They're Closing the Best Boondocking Spots — Here's the Proof - Like Theres No Tomorrow

Skip to content

Search

They’re Closing the Best Boondocking Spots — Here’s the Proof

Home » They’re Closing the Best Boondocking Spots — Here’s the Proof

Free RV camping isn’t gone. But the easy spots everyone relies on are disappearing fast — and we found the government documents to prove it.<br>If you’ve been RVing for any length of time, you’ve probably felt something shifting.<br>That spot you camped at two years ago? There’s a sign there now.<br>That pullout near the park you always used? Gated.<br>That forest road you bookmarked on iOverlander? Closed marker.<br>We decided to stop guessing and actually dig into it. Not just "it feels like things are changing" — but finding the actual government documents. The official BLM proposals. The Forest Service orders. The real policy changes that are quietly reshaping where RVers can and can’t go.<br>What we found was eye-opening. And we put it all in our latest video.<br>First — This Isn’t a Rant<br>Before we get into the specifics, let’s be clear about what this is and isn’t.<br>This is not a "the government is out to get us" story. It’s not political. And it’s not doom and gloom.<br>The agencies managing this land aren’t making these changes arbitrarily. They spell out their reasons right in the documents — human waste issues, trash, wildfire risk, vegetation damage, and an unprecedented surge in the number of people using public land. Those are real problems with real consequences for the land we all love.<br>But understanding why it’s happening doesn’t make it any less real for the RVers who show up and find their favorite spots gone.<br>The honest story is this: free camping isn’t disappearing everywhere. But the easy, convenient, plug-and-play spots near the parks, near the towns, and along the paved roads — those are getting squeezed. And the pace is accelerating.<br>The Numbers Behind the Squeeze<br>To understand why land managers are responding the way they are, you have to look at the demand side of the equation.<br>KOA’s 2024 Camping Report shows there are 11 million more camping households today than there were in 2019. The Dyrt’s 2025 Report puts the number of campers at 82.4 million — and more than half of them say they had difficulty booking because campgrounds were full. Campground prices have increased nearly 25% since 2018, which means more and more people are turning to free BLM and National Forest land as their primary option.<br>More people on the same land means more pressure. More pressure means land managers have to respond. And they are — consistently, repeatedly, and in ways that directly affect how and where RVers can camp.<br>The Proof — What the Documents Actually Say<br>This is the section most people never see. Because these orders are publicly available — they’re not hidden — but they don’t show up in your app. They don’t send you a notification. You find out about them when you arrive.<br>Here’s what we found.<br>Zion SR-9 Corridor — 15,087 Acres Restricted<br>If you’ve ever camped near Zion National Park in Utah, you know the SR-9 corridor. The road that runs west from Zion toward the town of La Verkin. For years it was one of the most popular boondocking areas in the entire country. RVers would pull off along that road, park for free, wake up with incredible views.<br>In May 2025 the BLM released a proposal to change all of that — and it has since been approved and is now being implemented. You can read the official BLM announcement here.<br>The restriction covers 15,087 acres. That’s not a small pullout. That’s a corridor. Of all the dispersed camping spots that existed there, 30 are being removed and only 25 designated sites are remaining. In their place, two new managed campgrounds are being built with a combined 230 sites — fee campgrounds, reservable, managed. A completely different experience than boondocking. And not free.<br>Here’s the part that really stings: those campgrounds are contingent on future funding. The agency doesn’t even have the money to build them yet. But the 15,000 acres? Already restricted. The BlueRibbon Coalition has been tracking this closely and their coverage is worth reading for the full picture.<br>West Sedona — Camping Prohibited<br>In August 2024 the Forest Service issued an order for the West Sedona area that is about as blunt as it gets. You can read the full official order on the USFS website here.<br>The language reads: "Camping prohibited in the described area except within designated camping areas."<br>Not restricted. Not limited. Prohibited. The forest roads that people used to find their own spots on — gone. The order runs through August 2026 and based on the pattern we’re seeing everywhere else, it will almost certainly be renewed. If you want to see what designated camping currently looks like in the Sedona area, the USFS West Sedona Designated Dispersed Camping page shows the eight areas that remain available.<br>Tahoe National Forest — The Double Punch<br>This one is...