Are you getting the familiar urge to hit the road for a camping trip? Whether you want to spend a week in the wilderness or just a night at the local campground, you need to plan. The following advice can ensure that your next camping trip is as relaxing and fun as you desire.
Before leaving on a camping trip, check the forecast for your destination. The Internet is a great resource for finding weather related information for the area you will be camping in. If you have the correct information, you can pack properly.
Duct tape is the cure-all for many different situations. It works quickly for inflatable leaks, tent holes, shoes with worn soles, sealing mosquito nets, sealing up your mosquito netting and many, many more things.
If you are camping for the first time, stay close to home. You could run into problems with your gear, or you may decide you simply don’t like camping that much. You may come to realize that you should have packed different clothing, or need more food. First-time camping is a learning experience and anything can happen, so find a campground near your home.
You do not afford to forget an important item like your sleeping bag or your tent.
Should you decide to bring your dog, pack a long leash and prepare everyone to keep careful watch on the pet. Other campers might be fearful of your dog, no matter how friendly he might be. You must show respect for others when you camp. Also, dogs can cause damage if you let them run free, so be sure to keep control of them at all times.
When you go camping for the first few times, start out close to home. You may find that your gear isn’t up to par, or decide to cut the trip short. You may run short of supplies early. Many issues can occur for new campers, so camp close to home the first time.
Remember to bring along wilderness-friendly activities. Card games, fishing poles, scavenger hunt lists and other supplies can make hanging out in the woods more fun. Take extra things for entertainment if you have children.
If you bring a dog with you to go camping, don’t forget his leash. Many people are fearful of dogs. You must always respect your fellow campers in the area. Also, dogs can damage things around your campsite, dogs can get into trouble and cause damage to the site if not supervised.
Though camping may be about roughing it in the wilderness, being prepared is a necessity. A sleeping bag is a must, and extra blankets should also be considered. That helps you if the night gets really cold, and you are able to use them as padding, as well.
Take along some things to entertain yourself while in the wild.
Did you just purchase a new tent for your trip? Long before you set off in the woods for the real thing, get some practice in on setting up the tent. This will ensure that you understand how the tent is to be set up and taken down. This can help you finish it quickly if you get to the campsite prior to it getting dark.
When you find your site, seek out the softest, soft ground to pitch your tent on. Choosing a slanted or rocky site will make you uncomfortable when in your stay quite uncomfortable. Always put down a tarp in order to stop water damage to the tent.
Make sure you have everything you need for a camping trip. Not planning properly can ruin a whole trip. Write a list in advance of what you are going to need, and then you can check each item off when it is packed. Make sure that you bring a lot of water, knives, soaps and food on your camping trip for safety.
Take steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries while camping. It’s easy to accidentally hit the “on” button on your bags. Keep the batteries for the flashlight in a secure place to avoid accidentally turning them on. This prevents the flashlight from coming on and will stay fresh till you need them.
Plan for every situation that you can think of before packing for your trip. Remember that things don’t always go the way you expect them to. Weather can change, situations can arise, injuries or illness can strike. Never take unnecessary risks or be careless, and always think before you act.
Pack extra flashlights and batteries for your trip. There will be times when it is important to be able to see clearly in the sun goes down. Having the ability to light sources can prevent falls or surprise encounters with wildlife. If you’re taking kids along with you, a smart thing to do is to give each of them a flashlight.
Think carefully on your next trip to prevent the drainage of your flashlight batteries. It’s possible to accidentally hit the “on” button on your flashlight. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. This prevents accidental switch nudges so that they will remain fresh when you need them.
Choose a proper sleeping bag for the conditions in which you will be camping. If you are camping in a colder climate, use a heavy-weight bag and use a light-weight one in the summer.You must have a body closely so that body heat can be retained.
Before setting out on your camping adventure, plan for what you will wear. Take extra pairs of clothes to last you throughout your whole trip. Always bring temperature appropriate clothing for your campsite. You should pack at least one pair of durable closed-toed boots.
Make sure you always know where your children very closely.Cars constantly come and go at campsites, and little kids are prone to getting lost. It takes just a second and something unexpected to happen.
Keep pictures of your children on you if they are comping with you. If your children get lost during your trip, a picture of them can be very helpful. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.
Keep pictures of your children handy if they are comping with you. This can help find them if they are lost during the trip. Be sure that you have brought one for urgent situations, even more so if you’re camping far away from your home.
Camping can either be a beautifully relaxing journey, or it can be a virtual nightmare. Preparation is the difference between the two. If you prepare yourself for the wide variety of situations you may encounter, you are more likely to have fun and enjoy yourself in the woods.
These grab-and-go snacks are nutritious enough to eat in the event you don’t feel like cooking. These foods are non-perishable; if you do not use them, which means you don’t have to worry about the expiration date.
Take a roll or two of duct tape on your next camping trip. Although tents tend to be more durable nowadays, they may still get torn. A little duct tape can be the difference between a comfortable and dry night’s sleep and a drippy night spent awake.
Pack your things carefully and efficiently.Create a checklist of necessary supplies and check each one off while you’re packing them. This is imperative if you plan to visit a far away spot that is not have alternative access to essential safety items.
Before going camping, make sure you know how to read your map or how to use your compass. You can get lost no matter where you are camping, keep that in mind. You can avoid potential tragedy by learning how to use these lifesaving items.
Seal all the seams when pitching your tent’s seams.You may find a tube at most sporting good stores if the tent didn’t include any. This will prevent rain or critters from getting into your tent.
Matches that are waterproof are a key component of any survival kit. Store waterproof matches in a canister that is airtight. If you do not have waterproof matches, you can quickly convert regular matches by dipping them in either nail polish or paraffin wax. A great container for storage is a film canister. A plastic medicine bottle also works.
Clean out your campsite when you leave to go back home. Be sure to pack large plastic bags to put your trash in when you cleanup.Make sure you pick up any food that is left over as leftovers too. The main rule when breaking down a campsite is that you should only leave footprints behind.
When erecting your tent, ensure that all of the tent’s seams are sealed. If your tent doesn’t have a tube, you can find easily find them. Sealant keeps both insects and rain out of your tent.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are smart items to pack on your camping trip. You could always rough it by using leaves and other natural items, but that is an unnecessary inconvenience as long as you plan in advance.
As crazy as it seems, packing a roll or two of toilet paper is a great idea when you are going camping. If there are no restrooms in your camp area, you must go in the woods. Using leaves to wipe could open yourself to mistakenly wiping with poison ivy, so be sure you remember the toilet paper.
Hopefully, reading these ideas has made you well prepared for planning your trip. You should have figured it out that you need to do equal amounts of planning no matter how long the trip is. Start planning now, and soon you’ll be on your way to your own memorable camping trip.
Always follow safety guidelines during your camping trip. Keep away from animals, both large and small. Small wildlife, such as squirrels, can be very dangerous despite their tiny size. Refrain from feeding these animals as they can do damage to you.
