Beat the Pump: How to Find Legal, Epic Camping Right in Your Backyard

How to Find Quality Camping Near You Without the Crowds 

Holy Moly- have you seen the gas prices and what they could become? This won't just impact your daily commute, but food, makeup, medicine, and so much more. It could also put a hamper on your vacation plans. You don't have to scrap adventure in favor of a kiddie pool in your backyard, though. 

If you still want to get out there, but are having trouble finding state parks nearby that aren't already booked up, let's look at alternative camp sites that you can find. Within 50 miles of your home, I'm willing to bet that there are many different spots to camp at with way less competition than the state and national parks. But how do you find them? With apps and public resources that help you find these high-quality, 100% legal camping areas close to home.

These micro adventures cost less in both time and money, letting you get more vacation for less while not blowing your budget. 

Booking Private Land: Using Hipcamp and The Dyrt for Unique Stays 

Private landowners have learned that one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make money with their land is to offer it as campsites. However, I've learned the hard way that these vary widely in development and amenities. What looks great on the screen could be a real-life muddy mess, so do your research and read the listings and visitor reviews carefully. The best ones I've stayed at had electrical hookups, gorgeous outhouses that were almost as good as a real potty, and pavement or gravel roads built in. Others have been nothing more than a piece of land where you can set up a tent, but you have to bring a bucket to use as a toilet. Carrying a bucket of pee and poop home is not my idea of a good time, but your mileage may vary. Because this is privately owned land, they offer a variety of experiences. There is one near me that is also a goat farm and offers goat yoga as a perk. Other sites may have swimming ponds, fishing holes, hiking paths, tree houses to stay in, and opportunities to purchase produce from their farms. This gives you the opportunity to create a vacation that doesn't feel like a compromise while staying within your gas budget.

How do you find them? Hipcamp is my first choice. Think of it as Airbnb for camping, with specific requirements in the description that must be met to prevent buyer's remorse after you arrive. You can find tent sites, RV sites, and cabins, each with descriptions that give you all the information you need to know what to pack and what to enjoy when you are there. 

The Dyrt is a comprehensive list of campsites that provides photos of individual sites, which can help you really know what's happening at a given campsite. Harvest Hosts is a great option for people who camp in vans or RVs. They work with farms and vineyards to allow self-contained rigs to stay on their property for unique experiences, including wine tastings and samplings. You can also find privately owned campsites with a web search, but be very thorough in your research. Once you find a place that might work, search for the property name plus "review" or "problems" to see what other campers have to say about it.

Finding Free Public Land: BLM, National Forests, and Army Corps Sites

Another resource is public land, but the amount available varies by state. For example, I live in Texas, where about 95% of the land is privately owned. That, combined with Stand Your Ground laws, means that I can't just randomly pull off the road and bushwhack just anywhere. At best, I may receive a visit from a cop asking me to leave, and, at worst, I could be shot for trespassing. That doesn't mean that the opportunities aren't there. It just means you have to do your research and planning before setting out.

Understanding BLM and Dispersed Camping Rules

BLM, or Bureau of Land Management, land is a fantastic resource for campers. I recently spent time in Utah and camped at an amazing spot just off the road for free, without having to reserve ahead of time. On this land, there may be established primitive campgrounds or just level spaces for a tent. You will need to practice no trace and bring out all of your waste, including any biological solids you may produce. This also means you are on your own and need to be self-sufficient, carrying all the water/food/ gear you may need. For me, this worked great as an overnight before a planned hike the next day. The trailhead for the hike had an outhouse, so there was no need to bring a bucket for human waste.  You can find this land on the BLM interactive map or, sometimes, on Recreation.gov.

National Forests, Grasslands, and Army Corps Sites

BLM land tends to be more abundant out west, so what about the rest of us on the east side of the Rockies? National Forests and National Grasslands are a potential opportunity. These are protected pockets of land that may or may not allow dispersed camping within their boundaries. You'll want to verify with the United States Forest Service before heading out, as some areas may not be safe for camping. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains dams, reservoirs, and other important water features and offers camping sites at some locations. These sites tend to be overlooked but offer many of the same features as state parks, with fewer crowds. Wildlife Management Areas are another potential source for dispersed camping. Because they tend to be used by hunters, you may require a permit or hunting/fishing license to use them. They may also be unavailable depending on the season.

Hidden Gems: City and County Park Camping in Your Backyard

In your search for adventure, don't overlook what's under your nose! There are many municipal resources that offer the amenities and fun of national parks without the long drive. Your sales tax dollars pay for them, so you might as well enjoy them! For example, there is a Lake Houston campground nearby that offers campsites, RV sites, cabins, and chalets, along with a robust playground and weekend guided activities. The best part? It's 45 minutes from my house.  

They can be harder to find, though, so try using search terms like "County Regional Park Camping" or "Municipal Reservoir Campground." It can definitely be worth the effort. Once you find a potential spot, use the WATCH Framework to make sure the terrain and amenities are actually a fit for your needs

The Best Apps for Finding 100% Legal Campsites Fast

You don't have to become an expert Google investigator to find these campsites, though! There are great apps that make it easier to find these local gems. Your first stop for almost anything federal is Recreation.Gov. While it doesn't include all the sites for BLM or USFS, it does include information on many reservoirs, national forests, and grasslands. iOverlander is great if you have an RV or you're willing to do primitive camping. This app gets reports from users for spots that are verified as available to campers. FreeCampsites.Net is a crowdsourced map that shows you areas open to dispersed camping along a route or in your immediate area. You may want to verify all the information before heading out, but these are great starting points for your getaway.

How to Be a Good Guest

How to Verify Local Regulations and Signage

When you are visiting public lands or undeveloped campgrounds, you want to make sure you are a good guest and a good steward of the land. It's always a good idea to call the local office or check in at the ranger station prior to setting up camp. They will be able to give you the most accurate information about camping, including all local regulations and where legal camping zones start and end. In the drier season, it's especially important to verify fire rules. You don't want to be the person who set fire to the national forest in the middle of a drought. Another thing to keep in mind is signage. If you see signs and don't understand them, such as areas marked in a color, ask before setting up camp. These signs could indicate an area that is not safe to camp in because of hunting, poison ivy, or sewage lines. Taking 5 minutes to find out prior to getting a ticket or going to the ER is just a smart choice.

Leave No Trace: Keeping Sites Open for the Community

Leave No Trace is always important, but even more so in less-regulated areas. Pick up your trash, only dispose of food and grey water in appropriate areas, and leave the place better than you found it. If areas get trashed by campers, not only will it be unpleasant for you, but they may eventually have to close off the sites to the public. One thing I personally like to do is bring a pair of grabbers and an extra trash bag to pick up litter. It cleans up the site, and it also feels good to do something good.

Wildlife Safety & Food Storage

One big consideration about camping in wilder areas is that you may have more close encounters with local wildlife. This can be amazing (hello, bird-watching) or trip-ending when the raccoons break into the cooler and steal dinner. Not only does this suck for you, but human-habituated wildlife are in more danger of getting killed. They realize that people are a source of easy, tasty snacks and will become more bold about approaching humans. This can sound adorable, but it exposes you to bites, scratches, and rabies, and increases the chance that the cute little squirrel will get run over or hurt. Many bear incidents in national parks are due to people directly feeding them or to bears finding food improperly stored or dropped.  Always remember that a fed critter is a dead critter.

The Smelly Rule and Proper Food Storage

So, how do you keep your food safe and wildlife away? First, we need some clarity. ANYTHING that has a noticeable scent is potentially attractive to wildlife, including deodorant, cleaners, and toothpaste. (I'll tell you the story a scoutmaster told me about the bear eating the soap and leaving bear diarrhea all over the picnic table if you ask nicely enough) Anything that has a scent has to be put up away from animals, even if you think it doesn't taste good. Generally speaking, keeping it in a locked car with the windows rolled up is usually good enough. Raccoons, as of yet, have not taken to stealing car keys to get to food, but we need to talk about bears. If you are in bear country, this may not be enough. There is a significant overlap between the smartest bears and the dumbest humans, and there are reports and photos of bears breaking into cars to get into coolers. If you are in bear country, check local regulations and use approved bear boxes if available. If not, store the food exactly as instructed to avoid hearing your windshield shatter at 3 am from a hungry bear.

The 10-12-4 Rule for Bear Hangs

If you are backpacking, you have a few options for safe food storage. If bears aren't an issue and you just have to deal with rodents, a rat sack is lightweight and easy to hang from a tree. It's made of metal mesh, so little teeth can't chew a hole and get to your granola bars. They can chew through plastic bags and backpacks, so it's best to use a rat sack. If you are in bear country, you must use the methods recommended by the local authorities to keep yourself and the bears safe. Many places require bear cans, which are hard plastic containers with a locking lid that bears cannot tear apart or open. I've found that they also make a good seating option or tabletop for eating. If you are using a bear bag, it needs to be hung according to the 10-12-4 rule (12 feet up, 10 feet out from the trunk, 4 feet down from the branch). This configuration is often called a bear piñata, meaning your food is out of their reach, and they get some exercise trying to reach it. If the campsite offers a bear box, use it! You will also want to make sure that all food and scented items are stored at least 100 ft away from you, but some areas may require you to store them farther away, depending on bear activity. You'll also want to cook and eat 100-500ft away from your sleeping area, so that residual smells don't attract wildlife. 

Why Your Tent Must Stay Scent-Free

Never, ever, have food or wrappers in your tent. Wildlife have much better noses than you do, and even the hint of chocolate on a wrapper can attract them. In 2021, a woman died after being bitten by a grizzly bear THROUGH her tent. The bear smelled food that had been in her tent, food THAT SHE HAD MOVED to a bear box. It smelled the residual scent, took a bite of what it thought was food, and moved on when it realized that the tent wasn't food. Unfortunately, the bear had bitten her head, and she died from the injuries. The bear was shot a few days later. With proper food safety, this would have been avoided. 

Adventure is Closer Than You Think

Adventure is where you find it, and you can often find it without using a full tank of gas. Be open to the local possibilities and have fun this summer! Let me know where your favorite local camping spot is in the comments. Who knows? Maybe you'll help someone find their new favorite place.