National forest vs. BLM land: what is the difference for camping?

The Forest Service manages about 193 million acres in 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, mostly mountains and forest. The BLM manages about 245 million acres, mostly desert, sagebrush and grassland in the West. The two often meet. A forest may rise out of BLM desert, and you can cross both in an hour.

• Stay limits: the BLM’s general limit is 14 days within any 28-day period. National forests set their own by order, often 14 days at one location, and some are shorter, such as Los Padres at 7 consecutive days.
• Roads: national forests publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map of the roads and trails open to vehicles. The BLM designates routes by area, and vehicles must stay on designated roads and trails unless an area is open to off-road use.
• Fire: both issue fire restrictions by order, per forest or per field office, and they can differ across a boundary on the same day.
• Water: many forests set a minimum distance from lakes and streams, often 100 feet; the BLM asks for 200 feet.

Boundary signs are rare and fences rarer. The scouting map colors Forest Service land green and BLM land orange, and shows ownership parcel by parcel as you zoom in, including private land inside forest boundaries. Agency visitor maps and the Motor Vehicle Use Map show the same boundaries.