>>2354692so you can, just not in the national parks themselves. the good thing is that most all national parks in the west are neighbouring or at least nearby national forest or blm or other land where you can just set up on the side of any road that isnt a main road and doesnt prohibit camping. so do some map research, see the forest service units nearby a park, check their motor vehicle use maps (mvum), and pick a road and go til ya find a campsite you like, they will be everywhere in national forests. just be careful about your vehicle a lot of fs/blm roads esp in rugged and desert areas can be 4x4 high clearance only
the other answer is you can in the national parks as long as you arrive after dark and leave before light and not be a problem. some of them that wont work though, like mesa verde for example has a definite entrance gate that will get closed and they will check for any cars not where they are supposed to be.
