You can’t just wander aimlessly and build a lean-to like you’re John Muir or Henry Thoreau.
Yes you can do that in almost all western BLM land.
Dispersed camping is free in most National forests in both the east and west. Although due to smaller lands there are fewer that are open.
Regardless you can just walk into most national forests and go as deep as you want. I highly recommend reading up on the rules more, there’s a lot more recreation than you seem to think. The Northeast is probably the region with the least, but Maine and upstate New York do have some forests where dispersed camping is permitted
Yes you can do that in almost all western BLM land.
Dispersed camping is free in most National forests in both the east and west. Although due to smaller lands there are fewer that are open.
Regardless you can just walk into most national forests and go as deep as you want. I highly recommend reading up on the rules more, there’s a lot more recreation than you seem to think. The Northeast is probably the region with the least, but Maine and upstate New York do have some forests where dispersed camping is permitted