Top 12 Camping Tips for Beginners
Beginning camping tips that help you feel confidence, joy and freedom early on.
Hiking through lush forests, sharing stories around the campfire and sleeping under the stars are all part of the beauty of camping. If you’re new to camping, here are our top tips to give you a strong foundation:
1. Location. Location. Location.
Where you decide to camp sets the tone for your camping experience. We recommend starting with a campground that have amenities such as drinking water, bathrooms and showers. This will help ensure your basic necessities are covered while learning how to camp.
Finding a campground not too far from home makes it easier to arrive and set up your campsite and find your way around the grounds while the sun is still up. Beginner campers have found comfort being within an hour or two drive from home just in case they want to leave. If you pick a great spot you’ll surprise yourself with how fun and comfortable camping can be!
2. Pick the best tent for you
Choosing the right tent for you is crucial for a comfortable camping experience. It’s not just about fitting everyone inside; it’s also about ensuring you have enough space for your gear, comfort, and even a little extra room to move around.
Here are the key factors to consider when selecting your tent:
Number of Occupants: Base your choice on the number of people who will be sleeping in the tent. For added comfort, consider upsizing.
Storage Space: Think about how much extra room you’ll need for backpacks, clothes, and other equipment. A larger tent can provide this additional space.
Standing Room: Decide if being able to stand up inside the tent is important to you for changing clothes or stretching in the morning.
Extra Room for Pets or Play: If you’re camping with a dog, child, or simply want more space for activities inside the tent, opting for a larger capacity, such as a 6-person tent, might be best.
Weight: If you’re planning to use the same tent for car camping and expand into backpacking, you’ll want something on the lighter side.
Shape of Tent: Common shapes of tent are dome, cabin, and tunnel.
Let’s use an example. If two adults are camping and want space for backpacks and clothes, a 3-4 person size tent is ideal. Alternatively, if you have a dog or kid and need room for play, you may want to consider a 6-person tent.
Check out additional tips for sleeping comfortably in a tent.
3. Get a warmer sleeping bag than what you need
Choosing the right sleeping gear is key to ensure you stay warm and comfortable throughout the night, regardless of the temperature outside. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when choosing your sleeping bag.
Temperature Ratings: Sleeping bags come with temperature ratings, usually ranging from 15°F to 50°F. They're crucial for staying warm, as nights can get colder than expected while camping.
Choose Colder Ratings: Opt for a sleeping bag rated for temperatures colder than what you anticipate for your camping trip. You can always unzip the bag to cool off if it gets too warm.
Consider Weight for Dual Use: If you plan to use your sleeping bag for both car camping and backpacking, consider something lighter weight.
4. Sleeping in a tent can be super comfortable with the right sleeping pad
Finding the right sleeping pad can transform your tent into a cozy retreat.
The right sleeping pad can make sleeping in a tent nearly as comfortable as sleeping in your bed at home. Not only do sleeping pads provide cushioning for a good night’s sleep, but they also protect you from the cold ground. Here are the common types of sleeping pads:
Air Mattress / Air Pad: These typically come with either an electric or hand pump. They're great for car camping because you don't have to worry about how heavy or big they are, and can be as comfortable as a bed at home.
Self-inflating sleeping pads: These pads are self-inflating, which is helpful for not being reliant on an external device to inflate it or needing to blow it up with your mouth.
Closed-cell foam sleeping pads: Crafted from dense foam with tiny air-filled cells, these pads are lightweight, cost-effective, and nearly indestructible. While not as comfortable as the other options, their simplicity and reliability make them a favorite among backpackers and those on a budget. Easily rolled or folded, they're also ideal for doubling up beneath another pad for extra insulation.
5. Save directions and check-in instructions ahead of time in case you don’t have internet access
Camping without Wi-Fi access is a great way to disconnect and relax. This also means you cannot rely on using your phone unless the information needed is available offline. Make sure you have directions to the campground, campsite site numbers, and any check-in instructions saved to your device, printed or written down.
6. Campfires are for warmth, storytelling, and smores
Get ready for the campfire stories that naturally come out when you’re sitting around the campfire, and mesmerized by the campfire flames. It’s incredible!
Not sure how to build this magical campfire? There are a few ways to build a campfire, but our favorite approach is the log cabin style because of its stability and easy of assembly. Many campgrounds offer firewood for purchase, making it convenient to spark your storytelling centerpiece.
To ensure your campfire is not only cozy, but also safe, confirm there are no fire bans in effect at your location, have a bucket of water nearby, and use the designated campfire pit.
7. Cook meals on a camp stove
A two-burner camp stove makes it easy to cook hot, delicious meals outdoors. It offers the convenience of cooking breakfast on one burner while brewing coffee on the other. Unlike the variation in an open campfire, the camp stove gives you precise temperature control, making cooking easier and more reliable. And the lid and side wings help act as a wind barrier, keeping your flames stead.
Check out delicious one pan camp food recipes for ideas.
8. Bring layers of clothing & footwear
Warm summer days don’t always turn into warm summer nights. It never hurts to bring extra layers and a warm jacket, so you can easily adjust. We bring hiking shoes for the trails, slip-on shoes that easily come on and off for tent entry and exit, and flip flops for showering at the campground. It’s no fun trying to pull socks over wet feet.
Find more tips on staying cozy with clothing and footwear while camping.
9. Before the sun goes down, grab your head lamp and lantern.
Once the sun sets, it will get dark quickly. To ease your arrival, it’s best to set up your campsite in daylight, so plan to reach your destination well before sunset. For all the other evenings, grab your head lamp and set out the lantern before the sun sets. It’s always simpler to organize and find your gear with some sunlight remaining.
10. If you prefer to sleep through the night, slow down drinking beverages before bedtime.
Start limiting your beverage consumption about an hour before you plan to sleep, only drinking if you’re truly thirst. It’s a personal choice, but sometimes it’s nice to just sleep through the night without having to wake up to go to the bathroom, especially while camping. This approach not only benefits your rest but also prevents disturbing any tentmates.
11. Leave no trace and be an environmental steward
Embracing the Leave No Trace principles is crucial for preserving the natural beauty of our camping environments. By minimizing our impact, we ensure that the great outdoors remains beautiful for future adventurers. Here’s how you can help.
Pack Out Trash: Always bring a garbage bag to collect your trash. While many campgrounds offer designated garbage areas, some remote locations may require you to carry your trash out.
Respect Wildlife: Observe and appreciate wildlife from a distance. Interfering with or feeding animals disrupts their natural behaviors and habitats.
Use Designated Campfire Rings: To prevent wildfires and minimize your impact, use the campfire rings provided at campgrounds. This concentrates fire impact in one area and reduces the chance of unintended environmental damage.
12. Enjoy being so present in nature!
Congratulations on your camping journey so far! To reach that magical state of camping bliss that makes you want to keep going requires a bit of preparation, openness to new experience, living in the moment, and maintaining a sense of humor when the unexpected happens (like an unforeseen rain shower). And we promise, if you soak in those moments to hear birds chirping, enjoy some outdoor activities, and embrace the simplicity of living in nature, you’ll end your camping trip thinking, “When can we come back?!” Once you’ve experienced the joy and freedom of camping, there’s no turning back. It’s a vibe that can only be reached while you’re camping and it will have you planning your next adventure before you’ve even unpacked from the first.