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.

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

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.

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

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.

Is CIWILD free to join?

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.

What states does CIWILD cover for campsite maps?

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.

What is the difference between dispersed camping and campground camping?

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.

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

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.

What rooftop tent gear does CIWILD recommend?

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.

What is the CIWILD referral program?

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.

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

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.

Is dispersed camping legal in Wyoming?

Dispersed camping is allowed on many BLM and National Forest lands in Wyoming, but not on every parcel or road corridor. Local closures, designated-site programs, travel-management maps, fire orders, private-land boundaries and special recreation rules may limit where camping is legal.

How long can you camp on Wyoming public land?

There is no single Wyoming-wide relocation rule. BLM areas commonly use a 14-day limit, while individual National Forests and special areas publish their own counting periods and relocation distances. Verify the rule for the exact destination.

Can you camp beside US-14 in Bighorn National Forest?

A current Bighorn National Forest order prohibits camping from June 1 through September 30 within one-half mile of US-14 and US-14A in the described areas. Use the official order map, Motor Vehicle Use Map and posted signs to select a legal site outside the closure.

What is the stay limit near Jackson in Bridger-Teton National Forest?

Bridger-Teton generally uses a 14-day limit, but the Jackson Ranger District and specified Blackrock Ranger District areas use a five-day limit from May 1 through Labor Day. Check the current district map and forest orders.

Is all dispersed camping in Wyoming free?

Many legal dispersed sites do not charge a nightly campsite fee, but developed campgrounds, special recreation sites, permit areas and reserved facilities may charge fees. No-fee camping is never guaranteed solely because land is publicly managed.

Free Camping in Wyoming: BLM & National Forest Dispersed Sites | CIWILD

Wyoming Dispersed Camping Planning Guide

Free Dispersed Camping in Wyoming — BLM & National Forest Guide

Wyoming includes approximately 18.4 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management, along with extensive National Forest lands. Many areas offer no-fee dispersed camping, but access, stay limits, road rules and designated-site requirements vary by land manager and destination. Use this page as a planning hub—not as permission to camp on every public-land parcel.

Browse the camping directory Open Campsite Finder

18.4M Approximate BLM-managed acres

2 Major federal land-manager systems

Local Stay limits and closure orders

Variable Fees, permits and road access

Last reviewed July 27, 2026 Official sources linked No field-verification claim

Open Wyoming landscape with mountain views and a broad sky

Wyoming Camping Rules: Start With the Land Manager

Wyoming does not have one statewide dispersed-camping rule that replaces every BLM field-office order and National Forest special order. Confirm the exact parcel, responsible office, open motorized route and current restrictions before setting up.

BLM stay limits are area-specific BLM guidance commonly uses about 14 days within a 28-day period, but the required relocation distance and local exceptions vary.

National Forest limits are not uniform Bighorn uses a 14-day/28-day limit with a five-road-mile move, while Medicine Bow generally publishes a 16-day limit.

Motorized access requires the correct map Use the current BLM travel map or Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map. A route visible in a navigation app is not automatically open.

Fire and wildlife orders can change Check current fire restrictions and food-storage orders. A fire ring or old campsite does not prove that a fire or overnight stay is legal.

Do not use “move 25 miles” as a statewide Wyoming rule. BLM areas often use relocation distances in that range, but Bighorn National Forest currently specifies five road miles, and other forests or special areas use different limits.

Four Wyoming Planning Regions

These are broad planning zones. Each contains mixed ownership, separate field offices and local restrictions that must be checked at the destination level.

Southeast Wyoming

Vedauwoo, Pole Mountain & Medicine Bow

Near Vedauwoo Road, camping is limited to developed campgrounds or Forest Service designated dispersed sites within the restricted area. Medicine Bow generally publishes a 16-day dispersed-camping limit, not the 14-day rule shown in the old version of this page.

North-Central Wyoming

Bighorn National Forest

US‑14 and US‑14A are access corridors, but a current order prohibits camping within one-half mile of the highways from June 1 through September 30 in the described areas.

Northwest Wyoming

Bridger‑Teton & Greater Yellowstone

High-use areas near Jackson have designated-site programs and a five-day stay limit from May 1 through Labor Day in the Jackson Ranger District and specified Blackrock areas.

Central & Southern Wyoming

Red Desert, Wind River Basin & BLM Lands

Large BLM landscapes offer recreation opportunities, but checkerboard ownership, private access, seasonal closures and rough roads make land-status maps essential.

Published Wyoming Destination Guides

These links lead to CIWILD destination or corridor guides. They are planning resources, not reservations or guarantees that a specific site will be open on arrival.

Bighorn Mountains · Regional corridor guide

Legal Dispersed Camping Near US‑14

Review the seasonal half-mile highway closure, current stay limit, food-storage requirements and MVUM planning process.

Open Bighorn US‑14 guide →

Jackson area · Designated dispersed camping

Bridger‑Teton Free Camping Near Jackson

Plan around designated sites, heavy summer demand, district-specific five-day limits and bear-country storage rules.

Open Bridger‑Teton guide →

Northeast Wyoming · Regional forest guide

Black Hills National Forest — Wyoming Side

Compare dispersed-camping access on the less-visited Wyoming side while checking current roads, closures and mixed ownership.

Open Black Hills guide →

Wyoming route · Two-day itinerary

Killpecker Sand Dunes & Boar’s Tusk

Use a structured route guide when you need a defined itinerary rather than a broad state or regional camping overview.

Open the two-day route →

Temporarily excluded: the state page no longer links to Wind River Range and Red Desert pages until their current public URLs and content are checked. The Vedauwoo guide also requires a separate content correction before it should be promoted here.

Seasonal Planning by Terrain

High country

Late June through September

This is often the broadest access window, but snow, mud, wildfire restrictions and seasonal camping closures can still limit individual roads and sites.

Lower BLM landscapes

Spring and fall

Cooler temperatures can improve comfort, but wind, wet clay roads, hunting-season traffic and mixed ownership still require preparation.

Winter

Plan for closures, not just cold

Many mountain roads receive no winter maintenance or close seasonally. Four-wheel drive does not authorize travel past a closure or make an unmaintained route safe.

Before every trip

Check alerts close to departure

Download offline maps, verify land ownership, read current orders, confirm road openings and bring a self-contained sanitation plan.

Official Wyoming Planning Sources

Use these sources to verify current rules. Continue from the statewide page to the responsible field office, ranger district or destination page.

BLM — What We Manage in Wyoming Current statewide BLM land-management overview and acreage. BLM Camping Guidance National dispersed-camping principles and warning that local rules vary. Bighorn National Forest Alerts, special orders, offices and recreation information. Bridger‑Teton Camping Guidance General and district-specific stay limits near Jackson and Blackrock. Medicine Bow‑Routt National Forests Current conditions, forest orders, camping information and alerts. BLM Wyoming Maps Land-status, seasonal-use, field-office and recreation maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dispersed camping legal everywhere on Wyoming public land?

No. Many BLM and National Forest areas allow it, but closures, designated-site programs, travel rules, private inholdings and local orders apply.

Is the maximum stay always 14 days followed by a 25-mile move?

No. That is an overgeneralization. Bighorn currently uses a five-road-mile move, Medicine Bow generally uses a 16-day limit, and Jackson-area Bridger‑Teton locations can use a five-day seasonal limit.

Is there free camping near Yellowstone and Grand Teton?

Camping inside the national parks is limited to authorized campgrounds and backcountry permits. Surrounding National Forest areas may offer no-fee dispersed sites, but popular zones near Jackson use designated-site systems and shorter stay limits. Do not assume a reservation-free site will be available.

Do I need four-wheel drive?

Not for every destination. Vehicle needs depend on the specific open road, weather and surface condition. High clearance or four-wheel drive does not replace an MVUM, travel map or closure check.

Why are some CIWILD Wyoming links missing from this version?

Links are withheld when the public URL, page content or destination classification still needs review. The state guide should not present an unverified regional pin as a campsite simply to increase the number of cards.

Continue Planning Wyoming

Compare published destination guides, open the statewide directory, or switch to a complete route when you need a defined itinerary.

Browse the camping directory Browse overlanding routes Open Campsite Finder