How to Find the Perfect Dispersed Car Camping Site
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life? Dispersed car camping offers a unique and rewarding way to experience the outdoors and unplug from society for a much needed recharge.
While traditional campgrounds come with designated sites, amenities, and - you guessed it - crowds! Dispersed car camping allows you to set up camp in more remote and less frequented areas.
Giving up amenities might sound like a pass at first, but the reward for finding an epic dispersed campsite is well worth it.
Dispersed car camping provides a closer connection to nature, sweet-sweet silence, and sense of adventure you simply can’t get in a traditional campground.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to find your perfect dispersed car camping site.
1. Nothing good comes easy
Finding the perfect dispersed campground is the hardest part.
Those epic spots you see posted on social media are usually gate-kept by their influencers, and for the right reason. It’s called dispersed for a reason, and if everyone knows about these spots they’d quickly become overrun.
The ‘hunt’ for the perfect car camping spot weeds out those who aren’t willing to put in the extra time and effort to find them.
Nothing good comes easy, and this article is for those of you willing to put in the work.
2. Researching your potential destination
Alright, now that we got that out of the way… Here’s the resources you'll need to start lining up some candidates for your next dispersed car camping trip!
Off-roading/overlanding apps/Maps
These are our absolute favorites for finding a dispersed car camping site. The trails/spots mapped on these apps (usually) traverse through National Forests and BLM land.
BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) and National Foresters are your best friends. They are usually riddled with dispersed campsites, epic vistas, and typically take you away from private land that you aren’t allowed to camp on.
On X Offroad and Trails Offroad have difficulty ratings on trails as well as helpful updates from users and admins about potential obstacles. Use these ratings and obstacles to determine if your vehicle is suitable for making it to your campsite… more to come on this later.
Take your time when researching potential trails and camping spots. We recommend finding a general area where you want to camp/visit, then search for adjacent trails.
Example - if Moab is on your bucket list for car camping - go to the map view, zoom in on Moab and look for nearby trails. Do these trails mention dispersed camping? Does the app/users mention private land that you can’t camp on? Are the obstacles something your vehicle can clear?
It might require you to look at a handful of trails before finding one you and your vehicle are equipped for.
3. Respect Regulations
Depending on where you stay, there might be rules and regulations for dispersed car camping. Take a look at these common guidelines to ensure you’re camping respectfully:
- Stay Limits: Most areas have a maximum stay limit, typically ranging from 14 to 21 days. This is to ensure no one permanently moves into the area. Most car campers won’t spend more than a few nights at a specific spot, so don’t stress too much on this one.
- Campfire Restrictions: DO STRESS ON THIS ONE. Please check for any fire bans or restrictions, especially during dry conditions as wildfires can be easily sparked.
- Leave your campsite better than you found it: Pick up your trash, soak your fire pit, and do a thorough sweep of your campsite before leaving to ensure it's better than you found it. See trash that wasn’t yours? Pick it up!
4. Make sure you are equipped - know your limits
Dispersed car camping sites are often located off the beaten path. Make sure you and your vehicle are ready for it.
Off-road conditions may vary due to rain/snow/mud, so ensure your vehicle is suitable for the terrain. Here are some tips:
- 2WD, 4WD or AWD Vehicles: Consider if your vehicle can handle rough or unpaved roads.
- Road Conditions: Check for road closures or seasonal restrictions that might affect access.
- Navigation: Utilize GPS or offline maps (on those apps mentioned) for reliable navigation - it's easy to get spun around out there!
- Recovery gear: Tow rope, jumper cables, tire patch kit, spare tire, portable air compressor
If all hell breaks loose and you find yourself stranded without a working vehicle - are you healthy enough to hike out? Do you have enough water/food to wait for help?
These are important considerations when choosing how far off the beaten path you should go.
5. Scout your campsite
Once you arrive at your chosen destination, it’s time to scout for a suitable camping spot. Look for the following features to determine the best location:
- Flat Terrain: Choose a flat area to set up your vehicle for a comfortable stay.
- Drainage: Avoid low-lying areas that may collect water during heavy rain.
- Distance from Water: Stay a reasonable distance from lakes or rivers to avoid potential flooding.
Do a 50 yard perimeter sweep of your area to look for potential hazards.
On my last trip into grizzly country, I thought I found the “perfect spot” until I found a massive mound of fresh bear scat 20 yards from our site during my sweep.
Onto the next spot!
6. Safety First
Safety is paramount when choosing a dispersed car camping site. Consider these factors:
- Wildlife: Be aware of wildlife in the area and take necessary precautions to store food securely. Camping in bear/cougar country? Keep bear spray on you at all times.
-Weather Conditions: Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared for unexpected changes.
-Cell Service: Although dispersed camping is about getting away, having cell service for emergencies can be useful - make sure you are comfortable leaving this behind as most dispersed camping spots will lack reliable service.
Another safety measure is camping inside your vehicle. It provides more protection than a canvas tent & quick access to your driver seat for a swift get away.
Check out the Hele Box if you are looking for a lightweight car camping system for your vehicle.
7. Respect the Environment
Follow the Leave No Trace principles to keep the environment pristine. Pack out all your trash, minimize campfire impacts, and avoid damaging vegetation.
It’s called off-roading, but that doesn’t mean you should be driving off the prescribed trails. Keep your vehicle ON-TRAIL to ensure you don’t cause any unnecessary harm to the surrounding ecosystem. Deliberately driving off-trail will piss off the locals.
Respecting the land ensures that these beautiful locations remain accessible for future campers.
8. Have fun!
Dispersed car camping might take a bit more effort and preparation but the pay-off is well worth it!
Check out additional information and helpful tips in our car camping guide or some of our car camping products like the Hele Box.
See you on the trails!