5 Beginner Camping Tips From a First Time Camper
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I know what you are thinking. Why would anyone want camping tips from someone who doesn’t have much experience? I’m sharing my beginner camping tips because they are exactly what I needed, but couldn’t find.
Before our Lewis and Clark camping trip, I searched Pinterest for all sorts of camping tips, but it was completely overwhelming. There was too much information and most of it seemed aimed at people who have camping experience. I didn’t need tips on how to set up a cute Pinterest-worthy campsite. What I needed was basic beginner camping tips.
These beginner camping tips are things I wish I knew before going camping for the first time. Every situation is different, but I hope they help. I’m going to assume that you are camping for the first time in a campground and that you already know where you want to go.
Beginner Camping Tips
Plan your location well (research!)
Many campgrounds offer a variety of accommodation types. They are prepared for motor homes, tents, and sometimes have yurts and cabins. Some sites have water and electricity while others are more primitive. Read the individual campsite description clearly. Also, look at the map to see how far it is to the bathhouse and the amenities you want.
We knew we wanted a cabin that was pet friendly, so we only had a few choices available. Our decision was easy. It was a little harder choice for those in motor homes and tents. They needed to factor in which part of the park they wanted to be near – the beach, the hiking trails, or the amphitheater?
Also, take a quick look at Google maps to determine how far it is to the nearest town.
The closest grocery store was about 45 minutes away from our campground so I double-checked our bags to make sure we were not forgetting anything super important. If there is a grocery store right around the corner, you can be a little more relaxed about bringing everything.
Have an easy way to start a fire
For some reason we always seem to have a tough time getting a good roaring fire going.
It always either never takes off or it burns too hot and dies way too fast. We prepared a few Pinterest fire starters with things like drier lint, toilet paper rolls, cotton balls, and vaseline. By the time we got back from our hike though the kids were starving and we needed a fire asap.
We went straight to a tried and true method – a fire starter log. I’m glad I threw that in my grocery cart at the last minute.
We have used these cotton ball fire starters since our camping trip and had good results. I still keep a fire starter log on hand though. Sometimes tried and true is the easiest.
Plan easy food
Kids seem to eat all of the time, especially when they are exploring the great outdoors. One of my best beginner camping tips is to plan super easy meals and snacks.
We were very excited about the idea of cooking dinner over a campfire. It sounded so relaxing. In reality, it was not as quick and easy as we had expected.
I prepared meals in tin pie plates before we left home so all we had to do was put them over the fire to cook. For the adults, I layered sliced potatoes, a ground beef patty, bacon pieces, and spices. The kids wanted their favorite ‘cheat’ meal – macaroni and cheese. I cooked that at home and just put it in a tin pie plate to reheat.
The first problem that we ran into was that our hike to the beach took much longer than expected because the campground map was inaccurate and not drawn to scale. That meant that the kids were already hungry by the time we got back to our cabin.
We needed to get a fire going and get kids fed fast. The macaroni and cheese reheated fairly quickly, but it still took longer than expected. The potato and beef packets took much longer to cook and tasted just okay – nothing amazing.
Next time we are going to plan much simpler food:
- Things that can be cooked directly on the grill – hamburgers, hot dogs, shrimp skewers, chicken breast, etc.
- Fresh fruit – we brought some, but it was devoured pretty quickly
- Sandwiches
- Cereal (we had planned to cook eggs on our camp stove…until it started pouring down rain)
- Granola bars
Bring appropriate clothing
Everyone will be miserable if they are too cold, too hot, or have blisters on their feet. Make sure to check the forecast right before leaving and bring appropriate clothing. I like to bring one extra outfit for everyone, just in case someone falls in a mud puddle or gets soaked in a downpour.
You will definitely want comfortable walking shoes so you can explore the area without fear of blisters or sore feet. Our campground map wasn’t terribly accurate and what we thought would be a quick walk to the beach turned out to be 4 miles. Thankfully we were all wearing comfortable shoes or that could have turned miserable very quickly.
Also, bring flip-flops or some other slip on shoe for quick trips to the bath house.
When in doubt, throw a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt in the car. If you don’t need it, great. If the night gets chilly, you will be thankful you brought warm clothes.
Keep supplies organized
I naturally like everything organized, but it is especially helpful when multiple people are sharing a small space.
We packed all of the food and kitchen supplies in two bags and a cooler, board games and flash lights in another bag, bedding and pillows in a laundry basket, clothes in an overnight bag, and pet supplies in yet another bag. It seems like a lot of bags, but it made it easy to find exactly what we were looking for on the first try.
Here is what I included on my camping packing list. You might need to add or delete things to customize it to your needs.
Camping Packing List
Kitchen
- Food and drinks
- Cast iron skillet
- Bbq spatula and tongs
- Oven mitts
- Plates, cups, and utensils
- Trash bags (bring at least one for each day so you can throw it away each evening and not bring it into your tent/cabin)
- Citronella candle
Campfire
- Lighter
- Fire starter
- Fire wood
- Jug of water (in case you need to put out the fire quickly)
- Some people like to bring these roasting sticks, but my kids are usually content to search for sticks.
Clothing and toiletries
- Clothing for every day plus a spare set
- Pajamas
- Rain jacket
- Athletic shoes
- Flip flops
- Toothpaste, brushes, and floss
- Deodorant
- Hair brush and hair ties
- Sun screen
- Bug spray
- Medicines and first aid kit
- Quarters for coin-operated showers
- Bedding and pillows
- Towels
Entertainment
- Books
- Board games
- Camping chairs
- Camera
- Bags for all of the treasures your children are bound to find
- Phone and kindle chargers
Pet needs
- Leash
- Food
- Water
- Food and water dishes
- Clean up bags
- Bedding
I’m sure that experienced campers take one look at my beginner camping tips and laugh, but this is what worked for me. An experienced camping friend told me that I overthink camping, but going with the flow is not something I am good at. If you also need a plan, I hope these beginner camping tips were helpful.
We do plan to camp again this summer. While it is not one of my favorite activities, it is an inexpensive way to see new areas. My kids LOVE camping so I’m going to keep doing it with the hope that eventually I will enjoy it too. Maybe one day I will progress from beginner camping tips.
Do you have any beginner camping tips? Share them in the comments!
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