---
title: "Forest Service Proposal Could Expand Road and Boondocking Access on National Forest Land"
url: "https://camperfaqs.com/forest-service-proposal-could-expand-road-and-boondocking-access-on-national-forest-land"
author: "Tory Jon"
published: "2026-09-28T10:05:12-05:00"
modified: "2026-09-28T10:05:15-05:00"
---

# Forest Service Proposal Could Expand Road and Boondocking Access on National Forest Land

The U.S. Forest Service is considering a major change to the rules that control where people can drive on national forest land, including how vehicles can reach dispersed camping areas.

 

The proposal would reverse a system that's been in place for about 20 years. Instead of generally treating roads and trails as closed to motor vehicles unless they are designated open, the Forest Service wants a national policy that starts with a presumption of access.

 

For RVers and boondockers, that could eventually open new travel and camping options. For now, every existing road closure and Motor Vehicle Use Map remains in effect.

 

## The Forest Service wants to flip the current rule

 

Under the current Travel Management Rule, national forests identify which roads, trails, and areas are open to motor vehicles. Those decisions are published on Motor Vehicle Use Maps, commonly called MVUMs.

 

The Forest Service's [August 24 Federal Register notice](https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-17211) proposes a different starting point. Existing roads, trails, trailheads, and other access routes would generally be presumed open to an appropriate public use unless there is a documented reason to restrict them.

 

Closures could still be based on public safety, resource damage, user conflicts, maintenance limitations, or other legal requirements.

 

The change would guide future decisions by local Forest Service officials. It would not automatically open a road that is closed today. Current motor vehicle designations and maps would stay in place until they are revised under the new regulations.

 

## Boondocking is specifically included

 

The proposal also addresses something of particular interest to RVers: getting off a designated road to reach a dispersed campsite.

 

According to the [Forest Service proposal](https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-17211), the new rules could create a process for limited off-route motor vehicle use for dispersed camping, firewood collection, and retrieving harvested big game.

 

How much access campers would actually gain has not been decided. The Forest Service says those uses could eventually be handled through designated routes or areas, written authorizations, or specific exemptions.

 

Local conditions would still play a major role. A forest could impose limits based on the type of vehicle, season, location, environmental conditions, or other factors.

 

## Closed roads would get reviewed more often

 

Another proposed change would require national forest units to review closed or highly restricted roads, trails, and other access points each year.

 

That could give local officials more opportunities to reconsider routes that were closed years ago. The Forest Service also wants to make it easier to handle smaller changes without putting every adjustment through the same process required for a major travel management decision.

 

Travel information would also move toward integrated digital maps. The Forest Service says those maps would eventually become the authoritative public source for access rules under the revised system.

 

## The RV industry supports the change

 

The [RV Industry Association said it supports the proposal](https://www.rvia.org/news-insights/rv-industry-association-submits-comments-forest-service-travel-management-rulemaking) and submitted comments with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable on September 22.

 

The groups support making access the default and asked the Forest Service to establish a clearer national framework for dispersed camping. They also urged the agency to avoid new fees, permits, and other requirements that could make access more difficult for RV owners and renters.

 

National forests are major destinations for both developed camping and boondocking, so changes to travel rules can directly affect where RVers can camp.

 

## Trail groups are pushing back

 

The proposal has also drawn significant opposition.

 

More than 90 organizations joined comments led by American Trails, American Hiking Society and Back Country Horsemen of America. The groups [argue that reversing the current system](https://www.americantrails.org/resources/sign-on-travel-management-rule-revision-federal-register-number-2026-17211) could increase conflicts between motorized and non-motorized users and make it harder to prevent damage before it occurs.

 

They also want the Forest Service to preserve meaningful public review when route designations change and have raised questions about the workload created by reviewing closed routes every year.

 

The Forest Service plans to study potential effects on soil, water, wildlife, recreation, cultural resources, maintenance costs and conflicts among different users before adopting a final rule.

 

## Why the Forest Service is changing the rules

 

The current motorized travel system largely dates to the 2005 Travel Management Rule.

 

In May, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14408, which rescinded two older executive orders that had helped shape federal off-road vehicle policy and directed agencies to review regulations tied to them.

 

The Forest Service says its proposal is also based on 20 years of experience with the current rule. The agency argues that applying the same procedures to minor route changes and major access decisions can make relatively simple updates unnecessarily slow.

 

## Nothing changes for RVers yet

 

The first public comment period closed September 23.

 

The Forest Service expects to publish a proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement in spring 2027. A final rule is currently planned for early 2028, although the agency says that schedule could change.

 

Until then, RVers should continue following existing Motor Vehicle Use Maps, posted closures and local forest regulations.

 

If the proposal survives the rulemaking process, the bigger change will come later as individual national forests begin making access decisions under the new system. That is when RVers could start seeing more roads reconsidered and new ways to legally reach dispersed camping areas.