The only thing better than getting outside to camp? Scoring a campsite for free. Dyrt, a popular app to find camping spots around the country, just launched a new feature highlighting over 5,000 campsites that are accessible by car and completely free to stay at.
These free campsites include spots on public lands, established campgrounds, and dispersed campsites. Campers can also use the app to see if permits are required and how to get them.
"Experienced campers tend to be the only ones who take advantage of free camping because they know where to find it and what permits are needed," The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long said in a press release. "With more than 7 million people camping for the first time last year, our free camping collection breaks down that knowledge gap and unlocks this amazing resource for the growing camping community."
According to Dryt's 2023 Camping Report, campers found it five times harder to book a campsite in 2022 than in 2019. More people going camping means fewer camping spots in developed campgrounds, especially in popular locations or on holiday weekends like Memorial Day. Dryt helps by providing a curated list of campsites that are vehicle-access-friendly instead of hike-in spots or gnarly four-wheel roads—nice, considering the brand's camping report found it was 20% more difficult for those who used an RV, trailer, van, or car to find a spot than for hammock or tent campers.
The catch: The curated list is only available to members of The Dyrt PRO, a $36 per year plan. While it's not entirely free, that's a great price for yearly access.
If you're looking for entirely free campsites near you, there are other resources available like freecampsites.net or just calling your local national forest office and asking about free, dispersed camping. But both of these strategies involve a bit more of a gamble at what you're actually getting at the campsite, especially if you're, say, a woman camping alone or have a low-clearance vehicle.
The advantage of subscribing and access The Dyrt's database of free campsites is most, if not all, of the spots have reviews from previous members. And, with the membership, you have access to downloadable boundary maps for public lands where free camping is allowed—perfect for areas without cell service. And, if there aren't a lot of great free options where you're traveling, members also have access to 1,000 private camping locations on the app.
READ MORE: COLORADO COUNTY PASSES UNIQUE PRIVATE LAND CAMPING ORDINANCE
