National Park Service
Learn about camping and boondocking on lands managed by the National Park Service
Government Wash, Lake Mead, NV
Government Wash is a part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service. It’s officially dubbed a “designated undeveloped camping area” by the NPS, where visitors can camp for free with their vehicles. Located just a short drive from Las Vegas, it’s a highly popular boondocking area.
Is Boondocking Allowed in Big Bend National Park?
Yes and no. Boondocking and dispersed camping is not technically allowed in Big Bend National Park. However, the park does have 64 primitive backcountry "roadside campsites". These are effectively what most people refer to as...
Is Dispersed Camping Allowed in Denali National Park?
No, dispersed camping is not allowed in Denali National Park. The National Park Service restricts all camping to its six (6) developed campgrounds. Three (3) of those campgrounds are open to cars, vans, and RVs. The other three are...
A Guide to Boondocking in National Parks
Boondocking in National Parks! Boondocking in national parks is what all dispersed campers would like to do but is practically impossible due to a lack of free campsites and heavy crowds. Otherwise, there are plenty of boondocking sites surrounding national parks, and in cases right up against their borders. Most national parks are surrounded by national forests and BLM lands. National Parks Boondocking Map This National Parks Boondocking Map contains locations of free boondocking and free campgrounds where bloggers and YouTubers have produced detailed reviews. Click on a map marker to access their reviews… [AK] [AL] [AR] [AZ] [CA] [CO] ... Read more
Dispersed Camping Near Great Sand Dunes National Park
Dispersed camping near Great Sand Dunes National Park is available depending on how far away you want to camp, and what kind of vehicle you have. There's something for everyone, and the good news is that there is plenty of space available.
Dispersed Camping Near Crater Lake National Park
There is plenty of dispersed camping near Crater Lake National Park because its almost entirely surrounded by Fremont Winema National Forest and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. These forests allow dispersed camping up to 14 days.
Dispersed Camping Near Bryce Canyon National Park
Dispersed camping near Bryce Canyon National Park is plentiful within adjacent Dixie National Forest and BLM lands, all within a 15-20 minute drive to the park visitor center. If you're willing to drive down some dirt roads, you can find...
Dispersed Camping Near Zion National Park
Dispersed camping near Zion National Park is plentiful due to the abundance of surrounding BLM lands. You can find dispersed camping, boondocking, and free camping just minutes away from the park entrance. Below are our recommendations...
Is Dispersed Camping Legal in National Parks?
Yes, generally speaking, dispersed camping is legal in national parks, but it depends on which park. Many national parks allow "backcountry camping" which is primarily tent camping, but only in specific areas of the park...
Can You Camp Wherever You Want in a National Park?
Yes and No. Most national parks allow for "backcountry camping", which is the terminology the National Park Service prefers to use. The NPS allows for backcountry camping in certain areas of each park. In some cases...
