Published October 10, 2026
The dispersed camping 14-day rule is the line between camping and living there. On most national forest and BLM land, you can occupy one campsite for up to 14 consecutive days. Then you have to move, and not just to the next pullout. The rule exists because a site that never rests gets its soil compacted, its vegetation trampled, and its fire ring surrounded by a widening ring of damage. Fourteen days is the compromise the land agencies landed on between public access and resource protection.
The details vary by agency and by forest, so treat what follows as the standard pattern and check the local ranger district before you settle in. On national forest land, the common formulation is 14 days at one location within a 30-day period, with a cap of 28 total days in a 60-day period. The San Juan National Forest's standing order, for example, prohibits camping more than 14 consecutive days at any location or within three miles of a prior camping location, and more than 28 days in any continuous 60-day period. Some forests draw the circle wider: one North Carolina district applies the 14-day limit to any site within 10 aerial miles of a previous one.
BLM land runs a similar but distinct version: generally 14 days at one location within a 28-day period, after which you must move a real distance, commonly cited as at least 25 miles, before camping again. The numbers shift by field office, which is why the BLM's own guidance always points back to the local office.
What counts as moving
Moving means leaving the area, not rearranging it. Driving 500 yards down the same forest road does not reset the clock if the order defines the restricted zone as three miles, or ten, around your prior site. Pack up everything, including the fire ring debris and any trace you left, and relocate beyond the distance the local rules specify. The Pisgah district's regulations also make it illegal to leave a camp unattended for more than 24 hours, which closes the loophole of parking a tent to hold a spot while you go to town for three days.
There are exceptions for people who genuinely need longer stays. The famous one is the Quartzsite long-term visitor areas in Arizona, where BLM permits stays of up to seven months with a permit. A handful of other long-term areas work the same way. These are the sanctioned answer to "what if I want to stay all winter," and they exist precisely so the 14-day rule does not have to bend for them.
The rest of the dispersed camping rulebook
The stay limit gets the attention, but the siting rules matter just as much. Dispersed camps must sit at least 100 feet from water sources, and most forests add the same 100-foot buffer from roads and system trails. Some guidance says 100 to 200 feet. Do not drive off established routes to reach a spot, use existing fire rings rather than building new ones, and pack out everything, since trash pickup does not exist out there. Camp on surfaces that have already been camped on. A pristine meadow is not an invitation.
Enforcement is real and it is local. Forest Service law enforcement officers do patrol dispersed areas, and the stay-limit orders are written as prohibitions, not suggestions. Fines are the usual outcome, and in heavily used districts officers track license plates and site occupancy. The practical advice from people who do this for months at a time: keep a simple log of where you camped and when, because "I thought it had been two weeks" is not a defense, and moving on day 13 beats arguing on day 16.
Frequently asked questions
How far do I have to move after 14 days of dispersed camping?
A real distance, not the next pullout. Many national forests require at least 3 miles from your prior site; some districts use 10 aerial miles. BLM guidance commonly cites at least 25 miles. Check the local order.
Can I come back to the same dispersed campsite?
Not within the restricted window. Most national forests cap you at 28 total days in a 60-day period, and the move-distance rule keeps you from hopping between nearby sites to reset the clock.
Does the 14-day rule apply on BLM land?
Yes. BLM land generally allows 14 days at one location within a 28-day period, with a required move afterward. Specific field offices can set different limits.
Is there anywhere I can stay longer than 14 days?
The Quartzsite long-term visitor areas in Arizona allow stays of up to 7 months with a permit. A few other designated long-term areas work the same way. These are the sanctioned exception.
Can I leave my tent up to hold a site while I resupply?
No. In many districts it is illegal to leave a camp unattended for more than 24 hours, and leaving gear to hold a site is prohibited. Pack it up or stay with it.
Where am I allowed to set up a dispersed camp?
At least 100 feet from water, roads, and trails, on a previously used site, using existing fire rings, and packing out all trash. Some guidance extends the buffer to 200 feet.
Find your next free campsite before the 14 days run out.