Dispersed camping can be tough to find. Forest Service PDFs are the gold standard for locating vehicle-accessible areas with free camping, but they aren’t interactive and require some planning ahead. User-generated camping apps can offer some in-the-field information, but they typically only identify individual sites and may not be accurate.
onX aims to change that with the launch of its Dispersed Camping Layer.
The navigation app brand announced on May 19 that it was rolling out the new layer for onX Offroad Premium and Elite users. OnX said this new layer makes finding legal, vehicle-accessible camp spots in national forests “easier and more intuitive.” It claims this is the first comprehensive source of dispersed camping data for motor vehicles ever.
Not only is this layer meant to help onX users more easily find free national forest camping, but it also hopes to reduce environmental impacts by better dispersing dispersed campers.
“By highlighting all the legal camping corridors, instead of pinpointing a limited number of marked sites, the layer helps users spread out,” onX Offroad Content Manager Chris Cordes said in a statement. “That’s a win for land managers. It’s also a win for outdoor enthusiasts, who, by spreading out, are finding the solitude they seek and simultaneously helping conserve outdoor destinations.”
At rollout, this layer pinpoints roughly 140,000 miles of roads and trails in national forests. Currently, the layer covers national forest dispersed camping in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Later this summer, onX said it is expanding that coverage to include the entire nation.
Dispersed Camping 101: Find everything you need to know in our handy guide.
onX Dispersed Camping Layer: No Camping Fees, No Reservations
onX Offroad Premium and Elite users are able to access this new feature of the app right now. Scroll to “map layers” and toggle on “Dispersed Camping.” The interface should highlight national forest roads where dispersed camping is allowed in yellow.
Tap the yellow trail, and the app will pull up location-specific details about camping in that area (i.e., where camping is allowed, how far off trail you can go, and other information).
You can scope spots out in 3D, drop a waypoint once you’ve found one, and share it with other users. Download “Offline Maps” and you’ll be able to pull up the area’s map with trail data, trip content, and GPS navigation even outside of cell service.
onX created this layer by asking land managers how it could equip outdoor enthusiasts to access dispersed camping areas more easily, while also reducing their impact. Camping apps that direct people to limited, dispersed sites tend to concentrate campers in that area, increasing their collective footprint on it. By outlining all of the legal corridors of dispersed camping, the goal is to minimize that impact while also improving access.
“We’re thrilled to introduce a powerful solution that addresses a real challenge our community faces,” Cordes said.
On its webpage for the Dispersed Camping layer, onX warns users to still ensure that they have any required permits, and follow any forest service requirements and restrictions, like fire bans, avoiding protected wildlife or landscapes, and properly selecting campsites.
Evade Campsite Competition
Since 2020, the popularity of camping has exploded. More people are camping now than ever, which is great. But it also means finding sites is harder, and there are more people impacting the land than there used to be.
According to The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report, 81.1 million Americans camped in 2024. Of those, 5.8 million were first-timers. The report also found that 56% of campers had difficulty locating a camping spot when they wanted one.
While the onX dispersed camping layer is part of its Offroad package, it won’t just benefit overlanders. This is a useful tool that anyone who camps and wants an easier, more accurate way to find places to do it will find valuable.
The onX Premium membership is $35 annually, and the Elite membership is $100 annually. Visit the brand’s website to purchase a membership and start shopping for dispersed camping anywhere in the West.
