From Utah’s Valley of the Gods to New Mexico’s Bisti Wilderness, we share six BLM camping experiences and explain why public lands have become an important part of our truck camping lifestyle. Here’s our BLM review: pros, cons, and beyond.
Growing up on the East Coast, the only camping I knew was tent camping in our backyard and state park campgrounds. I had no clue what BLM camping was until we took our first truck camper cross-country in 2005. Even then, I didn’t really understand how to find BLM land or how dispersed camping worked.
While researching BLM lands, I learned that approximately 99 percent of BLM-managed acreage is located in the West and Alaska. No wonder I hadn’t heard of it until we started truck camping.
Since then we have camped in dozens of BLM locations across the United States. Here’s what we’ve learned, and a few of our favorite BLM camping opportunities.
BLM stands for Bureau of Land Management. According to the BLM website, “The Bureau of Land Management’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”
The easiest way to find free BLM camping is to use the BLM National Recreation Map to identify public lands, and then verify local dispersed-camping rules for that location with the appropriate BLM field office. Most BLM camping is dispersed and free, but there are also developed BLM campgrounds that charge a fee.
Popular apps like Campendium, iOverlander, Gaia GPS, and OnX Offroad can help campers locate specific sites and confirm land ownership before they arrive. In Brian Hagen’s Diving Deeper into BLM article, he recommends Benchmark Maps. These are printed maps, which can be invaluable when you don’t have internet access. He also recommends the publiclands.org website as a good resource.
Every BLM location I’m sharing today is one we’ve visited in our truck camper. Four of the locations are dispersed camping areas, one is a developed BLM campground, and one is a Canadian public-land camping experience that felt very similar to BLM camping.
Valley of the Gods is located in southwestern Utah. The red rock mesas, buttes, and towers look like something straight out of an old western. In fact, Valley of the Gods has been in a number of westerns, and even a couple episodes of Doctor Who.
The seventeen-mile winding road through Valley of the Gods is all gravel and dirt, and is an unobstructed drive for any size truck camper. That stated, the road has some dramatic dips and undulations that can sneak up on you. If you drive the full Valley of the Gods loop, watch your speed.
If your rig has a rear overhang—like ours—we recommend you go in the east entrance, and camp in one of the large and scenic pull-offs in the first few miles. Then take the same route out. From experience, the second half of the loop can catch rear jacks as it dips and turns hard. Been there. Done that. Be careful.
When you leave Valley of the Gods, be sure to drive the Moki Dugway and visit Goosenecks State Park. The Moki Dugway is a 1,200 foot climb up a dirt road with no guardrails and tight switchbacks—and it will be a highlight of your trip. Just go slow and don’t check your phone. We don’t want to lose any readers.
Bisti Wilderness Area is located in San Juan County of New Mexico. On paper, it’s badlands with eroded rock formations. In reality, it’s beyond description and must be seen to comprehend the beautiful and stunningly weird things you’ll find there.
The trailhead at Bisti Wilderness Area
Overnight camping is allowed at the Bisti Wilderness Area entrance. From there you venture in on foot. At first you’ll be thinking, “This isn’t a big deal. Just some open space and a few lumpy rocks.” Then you’ll walk a little further and wonder if you went through a wormhole into another world. It’s one of the strangest and most fascinating landscapes we’ve ever explored.
Before you leave your rig, make sure to bring water, and some kind of tracking device. You are very likely to get lost at Bisti. In fact, there are numerous reports of folks wandering in, wandering around, getting turned around, and then having to sleep overnight in Bisti because it gets dark.
Gordon and I got lost in Bisti on our first visit and spent about an hour climbing the tallest formations to regain our bearings and find our way out. You’ve been warned.
After stunning calendar contest photo after stunning calendar contest photo got our attention, we asked our readers about their experiences in Alabama Hills. Their stories resulted in the Alabama Hills: Top 10 Bucket List article, and inspired us to finally go ourselves.
In 2017, we made Alabama Hills a priority and camped in this beautiful location with free camping right on the Sierra Nevada Range.
Alabama Hills on All Stays Camp & RV
The first night we pulled in, we didn’t know where to park. It was getting dark and we just needed to land somewhere, so we parked on the side of the road. The next day we ventured further into the BLM area. It was wonderful camping next to huge rock formations and a view of the snow covered Sierra Nevada, including Mount Whitney.
On the second day we woke at dawn to a group of photographers with cameras and tripods right next to the rig. We were inside our warm camper with coffee in hand, soaking in the gorgeous view. They were outside in gloves and hats. Gordon said to me, “You know we picked a good spot when the photographers gathered here”.
Since then, Covid happened. Because of increased visitation, social media exposure, and resource damage, the BLM has changed the camping situation at Alabama Hills.
According to the BLM website, “Camping is now limited to designated campsites. The BLM created hundreds of numbered sites throughout the recreation area. Campers must stay within those designated sites rather than creating new campsites. The goal of the Bureau of Land Management was to protect vegetation, reduce soil erosion, preserve the famous rock formations and movie landscapes, and prevent the continual creation of new campsites and spur roads.”
In the Alabama Hills BLM area—like most BLM areas—there’s no fresh water, no electric hookups, no dump station, and no restroom facilities. That said, there are many unique camping spots hidden in the rocks or out in the open. There are also other campgrounds nearby to get hookups and other resources if you need them.
Gordon and I stayed in Alabama Hills for our work week. For one of those days, we tried out another campground in the area, Tuttle Creek. Tuttle Creek is a more developed campground and features picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, potable water, and a dump station. We needed water and a dump, which is why we went.
This was one of those places I wish I could stay forever. Just, wow!
I read about this location on iOverlander, so I knew we’d have to drive down a street through a neighborhood to get to it. In an article I read, it said that Arnold Schwarzenegger had a house in this area. So, a place we camped for free, people pay millions of dollars for the same view. You’ve got to love truck camping!
Once we were there, we stayed for the week and had the most beautiful spot with free entertainment built in. By entertainment, I’m talking about a thousand sheep, a sheep herder, and his dogs. Every day the sheep and sheep herder would go up and down the steep hill.
At one point, they crossed the road near our camper. It was a cool place to work that week!
I wanted to include Datil Well because it is a developed BLM campground.
After visiting the Very Large Array in New Mexico, we needed a place to camp for the night before moving on to Overland Expo in Flagstaff. On All Stays Camp and RV, I found Datil Well.
Datil Well is a first-come, first-serve BLM campsite. You pay onsite with cash or check in an envelope. At $20 a night (2026 rate), it has twenty-one separate campsites that are mostly level.
There’s no electric or sewer, but there are water spigots next to the bathrooms. We had very spotty Verizon service.
Tip: America the Beautiful Interagency Senior Pass or Access Pass holders receive a 50% discount on campsite fees.
Much of Alberta’s public land is Crown Land. One public-land camping experience we’ve enjoyed is the Abraham Lake area, which reminded us a lot of dispersed camping on BLM land in the United States.
After visiting Banff National Park, we headed east to find the magical blue Abraham Lake. There we found several locations to camp. I read reviews on iOverlander and picked one where reviewers mentioned having good cell service.
Abraham Lake required a permit and fee, which I did online. The spots at Abraham Lake are not defined, so campers can choose their own spot within the camping area. It is mostly level and gives you a beautiful view of the lake.
We happened to be there during a full moon, which made it extra special.
Before heading to a BLM camping area, do your research. Not all public lands allow dispersed camping, and local regulations can vary by field office. The BLM National Recreation Map is an excellent starting point, but we also use apps like iOverlander, Gaia GPS, and OnX Offroad to confirm land ownership and locate suitable camping areas.
Not all locations are clearly marked. Some areas require you to open a gate, or go down a dirt road.
BLM dirt road in Wyoming
Always have a backup plan. Roads can become muddy, campsites can be occupied, and cell service is often limited. We’ve experienced all of the above.
Cell service can be spotty or nonexistent on BLM land. Some campers use Starlink to stay connected in remote locations where cellular service isn’t available. With or without Starlink, you should always tell someone when you’re out in these remote areas, and avoid taking unnecessary risks on unfamiliar roads.
Before camping in a BLM area, be sure to check out the Bureau of Land Management’s website.
Pros of BLM
Often beautiful and scenic dispersed camping
Often free or low cost
Flexible arrival and departure times
Plenty of space and privacy
Often enough room for multiple truck camper rigs
Dog friendly, with more room for them to roam
Quiet settings away from crowds
Excellent stargazing opportunities
Access to unique landscapes and public lands
Cons of BLM
Some locations require traveling rough roads
Rain, snow, or mud can make access roads difficult
Camping rules vary by location
Services and amenities are usually nonexistent
Cell reception can be limited or unavailable
Mechanical problems can leave you far from help
Water, dump stations, and trash facilities are often unavailable
Camp areas can be occupied when you arrive
Even today, it’s hard for me to believe that we get to camp in some of the most beautiful places in North America for free. We’ve paid for campsites that weren’t nearly as scenic as some of our favorite BLM locations. BLM land is a treasure, so please take care of it, and remember to leave no trace.
What makes BLM camping wonderful is also what makes it challenging. You’re often far from services, cell coverage, and help. But that’s also why the views are better, the campsites are quieter, and the experience feels more like an adventure.
So, has BLM camping become part of our camping lifestyle? Absolutely. It’s where we’ve found some of our most memorable views, quietest campsites, and greatest adventures.
