Even though millions of Americans and other outdoor enthusiasts recreate in National Parks, U.S Forest Land, and other public lands, few know how to camp cheaply, efficiently, and sometimes for free.
I am going to share with you a few methods, so that you can camp cheaply, efficiently, and sometimes for free on U.S. Forest Land even if you are visiting a nearby National Park or other destination.
USDA Forest Service
First, I will share a little background on U.S. Forest Land. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the reigning agency over the U.S Forest Service.
The Forest Service manages and protects 193 million acres of public forestland across the U.S. The mission of the USDA Forest Service is, “to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations”.
In short, the U.S. Government and its people have established U.S. Forest Land to conserve and manage its natural resources for present and future generations. Besides managing natural resources, the U.S. Forest Service manages recreational activities for public use on its land. Forest Land provides an environment for all sorts of recreational activities from hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing to 4×4 and ATV use, to equestrian use, to all different types of winter sports.
Millions of Americans and International tourists spend their vacation and free time recreating on or near U.S. Forest Land either alone, in groups, and especially with friends or family. For Americans, this is a past time that has been done for over 100 years and has shaped our culture, individual lives and will always continue to do so.
Tax paying Americans and any visitor of Forest Land should know how to camp in the forest cheaply or for free, and efficiently. This is our right and is not a formal secret; it’s just that most people are unaware as to how to do so. This is why I am going to spill the beans and share this seemingly untold secret.
Two Types of Campgrounds
U.S. Forest Land across the country usually has two types of camping available designated campgrounds usually in the front country, which costs a fee and dispersed camping in the backcountry, which is free.
Designated Campgrounds
Designated campgrounds are managed by its reigning Ranger District and usually have 6-12 individual campsites within them. Each individual campsite usually, but not always runs from $10-$20 per site per day, for a maximum of 6-10 people per site, and up to 2 vehicles. Users are allowed to stay at one campground or campsite for 6-14 days at a time, depending on the location.
These designated campgrounds usually contain a self-decomposing bathroom that does not have running water, but depending on its location there may or may not be a bathroom. Sometimes the campgrounds have trash containers, though it’s always best to haul your own trash out and not add to local landfills. “Pack it In, Pack it Out”, by the U.S. Forest Service.
Each individual campsite usually has a steel fire-ring for campfires, and sometimes a picnic table. In bear country each individual campsite contains a bear box to keep your food safe, and in return keeps the bears safe from keeping them from getting into trouble. Also, occasionally these sites have running drinking water, but sometimes they do not. This also, depends on the location.
A user of these designated sites usually pays for an individual campsite at an on-site kiosk by placing cash, check, or sometimes credit card information into a provided USFS envelope and then places it into a security box.
The user pays for the amount of days, and writes the dates they are staying, and other required information, such as name, vehicle license plate number, etc. on the envelope. On the envelope, a campsite user writes what campsite number they are staying at and usually places a tear off slip on a post at their campsite and another on their vehicle. These envelopes are collected from the kiosk by a ranger or volunteer daily.
Free Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping, is where you find the free camping. Dispersed camping by definition of the U.S. Forest Service is “any campground that is not a designated campground”.
Dispersed camping basically means primitive camping, wherever you choose, but where permitted. There are no restrooms, no treated running water, no picnic tables, no fire-rings, no trashcans, no bear boxes, nothing but you and nature.
Dispersed camping is often found deeper in the forest and away from main recreation areas and designated campgrounds. Dispersed camping requires more responsibility by its users to protect the environment and its resources. “Leave No Trace”, is the most common term used to practice protecting the environment in which you are recreating. This simply means that you leave the environment as you found it with as little impact as possible, or in it’s most natural state. “Pack it In, Pack it Out”.
How to Do Dispersed Camping
So, how does one disperse camp?
Simple, you make your own campsite, wherever you choose and as long as it’s permitted. Literally you can pull your vehicle over on the side of a forest road and make camp or hike in to the backcountry from the road or trail. No payments are required, no forms to fill out, and no other campers to worry about.
Forests Land is usually accessed by main paved roads, which are sometimes federal, state, county roads or even highways. From the pavement are smaller dirt roads that lead deeper into the forest. These roads are usually labeled with letters and numbers depending on the forest and district.
The best way to navigate these roads and where they lead is to go by the Forest Ranger District headquarters in which you are touring, and pick up a 4×4 road map for free and a topographic map of the area for usually around $10. Also, at the Ranger Station you can discuss rules and regulations for dispersed camping specific to the area in which you are visiting.
You can go over maps to find out what areas permit dispersed camping, and to better plan out your hikes, 4×4 travel, or other recreational activities. You can also do this research from home over the Internet or by calling the Ranger Station before your arrival.
Rules for Dispersed Camping
With dispersed camping comes more strict ethics and rules that should be followed, and this is where “Leave No Trace”, comes into play.
Always, make your campsite, cook, and use the restroom at least 200 ft from any water source. Do not set up camp on vegetation such as grass and plants. Bury your restroom waste at least 6 inches or follow rules specific to the forest you are in. Do not create new fire rings, use pre-existing ones, do not cut live wood, do not disturb wildlife, always tend your fire or put it out, and follow all local rules and regulations.
No bear boxes in bear country means you must be more cautious with protecting your food from bear by using a personal bear box or risk keeping it in your vehicle. You should never drive off road where not permitted or is obviously blocked off.
Off-road driving greatly erodes the landscape and has heavy impact of the environment and natural resources. This is a lot of do-nots, and there are more. But these are the rules that have proven to help protect the forest, it’s resources, and the admission of the public to use for recreation.
How to Take Advantage of Forest Land
The concept for free dispersed camping in the forest is very easy to understand. And that’s why it is surprising that more people don’t take advantage of such a great free resource already paid for by American tax dollars.
Free dispersed camping on U.S. Forest Land is a beautiful thing, and should be taken advantage of. A lot of our National Parks, State Parks, even some of our cities are surrounded by some Forest Land nearby.
Our National Parks, State Parks and other outdoor destinations can become highly congested with visitors especially during peak season that little to no campsites are available. If you are on the road, playing your trip by ear, and have not made reservations you may not find camping anywhere. This is when you should take advantage of nearby Forest Land where designated campgrounds may be available. But if they are not, then, dispersed camping is the best option if permitted, and it’s free and convenient.
You may have to drive further away from the main site you are visiting. That does cost more money in gasoline. But if there are no other options to camp then it’s your best option. On the plus side of using more gas, the extra drive into the forest to disperse camp can and will provide another addition to your trip that you may not regret.
You can encounter new sites that you may have otherwise never seen. You may find a campsite that becomes your new favorite secret spot and have a whole area of the forest all to yourself without the crowds. It’s possible that you can experience nature without front-country man-made features of the Parks and major outdoor destinations like visitor centers, parking lots, lodges, and pavement.
Free Car Camping near Large Cities
Besides using free dispersed camping in the Forest near outdoor sites, many cities have Forest Land near them also, especially in mountain regions. Even large cities such as Denver, Los Angeles, and Portland for example have Forest Land right outside of them that provide free dispersed camping.
Free camping near a city can prove quite useful if traveling on the road or flying in on a tight budget allowing you to save money for other expenses. Besides dispersed camping being free, it is also a very efficient way to camp. If you are a go-getter and want to start with your daily activities before the crowd and have all day to enjoy the great outdoors, dispersed camping is the way to go.
Everything you need from food, to water, to the gear; you bring in yourself. And you will have on you or nearby instead of being able to spread out a designated campsite. This will make you pack lighter and more efficiently. And you will have a less likely chance to spread out and will be more conscious of your impact.
Also, sleeping in your vehicle makes you move a lot faster in many ways. You don’t have to set up a tent and walk to and from your campsite to the vehicle. This is good for protecting your gear from overuse, while protecting the ground from erosion from tent stomping down vegetation. Dispersed camping keeps you on your toes and moving fast and light. So, you will always be ahead of the crowd.
Go Camping
Designated campgrounds are great places to camp cheaply and right outside of major Parks and sites. Dispersed camping is a great way to camp for free anywhere anytime.
People should take more advantage of camping for free in permitted designated camping area in the Forest.
The land is open for public use, and is already free thanks to American tax dollars. As long as visitors respect the environment and natural resources in which they camp, there is no reason why they should not use it for free when possible.
Camping for free in the Forest is an American past time. That needs to continue for the American experience and for the benefit of its visitor’s budget.