Rule for Truck Camping

Evening all

Im new to truck camping and planning to see the country in the summer and visit the national parks.

Generally speaking, can I truck camp anywhere they allow an RV? I am wondering how complicated it is to literally park my truck somewhere, cook a dog and sleep under the stars and not break any laws.

Thanks in advance.

 

Where are you looking to go? Summer is almost.over...National Forests' are the year round fun. National Parks, like State Parks have fees and regulations..closer's as well during off season. Next summer, I would expect anything you have would be accepted in any state or national park.

 

National parks by day, BLM by night

 

Best part of NF and BLM..unpaid 14 day stay.

 

Unbeatable price with no neighbors

 

But to you OP, yes..you can camp any way you want in NP's and SP's..Have fun!

 

Thanks, what is BLM?

 

Lol definitely don’t just pull over and camp on the roadside in a NP. Ticket for sure.

Reminds me of some morons from around these parts that got caught with an rv stuffed full of weed because they decided to stop roadside overnight in a national park on their way back from Cali

 

Bureau of Land Management

They own lots of land out west and have fewer regulations as far as camping/recreating

 

First, pick up a Federal Lands Annual Pass. Cost is $80/yr (assuming you're not yet 62). This will get you into all National Parks which have an entrance fee (most of them do) at no charge. https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm

I'm not aware of any National Parks that permit free roadside dispersed camping. A few offer free roadside camping but only at designated sites (Big Bend, Great Basin and Badlands are three that we've visited). Many allow back country camping at no charge but that's a 'park your truck at a trailhead and hike in' situation.

As others have mentioned, National Forest and Bureau of Land Management properties are great for what you're looking. The general rule for these is 'camping is permitted anywhere its not posted as prohibited'. There are other limitations such as minimum distances from roadways and water sources and its always best to check with each managing agency before setting up camp. Some National Seashores and National Recreation Areas also provide this. Cape Lookout NS off the NC coast and Padre Island NS in Texas are two where we've camped remotely. Glen Canyon in AZ and Amistad in TX are two NRAs that provide some awesome waterside spots.

There's a lot of public land available to us, you just have to look for it. Here in the south, the Army Corps of Engineers has some of the best camping opportunities for the money. US Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Mines, Bureau of Reclamation, state parks and forests and county/city facilities are other options.

Start here https://www.doi.gov/blog/americas-public-lands-explained

Good resource for USFS developed campgrounds https://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm

 

Thank you - I see so many cool pics here of folks truck camping.