Dispersed camping takes you off the beaten path and allows you undisturbed time in nature. They are a great option if you know where to look. Here’s how to find dispersed campsites.
What is dispersed camping?
Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a designated campground. This means there are no services; you need to pack out your trash, bring your own water, go to the bathroom in the woods, and store your food to protect it from wildlife. You don’t get the amenities of a maintained campsite, but the upside is that they are beautiful, mostly undisturbed plots of land, and they are completely free to camp on.
There is a surprising amount of free campsites if you’re willing to rough it a bit more, and if you know where to look.
Leave No Trace
When you’re out dispersed camping, it is especially important to keep your camping area clean. Here are a few things to do when you’re out dispersed camping:
- Look for areas that have already been camped on. Look for already built fire rings or packed down earth from previous tents. If you’re in a remote area, try to find a rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow to pitch your tent. These surfaces are resistant to wear and can recover quickly from the impact of camping.
- Avoid camping near bodies of water, as the vegetation around these areas is often sensitive to trampling. Camping too close to water bodies can lead to water pollution and disturb local wildlife. As a general rule, camp at least 200 feet away from lakes and streams.
- Pack ALL of your trash out. There is not dump collection or camp hosts to pick up after you (which isn’t their job in established campgrounds), so be sure to bring a couple trash bags to make sure you’re able to carry it all out.
- Use the bathroom responsibly. Make sure you are not going near water or your campsite, and bury your poop in at least a 6 inch hole. Don’t leave your toilet paper to fly around. Either pack it out, or bury it as well.
Familiarize yourself with the 7 Leave No Trace Principles to keep camping areas clean and open to the public.
I like dispersed camping because it’s away from people and we have more space to run around and let the kids be loud. I prefer a campsite when I’m desparate to know ahead of time where we are sleeping and know for sure we will have a spot to camp. Sometimes the fact that it’s first come, first served adds extra stress to an already stressful trip.
Websites and apps to Find Dispersed Campsites
- One of my favorite resources for finding dispersed campgrounds is the app Hipcamp. They have maps with all the open lands listed, so you can search your destination and find sites along the way.
- Recreation.gov is the best place to find dispersed campsites. They usually have the most updated information, and you can book paid campsites directly from the site.
- Ioverlander lets you filter by types of services, so you can find wild camping and informal campsites, but also filter by things like laundry services, showers, and dump stations. Ioverlander is fantastic for vanlife or car camping for those reasons. The Ioverlander app is very nice to have on my phone.
Other Resources to Find Dispersed Campsites
Word of Mouth
I find a lot of my best dispersed campsites through word of mouth. Sharing experiences with friends and family who love the outdoors makes for some fun discoveries.
So many campers are a wealth of knowledge and love to share about the fun camping trips they’ve taken. If you have a friend or neighbor who just got back a trip, ask them where they camped they did and write that down. Save them for when you’re able to make it to that location.
Ask other campers on Instagram. Look up the location you will be heading to and see if anyone has posted a picture camping or hiking. Reach out and see if they’ll share where they stayed. It never hurts to ask!
Camping Blogs
Another great way to find dispersed campsites is to do a quick google search for dispersed campsites in ____[insert where you’ll be visiting]____. Many outdoor enthusiasts will have already done the research for you and write a post with lots of necessary details.
Blogs are also a great option because not only will you find cool camp spots, but they will usually include helpful details about conditions for you such as if there’s water nearby, amenities if any, the bug situation, how busy it was, etc.
There are many blogs like mine that post about favorite hikes in my area. I’m sure you can find some for your area too! Here are some of my blog posts with trail recommendations around Utah and other locations.
- 5 Must do Kid-Friendly Hikes in Salt Lake County
- Camping in Grand Staircase-Escalante: Ultimate Travel Guide
- Backpacking Paria Canyon and Buckskin Gulch: The Ultimate Guide
I also have a book called 50 Hikes for Kids: Utah and Nevada with some of my favorite hiking trails that are perfect for taking your kids outside.
Knowing how to find dispersed campsites opens you up to new experiences outside. Although it takes extra preparation and care, the views, calm, and freedom dispersed camping offers for me and my family make camping on dispersed campsites so worthwhile.
If you thought this post was helpful, check out some of these other posts on getting outside with your kids:
