What you're describing isn't just "this is public land. Enjoy"

Eg in NH If you go to Fraconia or Cathedral, everything is over-crowded and you can't do anything without navigating crowds. But 20 minutes down the road for either of those places are endless chosspiles accessed via empty trailhead parking lots that you can car camp in without issues for almost the entire year (assuming you have good tires or chains). NY is even more extreme with the gunks and the daks; you can easily spend an entire season living in the daks without issues and this is especially true if you don't need to worry about where to park a car. But good luck doing so much as taking a nap without harrasment at the gunks.

If helps if you are the type of person that prefers solitude on a chosspile over interstate traffic on half dome, and is okay with a 10-20 mile hike through uninspiring and uncomfortable terrain.