Boondocking Laws and Regulations
Camping on public lands requires you to understand state laws on camping, boondocking, and overnight parking. These articles were carefully researched through state codes and administrative rules, including popular practices. But you also need to know how to look up these laws and regulations to stay up to date on recent changes.
Camping on Colorado State Trust Lands
Colorado permits camping and other forms of recreation on a small portion of its State Trust Lands (STL). However, Colorado's State Land Board (SLB) does not directly manage these recreational uses. They instead partner with various other government agencies to create a...
Camping on Arizona State Trust Lands
The State of Arizona permits camping on most of its 9.4 million acres of State Trust Lands. Camping is not free, however. On the other hand, boondocking (dispersed camping) is allowed at a very reasonable cost. See "Recreational Permits" below.
Camping on Idaho Endowment Lands
The State of Idaho allows camping on all Idaho Endowment Lands, as long as the land is not currently leased to other organizations, or is not closed off to the public. Idaho owns roughly 2.4 million acres of state trust land. About 70%...
Is It Legal to Dump Composting Toilet Waste on the Ground?
Composted toilet waste is technically not "compost" simply because it takes at least 120 days or more to completely compost and destroy all deadly pathogens. No composting toilet is capable of holding poop for that long of a time...
Is It Illegal to Live in a National Forest?
Yes and no. If you are a camper or RVer, it is illegal to live in a national forest or grassland. The U.S. Forest Service has rules prohibiting using forests as a residence. However, it is possible, and legal, to move to another...
How Long Can You Camp in a National Forest?
Fourteen (14) days is the most popular answer to how long can you camp in a national forest. But it's not always the correct answer. Some forests limit you to just 5 days, while others offers as much as 30 days. Each national forest and grassland creates...
How Long Can You Boondock on BLM Land?
14 days is the popular answer to how long you can boondock on BLM land. However, this is not always the rule. Officially, there is no single answer that applies nationwide. Each BLM State Office and Field Office is free to establish...
Is It Illegal to Start a Campfire?
No, it is not generally illegal to start a campfire on most federally managed lands. However, there are many restrictions and guidelines. Each of the six agencies that manage federal lands have rules in place on starting...
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...
Is Boondockers Welcome Illegal?
It depends. Boondockers Welcome might be illegal depending on the location being offered for parking, and depending on local ordinances. Many cities and counties have have laws on the books that would make it illegal for people to...
