Going camping but don’t want to be cramped up against other campers? Learn how to find BLM land and camp for free in great outdoors, truly remote camping, off the grid.
You’ve heard of BLM camping, and you know it’s a thing, but how do people find BLM land and if they are allowed to be there? Well, you’re in the right spot! Let’s learn how to find BLM Land.
BLM Land Has No Resources Available- Plan Accordingly
First, before we dive into how to find BLM land, we should mention this. You’re on your own with BLM land camping. No Rangers, no power, no bathrooms, and no help for emergencies. Also, generally no cell service either. You need to prepare and research where you are going. It will most likely be a wonderful trip, but it’s responsible for us to let you know that you should head out there with the items you need and not expect to get them once you’re there.
If you don’t know where to start, check out this article to help with some checklist items of the Essential Camping Gear. If you want some affordable ways to get cell phone service when off the grid, check out the Best Off-Grid Cell Phone Signal Boosters.…..and if your gonna be out adventuring your gonna poop. Check out our write-up on the Best Camping Toilet Option. Stop acting like you won’t need it!
BLM Land Camping Rules Summary
The Bureau of Land Management manages over 240 MILLION acres of land in the USA. Fortunately for us, it’s here for us to use and enjoy! Many people have heard that using BLM land is possible, but because it isn’t advertised like National Parks, many people don’t know much when it comes to actually get the info needed to go explore this wonderful land or how to find BLM land.
The first and most obvious stop to make when gathering info on how to find BLM land is heading to www.blm.gov. There you will find more info than you know what to do with regarding rules, maps, activities, and missions related to the preservation and use of BLM managed lands.
On the right-hand side of the home screen is a link labeled “Visit”, clicking that link will take you to a search page within BLM that will allow you to search by state and filter by recreation activity type (camping, hunting, RV, etc). It’s a great resource that will get you started in the right direction when starting to plan out your next adventure.
Many people assume that BLM camping is all free, and while many areas of land are free to camp, some areas have a day-use fee area, they refer to these as “Developed Camping Areas” and in these areas, you can usually find vault style toilets, designated fire pits and sometimes a picnic bench. In these Developed Campgrounds, there is a pay station (unattended) where you can place your fee in an envelope and tear off the receipt portion to leave fixed to your campsite so passing rangers (if they come by) will see you paid.
The other portion of BLM camping is called “Dispersed Camping” and this is the BLM camping you imagined, finding your own secluded spot and setting up camp. You can disperse camp for up to 14 days at a time for free but must move your site on the 14th day if you plan to stay in the area longer.
This is a great option to explore and really soak up the true camping experience. However, keep in mind. You can’t just drive off into the woods anywhere. Most BLM land has rules saying you must travel only on designated roads and can only travel off the road a certain distance to set up camp. Each region will have more info for each parcel of land you go to.
How To Locate BLM Land To Camp Free On Your Phone
While I definitely use BLM.gov, I also use a variety of phone apps to locate and use BLM (and other) public land-free camping. My go-to apps are currently “Campendium” and “Ultimate Campground”. Both of these apps are invaluable to the avid adventurer. Personally, The Dyrt Pro is really outstanding, its up-to-date has interactive maps that outperform the others mentioned.
The Dyrt is a Free App and the free version has lots to enjoy, however by paying the $35 for the PRO version, you get to unlock lots more features and specifically the downloading offline maps and route planners that become invaluable as you venture out and cell phone service is spotty or non-existent.
But here is the best part, if you’re not a fan of paying for the premium service, just grab the app and use the 7-day free trial for the Dryt PRO version, and you’re not obligated to use it after your trip. That way, you get all the perks of the app, you get to find those sweet camping spots, and you’re not out any extra cash, that’s a win/win.
You can sort camping locations by type, amenities, public or private, free vs paid, etc. Each has an interactive map used through your phone that will give you details, locations, and directions to the site you’re looking for. On both apps, filtering search results to “free” and “public lands” will greatly narrow your results to not only BLM land but other free public land areas. We bust this app out about 10 times a day when nomadically traveling to our next unknown destination, and hey, we like it that way!
Psst! Bringing your doggo camping with you? You need to check out our Camping With A Doggo Checklist, you won’t regret it!
Stop By The Local BLM Office
Also, while the information on the BLM land website can be a bit overwhelming and confusing to navigate, you can also search your local BLM area office for more specific information relating to your area. This can be helpful as well. There you will find the phone numbers and local policies related to your location. You can find them at the BLM site here.
Conclusion
Either way, however you choose to located BLM camping areas, wastes important is getting out there and exploring! In a time where our kids grow up with a closer relationship to a device rather than another kid on the block, getting them close to nature has never been more important. With an abundance of land to explore, what’s holding you back?
Mike is a Colorado resident, a combat veteran, and a former Police Officer, and an avid outdoorsman. Mike has camped, hiked, and Overlanded all over the United States. From backpack Elk Hunts on Public Land, solo truck camping to Multi-week Overlanding adventures with his family, Mike is very familiar with these outdoor topics.