Who manages America's public-camping land?
Knowing which agency owns the dirt under your tent decides whether you can have a fire, how long you can stay, and whether your dog needs a leash. Here are the four you'll deal with most often.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
The largest federal land manager by acreage, BLM administers about 245 million surface acres in the western United States — most of it open to dispersed camping by default.
Read overview →U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
USFS manages 193 million acres of National Forest and National Grassland land. Dispersed camping is allowed across most of it, governed by per-district Motor Vehicle Use Maps.
Read overview →National Park Service (NPS)
NPS manages 84 million acres across National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, and Seashores. Dispersed camping is generally not allowed; backcountry camping requires a permit.
Read overview →State trust lands
Trust lands held by individual states for the benefit of public schools, with widely varying recreation rules. Some require an inexpensive annual permit for dispersed camping.
Read overview →