Is the America the Beautiful pass what I need for free BLM dispersed camping?

[Catina]

Hello... I've tried searching the forums here and google but I still seem to be foggy on this.
I purchased the "America the Beautiful" annual pass.... is that the right pass for me to camp "free" on BLM Federal lands?

I also purchased a California Explorer annual pass... but that does not seem to apply to camping... it seems to be only parking during the day time along beaches.

Thank you for any of your help... I just purchased a Grand Caravan less than a week ago and will be taking my first trip with a 6 year old in two weeks for spring break!

 

[Almost There]

No 'pass' is needed for camping on BLM land.

There are places on BLM land that require you to get a free permit from either a camphost or a ranger who comes around...places like near Quartzite. Most BLM land in unattended and a ranger may drive through periodically to check up on campers. Some areas are more frequently patrolled than others, particularly the more popular ones.

Also under BLM jurisdiction are areas called LTVAs - Long Term Visitor Areas. Winter permits are $180.00 and allow you to camp in the LTVAs without being restricted to moving every 14 days like you would have to on regular BLM land. There are also summer use LTVAs in CA IIRC. Not all LTVAs are okay for you to camp on because you have no holding tanks in the car.

National Forest land is also available for free camping - again up to 14 days in a campsite. They also have paid campsites with facilities if you choose to go that route.

Note that National Parks (for which you just bought the pass) and National Forests are two entirely different animals. Do  not confuse the two.

That National Park pass entitles you (and up to three other people with you in the same vehicle to access National Parks, Historic Site, Monuments without paying the daily/weekly admission fee.

For starters until you get skilled at finding BLM and NF lands to camp on by yourself, I'd suggest you use this website: freecampsites.net to find free camping in the areas you want to camp in.

If you're headed to a National Forest, find the local ranger station and ask for a copy of their MVUM (Motorized Vehicle Use Map), They're invaluable for finding which roads you can camp on in the National Forest. If you can, ask a ranger for further info and 'best camping areas'.

 

[Catina]

No 'pass' is needed for camping on BLM land....

I'm so grateful to you for explaining all that in terms I can understand!  So is BLM land also in the "National Forest" category... or they are also two different birds?

 

[Almost There]

BLM - Bureau of Land Management run under the Department of the Interior

National Forest - under USDA managed by the federal Forest Service.

National Parks/Monuments/Historic Sites run by the National Park Service, department of the Interior but completely separate from BLM

Some states also have state trust land that you can camp on in some areas but need an annual permit..run by each state.

It's all land that is owned by various government agencies as compared to privately  held land.

Oh and for further confusion, not all National Forest land is actually forest....a lot of it is desert...lol.

 

[frater secessus]

BLM - Bureau of Land Management run under the Department of the Interior

National Forest - under USDA managed by the federal Forest Service.

Catina, these two have similar policies for dispersed camping.  Usually 14 days in one place followed by a wait or move to another location but do check in with the local rangers as AT suggests.  
Unfortunately, national parks usually do not allow boondocking.  :dodgy:  Sometimes you can boondock just outside the park and drive in to visit. 

Bob Difley has some reasonably-priced and informative books on dispersed camping.   In particular, I found BOONDOCKING: Finding a Perfect Campsite on America's Public Lands to be helpful.  Might be in your local library.   Related:  you can use Overdrive to check out ebooks from your local library no matter where you are in the country. 

 

[DLTooley]

The national lands pass is good for entrance to all fee areas, for paid camping and many other fees it provides a 50% discount. This goes for BLM and National Forest. As stated above no pass is needed for dispersed camping.

I'd guess the LTVA's are an exception to the 50% discount, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

[wagoneer]

No I stayed just this side of Joshua NF for free but 10 bucks aint gonna break my bank.

 

[user 13531]

Hi Catina;

The free BLM camping only applies to "dispersed camping" not their "developed camping" site properties. BLM does have paid camping properties throughout the country, some are very basic and almost look dispersed but you might find a vault toilet facility in the distance and thus require a fee payment.

Some national parks do allow for free and or dispersed camping but they are indeed rare, (Death Valley National Park) for example, although paid entry to the park is required (Your Pass will get you in)...

 

[bonvanroulez]

The national lands pass is good for entrance to all fee areas, for paid camping and many other fees it provides a 50% discount.  

The OP's question was about the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. If that is what you are calling the "national lands pass", it covers entrance fees at National Parks and some amenity fees at other federal sites for one year. It does not provide any discount for camping/campground fees. The only passes that provide a 50% discount for camping are the Senior Pass and the Access Pass.

 

[user 13531]

Catina, if you’re under 62 and have no permanent disabilities, your annual pass was the best option. It works just about everywhere but as stated above does not entitle you to camping and or service discounts. Still a great deal...

Hit the road and explore America...

 

[Headache]

No 'pass' is needed for camping on BLM land.

Slight technical correction on needing a pass.

If you are camping at somewhere like say Crossroads BLM near/at Parker Strip:

https://freecampsites.net/#!9951&query=sitedetails

and you want to stay there for half price then you need your ATB pass.

There are a few BLM areas that are pay sites and in general as AT stated you don't need a pass to camp on them, unless you want the reduced rate.