Creating Your Great Camping Adventure

Everything You Need to Organize the Best Camping Trip.

A view of the lake we camped near

Let’s get A-W-A-Y on a Camping Adventure!!! The first time my husband suggested camping as a travel itinerary I thought he had clearly forgotten who his wife is. Fun fact about me, if given the option I would much rather catch my beauty sleep at a five-star hotel on a beach than in a plastic tent on the ground in the woods. That said, our first camping trip taught me that even the bougiest among us can find something super special about camping.

My husband was a Boy Scout, so he was very confident in our ability to navigate our first camping trip successfully. Me ... not so much. I spent hours scouring the internet to find all the information available. From those hours came my Master Camping Supplies list. Be sure to pick up a free copy of that, it's a gem. Once you've booked your site and gotten all the necessary supplies you are more than halfway to a great outdoor adventure. For everything you need to plan a great camping adventure, check out the recommendations below.

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A sunset view of the lake from our tent

ACTIVITIES

Add these to your camping to-do list

So much of the best camping activities is in doing no activities at all. My favorite part of camping is being in a place where there's no service and you are almost forced to disconnect from all the work emails, slack messages, and social media updates. With all the distractions away, you'll find yourself and your family left with just the clean air, beautiful nature and each other. It's the perfect time for family games, friendly outdoor competitions and if the weather is nice enough- a nap. There are many wonderful kid and family-friendly activities while camping. In the past, we've enjoyed everything from fishing, kayaking, nature walks, bike rides, epic games of hide and seek and so much more. I’ve listed my favorite activities below:

1. Hiking

Hiking is an obvious must-do activity on every camping trip. You've spent so much time packing, planning, and driving to your campsite. This is the moment you've been waiting for. I often plan our camping trips and specifically select the sites based on the types of trails and activities available. You can find a lot of this information regarding the trails online.

2. Star Gazing

This is by far my favorite camping activity. We live in the city and with all the pollution and bright lights, the stars might be visible, but nothing compares to seeing them from the mountains. You don't have to be an astrologist to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the stars on a dark isolated sky. If you would like to better understand or explain to the kiddos which constellations you're looking at, there are tons of free apps that will let you use the camera on your phone to scan the sky and identify stars, constellations, planets, comets, and upcoming showers.

Our campfire at night

3. Campfire Stories

Who says spooky stories are only for sleepovers and Halloween? Campfire stories are great fun for everyone! I especially love the versions that get everyone involved. You can start a classic story and have everyone make suggestions for plot twists and changes, or depending on the age of your audience, you can also let everyone take turns going around and improvising from where the previous person left off.

WHERE

There are endless campsite options. How to know which one to pick?

There are so many beautiful campsites and options for a great family adventure. Where you go should depend on the type of camping experience you want to create. When it comes to finding a nice site, I always encourage first-timers to start at their closest national park. Most national parks have well-established camping grounds, and depending on the time of year, you might want an option that includes a swimmable lake or lots of trees for shade. Most park sites include photos of the location or a description of what amenities are nearby. I feel like there are a few main levels to camping and I've included information below on just a few of the options to help you navigate:

Traditional Campsites with a Tent:

Camping with a tent has the highest initial investment, of both time and energy. However, once you've purchased the foundational items- i.e., tent, canopy, cooler, outdoor cookware, and flashlights- campsites themselves are very inexpensive. I've booked at sites that are as low as $7.00 a night. When looking into options for traditional camping, I strongly recommend a minimum of three nights. That's because it can take several hours to get your site fully set up and have everyone be comfortable. It also takes a couple hours to pack everything back up. I've just found that two nights isn't enough for all the set up and tear down time.

Our set-up from outside the RV

Camping with an RV:

Camping in a recreational vehicle can feel a little like cheating. While you can still bring and pitch a tent at your site, most of the RV options include sleeper sofas, pull down beds or other furniture that converts to allow you to sleep in the RV. There are also water connections for the sink and showers. Why do I say it's like cheating? Well depending on the year of the vehicle, many options also include Wi-Fi and television. This isn't exactly the "you and nothing but nature" scenario I previously described, but it is a great middle-ground option for exploring while also having some of the comforts of home. Another major bonus for RV camping, meals are much easier to make and prepare. My family did this during my daughter's junior year of high school. It was a great option for being on the road to tour colleges and skip out on expensive flights and hotels.

Cabin Camping:

My husband lovingly says camping in a cabin isn't camping but I strongly disagree. For me, there are all the benefits of a lovely hotel room- including the bed, mattress, and hot shower, while still being surrounded by fresh air and beautiful nature. I particularly enjoy this option for the winter. Something about a log cabin with a fireplace, surrounded by snow is such a vibe. Insert books and puzzles for a cozy weekend away or sleds and cones for family fun that everyone can enjoy.

Me working inside the tent with portable wifi

Predesigned Glamping Sites:

Last but not least- there's a new trend that's absolutely worth adding to the conversation. Glamping. What's glamping? Think outdoor camping but with more luxurious accommodations than those associated with traditional camping. Think yurts, cabins, and extremely large tents with plush rugs and chandeliers. There are also normally more amenities, like pools, heating, access to indoor plumbing, and other comforts of home. Websites like the Glamping Hub will let you search predesigned spaces for your glamping trip. It's similar to Airbnb for camping.

Notes for first-timers - When selecting your camping site, pay close attention to the amenities list. Not all sites have bathrooms and showers. If you're going somewhere popular- try googling reviews for camping at that park and many repeat locals will share insider secrets that can be super helpful.

My youngest son staring out of the tent window

Affordable

Ways to Save on your Camping Trip

Overall, camping is a pretty affordable vacation, especially if you are reserving traditional camping sites. While it's already lowish cost- there are still options to save that I share below:

Research your Campsite Options:

I've suggested starting with your nearest national park. Typically, national park campgrounds can run as low as $7.00 a night and as high as $30. There are plenty of other campsite options out there but pay attention to the cost. I've seen sites start at $50 and go upwards of $350. Now, these sites include more amenities like parks, pools, and security- but don't be fooled. There are plenty of public sites that have great amenities for a fraction of the cost.

Rent or Borrow Supplies:

While traditional camping in a tent is certainly the most affordable accommodation, it can come with a pretty hefty initial investment. If you're looking for even lower cost, or to offset those initial investments, you can research secondhand purchase options or rent camping gear from local sports goods stores. There are options that ship like Kit Lender or you can just use Google to find the option closest to you.

Make it a Group Trip:

Not only is camping totally better with friends, it's also WAY cheaper! You can share gear, split costs, and divide and conquer the meals. We've gone on some pretty large family camping trips with 50+ people and those take a lot of coordination, but even just grabbing a friend or two can save you big on all the preparations and spending.

Our family photo from the end of the trip

Your Packing List

Ultimate supply list for your camping adventure!

Camping can be done without a lot of fuss, but it does require some foundational supplies. Rather than list everything out here, I've created the ultimate camping supply guide. Best of all, this list is available for free. Get your Master Camping Supplies list here.

Final thoughts - camping can be a ton of work. The setting up and constant cooking from scratch can really present a vibe killer even for the most experienced of campers. Be sure to carve out time for yourself and 1:1 time with your spouse where you can. Stopping to take deep breaths of that super-fresh air can replenish even the grumpiest of souls.

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Remember no matter where the road takes you, stay curious, kind, and compassionate.