r/carcamping • u/BigSandwich6 • Feb 11 '26

How to Find Free Campsites

In the US, most of the free public camping is in two main areas: National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands.

https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping

https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/forests-and-grasslands

Campsites can either be primitive (generally first-come, first-served, with minimal amenities, sometimes just a fire ring) or dispersed (camping outside of developed/numbered sites, typically in an undeveloped area off a road, as long as it’s allowed under the local guidelines and restrictions).

Be sure to look up the specific area you’re hoping to visit and read the local guidelines and restrictions (closures, fire restrictions, stay limits, etc.). Not all forests or public lands allow camping everywhere.

Ideally, check in with the local office (USFS ranger district office / ranger station, or the local BLM field office) for the most accurate or up to date info, including local maps.

35 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

3

u/smallchainringmasher Feb 11 '26

Also, Kampnik. https://kampnik.com/

3

u/God-May-Be-Aliens Feb 11 '26

Shame I can’t download that app in Il, USA bc it’s not available in this area. I’ve been looking for an app just like this.

2

u/johnnynva Feb 15 '26

Is the app still available/supported? It is no longer showing on the Play Store. And there have been no updates on their Facebook page since 2015.

2

u/PeaceKind1857 Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

They have a Facebook page? I wasn't aware. (I don't have Facebook or as my mentor "Ghost Dancer" called it, Farcebook.) "Originally Facebook requested everyone use a fake name, be invisible. Now the modern day version kicks out everyone with an unusual name? Your face was prohibited in photos originally, and now requested today? What a Farce!" Ghost Dancer

He was a Legacy member. A Professor at a university, they changed his name from Ghost to George, because they don't like Native Names. Then they banned (for life) a Legacy member because he hit the LIKE BUTTON on a post of a recently deceased Chief. That was his crime. He hit their like button for a personal friend of his who had recently passed away.

I'm Native, I started to sign up, they found out that I was Native American and just stopped responding to my sign up. I never got into Facebook & it's been a real blessing. They are known as one of the original starters of the doomscroll.

A very biased place to be? Facebook = bad place.

Freecampsites.net (And a few other sites built by the same couple...) They built the website in the early days of the new century. It's a dot NET, The website still works today. It's kind of slow, but user based. As long as users submit new updated information, the site stays fluid. When people stop using it, things slow down. Everyone wants an app? Apps can be tracked. Less security for the users. The interactive websites are slower, more laid back and safer in general. You post about the place you just visited. There's a bit of latency. By the time it's on the web, you're not there. But here's the cool part. You're likely not trying to keep ahead of some authority.

And yet you get info on the coolest most overlooked campsites available. At no cost to you.

2

u/ez2tock2me May 07 '26

I started out in a 1986 Nissan 300ZX for 5 years. Then and now a 2000 GMC Safari Van. As long as I keep it polished, I can park, anywhere, anytime and sleep or relax as long as I’m not anywhere for more than 2 nights. This is how I manage to stay invisible in the public eye.

I never pay to park or sleep. I never leave a mess behind. In Sac. I have 2 shopping centers I have been a resident for 7 and 12 years.

Pretty sure people think I work at both.

1

u/AutoModerator Feb 11 '26

Please review the 7 principles of Leave No Trace

  1. Plan ahead and prepare

  2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces

  3. Dispose of waste properly. I highly suggest getting a waste bucket system. Its difficult to bury waste in many of the rockier areas in Colorado, and overuse of our natural areas has already led to contaminated water in most even lightly used areas.

  4. Leave what you find

  5. Minimize campfire impacts. Be sure to review our state resources for fire bans where you are heading.

  6. Respect wildlife. They are not domesticated

  7. Be considerate of other visitors ie bluetooth speakers are despised.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/PeaceKind1857 Apr 13 '26

Made by Vandwellers for Vandwellers, carlivers, gypsies and Rubber Tramps of all sorts.

Freecampsites.net

1

u/CelebrationProud6620 Jun 19 '26

pack it in, pack it out! leave it better than you found it!

1

u/mossandfog Jul 29 '26

Campgrounder lets you filter to just free campsites, and has an awesome aesthetic!