Essential Camping Tips

Seasoned Camper or New to Camping? No worries either way!

Whether you are a seasoned camper or looking to get into camping, there are some tips and tricks when it comes to camping that could make your life easier and your time more enjoyable. Below are some tips from our time in the outdoors that make our camping adventures enjoyable, safe, and efficient.

Camping Tips

Use a Camping Checklist

Ever finished packing or doing something and remembered that you forgot something? Everyone has. That can be very troubling when camping depending on what your forgot. Make a checklist of your gear and what you are planning on bringing. Check them off as you pack them away to ensure you have all the necessary essentials for your camping trip. Take a look at our Essential Camping Checklist Post.

Check the weather in advance

This may seem like a no brainer, but many times the weather can change quickly and staying ahead of it will make it easier to be prepared for any weather that comes your way. This also helps in making sure you pack appropriately for any weather situation.

Plan your Activities, adventures, and travel ahead of time

Camping is a lot of fun. Doing outdoor or indoor activities on your camping trip is essential to enjoying your trip. It is always best o have a plan of what you would like to do. If you need a reservation or tif there are special instructions it is best to know and have a plan before going on your trip and it is too late.

Pack a First Aid Kit when Camping

Hopefully you will not need this. But, in the woods or on the road, it is always best to have a first aid kit in case of any situation that arises. Make sure you check your kit and add the essentials if you are missing anything.

Check the Local Fire Hazard Advisory

No one wants to be the cause of a wildfire so always be sure to check the fire hazard guide for the local area in which you are traveling to. Most places will have this posted but in the event that it is not listed, do your part and come prepared with that knowledge.

Buy Local Firewood

Don’t bring your own firewood if you are traveling to a destination in which you are not a resident. Most firewood has its own natural habitat in which the humidity plays a big part in whether the wood will burn. It is always smart to be prepared with fire wood for your camp site, so pick up some at local store or at the campsite if they sell wood there.

Pack Lights and Headlamps

When night falls on your campsite, it ca be quite dark and makes it very hard to see what is around you. Hanging lights around your site, and in your tent can be beneficial to seeing and enjoying your evening in your campsite. Many campgrounds have toilets and showers and if you need to go in the middle of night, a headlamps is essential for maneuvering around the campgrounds.

Pack a fold up table and some camping chairs

In case your camp site does not offer a picnic table or something similar, it’s always crucial to have some seating and a table to cook or prep on. If you plan on having a fire and enjoying some campfire tales, it’s always nice to have some chairs to chill on.

Check the campsite rules and regulations ahead of time

Most campground s have some sort of rules and regulations. Whether it be quiet hours, posting your reservation receipt so the rangers know you paid for your spot, pet regulations, and so on, it is beneficial to know the do’s and don’ts before your set up camp.

Pack away your valuables

Unfortunately, even in campgrounds full of families enjoying their time together, there may be some opportunistic individuals up to no good when it comes to your belongings. Make sure you pack away and don’t leave out anything you wish to not be stolen.

Food/Cooking Tips for Camping

Plan your meals beforehand

Take this from me. Arriving at your campsite, setting up camp and realizing you still need to eat and have no idea what to eat is no fun. Plan some meals prior to the trip, pack them away, and your life will be much easier.

Collect and Dispose of your waste properly

This is by far the most important thing to do when camping. No one wants to see trash and food scraps littered around their tent sites. The wind can blow trash, and let’s be honest, you should be disposing everything properly in your day to day life, so let’s not change that here! Most campground shave proper disposal sites so be sure to check the out and follow the instructions. Also depending on where you are, wildlife can be an unwelcome guest.

Bring reusable water bottles and a water jug

Having enough water is essential when camping. Bring reusable water bottles is essential for going on day adventures and keeping your water cold. Some things you may not think of is that if you are cooking your own food, you will need extra water to wash your hands and your utensils and bowls/dishes. Leaving dirty dishes and utensils is an invitation or wildlife to visit your site looking for some scraps.

Research nearby Grocery Stores and Restaurants

Having an idea of what is around you when it comes to food and grocery stores is always nice to know.

Sleeping Tips when Camping

Pack warm clothes for night time

Most of the time when you are out camping, it tends to get a little colder (depending on whee you are). So pack some warm sleeping clothes just in case. you can always take layers off but you can’t put them on if you don’t have them.

Pack a sleeping pad or air mattress

If you are new to camping you may think a sleeping bag is enough, and it a lot of cases it can be for sure! But, packing and having a sleeping pad or air mattress for inside your tent can be very essential for a comfortable night sleep.

Pack sleeping bags and a comfy pillow for Camping

Make sure you have your sleeping bag and know how to set them top inside your tent. A pillow is absolutely crucial in enjoying a good comfortable with sleep. You could bring a pillow from your bed, or a blow up camping pillow. Just make sure you have a pillow.

Bring extra blankets

Again, you may not need extra blankets, but it is always nice to have incase you are uncomfortable or cold. You could always lay them underneath you for better comfort.

Tent Tips when Camping

Practice setting up your tent in advance

It is always a good idea to set up your tent in advance. The last you want to do is get your camp site, go to set up your tent and realize you don’t really know how to do it. Practice in advance and it should be a breeze getting your site ready for your stay.

Set up your tent during daylight hours

Take this from me as someone who has had to set up a tent in the dark more times that I would like, it is not easy or fun. If you are able to arrive and set up camp during daylight. it is beneficial to do so.

Check the ground you are pitching tent on

Checking the ground before pitching tent can be very helpful in ensuring a comfortable nights sleep. make sure you check for rocks, twigs, holes, etc…

Do not set up tent directly under a tree

A common mistaker for new campers is setting their tent up directly underneath a tree. Yes, trees make for great shade and cool spot to chill, but wind can cause branches to fall and no one wants to be awoken in the middle of the night by a downed branch or tree limb.

Make sure you have your tent pegs

Just about all tents come with pegs to ensure your tent is secure to the ground in case of heavy wind. Make sure you have these packed away with your tent (ideally in same bag), and you have the proper tools (hammers, etc.) to secure them to the ground.

Always zip the tent when entering and leaving

No one likes to have little critters and bugs crawling on them especially inside your tent when you are trying to sleep. One to avoid uninvited guests, is making sure when entering and leaving your tent you immediately zip up the slats of the tent. If you leave them unzipped, I promise you, bugs will get in.

Don’t wear shoes in your tent

Your tent should be kept clean when camping as this is essentially your home when you are on your trip. Keep your shoes off when entering the tent.

Make sure your tent is dry before storing

This one is crucial. Most tents tend to get wet especially over night or if it rains. Make sure the tent is completely dry to avoid mold when storing your tent.

Make sure to checkout our Essential Camping Checklist for more of an idea on what to bring for your camping adventure.