Planning A Camping Trip? Read This First

This is the ideal time well spent with nature and discovery for couples or families to get some quiet time. Camping allows everyone on the trip to bond with each other through living in nature, but there is a lot of information that you need to know before going. The article below contains tips to help you properly plan for your next camping trip.

When you’re camping, always look for shelter prior to dark. After night falls, it becomes harder to prepare your camp ground and set up the tent. Those that live in urban areas find this to be the case even more than those that are used to pitch black darkness. Avoid this by setting up your shelter ahead of time.

TIP! When you go camping, find your shelter before it gets dark. After the night falls, pitching a tent, locating firewood and making food can be difficult.

When you’re getting a brand new tent for your camping trip, take it home and completely set the tent up before going on a camping trip. This will allow you to get the experience needed for erecting your tent and make sure there aren’t missing pieces. This will also allow you not to be frustrated when you’re trying to pitch your tent.

Although you might assume the woods will offer you plenty of firewood for your camping needs, nature may surprise you with rain-soaked logs or wood that will not easily ignite. To prevent this problem, bring along a few pieces of your own wood. Make sure to keep that wood dry in your car or another secure location.

TIP! Though you may believe that there will be sufficient wood lying around for your fire, you may only be able to find wet lumber that does not easily burn. Bringing some extra wood in a watertight wrapping is a smart idea for camping success.

Don’t fear that you are overpacking for your children. Camping can get very messy affair. Kids love the dirt and will bring it back to your tent.This means that your children and their clothes can be quite soiled.You can’t avoid the dirt, but you can pack extra clothes.

Let your family members all have a decision when it comes to choosing a campsite. Discuss what state you want to visit. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. To make it easy, pick a few that you really like and then have a family vote.

TIP! Let everyone know they have a say in the campsite and should help pick a favorite spot. Discuss things like the state you would like to see, particular parks that interest you and what type of camping experience you are looking for.

Check the weather is going to be like before you leave for your destination. There are dozens of websites that can provide you an idea of what the typical weather is like in the area during the time of your travel. This will help you prepare for severe weather conditions.

When it comes to children, don’t hesitate to over-pack. Camping can be dirty! Kids love to play in dirt. This means that by day’s end your children and their clothes can be quite soiled. By packing a few extra changes of clothes, your children can be presentable at dinner. Prepare thoroughly!

TIP! Don’t be afraid of bringing too much if you have kids. Camping can be a bit messy.

A bandana or handkerchief can be a great item to bring on your trip. These can be used in a pinch if you need a potholder, like drying your hands or holding a hot pot.

An emergency kit is a very important component to have while camping. There may be different items in it depending on your camping location, but there are some things that should be in any kit. For example, if you will be camping in a Southern state you should certainly carry anti-venom for the local wildlife that you may encounter.

TIP! If you are interested in camping alone or with friends, make sure you have prepared an emergency kit. This kit must include the basics for the event of an emergency.

There may be spiders or bears that could pose a threat.Every camping area has different dangers.

Don’t forget to pack up some duct tape when you’re camping because it’s very versatile. It has several uses like fixing a hole in a tent and holding moisture.

TIP! A roll of duct tape is a very important piece of camping equipment. It can be used as a quick patch for tents, shoes, inflatables, or can be used to secure items such as your mosquito netting.

Always pack enough food and the proper foods. A run-in with food poisoning can end a wonderful trip very quickly. Prepare all of your food in the proper way and research any necessary precautions.

Pack your camping supplies in advance of your trip. You would be pretty irritated if it turned out that you left your sleeping bag or tent back at home. Make a comprehensive checklist of all of the items you will need on your camping trip and double check items in your bags and car against the list to ensure that you do not forget anything.

TIP! It is important that you remember all the camping gear when going on a trip. You don’t need to forget something important like your sleeping bag or tent.

If your dog goes with you, be sure to keep an eye on them and be sure they’re on a leash. There are those who do not like dogs. You should respect the area. Also, because it is a new territory, so be sure to keep control of them at all times.

Take some time to find the right sleeping bag for the climate conditions at your campsite. So bring a lighter sleeping bag for the hotter months out of the year, and a thicker one for the colder months out of the year. The main goal with your sleeping bag is to conserve body heat, which means having a snug bag that hugs the body.

TIP! Sleeping bags can be purchased for a variety of camping conditions. Bags that are light are good for warmer places and a sleeping bag that’s heavier works best when things are colder.

Duct Tape

Never let your kids roam out of your sight. Cars and campers will be pulling in and out, and there is always the possibility of little ones getting quickly lost in an unfamiliar forest. It can take just one second for a child to get into danger, so supervise them at all times to be safe.

TIP! Make sure to watch your children very closely. Not only can your children get lost, but they may also encounter cars that enter the campsite.

Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on any camping trip into the wilderness. It is nearly as useful while camping as it is at home. It can be used to repair holes in your air mattresses. It can seal a rip in your tent, sleeping bag, and even sleeping bags. You can even put some under your feet before long distances by putting duct tape on them. You can also use it to hold on a makeshift bandage.

Use orange peels to ward off mosquito bites naturally while camping. Don’t worry if you forget the bug spray. Seasoned campers suggest that you can rub your skin with the inside of an ripe orange peel. Mosquitoes hate the smell and will fly away for a few good hours; and you will be free of the nuisance.

TIP! Orange peels may protect you from mosquitoes. Don’t worry if you forget the bug spray.

Make sure you have everything you need for a list of your required camping gear and double check it while packing. Forgetting just one or two things could be disastrous for your trip.

It’s a great idea to bring along beef jerky or trail mix when you go camping. You may not be in the mood to cook, so having these with you can be helpful. These items can be stored for quite a while, which means you don’t have to worry about the expiration date.

TIP! Beef jerky and trail mix are two camping staples you should always bring with you. Both items are fairly healthy and will come in handy when you don’t feel like cooking.

When you are camping, pitch your tent on the softest, most level ground to put your tent on. Choosing a slanted or rocky site will make you uncomfortable when in your tent. Always put down a tarp first to prevent any water from getting into your tent.

Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before leaving your car or campsite. If that’s not an option, bring an extra battery. This is an important thing to have and you need to make sure you can use it if you need.

TIP! It’s a great idea to go to your main camp when you have a cell phone that you’ve fully charged. The best idea is to bring a couple of extra batteries to maintain your phone.

Write down a list of all the essentials that are required before you go camping.This is crucial when traveling a long distance and will be in more remote locations.

Always take along a survival and first aid kit when you’re going camping. These items can literally save your life, or to a lesser extent, prevent you from returning from your trip before you are ready to do so. This precaution can prevent loss of life and give you the time you need to get needed medical assistance in case of injury.

TIP! Bring along a survival kit and a first-aid kit. These two kits are essential for your safety and well being.

An orange may just be the natural answer to repelling mosquitoes when you’re out camping.This is an especially useful tip to remember if you forgot your insect repellant. This will keep the mosquitoes for long periods of time.

Depending on your ability to plan, you can either have a great time camping, or you can have a miserable time. The difference between a good and a bad trip is all affected by how well you prepare. Being ready to tackle any situation that may arise will allow you to have an enjoyable trip.

TIP! Depending on your ability to plan, you can either have a great time camping, or you can have a miserable time. Preparation is the difference between the two.

Keep pictures of your children on you if they are camping with you.This is the perfect tool in handy if they are separated from you can’t find them during the trip. Be certain you take a picture in case of an emergency, particularly if your camping destination is quite a ways from home.

Food poisoning is a common danger of camping stemming from improper food storage. Bring preserved foods and foods that don’t spoil easily. Pack perishables in ice, and don’t forget to pull out the drain plug of the cooler to keep food from getting wet.

TIP! So many people suffer from food poisoning because food is not stored and prepared correctly. If the food that you pack for camping is not canned, vacuum sealed or preserved, you exposing yourself to the possibility of experiencing food poisoning from eating spoiled food.

You should never leave your car or basecamp with a cell phone that’s fully charged. You might want to bring a couple of extra battery as well just in case your original runs low. A cellphone is a great emergency so be sure yours isn’t going to die.

Make sure the sleeping bag you choose for your camping trip is right for the time of year and all the weather it brings. If it’s summer time, look for the lightest weight bag you can find, to keep extra cool. For wintertime, you will need to ensure that you have a heavyweight bag that will keep you warm in cold temperatures.

TIP! Always make sure that your sleeping bag is light enough or heavy enough for the season you will be using it in. So a lighter bag for summers and a heavier and thicker bag for winter time.

It is imperative that a first-aid kit and other survival kits on hand when you go camping. These two things will make the deciding factor in whether you have to end a trip early and taking care for situations as they arise. You may also be able to prevent things that are serious injury from getting worse until you can get the injured person.

Take the measures necessary to have a safe camping trip. It’s always important to understand that while you may be curious about wildlife, do not get too close or encourage them to come near you, no matter their size. Small animals such as squirrels and possums can prove more menacing than their diminutive sizes suggest. Obviously, stay away from larger animals like bears and never feed them.

TIP! Make sure that you are always conscious of safety rules, regulations and best practices when you camp. In other words, stay away from wild animals, large or small.

Camping can make for a very relaxing weekend in your life or it can be a miserable one. The difference between each experience all comes down to one thing – preparation. If you plan and prepare for various situations, you’ll be able to better enjoy your trip.

When you are camping, clothing layers are ideal. Even if you check the weather ahead of time, weather can change with very little notice. The morning may have a chill, but the afternoon may be balmy or sweltering hot. Nighttime can often be much colder than mornings and afternoons. Wearing clothes in layers allows you to adjust to rapidly changing weather and temperatures throughout the day.

TIP! When camping in the cooler weather, dress in layers. Weather conditions can quickly change.

Although camping is one of the all-time favorite vacation activities, without proper planning and packing, it can be a disastrous and even dangerous time for anyone! With the information you received from this article you should feel like camping as soon as possible.

Keep your tent dry and ventilated. If your tent is completed sealed, you will find that condensation will accumulate on the sides of the tent from breathing and perspiration. You’ll wake up wet. Find a tent with a built-in vent to reduce the moisture in your sleeping area.

TIP! To remain comfortable while tent camping, keep your tent ventilated and dry. Lack of ventilation can cause condensation to form when you sweat and breathe.