If you’re diving into Appalachia in Fallout 76, one of the biggest questions you’ll face is: where should I set up my base? Picking the right location isn’t just about looking cool—it can massively improve your resource farming efficiency. After spending dozens of hours roaming the wasteland, I’ve got a few spots that I think are absolute gold mines for gathering materials, storing loot, and even defending yourself from random PvE encounters.

1. The Savage Divide – Perfect for High-Level Farming

The Savage Divide is a favorite for many players because of its mix of high-level enemies and plentiful resources. If you’re aiming to farm rare crafting components, you’ll find tons of opportunities here. The terrain is rugged, so it gives natural protection against surprise attacks, and there are multiple locations where you can harvest materials without constantly moving.

One small tip: keep an eye out for Fallout 76 items in hidden corners of abandoned buildings. Some of the rarer crafting materials pop up in places you might otherwise overlook. Having a base nearby means you can store the loot and make repeated runs without wasting fast travel or risking heavy fights every trip.

2. Whitespring Resort – Luxury with Convenience

If you want a central location with high accessibility to other regions, Whitespring Resort is hard to beat. The area is packed with vending machines and lootable NPCs, so it’s fantastic for farming items that sell well or crafting components you might need often. The resort itself is huge, giving you plenty of room to build a fortified CAMP with crafting stations nearby.

Also, if you ever find yourself running low on certain resources, there’s a Fallout 76 items shop with fast delivery that can fill in the gaps. I know, it’s tempting to just rely on farming, but sometimes grabbing those hard-to-find items quickly keeps your crafting and base upgrades flowing smoothly without feeling grindy.

3. Ash Heap – Resource-Rich and Strategic

Ash Heap is my personal favorite for long-term resource farming. This location is slightly more remote, which means fewer random encounters, but it’s full of useful materials for daily crafting. The terrain is flat enough for easy base building, yet it’s dotted with hills and ridges you can use for lookout points.

During my runs here, I’ve found that picking up extra Fallout 76 items along the way—like adhesives, circuits, and rare weapons—makes a huge difference in being prepared for tougher encounters. Even if you’re mainly focused on farming raw materials, having these extra goodies in your stash can save time and frustration later.

4. Cranberry Bog – Stealthy and Profitable

For players who like a quieter, less contested location, Cranberry Bog is ideal. The swampy environment might not look appealing at first, but it’s actually full of hidden caches and crafting mats. Plus, the density of plant resources here is insane, which is perfect for anyone who wants to cook, brew, or craft chems regularly.

A little pro tip: set your base near a high-ground spot in the bog. You’ll get a nice vantage point for spotting enemies, and it won’t interfere with farming routes. Occasionally, I’ve also used the area to scout for other players while still collecting rare Fallout 76 items without being interrupted.

5. Forested Areas – Natural Cover and Mobility

Finally, don’t underestimate smaller forested zones scattered across the map. While they might not have the massive resource clusters of the main hotspots, forests give excellent natural camouflage and a good mix of wood, plants, and occasional animal drops. For early to mid-game players, these zones are perfect for setting up a base quickly and starting your farming runs without worrying about constant attacks.

Pro tip: even in these areas, keep an eye on local vendors and online communities like U4GM. They sometimes highlight resource spots you might have missed or provide tips on items that are currently valuable in the market. It’s not cheating—just smart time management.

Competitive Edge: Fallout 76: Chem Diet, Glowing Gut Perk