A First-Timer's Guide to a Successful Camping Trip
Start writing a post
Student Life

A First-Timer's Guide to a Successful Camping Trip

There is nothing quite like a camping trip.

845
A First-Timer's Guide to a Successful Camping Trip

.

There is nothing quite like a camping trip. You breathe in the fresh air, enjoy nature, and get back to basics. But if you don't know what you're doing, the whole experience can turn into something else. Planning correctly will help you stay cool (literally and figuratively), enjoy yourself, and learn something new.

There is nothing more exciting than spending the weekend in the great outdoors with friends and family. It is hard to know exactly what to expect when you start camping. These simple tips will give you everything you need to have a successful trip.

Become Familiar With Your Gear

Becoming familiar with your gear will make you feel more confident and relaxed about the camping experience ahead. An excellent way to do this is by practicing setting up your tent in the backyard or anywhere else that's safe from bugs and critters.

Buy a Tent That Is Big Enough

Make sure that your tent is big enough to have room to store your belongings. You can buy a large tent for extra storage, but the main thing is to make sure it's big enough for you and your family or friends. Buy a tent with an extended height to move around quickly.

Make (and Use) a Checklist

Highlight the checklist on the left side of your post, and use it to highlight what you would like someone else to pick up if they can't find it. This checklist makes a great reference sheet for everyone involved with your trip, including those who will be cooking.

Arrive at the Campground Early

Arriving at a campground early is a great way to get to the lay of the land and get acquainted with your surroundings. This also provides ample time to set up your campsite and get to know your fellow campers.

Plan Your Meals

Planning your meals is an essential part of camping preparation. You'll need to have a few snacks that you can take along with you, and a complete meal plan will be beneficial if there are children or older adults in your group. Try making a few large batches of food on your stove at home, freezing them in small portions, and bringing them along with you on your trip to help cut down on any other cooking time needed while away.

Observe Campground Rules

Camping is all about enjoying the great outdoors. But it can also be a delicate act of balancing being in the wilderness while also respecting its wildlife and environment. Observing campground rules is the first step toward achieving this balance. Before you arrive at your campsite, please familiarize yourself with the area's regulations and don't forget to pack them along with your other essentials.

Learn to Reverse Your RV in Advance

When you're camping in a trailer, you'll have to reverse the RV. It would help if you practiced walking backward before heading out onto the road. This is extremely useful if your vehicle has a manual transmission and you need to back up on uneven terrain. Always consider safety when reversing your RV, especially if you have passengers jostling around inside or outside of the vehicle.

Bring Sufficient Clothing

If you're camping for the first time or simply going on a home-camping trip, you should bring more clothing than you think you need. It gets cold at night, and sometimes there's no hot water, so you may want to shower. You should also bring some lovely items that are not necessarily essential; hiking boots, warm slippers, rain gear, and a flashlight. It’s important to look at your clothing’s fabric to see if it’s water-restistant and sun-repellent.

Camp Close to Home

Don't go far. Just come closer to home. One of the best ways to start is by camping close to home. There are many popular campsites within a few hours' drive of urban areas, and some of the more remote ones are growing in popularity because we can take short weekend trips there with our campsites.

Ultimately, there will be no easy way to ensure your camping trip is a success. Unless you choose only to go on camping trips that you know in advance will be successful. But for everyone else, being prepared before your trip and knowing what to expect are the best ways to ensure it's excellent. Maybe you'll fall in love with camping and make it a regular part of your life.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55838
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35992
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957983
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

187064
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments