RVing On BLM Land

Above, a BLM sign at Cool Springs, Arizona on Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who boondock (dry camp) around the country, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers a wide variety of camping opportunities for low-cost or even free camping.

RV Life has an article on BLM land camping.

It begins with:

What is BLM land? 

Those who are unfamiliar with dispersed camping may be wondering, what is BLM land? First, we need to look at the acronym BLM to find out more about the organization that oversees BLM land.  

These lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is tasked with responsibly managing land and resources for the use and enjoyment of the public. 

The BLM is accountable for managing public lands for an array of uses such as energy and mineral development, grazing of livestock, recreation, along with timber harvesting, while ensuring cultural, natural, and historic resources are maintained for this and future generations. 

Currently, the BLM oversees 245 million surface acres of public lands for the American people. The agency manages 1 in 10 acres in the U.S., or about 12 percent of the landmass of the U.S. That’s a little bit less than the size of Texas. The land is primarily located in the western states, including Alaska, California, New Mexico, and Wyoming.  

RVing on BLM Land

Out of all the federal agencies of the United States government, BLM is the most RV-friendly, relaxed place one can go. 

These lands offer endless opportunities for camping under the stars, ranging from very reasonably priced developed campgrounds suitable for most any sized RV to easy-to-reach free dispersed camping sites to literal mountaintop camping experiences for those with the rig to get there. In our opinion, the BLM is the most relaxed and accommodating agency for boondocking enthusiasts of any federal agency. 

BLM-managed lands contain remnants of old mining camps, the chance to see wild mustangs, thousands of miles of roads and trails open to off-road vehicles, unique geological formations, scenic overlooks, slot canyons, nearly forgotten Pony Express stops and old forts, dazzling canyons, historical points of interest and much more.

Above, The Beast on BLM land in Cool Springs, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.