A beginners guide to getting started with camping this summer.
Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend much needed time in nature to rejuvenate, reset and renew. Plus there is more than enough scientific evidence that time spent in nature is good for the mind, body and soul. Camping provides that much needed escape and allowed us a chance to reconnect with nature and the outdoors.
Summer and warm weather has many people dusting off their camping gear and itching to spend time under the stars, away from the hustle bustle of city life. Camping is an activity that can be as easy or as complicated as your comfort level. There are many different kinds of camping – from front country camping, car camping (sleeping in your car), camper van or recreational vehicles to remote backcountry camping.
If you have never been camping before don’t get intimidated. If fact, a great place to start is simply in your own backyard or local park that has designated camping sites.
Different types of camping
So here is a beginners guide to camping that walks through all the different types of camping options that are available.
#1 Tent Camping
Tent camping is perhaps the most common and basic style of camping there is. There is nothing quite like the feeling of sleeping under the stars, out in the wilderness, away from all of the hustle and bustle of city life. Like the same suggests, tent camping involves sleeping in a tent – complete with a sleeping bag and/or air mattress. Some tents are large enough to even accommodate a small sleeping cot, if sleeping on the ground is not your thing. You truly don’t need much to have a good tent camping experience. A tent, good quality sleeping bags, a sleeping pad, hiking shoes, some camping food, and you are pretty much set. Plus, many state parks, national forests, and national parks have plenty of campsites for every kind of camper- whether you want to do a single night in the wilderness or even a multi-day backpacking adventure.
If you are new to camping, there are plenty of stores like REI, Camping World, Cabellas in the US that even rent out tents and sleeping bags to try before you buy it. A good idea is to test out your gear by setting up your tent in your backyard – just so you understand the mechanism of how things work. If you don’t have access to a backyard, you can even try it out in your own living room. The plus is that if you don’t like it or are uncomfortable sleeping on the floor, you can always head off to your comfy bed!
#2 Glamping
While some people enjoy roughing it in the wild and sleeping in a tent beneath the stars, there is no shame in wanting to cozy up in bed while still immersed in nature. This is where the concept of Glamping – also known as luxury camping – comes into play.
Glamping allows outdoor enthusiasts to do just that. With onsite dining, tents with king-sized beds and in suite bathrooms, and guided activities, glamping invites us to experience the wilderness in new ways. And the best part of it is that many of the companies offering glamping options are extremely passionate about sustainability and environmental conservation. While tent or hammock camping is the most eco-friendly option, glamping gives travelers who might otherwise be unable to sleep in a tent an alternative to hotels, lodges, and RVs. Glamping is becoming widely popular, with many campgrounds offering mini pods, yurts, and ‘tiny living’ accommodation options. Depending on the style of the small cabins, some don’t have internal bathrooms.
Often times, stand-alone glamping accommodations offer a safe alternative to more traditional lodging options especially at a time when people are cautiously looking to get back to travel. Just something about being in the outdoors, breathe fresh air and being surrounded by nature.
Check out some of the most beautiful glamping spots in the US – perfect inspiration for your next outdoor adventure.
#3 Trailer/Hitch Camper
Like the name suggests, trailer or hitch camping involves towing your camper behind your own vehicle. Tow or hitch campers come in all shapes and sizes – from small single or two-person popup campers to larger multi-room campers. The size, width and total weight are things to consider when you are looking to tow a camper with your vehicle. You can find your vehicle’s tow capacity limitations and look for a camper that fits well within the acceptable range.
While there are many places that rent RV and hitch camper vans, most places expect you to provide your own vehicle. If you need to rent a vehicle, you need to make sure that you have the appropriate hitch to connect to the camper.
The benefits of hitch camper are that you can take your vehicle along for the trip. That way once you setup camp in a campground or RV park, you can detach your vehicle and just use that to get around. The camper stays put, and you have some mobility to explore the surrounding areas. Many people love camping with a pop-up camper because it can fit into all campsites easily and often doesn’t involve a new car or truck purchase.
#4 Recreational Vehicle or Motorhomes
As the name suggests motor homes or recreational vehicles are often large campers that are self-drivable. This means that the entire camper and the driving cab are all within the same unit. You don’t have to hook and unhook a motorhome daily. So, you might have to get a separate vehicle or car that you tow behind- to get around. Motorhomes range from small to large and everything in between depending on the number of beds, rooms and even pullout options for additional luxury and sleeping space. Many have separate rooms complete with doors that are perfect for larger families that travel together.
Motorhomes are available in multiple sizes, and 3 types, so you’ll find one that is right for you. Class A is the large ‘bus’ style. Class C is built on a van chassis and features the over cab bed. Class B looks like vans that are becoming super popular with nomadic van life. And just, like a house, you can add amenities. Kitchens often have full-size refrigerator, stove, oven, and microwave, as well as plenty of storage and counter space. With all there is to love about owning a motorhome, there are a few disadvantages.
#5 Car Camping
Car camping might be a good option to explore when you are on an epic road trip or want the earliest start possible from your favorite trailhead. Car camping essential means you are sleeping and camping in your own car or vehicle. This option is one of the cheapest ways to camp because often people will just pull over in a designated parking or camping spot, pull down their seats, get into their sleeping bags and crash for the night. There is no hook up or take down required. Car camping and car sleeping can be a lot of fun and a great adventure if done right. At the same time this can be a good way to travel on a budget. But like anything, be smart about car camping and car sleeping and practice good common sense, especially when car camping/sleeping in another country.
There are several things to keep in mind when car camping and you can check out this car camping essentials guide on how to prepare for camping in your own car.
#6 Hammock Camping
Another type of camping that is becoming super poplar in the recent years is hammock camping. This type of camping essential involves sleeping in a hammock hung between two trees. As it suggests, this type of camping requires a camping spot or area with a lot of trees cover so you can hang your hammock. Before going someplace, you have to make sure the site has suitable trees to hang from, 2” in diameter. You’ll also need a bug net, tarp, and an under quilt or sleeping pad to keep your underside warm.
Having a hammock makes it super easy to go off-grid. Anywhere with trees can be considered a campsite. No need to look for level spaces, avoiding roots or rocks. Hammocks are easy to throw into your pack, car or camper. After getting to your camp, you’ll be off the ground in 30 seconds. Aside from amazing sleep, you also don’t have to worry about waking up in a puddle if it decides to rain on you. Hammock campers do so year-round.
Where can you camp
Now that you know what the different types of camping are, let’s look at where all you can camp.
#1 Front Country Camping
Front country camping refers to designated campgrounds and camping spot that are specifically set aside for people to enjoy – either tent or RV or even car camping. They typically have communal showers and washrooms. Some campgrounds even have communal kitchens where campers can cook, share meals and even socialize with other campers. Most front country campgrounds or camping spots have a designated spot to park your car or campervan, a fire pit and a relatively flat area to pitch your tent.
#2 State or National Park Campgrounds
Many national parks and state parks in the US have multiple campgrounds and camping areas. Some locations are only for RV or motorhomes while others are only for tent and car camping. Most of these types of campgrounds need advance reservations and often sell out really quickly especially on holiday weekends. So, before you go, make sure to call ahead and get reservations. Many national and state parks will have campgrounds that are specifically for walk-in reservations, but this means you need to get it really early in the day to secure a spot which are always first-come-first-served basis.
#3 Private Campgrounds
As the name suggests, private campgrounds are those that are privately owned. KOA and Yogi Bear are a few big-name private campgrounds all over the US. But there are other smaller campgrounds that are considered front country camping. They are often ideal for families with kids because they have a pool, a mini-golf course, a convenience store and gas station on premises. They also host movie nights and game nights where families get together and socialize.
#4 Free Camping
Utilizing free camping around the USA is a budget-friendly and convenient way to take road trips! Not only can it help cut back on travel costs, but staying at free campsites typically provides gorgeous views, solitude from other people, and a quick way to make an overnight stop while on the road.
There are many ways to find these free camping spots, so it can be a little overwhelming at first when you begin to plan your trip. So what exactly is free camping? To keep it as clear as possible, free camping is when you camp for free overnight in your camper, RV, tent, van, or even in your car. There are various different types of free camping across the United States and different names to go with each of them.
There are numerous ways to find free campsites during your trip. You can camp for free in parking lots, rest stops, public lands, Forest Service lands, and much more.
If you want to try out free camping, check out this article that goes into detail on what is free camping and how to find a campsite for free in the US.
#5 Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping or remote camping as it is often called is when you camp in the wilderness often away from groups and crowds. Backcountry campgrounds can be found in almost all National parks and state parks in the US as well as in National Forests and public lands. Some backcountry campgrounds have designed spots and areas set aside in the wilderness to pitch your tent while others are almost a free-for-all approach. You can pitch your tent anywhere as long as it is safe and does not harm any natural resources. Backcountry camping always involves bag packing – carrying everything you need like tent, food, sleeping bags, water etc and carrying refuse/trash back out. You will need to get a backcountry permit from either the national/state park or national forest office where you register yourself and your route. You need sign back out when you return from your trip. This sort of self-check is mandatory so that the appropriate officials know where you are, who you are with and when you return.
Since backcountry camping is often in the remote wilderness, it is important to practice Leave No Trace Behind principles to make sure you leave things as they are once you are done enjoying them.
So are you an avid camper? What type of camping do you enjoy? Or are you looking to get started in camping this summer as a different way to explore the outdoors? We would love to know.
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