Dispersed Featured

Vedauwoo Dispersed Camping

Laramie, WY

$0.00 /night

Dispersed camping — conditions change

Fire restrictions, road washouts, and seasonal closures are common on public lands. Confirm current rules with the managing agency (BLM/USFS field office) before traveling. Practice Leave No Trace.

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Dispersed Area Free · No reservation USFS · National Forest

What is dispersed camping?

Dispersed camping is primitive camping on public land outside of developed campgrounds. There are no facilities — no toilets (usually), no water, no trash service, no marked sites. You may camp anywhere within the area, usually for free, subject to the agency's rules below. Pack everything out, follow Leave No Trace, and check current conditions with the land manager before you go.

Vedauwoo (pronounced "vee-da-VOO") is a famous climbing area in the Medicine Bow National Forest between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dispersed camping is allowed on adjacent National Forest land — 14-day USFS limit, 100-ft setback from water/roads, MVUM-required for motorized access. The developed Vedauwoo Campground (separate, fee, reservable) is nearby for water and toilets.

Fire restrictions change daily. We don't publish a static fire-allowed claim — check the current order before any campfire, stove, or smoking.

Current fire orders ↗

Previously disturbed sites only
Camp ONLY in established / previously used spots. Pioneering new sites is prohibited under the management plan and subject to citation.
USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map required
You must use the Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Map for this district to identify which roads allow camping. Off-MVUM driving and camping is illegal.
Commercial / film permits required
Filming, photography for hire, guiding, and other commercial activities require a separate permit from the agency. Personal recreational use does not.

Managing agency: USFS · Laramie Ranger District (Medicine Bow-Routt NF)
Designation: National Forest
Max stay: 14 days per location
Group size limit: 75 people
Road access: Graded dirt
Distance from water (LNT): 100+ ft
Vehicle notes: I-80 paved access. Forest roads are dirt — most passable to passenger cars in dry weather.

Facilities

✓ Vault toilet present (1 location)
→Potable water: Vedauwoo Campground (developed, fee) for water/toilets, or Laramie ~25 miles west.
→RV dump: Laramie or Cheyenne RV parks.
→Cell: Reliable along I-80; spotty in the back of the granite formations.

Seasonal notes: Some forest roads close December-March due to snow. Check the Laramie Ranger District alerts page for current closures and fire orders.

Resources & official references

Fire restrictions (live)

MBR — alerts and current fire orders ↗
Live alerts feed for the forest. Check before any campfire or stove use.

Official agency page

USFS — Vedauwoo recreation page ↗
Official rec-area page covering the developed campground and dispersed adjacent forest.

Field office / ranger district

USFS Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest ↗
Forest landing page — alerts, contact, MVUM.

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace — 7 Principles ↗
Pack everything out, camp on durable surfaces, respect wildlife, etc.

About

Free dispersed camping in the Vedauwoo area of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. Managed by the USFS Laramie Ranger District. The area is famous for its weathered Sherman granite outcroppings — one of the most popular climbing destinations in the central Rockies — and for the developed Vedauwoo Campground (fee, reservable). Dispersed camping is allowed in adjacent National Forest lands subject to standard USFS rules: stay 100+ feet from any road or water source, observe the 14-day limit, follow the MVUM for motorized access. NO facilities at dispersed sites; the developed campground has vault toilets and water. Bears are present — store food in a vehicle or use Forest-Service-approved storage. I-80 access is excellent year-round; some side roads close in winter.