The BLM’s own camping page puts the default pattern in one sentence: “Dispersed camping is generally limited to 14 days within any 28-day period,” and after that you “must move to a new location, often at least 25 to 30 miles away.” That is the national guidance, verified today at blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping.
The catch is the two hedge words: “generally” and “often”. The specifics are set locally.
What the regulation actually says
The federal camping rule is 43 CFR 8365.1-2. The relevant line is that no person shall “Camp longer than the period of time permitted by the authorized officer.” Read that carefully. It does not name 14 days. It hands the number to whoever is running the field office.
That is why an article that tells you “the BLM rule is 14 days, everywhere” is guessing at the wrong altitude. 14/28 is the default the national page describes, and it is what most field offices set. It is not what the CFR itself says, and it is not universal.
The regulation also separately restricts leaving personal property unattended for more than 10 days (12 months in Alaska) without permission. That is the rule that gets people who leave a rig parked and drive out.
The move-on distance
BLM’s national page uses “at least 25 to 30 miles” as its plain-English guidance. State and district pages vary. Some publish an exact mileage. Some name a specific area you must exit before the clock resets. Some just say “a new location” and leave it to the ranger.
A safer rule of thumb than any specific mileage: assume the move has to be far enough that a reasonable person would call it a different place. Down the road and around a bend does not count. Neither does moving to the far end of the same road.
If you plan to camp on BLM land for the full 14 days and then relocate, look up the field office page for both the site you are leaving and the site you plan to move to. If both are in the same district and neither publishes a specific number, call the district office. It is a five-minute call that costs less than a citation.
What varies, and how
- Some field offices shorten the stay. BLM’s Long Term Visitor Areas in Arizona allow 7-month stays under a permit. Other high-use areas can cap you at 7 or 10 days by local order.
- Some sites require designated-site camping. Popular areas near towns increasingly ban dispersed camping outside numbered pull-outs. The sign at the entrance is the notice.
- Some sites require permits or a fee even when general BLM land is free. The unit page will say so.
For the state-level view, our Free camping states directory links each state’s BLM overview and the general rules that apply. If you are new to BLM camping, the BLM camping rules explainer walks through the model from the top.
What to do this trip
Two steps. First, find the field office that manages the ground you want to camp on. Search “BLM [nearest town]” and open the field office page. Second, read the stay limit on that page. If it is not there, look for an “orders” or “special notices” tab. If it is still not there, the national default is your guide and the posted sign at the site wins over any web page, including ours.
Then camp. But keep the paperwork name and the URL. If a ranger stops to check, being able to say “the field office page dated X said Y” is a real defense.