Why Etiquette Matters on Public Land
The BLM's Kane Creek corridor near Moab went from a handful of established pullouts to dozens of improvised fire rings within a couple of seasons of heavy social-media attention — and multiple sections have since been closed to dispersed camping entirely. That's how fast access disappears. Dispersed camping on BLM, National Forest, and other public lands is managed under agency discretion, and land managers have full authority to restrict or close areas when damage accumulates. Lately, they've been doing exactly that.
Popular boondocking zones across the Southwest have seen tightened access in recent years. In Utah, corridors near Moab and the San Rafael Swell have had pullouts closed and stay limits shortened. In Arizona, the Tonto National Forest has restricted dispersed camping across large sections of the Sonoran zone north of Phoenix. In California, BLM land near the Eastern Sierra and outside Joshua Tree sees seasonal closures during peak fire and visitation windows. Every camper who follows you inherits whatever you left behind.
The Core Leave No Trace Principles
LNT isn't a lecture — it's practical advice for leaving a place so the next camper can't tell you were there.
Pack it in, pack it out: Everything that arrived in your rig leaves with you. This includes gray water — dumping it on the ground or into streams is illegal on most public land and is one of the most common violations rangers document. Use a collapsible bucket or portable tank if you can't reach a dump station before your next site.
Human waste: Black waste goes in a proper dump station or RV dump — never in the ground. For day hikes away from the rig, catholes 6–8 inches deep and 200 feet from water sources are the standard for solid waste.
Fire rings: Use existing fire rings rather than creating new ones. Where no fire ring exists, a fire pan elevated off the ground prevents scarring. In fire-restricted areas, no fires at all — propane cooktops only. Check current restrictions at the local ranger district before every stay, not just before you leave home.
Choosing and Setting Up Your Site
Camp on durable surfaces — established clearings, gravel, rock, or previously impacted areas. Avoid setting up on live vegetation, cryptobiotic soil crust (the lumpy, dark desert soil that can take decades or more to recover from a single footstep — the BLM puts the range at 50 to 250 years depending on climate), or riparian areas within 200 feet of water sources.
In high-use areas, the most ethical choice is almost always the site that's already impacted — it contains the damage rather than spreading it. In pristine areas, camping at least 200 feet from water and dispersing your footprint is preferred.
Generator Etiquette
Generator hours vary by location, season, and land management rules — always check with the specific ranger district or BLM field office before assuming any schedule applies. Many dispersed areas have no posted rules at all, which puts the obligation on you.
The informal standard most boondockers follow is daytime-only operation, typically somewhere in the 8am–8pm range, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. If you're the only rig for miles on open BLM flats, you have room to read the situation. If neighboring camps are within earshot, observe the same consideration you'd want from them. Some high-use areas near popular trailheads carry enforceable noise ordinances — look those up before you arrive.
Stay Limits and Moving On
Most BLM and National Forest dispersed areas have 14-day stay limits (some are 7 days). The limit is enforced by rangers and is designed to prevent any single camper or group from monopolizing a spot. After your limit, you must move to a site outside the defined area — typically at least 25 miles.
The spirit of the rule matters as much as the letter. Staying 13 days, driving to a town 26 miles away for one night, and returning to the same spot is technically compliant but undermines the purpose. Long-term and full-time boondockers generally develop a genuine circuit between multiple areas rather than gaming a single location all season.
Water Sources and Wildlife
Water sources are critical habitat for wildlife and other campers. The 200-foot rule for camping, waste disposal, and dishwashing near streams and ponds is both a legal requirement on most public lands and a basic ecological courtesy. Soaping up or disposing of gray water near water sources affects every downstream user — human and animal.
Wildlife interaction is an LNT issue that's increasingly serious in popular areas. Don't feed wildlife — ever. Store food in hard-sided vehicles when bears are a concern (the rig itself is generally adequate). Give large animals distance. Viewing is fine; approaching, feeding, or attracting is not.
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Put this knowledge to work. Let our AI build a personalized RV itinerary for your next adventure — or browse community trips for inspiration.