CIWILD FAQ — Rooftop Tent Camping & Overlanding

Question 1

What is CIWILD?

Accepted Answer

CIWILD is an independent outdoor community and planning resource for rooftop tent campers and overland travelers exploring the American West. Visitors can explore source-reviewed campsite, public-land, and route-planning guides, connect with the CIWILD community, read practical gear content, and share camping stories and routes. Coordinates, access details, seasonal guidance, and field-verification status vary by listing.

Question 2

What is a rooftop tent and why do overlanders use them?

Accepted Answer

A rooftop tent (RTT) is a tent mounted on a vehicle's roof rack that unfolds for sleeping above the ground. Overlanders use rooftop tents because they set up in under two minutes, keep campers off cold or wet ground, provide better airflow, and allow camping on uneven terrain where traditional tent pitching is impossible. They are especially popular for dispersed camping in the American West where ground conditions vary widely.

Question 3

How do I find free dispersed campsites in the American West?

Accepted Answer

Free dispersed camping is available on many Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest lands across the American West, subject to local rules and closures. CIWILD publishes source-reviewed campsite, public-land, and route-planning guides across California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming. Coordinates, access notes, road-condition information, seasonal guidance, and field-verification status vary by listing. Explore the full CIWILD camping guide directory at ciwild.com/pages/top-100-free-camping-sites-in-america, and always check current fire restrictions, land-use rules, and road conditions before departure.

Question 4

Is CIWILD free to join?

Accepted Answer

Yes. CIWILD community membership is free. Members get access to the campsite map, community forums, crew-finding features, and member stories. CIWILD also sells rooftop tent camping gear and accessories through its online shop, but purchasing is never required to participate in the community.

Question 5

What states does CIWILD cover for campsite maps?

Accepted Answer

CIWILD currently covers dispersed camping locations across 12 states in the American West, including California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Texas. The campsite database is continuously updated by community members with new GPS coordinates, access reports, and seasonal notes.

Question 6

What is the difference between dispersed camping and campground camping?

Accepted Answer

Dispersed camping means camping outside of designated campgrounds, typically on BLM or National Forest land. It is usually free, has no facilities (no toilets, no water hookups, no camp hosts), and requires self-sufficiency. Campground camping uses established sites with amenities and often requires reservations and fees. Overlanders and rooftop tent campers generally prefer dispersed camping for privacy, solitude, and the ability to camp in remote locations not accessible by standard campgrounds.

Question 7

How do I join an overlanding group or find a camping crew through CIWILD?

Accepted Answer

CIWILD's Find Crew feature connects overlanders and rooftop tent campers by location, vehicle type, and trip style. Members can post upcoming routes, join weekend rallies, and participate in organized off-road meetups across the Western USA. CIWILD hosts regular group events including the California Off-Road Camping Squad rallies and seasonal convoy trips.

Question 8

What rooftop tent gear does CIWILD recommend?

Accepted Answer

Every product featured on CIWILD is tested in real field conditions by community members — not selected by algorithms or sponsored placements. Gear recommendations cover rooftop tents, roof rack systems, overlanding kitchen setups, power stations, sleeping bags rated for alpine temperatures, and recovery equipment. All recommendations are based on actual use from Alabama Hills in California to Steens Mountain in Oregon.

Question 9

What is the CIWILD referral program?

Accepted Answer

The CIWILD referral program lets members earn a 10% cash commission every time a friend places their first order using the member's referral code. Friends receive 15% off their first order automatically. After 10 successful referrals, commission increases to 15%. There is no cap on earnings and payouts are made in cash, not store credit.

Question 10

When is the best season for rooftop tent camping in the American West?

Accepted Answer

The best season varies significantly by location. Desert regions like Anza-Borrego (California), Sedona (Arizona), and Moab (Utah) are best October through April when temperatures are moderate. High alpine areas like Steens Mountain (Oregon), Gunnison National Forest (Colorado), and the Sierra Nevada (California) are accessible June through September. The American West offers year-round RTT camping somewhere — CIWILD's campsite map includes seasonal access information for every listed location.

#	Name	State	Coordinates	Status	Guide
1	Jawbone Canyon OHV Dispersed Camping	California	35.3821°N 118.0947°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
2	Cottonwood Canyon Road Dispersed Camping	Utah	37.2156°N 111.9823°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
3	Valley of Fire BLM Dispersed Camping	Nevada	36.4558°N 114.5891°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
4	Mingus Mountain — Prescott National Forest	Arizona	34.6891°N 112.1234°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
5	Ochoco National Forest — Wildcat Camp Area	Oregon	44.3421°N 120.2156°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
6	San Rafael Swell — Window Blind Peak	Utah	38.8934°N 110.7823°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
7	Anza-Borrego Desert — Blair Valley	California	33.0234°N 116.3891°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
8	Black Rock Desert — Open Playa	Nevada	40.8823°N 119.0156°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
9	Searchlight BLM Dispersed Camping	Nevada	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
10	Nelson & Eldorado Canyon BLM Camping	Nevada	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
11	Four Peaks — Tonto National Forest	Arizona	33.6891°N 111.3234°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
12	Vedauwoo — Medicine Bow National Forest	Wyoming	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
13	Bighorn National Forest — US-14 Planning Guide	Wyoming	Regional Corridor Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
14	Shelf Road Recreation Area — BLM Camping	Colorado	38.6280°N 105.2190°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
15	Flat Tops Wilderness — Trappers Lake Road	Colorado	39.9950°N 107.2390°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
16	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Camping	Nevada	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
17	Highway 50 BLM Dispersed Camping	Nevada	Fallon → Baker	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
18	Snake Range BLM Camping	Nevada	39.1215°N 114.3050°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
19	Alabama Hills Dispersed Camping	California	36.6060°N 118.1250°W	Exact GPS	View guide →
20	Mojave Road Dispersed Camping	California	Route Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
21	Eastern Sierra BLM Dispersed Camping Pullouts	California	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
22	Hole-in-the-Rock Road Dispersed Camping	Utah	Escalante Area	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
23	Moab BLM Camping	Utah	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
24	Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Camping	Utah	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
25	Dixie National Forest Camping	Utah	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
26	Ironwood Forest National Monument BLM Camping	Arizona	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
27	Alamo Lake Area BLM Camping	Arizona	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
28	Coconino National Forest Camping	Arizona	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
29	Coronado National Forest Camping	Arizona	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
30	Alvord Desert — Steens Mountain BLM Camping	Oregon	Route Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
31	Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Camping	Oregon	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
32	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Camping	Oregon	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
33	Crooked River National Grassland Camping	Oregon	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
34	Mount Hood National Forest Camping	Oregon	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
35	Pike & San Isabel National Forest Camping	Colorado	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
36	McInnis Canyons NCA Camping	Colorado	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
37	Bridger-Teton National Forest Camping	Wyoming	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
38	Wind River Range Camping	Wyoming	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
39	Wyoming Red Desert Camping	Wyoming	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
40	Black Hills National Forest Camping	Wyoming	Region Guide	Region/Route Guide	View guide →
41	Sawtooth Canyon Campground — New Jack City	California	34.670107°N 116.983935°W	Exact GPS	View guide →

Item added to your cart

Campsite Finder

CAMPSITE FINDER

All 41 Campsites & Guides

Explore

Campsite Finder

CAMPSITE FINDER

All 41 Campsites & Guides

Explore

Stay in the loop