We've stayed in national forest campgrounds many times--always been a good experience and very cheap.

Here is the website of the Pine Mt. Observatory. SE of Bend Oregon. http://pmo-sun.uoregon.edu/ The free campground is on the west side of the road.
There are a very limited number of trailer/RV sites but you can find up to about 20 spots to pitch a tent. It is a "dry" site so you do have to bring your own water.
This site was picked by the University of Oregon for the Observatory to be far from light pollution.
Mark will even lend you a wheelbarrow to move your stuff to your site.

The farthest west we have camped is Utah. And we stayed at a natl forrest(free) that if someone didn't recommend I never would of found it. And thats why I was asking for recommendations on good camping spots for free.

Tomfuller, thanks that is something we are defintly going to check out

So, here we are. We are recommending national forest campgrounds. It sounds like a perfect match for what you want.

Here ya go -
http://www.forestcamping.com/

Yeah natl forests are what we are seeking but so is Blm, army corp of engineer, natl grass lands anyplace that is a public use area that allows overnight camping. There are so many places we dont not where to start and we will be on the road for 30 days thats alot of area to cover. All we asked for was some campground names. The place Tomfuller recommended is a place we will defintly visit but if it wasn't for him telling us how would we of known.
Isn't one of the reasons you can start a topic on Fodors so you can ask people who have visited theses areas or live in theses areas for some help on were to stay and what to do? I guess we were wrong.

<i>There are so many places we dont not where to start and we will be on the road for 30 days thats alot of area to cover. All we asked for was some campground names.</i>

There is no need for specific campground names unless someone has a wonderful one to recommend, in which case you might need a reservation because others also find it wonderful. Reservations are becoming more common in National Forest campgrounds. But if one drives through a national forest, one is bound to see campgrounds. I have an out-of-print book that gives all the campgrounds (with a few changes here and there), but a list might be available on the web from each National Forest area.

Ah, I see. I've never heard anybody call tent camping "boobdocking" - I've only ever heard that term in relation to RV camping.

jrnjill,

We have found the RV forums to very useful. We have a motorhome, but often they have discussions about tent camping, too. One in particular - rv.net - has a forum devoted to tent camping. Friendly, knowledgeable folks. You might want to check them out.

jrnjill,

sounds like your itinerary is similar to what my husband and I are planning for this summer. Any tips on the dispersed camping around Yosemite etc... now that you have gone and explored?

we just camped at nelder grove which was free its near yosemite - lots of trails and giant sequoias , very beautiful , theres 7 sites -two are walk in sites

forgot to mention the sites are for tent camping , and theres vault toilets there and you can look online for photos or any other info . Im already planning to go back .