rock jumping in their natural habitat.

  18. 🔥this is an announcement on March 24, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    Thank you for the great information 🔥🧡

  19. Ben Mittleman on March 24, 2022 at 6:33 pm

    Thanks for all the info, very helpful!

  20. Brent Perez on March 24, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    Just discovered this channel. Great find. Who knew Andy Samberg was so into camping?

  21. KC Reeves on March 24, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    Very important. Most National Forests and some BLM areas have Travel Management regulations in place. You need to look at the Motor Vehicle User Map associated with the National Forest to see which roads are open to the public and where dispersed camping is allowed. Each forest has different allowances for dispersed camping. For example, Coconino National Forest allows travel for up to 300 feet from the edge of the road for dispersed camping purposes. Kaibab only allows 100 feet. Another important item regarding travel in national forests is that many of the roads you come across are not open to the public, even if they are signed with a road number. If it isn’t on the MVUM, it’s not open.

  22. Raymond Shack on March 24, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    You said, "Not allowed" thats only for those who ask permission

  23. Blessed With Challenges on March 24, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    Crater Lake National Park allows permitted wilderness camping…

  24. Ben Wells on March 24, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    Great summarization of the types of public land available and their general requirements, thank you!! What’s funny is towards the end when you brought up State Parks as not generally being good for dispersed camping I was thinking to myself, well wait, I literally just found that capability near me at…you guessed it, Anza Borego State Park 🤣

  25. PrecisionT on March 24, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    Very helpful.

  26. POLYGLOT PARKITLOVEIT on March 24, 2022 at 6:39 pm

    That’s so useful 👍👌You are incredible 😘Thank you 🙏Some years, then I’ll cross the ocean 🌊🍀Have a great day 🍀

  27. Charlie Swearingen on March 24, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    If the camping public overuses a dispersed camping area gov’t management personnel may close it, so if you camp in a dispersed campground area please remove all signs of your camping activity ie, trash, fire rings, etc. Don’t dump your RV or campers’ greywater out in the desert or forest. Don’t cut, remove or drive over the vegetation, and don’t leave the trails or roads while on your ATVs, or other vehicles. If you do these things and there is too much environmental damage it will soon be closed by Forest Service or BLM personnel to prevent further damage to the forest or resource. Always try to leave your campground better than you found it…

  28. Laree Kline on March 24, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    Very helpful video! Thank you and a list would be fantastic.

  29. tesla H on March 24, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    another great vid…..much beauty and useful info you shared……thanks so much, Tristan!

  30. jeffsten1 on March 24, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Thank you for this info very helpful a list would be helpful too!

  31. bigmac on March 24, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    Fantastic information, thank you!

  32. Micah and me on March 24, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    Thanks for the info

  33. david gil on March 24, 2022 at 6:51 pm

    Very helpful dude thanks!!

  34. Wendon on March 24, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    Lassen national park, you can also disperse camping

  35. Kristy St. Germaine on March 24, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    Thanks! Never understood the difference between those parks and areas. Great videography-You’ve proven one of Snyder’s theories, keep moving and you can tell us as much as you want. Love the inspiring scenery and destination. I am really to go out and find our high point this weekend! Unfortunately, I think its just the 2nd floor of the local library! Happy Thanksgiving.🦃

  36. BreakingBoxes on March 24, 2022 at 6:53 pm

    Is there any chance you could reccomend some Outback car camping spots for me? Most important are covid safety (not having to park within 30 feet of anyone else) and being able to use my pop up tent for a toilet. I’m first looking for something around San Fran/Santa Cruz/or Sacramento. And then I’m looking for place between Los Angeles and Florida. Thank you !!!

  37. emery rowand on March 24, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    great information and a fabulous view! I like that you trekked to the top with the drone so you could share the views with us!

  38. September Twenty-Nine on March 24, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    Do all BLM and National Forest boondocking have the same rules concerning human wastes? Do you carry a portable toilet of sorts in your RV?

  39. FromRed2Black on March 24, 2022 at 6:56 pm

    Great info. Appreciate you!!

  40. C Schulz on March 24, 2022 at 6:58 pm

    This was extremely helpful!

  41. BILL RALEIGH on March 24, 2022 at 6:58 pm

    thank you tristan….

  42. Jesse Wright on March 24, 2022 at 7:00 pm

    Good info! Thank you.

  43. Deborah Sofia on March 24, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    Thank you for explaining this. Yes, a list of all would be very helpful.

  44. Gay Preator on March 24, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    Pretty hike. Don’t overlook Mt. SunFlower in the great State of Kansas. Wallace County, 1/2 mi. East of Colorado State line. 🙂 ~ 4040’ How many mikes do you reckon you have hiked? 🤔

  45. David Godley on March 24, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    This is a big help to me because I’ll be heading west this year. My home is Charleston SC. I’ll be in a Ford Transit van.

  46. Judi Christopher on March 24, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    Have you made a list yet? Thank you if you have… it would be great to know.
    Thank you for this great video.

  47. Hans Olo on March 24, 2022 at 7:06 pm

    There isn’t a single national forest in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, etc. How can say "If you see green on the map, it’s probably a national forest"

  48. Divina Flamingarrow on March 24, 2022 at 7:07 pm

    Yes please do make that dispersed camping 🏕 list!! I have been enjoying your videos all year!

  49. Blessed With Challenges on March 24, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    Downtown Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco…generally any Democrat run city, dispersed camping is popular and encouraged…as well as drug and alcohol use.

  50. Stephen Powstinger on March 24, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    Another great video, belatedly found. My concern is the definition or type of camping referred to: camping in a SUV (like yours), camping out of a SUV/tent hybrid arrangement, a large tent that you brought in a vehicle, or backpack-born tents. I’m in the East so camping seems more difficult east of the Mississippi and Florida is especially built out. There’s a lot to consider.

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