Are you now ready to let go of your belief that camping is not for you? We appreciate your concerns. We guarantee that sleeping on the ground outside, without heat or air conditioning, is an intimidating proposition. Overcoming it is well worth the effort. When camping in the woods, the joy of a simple life often connects you with nature and what matters most.
Hey, we aren't saying you have to sacrifice all comfort and cleanliness to go campng! The basic camping gear and systems make it quite easy to transform your campsite into an oasis away from home. Camping tips for beginners will help you understand why you need to try camping, give you tips on camping gear for beginners, and share some helpful meal planning advice.
Why Go Camping?
Go Camping! Vacations with a purpose are Important. Vacation time is a vital contributor to overall health and happiness. When you are doing something that you enjoy, you can relieve tension and stress. And can, Often, increase your focus and motivation, even when you return to your less enjoyable obligations.
Though ways to relax and rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul differ greatly from person to person, there seems to be a common theme amongst the happiest people out there: simplification. It is hard to imagine a better way to simplify what you do. Having fun on the First time camping with family is more important than being happy.
Affordability
Campground campsites range in cost from $20 -$35/ camping night And many wild or, Backcountry camping for beginners, Sites are free, making camping tips for beginners one of the cheapest lodging options for visiting a new area. Why stay in a hotel for only two nights when you could spend an entire week exploring a new city for the same price, or even less?
You can find some great ideas and potential adventures at awesome prices with TripOutside's tours and rentals.
What Type Of camping guide Is Right For You?
Backpacking
Packing everything you need for survival into a backpack and carrying it through rugged terrain won't be for everyone. In addition to grocery and meal planning, most backcountry campsites lack amenities, which makes backpacking more suitable for experienced campers. However, it is the best way to achieve privacy and feel connected to nature, so it may be worth the trouble if self-sufficiency is a priority. Check out our Backpacking Tips for Beginners guide if this sounds like your kind of adventure.
Car Camping 101
Typically, the first time camping with family occurs at an established campground where parking is close to the campsites for easy unloading. Other camping essentials, such as running water, electricity, bathrooms, and showers, provide a more enjoyable experience for campers who want to enjoy being in nature without sacrificing every comfort. Our opinion is that car camping 101 is the best way to learn camping tips for beginners, Pick up camping practices. And test new gear before venturing into backcountry camping for beginners terrain, which is the type of camping tips for beginners, we will be covering today.
Reading: Did you know you can camp at certain locations for free to save money? Check out our guide to dispersed simple camping to learn more. For first time camping with family adventures learn how to go camping for the first time with kids or if you are feeling adventurous, why not trywinter camping?
RV’s
Recreational vehicles are gaining popularity, not just because they are comfortable, but also because they are affordable ways to travel. Even non-campers are realizing the benefits of having a private apartment with them wherever they go. First time RV camping tips for beginners.
Cabins
We'll be honest: it's time to get real. Your friends who go camping in their cars may look at you condescendingly if you tell them that you stayed in a cabin! Overnight stays in cabins provide a comfortable alternative to traditional tent camping due to their beds, TVs, and kitchens.
Glamping
Glamorous camping, or glamping, may be the fastest-growing segment among campgrounds across the country. Campground owners are developing lodging options that blend the lines between camping tips for beginners and staying in a hotel to overcome the concerns about cleanliness and comfort that keep many people from participating. Did you see the Instagram post featuring a yurt perched on a wooden platform, complete with lights, furniture, and bug netting? Yes, that is glamping!
We'll continue our camping tips for beginners guide with a little preparation once you've chosen your camping style.
First Time Camping Tips: How To Go Camping For The first time. Choosing A Campsite
An enjoyable weekend at your campsite can be assured by choosing the right site for your home away from home. For camping tips for beginners, we recommend staying close to home for the first time camping tips and keeping things simple, to begin with.
In the case of longer stays, it will be even more important. A move from one site to another, where your essential camping equipment was previously set up, is never a pleasant task. Follow these key steps for selecting an excellent campsite to avoid hassles and to get it right the first time.
Camping Essentials: Gear Advice
Camping Tent
One of the first decisions you'll have to make on the path to becoming a camper is choosing camping in a tent. To help you choose the right size, consider how many people (and pets) will sleep inside it a most camping night. Although larger, cabin-style tents provide excellent comfort and the ability to stand up once inside, they do take up a considerable amount of space during travel and have limited versatility away from campgrounds.
Whichever you choose, we recommend buying a high-quality tent from an established brand. Cheap tents are often punctured easily and have poorly protected seams and zippers. Our overview of the best tents and brands might help you decide which is the right product for you.
Sleeping Pad, Air Mattress, Or Cot
The situation is similar to that of most essential camping equipment, in that you have to balance comfort with storage space. Air mattresses, like those commonly used for houseguests, are comfortable. You should keep in mind that they rely on electrical connections to blow up and can be more prone to leaks and punctures than camping-specific models.
An elevated camping cot may be ideal if you prefer to be up and off of the ground while sleeping, although they do lack some of the comfort seen in sleeping pads and Air mattresses.
Thanks to the technology behind them, you can't go wrong with modern sleeping pads, like those by Therm-a-Rest or Exped. Car camping sleeping pads provide the comfort of home, but they are also light enough to take with you if you are hiking or backpacking.
Camping Tips For Beginners: Sleeping Bag
It's a good idea to choose a sleeping bag, and temperature rating, that matches where you will be camping tips for beignners 80% of the time. Don't buy a 0°F sleeping bag anticipating an occasional winter trip and then wind up very hot on most of your trips in spring, summer, and fall.
With experience, you'll likely end up buying multiple sleeping bags that are suited to different weather conditions, so that you are always able to get a good night's sleep.
Further reading: We have beginners guide to camping to the best sleeping bags and sleeping bag liners.
Camping Tips For Beginners : Cooking Equipment
A propane stove with two burners is more than enough to transform campground meals into gourmet feasts for most campers. Lightweight backpacking trips require cookware that is easy to clean and retains heat evenly.
Piezo igniters make cooking quick and easy without the need to light a match. Also, look for stoves with integrated wind protectors, ergonomic handles, or accessory hoses to enable use from traditional propane tanks (like grills).
Camping Tips For Beginners : Toiletries
Whether you're in a tent or a cabin, your everyday essentials will help keep you feeling clean and refreshed after days spent outside. We like to keep toothbrushes, toilet paper, toothpaste, contact lens solution, face wash, etc. in separate stuff sacks that we can easily grab when walking to the bathroom.
For hanging on door hooks, bags with multiple hooks are great (we love Patagonia Black Hole Cube). Additionally, organizing compartments reduce clutter.
Check out these articles for more information on digging a cathole commode. Know the benefits of using biodegradable soap when camping.
Extras
You may also want to take the following with you:
- An emergency first aid kit
- Camp knife
- Torches or lanterns
Luxuries
In our opinion, the following items may not be considered necessities, but they are pretty darn essential to a good time.
- Camp chairs – It is hard to beat the feeling of reclining after hiking for hours or bending over tables, entering tents, unpacking gear, etc.
- Book – Reading a book while inside your tent is an amazingly simple pleasure (consider bringing a Kindle as a way to bring along lots of material without packing much bulk).
- Camp pillow - Yes, you can cram your clothes into your sack instead of carrying a pillow. It won't be as comfortable as an actual camp pillow!
- The right storage bin and/or duffel bag are camping essentials when it comes to good camping tips for Bignners.
- The portable tent fan can be a very useful investment during those hot summer months.
Hey beginner campers, let's move on to the main course of our camping for beginners guide - how to camp.
Beginner’s Guide To Camp Meal Planning
For the beginning camper (as well as the seasoned pro), it is a frustrating task, but it is one of the easiest ways to save money and create special memories. Camping together, around the campfire, is the best way to spend time together as a family.
Your meal options will be limited by the cookware you bring, so do some research on the best stoves if you plan on becoming the camp chef.
Planning
Start your meal planning by identifying how many meals you need to prepare. Plan your meals if you are planning to eat out. On a weekend camping trip (Friday afternoon- Sunday morning), we typically eat two breakfasts, two snacks/lunches, and one dinner. One night, we enjoy eating at a local restaurant, a good way to reduce your meal planning prep while, at the same time, getting to know the area.
Cooking
With a deep-sided pot or saucepan, you'll be able to prepare a variety of meals. Cooking in a frying pan or griddle, however, offers another level of gourmet camp cooking versatility (Nutella-filled french toast, blueberry pancakes, pizza, need we say more?).
If you plan to cook over an open fire, make sure you know how to build a campfire safely, and how to supervise it and extinguish it completely.
Common First Time Camping Mistakes To Avoid: Camping Tips For Beginners :-
As a new camper, you'll experience some frustrating (and hilarious!) trials and errors. While you are camping tips for beginners, you will learn numerous intricacies that, ultimately, make the experience more enjoyable. Here are a few mistakes we've made or seen others make during their first time camper checklist.
- An excessive amount of camping gear guide –
When you overpack, you create organizational nightmares, uncomfortable travel arrangements (you won't be able to find your little one in the pile of gear in the backseat! ), and confusing camper setup situations. Rather than buying everything in advance, wait until you've camped a few times and need something. You will often change your mind about what gear is necessary after a few trips.
Unless you enjoy soggy living quarters, poor puncture resistance, sticky zippers, and a tent with limited structural integrity, we suggest you spend a few extra dollars for a quality tent. In addition to providing a more comfortable experience, it is also likely to be the more affordable choice over the long run, since you won't have to replace it as frequently. To get the most out of your investment, read this article on caring for a tent.
- Greywater waste and food waste improperly disposed of –
If you're familiar with the principles of Leave No Trace, it can be frustrating to watch careless new campers dump dishes and food scraps into the trees behind their sites, increasing animal encounters and destroying nice spots for future campers. Make sure you are disposing of trash properly in every campground you visit. In most campgrounds, greywater is disposed of in a sink near the bathroom or at a gravel drainage area within the campground.
Conclusion :
We hope that these handy hints and backpacking tips leave you feeling confident and ready to enjoy camping to the full, regardless of whether you are an experienced backpacker or a total newbie. I wish you the best of luck on your next camping adventure!
Please let us know how well prepared you feel after reading these camping tips for beginners.