Key takeaways

• You can camp free on BLM land for 14 days within any 28-day period, then you must move at least 25 miles for 28 days before returning.
• Fire bans, vehicle access, and group-size limits vary by field office, so verify your spot on official maps and call the local office before you arrive.
• California requires a free campfire permit for any fire, camp stove, or charcoal use on federal land outside developed campgrounds.
• Your rig must stay on existing routes, as driving cross-country to make a new camp pad is a violation.
• Many field offices cap dispersed groups at 25 people or vehicles, and anything larger requires a Special Recreation Permit.

You can camp free on BLM land for 14 days within any 28-day period in one spot, then you must move at least 25 miles for 28 days before returning. The rest is fire, waste, and vehicle rules that vary by field office, so verify your spot on BLM's official maps and call the local office before you air down.

What are the actual rules for camping on BLM land?

Dispersed camping on BLM land is generally free and allowed on most acres the agency manages, but "generally" is doing real work. The baseline federal rules set a stay limit of 14 days within a 28-day period, require campsites set back from water sources and roads, and expect you to pack out waste. Beyond that, each field office layers on its own orders, and those are the ones that catch wheelers out.

Dispersed vs developed BLM campgrounds

Developed campgrounds are signed, sometimes fee-based, and have published capacity and stay rules. Dispersed camping is everything else: pick a previously used spot, no services, no reservation. After a trail run, dispersed is usually what you're doing.

Rules that apply everywhere vs rules set by the local field office

Fire bans, vehicle access, and group-size limits vary by office, so verify locally before you air down. The BLM's own guidance on dispersed camping covers the federal baseline: dispersed camping rules and stay limits. We built Offroadin' for trail runs and crew tracking first, and we'll be honest: it won't replace a call to the field office. See where we're headed at about Offroadin'.

How does the 14-day stay limit work and how do you count it?

On most BLM land, the standard rule for camping on BLM land is 14 days within any 28-day period, per visit. After that, you must leave and cannot return to the same area until the 28-day window resets.

How the 28-day window is counted

The window is rolling, not calendar-based. Any 28 consecutive days is a window, so day 15 of your stay is the cutoff, and the earliest you can legally camp that spot again is day 29 after your first night. Count from the first night you park, not the first full day.

Why moving camp down the road doesn't reset the clock

Shifting a few miles to the next flat, or even to a different site in the same general area, does not start a fresh 14 days. BLM treats the "campsite" as the broader area, so relocating within it still counts against your limit. To legally stay longer, you need to move to a different area entirely.

Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVA) and their seasons/fees

Designated LTVAs, mostly in the desert Southwest, allow extended stays during defined seasons (typically the fall-through-spring window) for a fee, with longer terms than dispersed camping allows. Check the specific LTVA's season dates and current fees with the local field office before you roll in, since terms vary by site.

How do you find BLM land for camping using official maps and tools?

Start with the source of truth: the BLM's geospatial data and interactive maps, which let you toggle surface management agency and see exactly which parcels are BLM versus Forest Service or private. The PLAT books and land-status layers at the field office level are the final word on boundaries.

BLM's official interactive map and PLAT/land-status data

The interactive map is free and works on desktop, which is where route planning belongs anyway. Screenshot or export the parcel boundaries you care about before you lose signal at the trailhead.

Layering BLM parcels in onX Offroad and Gaia GPS

Both apps you already run can show land ownership as a layer, so you can confirm a dispersed campsite sits on BLM ground without buying a second tool.

Tool	What it shows	Best use
BLM interactive map	Official agency parcels	Verifying before you drive
onX Offroad	Land status over trail data	In-app checks while wheeling
Gaia GPS	Land ownership layers	Route planning on desktop

Where paid apps get land status wrong

Every layer, including the ones in Offroadin', is a rendering of government data that lags behind transfers and exchanges. Treat any app as a first pass, then call the field office to confirm the parcel is open and not closed for a burn or a wildlife closure.

What are the rules for camping on BLM land in California specifically?

California layers state rules on top of the standard 14-day framework, and the differences matter most around fire.

Campfire permits and fire season timing

California requires a free campfire permit for any campfire, camp stove, or charcoal use on federal land outside developed campgrounds, and fire restrictions in the desert districts typically kick in earlier and harder than in neighboring states. Get the permit online or at a field office, carry it printed, and assume wood fires are banned from late spring through fall. A pressurized gas stove is usually the only legal way to cook during restriction season.

California desert districts and their local orders

The two districts you'll actually wheel through are the Mojave Desert District (covering the Mojave, Ridgecrest, and Barstow areas) and the Imperial Desert District (covering the dunes and the Imperial Valley). Each publishes its own motorized access and camping orders on top of statewide rules, so check the specific district page before a run.

Where the rules bite harder in CA than other states

Desert districts close routes seasonally for bighorn lambing and desert tortoise activity, and staying on designated open routes is enforced, not suggested. In Imperial's dunes areas, fee and staging rules differ from open desert. Call the field office for your exact area before airing down.

Where is the best BLM land for camping and how do you vet a spot before driving out?

Popular regions for wheelers include Moab-adjacent BLM parcels, the Johnson Valley area, and the dunes and desert routes of southern California. Popularity is not the filter, though. Legal access is. A spot that looks perfect on satellite can sit behind a gated private parcel or a closed OHV route.

Vetting checklist: access, road status, cell coverage, fire restrictions

Before you air down, run four checks. First, confirm the approach road is public and open to motorized travel, not just visible on imagery. Second, check recent trip reports or trail status on Trails Offroad for closures or seasonal gates. Third, look at terrain and tree cover on satellite for a spot your rig and trailer actually fit. Fourth, check current fire restrictions; California office postings at BLM California cover campfire and stove rules, which change with the season.

Calling the field office: what to ask, exactly

Call the district office for the parcel. Ask three things: is this road open to full-size vehicles, is dispersed camping currently allowed here, and what are today's fire restrictions. Write down the date and who you spoke with.

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What fire, waste, and vehicle rules apply to dispersed BLM camping?

Campfires: when they're allowed and what counts as a legal fire ring

Most dispersed areas allow campfires unless fire restrictions are posted, which happens most summers across the desert and mountain West. Check the local fire restriction order before you leave; during restrictions, only stoves with an on/off valve are legal. Use an existing fire ring rather than building a new one, keep fires small, and never leave one burning or smoldering. Dead and down wood is usually fair game, but cutting standing trees is not.

Human waste and trash: pack-out expectations

Dispersed sites have no toilets or dumpsters. Bury human waste in a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from water, or pack it out with a waste kit in sensitive areas like the dunes. Pack out all trash, including burned cans and glass from the fire ring. Pit toilets exist at developed trailheads and campgrounds, so plan your last stop there.

Vehicle and OHV rules: existing routes, closed areas, dunes exceptions

Your rig stays on existing routes: driving cross-country to make a new camp pad is a violation, and closed routes are marked with signs or on motor vehicle use maps. Designated OHV areas, like open dunes and OHV parks, are the exception where off-route travel is legal. Camp within a previously disturbed spot rather than leveling fresh ground.

When do you need a permit or need to check with a local BLM field office?

Most dispersed camping on BLM land needs no permit. You just follow the 14-day rule and local posted rules. A handful of situations always require a call or paperwork first.

Situations that always require a call or permit

Group size is the usual trigger: many field offices cap dispersed groups at 25 people or vehicles, and anything larger is treated as an organized event needing a Special Recreation Permit. Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) near Quartzsite and Yuma require paid permits for stays beyond the standard limit, typically seasonal passes valid September through April. Fire restrictions, seasonal closures, and designated OHV rules change by district and by season, so assume nothing from last year.

How to reach the right field office

Find your district on blm.gov, call the field office listed for the area, and ask three questions: current fire restrictions, dispersed camping limits, and whether your planned route crosses closed trails. Ten minutes on the phone beats a turned-around trailer at the trailhead.

How do you plan a BLM camping run with your crew?

Coordinating camp and trail plans across the crew

Planning a dispersed trip starts with one shared pin for camp and one GPX track for the run, so nobody is texting trailhead coordinates the night before. Drop the camp pin, attach the day's trail plan, and every wheeler in the crew sees the same plan before aired-down tires hit dirt. Live tracking matters once the convoy spreads out on a forest road or splits at a fork. Logging your garage before the trip also pays off: mods, tire size, and recovery gear travel with the group plan, so anyone can see who's running lockers and who's stock.

Honest limits: what Offroadin' does and doesn't cover for BLM land status

Offroadin' handles group planning, live crew tracking, 3D trail exploration, and the garage log, but it does not replace BLM's official surface maps or a call to the field office for land status and fire rules. Verify dispersed camping legality the way earlier sections describe, then bring the plan into the app.

FAQ

Can you camp for free on BLM land?

Yes, dispersed camping on most BLM-managed acres is free, with no reservation or fee. You pick a previously used spot, follow the 14-day stay limit, and pack out trash and waste. Developed campgrounds are the exception; some charge fees and have posted capacity rules. Fire restrictions and local orders still apply.

Can you camp on BLM land in California?

Yes, the standard 14-day framework applies, but California adds a free campfire permit requirement for any fire, camp stove, or charcoal use outside developed campgrounds. Desert districts like Mojave and Imperial publish their own motorized access orders, close routes seasonally for bighorn lambing and tortoise activity, and enforce staying on designated open routes.

How long can you camp on BLM land?

The baseline is 14 days within any 28-day period. The window rolls, so count from your first night parked. Moving a few miles down the road or to another site in the same general area does not reset the clock; BLM treats the broader area as the campsite. To stay longer, relocate to a different area entirely or use an LTVA.

Do you need a permit to camp on BLM land?

Usually not. Most dispersed camping needs no permit if you follow the 14-day rule and posted local rules. You do need paperwork for larger groups, since many offices cap dispersed groups around 25 people or vehicles and treat bigger gatherings as events requiring a Special Recreation Permit. LTVAs near Quartzsite and Yuma require paid seasonal passes for extended stays.

Can you have a campfire on BLM land?

Often yes, unless fire restrictions are posted, which happens most summers across the desert and mountain West. During restrictions, only stoves with an on/off valve are legal. Use an existing fire ring rather than building a new one, keep fires small, and never leave one burning or smoldering. Dead and down wood is usually fine; cutting standing trees is not.