Staying at a hotel where you have everything from a comfortable bed, to cooked meals and a hot shower seems far less complicated than camping. After all, a camping trip involves days of packing, tons of gear and many other preparations, right? Well, not really. In fact, camping doesn’t have to be complicated at all. Heck, sometimes you don’t even have to bring a tent. Car camping is extremely popular these days, especially among families with small kids. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t necessarily imply sleeping in your vehicle. This term is used for camping at a campground where you are able to park right beside your tent and most state parks can accommodate car camping. The biggest upside of this type of camping is that you can load up your car and avoid carrying a huge backpack on your back. If you are a car camping newbie here are some tips to help with your first camping trip.
Sleeping arrangements
As mentioned, car camping doesn’t imply sleeping in your car, but that doesn’t mean you can’t! In fact, a lot of people who wish to spend some time out in nature but don’t want to bother with setting up a tent opt for sleeping in their vehicle. Of course, if you have a coupe or a sedan this is not your best option, but in case you own a truck, an SUV or a van, you will be able to place a comfortable air mattress in the back. On the other hand, there is always another solution that is the best of both worlds. Nowadays you can easily buy a tent that is designed to be attached to the back of an SUV or a truck. If this sounds tempting, you can find more info at TheGearHunt. In either case, don’t forget to bring plenty of blankets and crack a window before you go to sleep.
Pack lots of water
Since with car camping you don’t need to worry about weight management, you can bring as many things as you want. The first thing that should be on your packing list is water. Bring lots of it because you won’t use it just for drinking. Instead, you will need it for cooking and showering as well. Being stuck in the middle of nowhere without any water can be a problem, so keep this in mind when you are loading your car.
Don’t be messy
When you head home your camping spot should look exactly the way you found it. Therefore, make sure to bring a lot of plastic bags where you can store your trash. When you leave take those bags with you and throw them in a dumpster you find near the ranger station or at home.
Don’t forget your first aid kit
A lot of mishaps can happen when you are camping, so it is better to be prepared for all kinds of situations than to be caught off guard. Therefore, make sure to pack a first aid kit that contains disinfectants, ointments and wipes, saline solution, cold packs, pads, bandages, tweezers, antiseptic creams, cold and flu medications as well as antihistamines.
Bring plenty of matches or a lighter
Of course, who can imagine camping without a nice campfire? Before you test your scouting skills be sure to check the regulations on campfires since sometimes starting a fire during a drought is forbidden. If everything is in order, use a dedicated fire starter instead of gasoline and make sure you have fully extinguished the fire before going to sleep or heading home.
With these tips your first car camping experience should be a positive one.
