Camping is a fun outdoor activity that can help you get that much-deserving break you have been waiting for, for so long. It is a great way to bond with your family and friends and reconnect with mother nature by spending time in the great outdoors.
This is why most people prefer having annual camping with their family and friends to refresh their minds and bodies.
However, sometimes due to various circumstances, camping outdoors is just impossible. You might not have enough time to cover long distances for a camping trip far away – or on the contrary, sometimes you might be going on a long-distance trip that you will need to stop and camp somewhere in between swell. So what must one do in such a situation – especially when you really need your camping trip?
Well, in that case, it’s your best excuse to car camp! Yes, you heard that right. Have you seen people set up camps in their cars – you can try RV camping, but if that’s difficult to arrange, SUV camping is nothing impossible as well. In fact, sometimes car camping actually turns out a lot better than traditional camping in a national park.
So if this is your first time going for a car camping experience, you are at the right place. Before you leave for your car camping adventure, here are car campaign tips and hacks that can help you throughout the trip and ensure you have a safe and fun time on your adventure!
Table of Contents
6 Tips for Car Camping
1. Keep the Gas Tank Full
It might sound obvious, but everyone needs this before leaving for their camping trip – especially when it is a car camping trip that will require you to depend on your car fuel for most of the journey. Most people leave the city area without finally filling the gas again, which causes problems in the end.
Always remember, even if you left your house with a full tank, make sure to get it filled again at the last pump you find before you enter the countryside – it is sad, but pumps in the countryside or national forest areas are scarce.
So it’s best to keep your tank full, and if you plan to go on a long road trip, you can also fill some in approved containers and keep them in your trunk but you will have to be very careful about it.
2. Try to Make it Comfy
Spending the night in the car might sound exciting, but it is not as easy as you may think it is – you will need to make it comfortable to get a good night’s sleep, especially if you need to drive back in the day or have activities planned for the next day. You can keep with yourself a thick air mattress that you can spread in the back of your car- it will make a comfortable bed for you to sleep on.
Otherwise, you can lay a sleeping pad on top of your car seats and sleep in a sleeping bag. But don’t forget to take lots of pillows or your stuffed animals – since it’s car camping and you are not short on space, what’s the harm in making yourself as comfortable as possible?
3. Keep Lots of Water and Dry Food
Wherever you go, water is the essential thing to keep with yourself – but here is a protip for all car campers. Try to keep the maximum amount of dry food with you. Since most of your time will be spent in the car, it’s better to take dry food with you – you might not find a proper place to cook meals.
And eating complicated dishes in a moving car is also not easy, so keeping snacks and dry food items is a good idea. Other than that, once again, keep an ample amount of water. Whether you are driving, hiking, or just sitting in your tent, you must keep yourself hydrated.
4. Find a Safe Location
Car camping is fun, but you also need to make sure you are safe –and that is only possible if you find the right place for yourself. Forest areas may be great for daytime, but it’s best to find safe and secure parking lots at night. You can go to the parking lot of a nearby store like Walmart or Target to spend the night – if you can’t find a safe location.
However, we always advise our readers not to limit themselves to the paid campground. The best thing about nature is that it is free, so you are free to camp on public land. Just follow some critical guidelines by the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service (USFS and BLM), and find a safe yet beautiful location for yourself.
5. Manage Trash on Your Trip
Trash management is crucial for a car camping trip. You need to make sure you know how not to make a mess and enjoy the fresh air of nature without your own pollution. Try not to let trash sit in the car for long hours; it can get smelly and suffocating, especially if you have to spend your time car camping.
Hence, it’s best to keep trash bags and throw them in the first trash can you spot on your way. Nonetheless, make sure not to litter the environment!
6. Keep a Tent or Camp Chair
Even if you are going for a car camping trip, you can still get an outdoor camping experience if you keep your tent and camp chair with you. As soon as you find a suitable location, you can set up a tent for a few hours – especially if you have kids with you. This way, they can get a tent experience as well.
You can also set a rooftop tent in your car, especially if you are going on SUV camping; this increases your space and allows your family members to take some time alone. Bringing your camp chair along will allow you to be outside still even when you don’t want to set a tent and just need a break from the car.
Plan a Car Camping Trip
There is no doubt that a camping trip is among the best activities a family can plan together. yOU – you can have a lot of fun and connect with your nature and take a break to unplug from technology. But a great way to add a fun twist to your usual camping trips is to go on a car camping trip – it is somehow more thrilling and can be a great new experience for you and your family. So take notes of the tips mentioned above, read a few more related articles, and plan your car camping trip!