Dispersed Camping 101: The Overlanders' Guide to finding Epic Campsites

This video is your one-stop guide to dispersed camping, the perfect way to ditch the crowds and experience nature in all its glory. We'll break down everything you need to know for an epic adventure, from tools and resources, to OTG's 4-step framework to finding the most badass campsites in the backcountry.

In this video you'll learn:
- Tools and Resources
- Tips for finding dispersed campsites
- OTG's 4-step framework to building an awesome camping adventure

About Overland Trail Guides
With over 90 overland routes, OTG has the largest directory of overland tracks in North America. You'll find our guides contained detailed information like recommended vehicle, technical ratings, things to see and do, camping recommendations, GPX files, and more.

[djp]

I mainly use Campendium to find really good dispersed campsites. I also use a Garmin Tread, which has offline satellite maps and shows all the boundaries of public lands (BLM, NFS). Most of the time if you're on public land, you can camp there. This is the best solution that I have found for offline maps. There's no annoying subscriptions or login screens when you have no cell phone signal, and it won't become obsolete, like phone apps. It's something that you actually own.

[gerardhoran]

Great video Ben, great to see your process!

[garagebuilt]

I grew up in the Smith River SRA region and it’s a beautiful area with countless recreation opportunities. I immediately recognized the pull out spot on Rowdy Creek road near the end of this video, and you were correct about how it’s used by locals, people have been target shooting and having parties there for more than 50 years, lol.

[SquatchOverland]

Great video, extremely informative. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.🍻

[philcarter]

Thanks for this great methodology for setting out a planned trip. Much appreciated.

[xpadventure]

Great video Ben! I’ve been mapping out routes for years but I definitely learned some tricks from you. I have to say though that your OTG routes have spoiled me because you do such a great job of pointing out campsites that I’ve been getting a bit lazy lately in terms of mapping out my own routes. Thanks for the video!

[chenglee]

Great guide. I'm actually using My Maps right now to create an itinerary for my family overland trip across a few states. Possibly visiting northern Cali as well so this is PERFECT for me. Keep up the great videos!

[toddshook]

Thanks for sharing these tips to find sites. Very helpful basic points to get started.
Another creator mentioned that they also will pin drop fuel stops and stores along the route if possible. Like you said having as much info as possible is good.

[arm]

awesome video! best video I've seen on the process. :)

[onasledoverland]

Thanks for this video. I joined your website a couple years ago. Actually think I'm heading to this area early fall from CT.

[KhurshidsChannel]

Fantastic view. Great video. Thanks for sharing. 👍274

[zfinest]

Colorado has been overtaken your lucky to find good, dispersed camping here I remember as a kid a short drive up the Pouder canyon spots everywhere now you have to go well above Walden

[joshgraham]

I usually will look at a general area I'm interested in on a good ol' fashioned paper map, specifically a Benchmark State Atlas, then look at specific spots in that area on Google satellite imagery and Gaia GPS.

[ProclaimedHERETIC]

Just a reminder, it's illegal to camp less than 100ft from any water source in most places within the U.S. Make sure your definition of "next to the [water source]" is 100ft+.

[erdejo]

Great video.
However, you speak of hallucinations on the AI sites. But when you out in your queries, you do not state that you are looking for motor vehicle dispersed camping!
Keep in mind that discussed camping is not just "car camping". A lot of the places you looked at do allow dispersed camping, if it is hiking or biking and such.
So, you should add the fact that your looking for vehicle camping to be accurate!
Other than that, really informative...

[bnkygum]

good news: they're not so secluded anymore.
everyone knows now