Camping can be extremely fun if you know how to do it right.
And the way to do it right?
Camp in whatever way will help you have the most fun!
Whether it be tent camping, car camping, RV, hammock, or any other type, go out into the wilderness with the goal of taking in all the nature and having a great time.
Not sure how to do that?
Here are a few camping tips to help you on your trip.
Table Of Contents
Camping Tips For Beginners
No matter where you go or what type of camping you do, these tips will help you have a great time and stay safe.
1. Overprepare for water
Notice I didn’t say BRING a ton of water.
Because you don’t always have to.
But knowing where to get water in the wilderness, how to purify it, filter it, etc. can help you to be prepared for any situation.
You’ll probably hear this 100 times throughout this article, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
2. Check the weather before you go
When you’re preparing for your trip, it can be easy to forget to check the forecast.
But knowing the weather conditions can help you bring the right gear.
You don’t want to be stuck with a 2-season tent if it’s going to rain!
3. Remember that hypothermia can happen in warm weather too!
Contrary to what you might think, all it takes is one good rain for temperatures to drop low enough to put you at risk of hypothermia.
For that reason it’s always a good idea to have a plan in case it starts raining (find a solid shelter or set yours up quickly, get out of your wet clothes, etc.).
It’s always a good idea to bring some form of rain gear to put on, such as a poncho, to make sure you stay dry.
Wet clothes are a very easy way to lower your body temperature, so keep dry!
4. Know what to do when caught in a rainstorm
Sometimes the weather can turn on you in an instant, and you’ll find yourself in the rain.
If you’re caught in a rainstorm while camping, there are a few things you can do to stay safe and get dry.
You’ll want to remember (similar to above) that hypothermia can set in fast, as well as:
- Find shelter
- Make a fire
- Set up your tent (if the shelter is only partial)
- Remove any wet clothes
- Warm yourself up with the fire and/or a sleeping bag
And again, having a raincoat or poncho with you can help keep you dry and warm in case of a sudden storm.
5. DO NOT drink your own urine
It’s one of the most common wilderness survival myths.
Contrary to what you might’ve seen on survival TV shows, drinking your urine is almost always a bad idea.
95% of it IS water, but the other 5% is harmful stuff that your body is trying to get rid of.
For reference, seawater is 96.5% water and 3.5% chloride and sodium (salt. Which is also what your urine contains).
And we all know that you should NOT drink seawater.
Both take more effort to expel it than it provides benefits, so just don’t do it!
6. Keep all of your food away from camp
Bears are amazing creatures to look at…from afar.
Keep bears away by storing your food properly while camping.
Depending on where you’re camping, you’ll want to:
- Use designated food lockers (before relying on these, make sure they’re available)
- Store food in ‘bear-proof’ containers: bear-proof containers help to lock in the scent of your food. Using these will help make sure bears can’t smell your food in the first place.
- Hang your food high up in the trees: hanging your food (and garbage, anything with a strong scent, etc.) up in the trees will prevent bears from stealing your stash. Just be sure to hang your items at least 20 feet high and 4 feet away from any tree branches or trunks.
7. Stay on the trail
It’s getting dark soon, and the map shows that you could save time by just cutting through the woods instead of winding along the trail.
Seems like a no brainer, just walk in the right direction and you’ll make it to camp, right?
Unfortunately, there are so many things that could go wrong that would put you off course.
Even if it seems like it’s just a straight shot from where you are to your camp, stay on the trail.
Changes in terrain, obstacles, and more can cloud your direction of ‘straight’, causing you to veer off and miss your camp.
8. Follow ‘Leave No Trace’ principles
Many places you go will require this, but it’s good to know the Leave No Trace principles and follow them.
This will protect the environment around you so that the wildlife around you remains untouched.
You can read all about the Leave No Trace principles on the LNT website (and here are their 7 principles for quick reference).
The basics are to try and reduce the impact you have while outdoors: be mindful of your surroundings, leave trails cleaner than when you first visited, try not to disturb wildlife, etc.
Practicing these principles will help preserve habitats for animals and plants and not disrupt their way of life.
9. Don’t drink any seawater (do this first!)
Just like the tip for urine, seawater is also not safe to drink.
However, there are some ways you can make saltwater drinkable.
I go into more detail in the link above, but essentially there are ways to separate water from salt through boiling and other methods.
If you’re in an arctic climate and need a way to find drinkable water, filling up a container with seawater and letting it freeze will separate the fresh water (ice) from the salt (the slush left behind).
Melting ‘old ice’ will also yield you drinkable water.
Old ice is the clear blue ice you can sometimes find, and it gets that way by melting and refreezing multiple times, filtering out any salt and leaving only fresh water behind.
https://theadventurouscamper.com/is-seawater-safe-to-drink/
10. Know how to purify water
Getting water is sometimes fairly easy.
However, just because you find it doesn’t mean you should drink water right away.
Even while flowing, water can contain dangerous bacteria that could harm you more than help you.
For that reason, you’ll want to know how to purify water.
An easy way to do this is to bring along a water purification method with you, such as a LifeStraw or iodine tablets.
You can also boil water to purify it, or set up an evaporation trap that will separate water from any contaminants.
11. Know your priorities
Shelter, water, fire, food.
Not ALWAYS in that order (there’s a really awesome discussion about this over on Reddit), but generally speaking this is what will help you out the most.
It depends on your situation.
Since hypothermia can set in quickly and places like the desert exist, it’s usually better to prioritize shelter.
And you always want to try to filter out your water, so sometimes fire comes before the others.
In general, food will always come last.
If you get lost in the wilderness, remember the basic order: shelter, water, fire, food.
12. Don’t always follow the moss
Old tales will tell you that moss only grows on the North side of trees.
This is just another wilderness survival myth.
Because if you walk outside to your nearest tree with moss, you’ll likely find this isn’t always the case.
Sometimes there could be a canopy that protects the moss, allowing it to grow all around, rather than just on the north side.
Moss loves to grow in damp, dark places.
If those conditions are met, it doesn’t care which direction it grows in.
13. Know what to do around bears
Did you know bears can run up to 30 miles per hour?
Yep, so if you run into one it’s probably not a good idea to take off.
And they can also climb extremely fast, so that’s not really an option either.
Try to always keep your distance from bears, and make some noise while walking trails.
Chances are they won’t want to bother you unless you go near their cubs.
If you can’t avoid them, you’ll need to stand your ground.
Here are two guides for what you can do next (here and here) to minimize the risk of being attacked.
Carrying along bear spray is always a great option for protection as well!
14. ONLY eat plants that you know are safe
If you’re lost in the wilderness and need to survive, you might think it’s a good idea to start chowing on the vegetation around you.
After all, it’s way easier than catching a fish or trapping a small animal for a meal.
The problem?
If you happen to eat vegetation that is not meant to be eaten, you could be worse off than before you had your snack.
That’s why it’s super important to only eat plants you are positive are safe to eat.
It’s also important to note that even if you know what you’re eating is safe, it won’t sustain you for very long.
That’s because you’ll need a substantial amount of calories out in the wilderness, and it requires energy to harvest the plants and berries.
You’ll gain little benefit in eating vegetation and will need plenty of protein to make it through your journey.
15. DON’T suck out venom
When you are out in the wilderness, you are in animal territory.
Animals live out in the woods where we hike, and that includes snakes.
If you happen to be unfortunate enough to get bitten by a poisonous snake, do not try to suck out the venom.
Venom spreads very fast through your bloodstream.
What you’ll want to do instead is try to keep your heart rate down as low as you can and raise the wound above your heart if possible.
A higher heart rate means more blood pumping through your body, making the venom spread faster.
You’ll want to get medical help as soon as possible after a bite.
16. Prepare campfire friendly meals before your trip
Planning your meals ahead will save you a huge headache while in the woods.
Unless you’re looking to test your survival skills, you’ll want to know what you’re going to eat before you go.
Preparing campfire-friendly meals can be a great way to save some stress and keep you from having to make a run to McDonald’s.
17. Pack a first aid kit
Accidents can happen, especially out in the wilderness.
A simple cut or scrape could end up getting infected if not taken care of.
You can either put together your own or purchase a premade first aid kit for the trip.
Either way, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so pack one!
18. Taking your first camping trip? Start at a campground!
It’s sometimes a really good idea to try and ease into things.
And camping is no different.
Going from being fully connected with essentially anything you need within reach to alone in the woods can be overwhelming.
To ease into this, start your camping adventures at a campground.
It’ll give you a chance to test out some of your gear, see what’s missing (or unnecessary) in your kit, and be close to campground facilities and help if you need it.
Car Camping Tips
Planning on camping with your car nearby or camping in your car?
Check out these car camping tips to make your trip even better.
16. Overpack
You’ve got your car nearby, you might as well pack a little extra!
You can check out my recommended car camping gear, but basically I pack the essentials with quite a few comfort items.
Bring along some games to have some extra fun, a tent heater if you’re camping in the winter, more water.
Whatever it is that will make your stay easier in the outdoors, bring it if you want!
Your car becomes a giant backpack when you go camping.
Pack it with whatever will make your trip most fun.
17. Bring a cooler
A cooler will help keep your food and drinks cold; something you don’t get when you’re out backpacking or hiking (there are ways to preserve food while backpacking though!).
Having a cooler opens up your options for food, allowing you to bring things such as milk, deli meat, and more.
You’ll also be able to crack open a cold beverage after a day out in the sun.
Just remember that ice does melt, so you’ll need to preserve what you have or have a way to get more to keep everything from spoiling.
I wrote a guide on how to keep a cooler cold if you want some tips for extending the life of your ice in the cooler!
18. Car mattresses are available
Yes, they do make air mattresses made specifically for cars.
Why sleep in your backseat when you can have the added room and comfort a blow up mattress?
A car air mattress has an extended section on the bottom that blows up to fit in the gap where your legs would normally be while sitting in the seat.
It then extends over the seat, creating a much larger space for you to sleep.
If you have a car (not a truck or SUV), a car air mattress is definitely worth looking into!
19. Blankets work better in some cases
Since you’re bringing your car, you won’t have to worry about packing things up and carrying them each day.
They’ll pretty much stay put for the duration of your camping trip.
Because of this, you can switch out some of your gear with more comfortable items, such as blankets and sheets instead of sleeping bags.
If you’re worried about getting your blanket dirty (you still are outdoors all day and could track dirt into your bedding), bring along a spare blanket rather than the main one you use at home.
And while you’re at it, pack some extra blankets too!
You never know when the weather might dip low enough that you’ll wish you had extra covers.
And don’t forget you can pack your pillow too!
20. Don’t overuse your car battery
There are a ton of cool camping gadgets that will make your camping trip more interesting.
But a lot of them require the use of your car’s auxiliary power outlet.
Since you will mostly be walking around all day, you won’t be using your car too much.
Which means it won’t have a chance to charge the battery back up while it’s running.
So you’ll want to keep an eye on how much you use your car’s battery.
The last thing you want to do is get stuck somewhere because you drained the battery and your car won’t start!
Tent Camping Tips
21. Use a tent footprint
Tents can be expensive.
And tents also aren’t super fun to use when the bottom has rips and tears in them.
How can you stop this from happening?
Use a tent footprint!
Basically a footprint is a piece of material you place under your tent to keep it from ripping.
It’s much less expensive to replace a $10 tarp than a $200 tent!
You always want to make sure you aren’t placing your tent on any rocks or sticks that could make for an uncomfortable night’s sleep or rip your tent.
Having a footprint underneath helps provide some extra security in case you miss something.
22. Bring along a rainfly
In most situations, you just never know what kind of weather will come your way.
You could be out in the sun with not a cloud in the sky one minute and in a heavy rainstorm the next.
Because of this, I always pack a rainfly.
The purpose of a rainfly is to protect the inside of your tent from getting soaking wet in the event of any inclement weather.
If you are using a warmer season tent, it might come equipped with a full or partial mesh roof.
And even if it doesn’t the seams might be a little looser to allow some airflow.
Adding a rainfly on top of these will ensure your tent stays super dry, keeping you and your belongings from getting soaked!
23. The appropriate season tent
Going along with the theme of the last tip, bringing along the appropriate season tent for your weather conditions.
You might be asking what the different seasons mean.
Here’s a general overview:
- One and two season tents are pretty much strictly meant for hot/dry weather. They have lightweight tent walls and make use of a lot of mesh. They usually don’t hold up in anything more than a light sprinkle, so if there’s a chance it will rain, bring a rainfly or a different tent.
- 3 season tents are kind of the catch-all. They work well in spring, fall, and summer, and can even stretch into the colder winter months within reason. That is because they are constructed with decent ventilation (to keep cool during the hotter weather), but also have waterproofing allowing them to withstand wet/snowy conditions. If it’s super cold you might need a heavy sleeping bag and a tent heater.
- 4 season tents are meant for harsh winter conditions. They are built with a stronger frame and more durable material to withstand snowstorms, hail, etc. They also have little to no ventilation, making them not so good for summer weather.
Now there is a bit of flexibility with this, but generally speaking, a 3 season tent will work in the most situations.
When it comes to tents for colder/harsher conditions, it really depends on how harsh the conditions are.
But you’ll likely fall into the category of needing a 3 season or 4 season tent.
I wrote an article comparing 3 season versus 4 season tents for more details on each.
24. Comfortable sleeping options for your tent
If you require a good night’s sleep to be that wonderful, cheery person everyone knows and loves, you might want to look into making your sleeping arrangements as comfortable as possible.
And there happens to be quite a few options so you aren’t stuck sleeping on the ground using a rock as a pillow.
While the best thing to sleep on while camping is ultimately your personal preference, here’s a quick rundown on some things to try:
- Sleeping bag: make sure to get one that’s rated for the weather you’ll be camping in. If your bag is rated for lower temperatures, it will be warm.
- Sleeping pad: inflatable pads you can put under your sleeping bag. Some self-inflate, and there are super lightweight options that don’t need to be inflated at all. Adds a layer between you and the ground.
- Sleeping mat: very similar to a yoga mat. Varying thicknesses can be purchased to offer different levels of comfort.
- Air mattress: more comfortable than the ground, but single layered mattresses tend to sag and you could end up with your body touching the ground anyways. Double-layered mattresses provide more support and will keep you off the ground. Remember you need electricity for these if you don’t want to be blowing them up using a trash bag!
- Cot: more sturdy than an air mattress, and allows for air to flow underneath you. Keep that in mind if you are camping in colder temperatures!
- Pillow: if you’re car camping, feel free to bring your pillow from home! Otherwise, there are inflatable pillows that are super lightweight. You could also bring a pillowcase and use your extra clothing as the stuffing.
Again, the choice will be up to you depending on the type of camping you’re doing and what you need to have a good night’s sleep.
You’ll want a nice balance between comfort and weight, especially if you will have to carry everything on your back for weeks on end.
25. Super cold? Bring along a heater!
Sometimes it’s not always enough to pack some warm clothes and a cold-weather sleeping bag.
For those times when you need some extra warmth, bring along a tent heater!
There are quite a few options (of which I cover in the link above) of what you can bring with you, with heaters for quite a few different styles of camping.
If you plan to use a heater inside of your tent, just make sure that it is meant for being inside!
Some heaters attach to the top of propane tanks and aren’t meant to be used inside.
Other great features to look for are low-oxygen sensors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, and tip-over shut off switches that will turn the heater off if it gets knocked over.
Another great tip for using heaters is to only use them right before you go to bed and once you just woke up.
These are the times that you’ll want them the most, and each propane tank only lasts a few hours, so they won’t make it through the night anyway.
Once you’ve warmed yourself up you can turn them off and retreat to your sleeping bag.
26. Keep your tent cool
On the contrary to bringing a heater, you’ll want to know how to keep your tent cool in the warmer months.
I wrote an entire article on ways to keep your tent cool, but here’s the gist:
- Use the right tent: as I mentioned in an earlier tip, there are tents made with more mesh than others. For warmer months, mesh is your best friend (just be sure to pack a rainfly!).
- Set up your tent in the shade: the sun is what’s going to make your tent extremely hot. By setting it up in the shade you’re eliminating a lot of the heat. And if you don’t have any shade, consider taking down your tent in the morning and setting it back up at night to keep the hot air from accumulating inside your tent during the day.
- Consider items to keep you cool: bringing along a fan can help lower your body temperature and make your tent feel colder. Placing a wet towel around your neck or on your forehead has the same effect.
There are quite a few more tips mentioned in that article, so be sure to take a look if you want to learn more!
27. Take care of your sleeping bag
Similar to taking care of your tent with a footprint, it’s also important to take care of your sleeping bag.
Not only can sleeping bags rip, but oils and dirt can accumulate, ruining the integrity of the sleeping bag by clumping together the materials inside.
You’ll want to keep your sleeping bag clean by wearing a clean change of clothes to bed (if you can), airing out your sleeping bag every morning, and washing your sleeping bag once you get home.
Using a sleeping pad or mat underneath your bag will keep dirt off of it, and you can even cover your bag with a liner to protect it from any dirt or oils altogether.
You’ll also want to store your sleeping bag in a dry place out of the sun while you’re at home.
28. Keep your tent clean
A clean tent is a comfortable tent!
Not only will this help you be comfortable, but it will also help with the last tip, protecting your sleeping bag.
No one likes to hop in a tent full of mud (at least I don’t!).
You can keep your tent somewhat clean by being conscious of what you put in it.
Clean off your shoes (or leave them outside) and gear before bringing them in the tent.
29. Leave your campsite in good condition
We already mentioned the Leave No Trace principles above, but practicing these can help keep the places you want to camp at clean and untouched.
Essentially, you’ll want to leave your campsite just how you found it (or better).
That means picking up all trash, camping on durable surfaces, respecting the wildlife, and more.
The link above has some great information on small things you can do to reduce your impact in the woods.
More Tips To Come
This list will be constantly updated as I come up with more tips, so stay tuned!
The Best Tip Of All: HAVE FUN!
I hope these tips can help you have a great time while camping.
Because that’s what it’s all about: having fun.
Now go out there and have an awesome camping trip!
Note: did I leave out any tips? Share them with your fellow campers in the comments below!