How to find FREE CAMPSITES

We have had a lot of people ask how we find dispersed campsites. Here is our process!
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions.
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[@Burgerboys6969]

Awesome video man! You guys got a great helpful channel. Just bought the TRD Rav4 about a month ago and your channel has definitely been the inspiration behind a few off-road trips already. Keep it up!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thank you!! That means a lot. Congrats on the new RAV4! And cheers to more off road adventures ✌️

[@CPT891]

This helped me out a lot. Thanks man.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! Glad you found it helpful :)

[@gabriellemarella9127]

Very helpful! I wish there were more dispersed camping on the east coast. But I’ll be checking out and using your process to see what I can find over here! Also, awesome music set up in the back 👌🏻

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yea! We have never been camping on the East Coast so I don't know much about the process out there. And only part of the music set up is visible ;) there is a whole lot more.

[@TravelingKory]

Super useful info! Been playing with the premium version of Gaia for finding dispersed camping here in VA (not nearly as prominent as out West). Your tactics are spot on (tested working with Dorado as well). Have a few waypoints to add thanks to your tutelage. Greatly appreciate it! Thx for sharing! 😊👍

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching! Glad you found it helpful! There are so many ways to find trails, but this has worked well for us. Happy travels!

[@chirogirl67550]

Really helpful…thank you! Peace and Blessings

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching ✌️

[@1point689]

Great video straight to the point!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks!! ✌️

[@lisaolivera9270]

So helpful!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks Lisa!!

[@zyzzuschrist3410]

This is super helpful. Thanks a lot!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching!

[@bourbonbacon]

Way gnarly. Thx!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ekowal1965]

I went to a local forest management bureau to get fire permit. They were most helpful. provided me with map and pointed me to amazing spot.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thats awesome, they are usually very helpful.

[@robbergstrom943]

Great video.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thank you!

[@swyoung69]

Have you ever just had to stop on the side of the road? Just to get some sleep in? Im driving from Vegas to NorCal then up the coast ultimately to go crabbing just south of Long Beach Wa. and im sure im going to need to sleep on the PCH in random places. I have a Land Rover LR4 for overlanding like your Rav, and enjoying the offroading.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We have slept on the side of the road, but really only at a truck stop once. We've always planned our trips to have some sort of public land area to camp. Probably fine to camp along the road, but only if you can be stealthy. Our rooftop tent is definitely not stealthy lol. There are some spots coming up the highway in Big Sur where you can camp.

[@swyoung69]

@@LunarLanderXplor cool man thanks for the info

[@davidplotkin5173]

Thanks so much. Just got Gaia GPS and I was wondering about something you did. When you clicked on the land (about 4 mins in) you got info on the type of land etc. All I see on my web version is nearby hikes - nothing about the land I click on being USFS or BLM, and yet I know it is. How did you set the info to show you that?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

In order to see the public land details, you have to enable the Public Land (US) map layer. Go into the Layers menu on the left side, and at the very bottom you should see Add Map Layers. Then you can search for Public Land, and enable that layer. From there, drag the Public Land layer to the top of your visible layers list to ensure it is visible. With this enabled, you should be able to click into public land areas and see if it is National Forest or BLM land.

[@davidplotkin5173]

@@LunarLanderXplor Thanks so much for your quick reply! I had tried that and it was not working. This time I zoomed out more and it did work! Your advice about looking at the roads is also helpful since my vehicle only has 7.3" of clearance and I should not do high clearance roads. Very much appreciated!

[@makaveli19860]

Is there a setting in Gaia to show/confirm public land like you confirmed @ 4:00 min? I don't see that setting when I click a location under 'Marked location' i'm only getting nearby hikes and weather, but not the info such as federal land, admin agency etc

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Try putting the Public Land (US) layer as the top layer in your view, then when you click into the map you should see those details!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Also I think it only works when you click on land that is considered public land. Clicking on private land or not specified areas does not show you the public land info

[@Sanfrancycle]

What’s your method for seeing if the trail is made for AWD vs 4x4 vehicles?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Usually checking Gaia GPS and looking at the USFS Roads & Trails layer, and checking the maintenance level. If it says maintenance level 2 High Clearance, that usually means we'll be fine in our lifted AWD vehicle with all-terrain tires. However, sometimes you get to a road and it is worse than expected, so always good to have a back up plan. We have definitely gone on roads intended for 4x4 with our AWD vehicle. Having all terrain tires & a lift helps a lot.

[@ggratedchannel]

Great video but you can't view even half what you mentioned in GAIAMaps unless you have a $40/Year membership..doesn't help

[@LunarLanderXplor]

$40 per year is pretty reasonable! This video isn't for everyone. Just showing how we find free campsites & how I would encourage others to do so.

[@jonathanreyes4191]

Hey there how can you search for roads for off roading or in our case soft roading

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yup! Check out Gaia GPS and you can usually see road maintenance numbers, that helps though you never 100% know until you get there. Also helps to go places other AWD vehicles have been that you have seen on IG or youtube

[@ericl9452]

Any other sites/apps that can help with giving more detail on forest roads?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We really just use Google Maps & Gaia GPS, but I have heard good things about www.onxmaps.com/offroad/app Have not tested it since Gaia GPS has a lot of info on forest roads already.

[@ericl9452]

@@LunarLanderXplor much appreciated!!

[@bigfootbushcraft2261]

I am also from the Bay area and spend a lot of time in El Dorado.. My favorite area is up silver fork road out of Kibers

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Oh good to know! Have not been on that road. Thanks for the tip!