Dispersed Camping Maps: New onX Offroad Layer
Find legal dispersed camping near motorized trails on National Forest land with this exclusive new map layer.
A Map Full of Possibilities
onX Offroad’s new Dispersed Camping Layer lets you locate dispersed camp sites on public land where primitive camping is permitted. Activate the map layer to highlight motorized trails with legal free camping in National Forests, and find your own space away from the crowds, the noise, and the reservations.
How to Use Dispersed Camping Maps
The only off-road app in the industry with USFS-verified dispersed camping data integrated right into the map. No more tracking down individual ranger stations and deciphering confusing print maps, our new layer makes it easy and intuitive to find your next off-grid campsite.
Find Where to Camp for Free:
- Tap “Activity” on the bottom left of your map, scroll to map layers, and toggle on “Dispersed Camping” to activate.
- Explore a National Forest and look for trails highlighted in yellow—this indicates that dispersed camping is allowed there.
- Tap any yellow trail to find location-specific details regarding where and how far off the trail camping is permitted, as well as any other guidelines for the area.
- Scope a spot in 3D to find a view, drop a Waypoint, and share an incredible remote campsite with your group (or keep it all to yourself, that’s up to you).
Pro Tips: Off-roaders should always do their due diligence to ensure they have any necessary permits and check for location-specific requirements and restrictions, including those regarding fire, avoiding wildlife or landscapes, and selecting a dispersed campsite.
Be sure to download Offline Maps of where you’re exploring to access full map + trail data, your trip content, and GPS navigation when you’re outside cell coverage.
What is Dispersed Camping?
You made it this far, but maybe you’re still not sure what dispersed camping actually is. We get it. Why are there so many different names for it?!
Dispersed camping—aka boondocking, dry camping, remote camping, off-grid camping, etc.—is any camping outside of designated campgrounds or reserved sites, primarily on public land like National Forests or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas. Generally, this means no fees and no amenities including restrooms, drinking water, and trash services, which is why it’s also referred to as primitive camping. It is on a first-found, first-camped basis, and requires campers to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dispersed camping is generally allowed on public land such as National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas. Some states allow additional dispersed camping opportunities (with the correct licensing) on State Trust land, and, though less common, some National Parks have designated areas where dispersed camping is allowed.
Yes, dispersed camping is free in that there are no camping-specific reservation fees. Some parks may have entrance fees that help maintain, manage, and improve their facilities and services. Similarly, some parks require a recreational permit for OHV and motorized use areas. Be sure to double-check with the specific National Forest you plan to camp in to ensure you can cover any necessary permits or fees.
First, remember that dispersed camping means that there are no provided amenities offered like restrooms, fire rings, or trash service, so you must be capable of being self-contained when primitive camping. Here are some general guidelines you should follow:
- Stay Within the Limits: For most areas, dispersed camping is limited to a maximum of 14 days within a 28-day period.
- Leave No Trace: Always practice Leave-No-Trace principles, including packing out all track and minimizing your environmental impact.
- Abide by Regional Regulations: Follow the area’s current requirements and restrictions, including what distance from roads, water sources, and considerations for selecting a campsite; avoid disturbing the natural landscape and wildlife; and practice proper waste and fire management.
When you used to have to track down the specific ranger station for the specific area in a National Forest and decipher where you could dispersed camp from a clunky PDF or paper map, now you can use onX Offroad’s Dispersed Camping Layer to see highlighted motorized trails that allow dispersed camping in National Forests.
Rather than using the crowdsourced word-of-mouth resources, now you can avoid the spots where everyone crowds and instead distribute land use responsibly by finding your own space using USFS-verified data that’s integrated into the onX Offroad app. You can also use onX Offroad to find BLM for camping, just look for areas shaded in tan and marked with BLM designation, then tap to see location-specific details.
A Map Full of Possibilities
Try the Dispersed Camping Layer—onX Offroad Exclusive