Dispersed Camping Self-Sufficiency Kit

Camp on public land with no hookups, no restrooms and no trash service, and leave it as you found it.

Intermediate

5 min

DISPERSED CAMPING SELF-SUFFICIENCY KIT
[ ] 5-Gal Water Jug
[ ] Portable Toilet
[ ] Heavy Trash Sacks
[ ] Solar Array

5-Gal Water Jug: water is heavy, so plan where you store it in the vehicle. Check how much per person per day suits your trip.
Portable Toilet: look for a sealed lid and a leak-resistant design.
Solar Array: match panel size to what you want to charge, and keep it clear of shade.

Confirm that dispersed camping is allowed where you are going. Rules vary by land unit, season and road. Check with the managing agency before you leave, and look for posted signs. Why it matters: stay limits and distances from water, roads and developed sites are set locally.
Camp where others already have, on durable ground. Use an existing site or a bare, hardened spot. Keep your camp away from water, as Leave No Trace and local rules advise.
Pack out everything. That includes trash, food scraps and human waste where required. Check the local rules for waste disposal and do not leave anything behind. See lnt.org for current practices.

Gear types only.

Large water container
Portable toilet system
Heavy-duty trash bags
Portable solar panel and battery
Lantern
Camp kitchen kit
Insulated drinkware that holds temperature through a long day

Stay limits, distance from water and roads, fire restrictions, waste rules and vehicle access vary by land unit. Check current local rules with the managing agency: blm.gov for BLM land, fs.usda.gov for national forests and grasslands. Each office can tell you where dispersed camping is allowed.

Self-sufficient camping asks more of you and gives you quiet in return. Plan well and leave only tracks. A Wild Dirt sticker on your water jug makes it easy to spot.

Water

5-Gal Water Jug, filled before you leave the last reliable tap
Enough water for drinking, cooking and cleanup for every day of your stay
Backup water treatment, in case you need to refill from a source

Waste

Portable Toilet, with liners and cleaning supplies
Heavy Trash Sacks, for packing out everything
Plan for where you will dump waste, found before you leave
Hand sanitizer and a hand-wash setup

Power and light

Solar Array, sized for what you need to charge
Battery pack for phone and lights
Lantern and headlamp

Camp and vehicle

Shelter and sleep system for the coldest night in the forecast
Camp stove, fuel and a way to put out the flame fast
First aid kit
Traction aids and a full tank of fuel for rough roads
Spare tire, jack and tire repair kit

Planning

Map of the land unit, with road numbers, boundaries and any closed areas marked
Printed copy of the area's rules and fire restrictions
Itinerary left with someone at home

Water

5-Gal Water Jug, filled before you leave the last reliable tap
Enough water for drinking, cooking and cleanup for every day of your stay
Backup water treatment, in case you need to refill from a source

Waste

Portable Toilet, with liners and cleaning supplies
Heavy Trash Sacks, for packing out everything
Plan for where you will dump waste, found before you leave
Hand sanitizer and a hand-wash setup

Power and light

Solar Array, sized for what you need to charge
Battery pack for phone and lights
Lantern and headlamp

Camp and vehicle

Shelter and sleep system for the coldest night in the forecast
Camp stove, fuel and a way to put out the flame fast
First aid kit
Traction aids and a full tank of fuel for rough roads
Spare tire, jack and tire repair kit

Planning

Map of the land unit, with road numbers, boundaries and any closed areas marked
Printed copy of the area's rules and fire restrictions
Itinerary left with someone at home