How to camp: a complete guide to camping

So, you want to go camping! You’re in for a real treat. But, where to start?

As idyllic as it sounds to head out to nature for a few nights, there are a LOT of factors to consider. Where should you go? What supplies will you need? What facilities will there be? How do you make reservations? This blog post will cover all of the above and more, so that you can go plan your first (or next!) camping trip with confidence.
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How to find the perfect campground

There is no perfect campground, but there are places that can be perfect for you! There are many things to consider when identifying the campground you’d like to visit. The main considerations are the following:

• Facilities: what facilities does the campground offer?
• Distance from home: how close or far do you want to go?
• Access to attractions: What places do you want to visit while you are camping? Are you interested in trails, or more excited about water sports? Are you looking for mountains, rivers, beaches, forests, lakes, deserts, canyons? 
• Weather and seasonality: What is the weather like, and how will the season affect my experience there?

My method for determining where to camp involves first deciding what type of environment I want to be in and what activities I want to do (ie, “I want to be in the mountains and have access to trails”, or “I want to be by the coast and able to rent a kayak”).

So, how do you find the right environment for camping? I often simply pull up Google Maps and look for state parks, national parks, or national forests near me that are in the general area I’m interested in visiting. These places tend to have campgrounds so it’s a good place to start.

I picked Lake Wenatchee (above!)for our very first camping trip with our son. Why? A few reasons. 1. It’s beautiful, with plentiful trails and a lake near by. 2. It is far enough east that the likelihood of rain at the end of May (when we went) was lower than many other drivable locations. 3. It is close enough to “civilization” (Leavenworth) that we could access services if we had an emergency. It was the perfect place for our very first camping trip when our son was 8 months old!

Types of Campgrounds and Campsites

There are many different types of campgrounds and campsites, so it’s important to figure out which type fits your needs.

• Front country campgrounds are the campsites that are located off a main roadway, where you can drive your car and supplies into the campground area. These types of campgrounds tend to have basic services like restrooms and campfire pits, but the services vary. Front country campgrounds are the focus of this post.
• Backcountry campgrounds are campgrounds that you have to hike into, carrying all supplies in a backpack. This type of camping is not the focus of this post.

Types of front country campsites

Within the category of front country campsites, there is a lot of variation! 

• Walk to campsites are campsites within front country campgrounds where you can’t park within the site itself and have to walk a bit of a ways to bring in all your supplies. Parking will often be a few hundred yards from your site.
• Tent only campsites allow you to pitch a tent (or sometimes two) in the site. This is the most widely available type of campsite. The campsite description should include 
• RV/van campsites have hookups for water and/or a longer area that will fit a large vehicle. Oftentimes, you can still camp with a tent at these sites, but some are reserved only for RVs or vans so double check the site information. 
• How many people are allowed per campsite? Most often, the limit to the number of campers per site is 8 people, but not always (sometimes it can be four, or six). Be sure to read the details on your campsite listing. 
• Free dispersed camping: There is also the possibility to camp for free on national forest land and Bureau of Land Management land, which is called dispersed or primitive camping. These areas have no facilities, however, so they are better suited for more rugged and experienced campers. Campendium has a great resource about dispersed camping.

Enjoying an outing near our campground at Many Glacier, Glacier National Park. This is the most highly coveted campground area in the park due to its proximity to fantastic trails and excursions. One day we took a boat and hike tour of Grinnell Lake and it was unreal. We departed about a mile or two from our campsite. Sweet deal!

Facilities

Facilities vary greatly among campgrounds. 

• Toilet facilities: Campgrounds may have latrines or flush toilets. If flush toilets are important to you, be sure to confirm that the campground has them!
• Showers: many campgrounds do not have shower facilities, but some do. Oftentimes you’ll need quarters to operate showers. Be sure to read the specifics about your campground with regards to showers.
• Water or dry: while the majority of campgrounds have some source of potable water available to campers, not all do. If you visit a dry campground you will need to pack all the water you will need, or have access to a source of water and a water filter.
• Parking: Campsites can usually accommodate either one or two vehicles. Check regulations at your site. Usually if you are able to bring a second car, it will cost an additional fee per day.

Note: In general, national parks have flush toilets and sinks with running water, but no showers (this isn’t always true – just a generality). State parks in Washington often have flush toilets, sinks, and shower facilities.

I like to bring my solar shower if there isn’t one in the campground. You fill it with water, leave it to warm in the sun, and boom! Post-hike cleanliness awaits.

Beyond the basics, what is available in each campground can vary dramatically. Some may have performances and outdoor theaters (often national park campgrounds have something like this). Some have playgrounds for children (Lake Wenatchee State Park comes to mind). Others have grassy areas and picnic spots. It all depends!

From a camping trip to Mt. Rainier National Park. We stayed at Ohanapecosh Campground, a gorgeous area about half an hour from the Paradise entrance of Mt. Rainier. We were able to get there early and appreciate the beautiful golden light.

Food storage

You’ll need to consider how to store your food and any scented products safely while camping. Generally speaking, in very bear-heavy areas you will have access to a bear locker where you’ll need to put anything with a scent (chapstick, sunscreen, deodorant, toothpaste, and any food items). You don’t want any bears or other creatures getting into your things! Other times, you’ll be able to keep these items in your car. Make sure you follow the directions at your given campground.

Reservations

So now you’re ready to make reservations for your camping trip! Once you pick a date, it’s time to make reservations.

But how far in advance do you need to make camping reservations? It depends on which company or organization you are booking through, and how popular the season is in the given campground. If you are booking an extremely popular campground during high season, you’ll want to book as soon as the booking window opens. 

For national parks and national forests, this is 6 months in advance of your date. For example, I went to Glacier National Park in early July. I could make a reservation for July 1st on February 1st at 7 am PT. This is when I had to make it, because every site booked within the first few minutes of availability opening. 

This is one extreme end of the booking situation, but it frankly is not that uncommon. Sites book out very fast, especially in the summer in the mountains! Spring in places like the South West will also book out quickly, so make note of when the booking windows are for your given campground. 

Snagging sites at Glacier National Park required me to be online from the second reservations opened. They were all gone within mere minutes from release, it can be a total scramble.

• For national parks and forests, you can book sites 6 months in advance.
• For state parks in Washington, you can book sites 9 months in advance.
• For state parks in Oregon, you can book sites 6 months in advance.
• For state parks in California, you can book sites 6 months in advance.
• For state parks in Idaho, you can book sites 9 months in advance.
• For state parks in Alaska, sites are primarily first come, first served.
• For state parks in Montana, you can book sites 6 months in advance.
• For provincial parks in British Columbia, you can book sites 4 months in advance.

Nico enjoying our campsite at Colonial Creek North, in North Cascades National Park. These sites are primarily shaded (in the woods) and right by Diablo Lake.

First come, first serve campsites

There are also many campgrounds that are first come, first served only, or have dedicated sections that are first come, first served. If you’re planning to camp midweek this is a safer option than on a weekend. I personally have never opted for a first come first served campground because I’d be too anxious if the campground was full and I’d driven all the way there for no reason! However, I have plenty of friends who have found success with these types of sites.

Where else can I make campsite reservations?

There are a variety of options for camping outside of state and national parks. A couple of main, national options can be found on Hipcamp and KOA. 

Hipcamp is a network of private campsites or places to stay that are somewhat similar to AirbNB in the sense that individuals rent out spaces or facilities to campers or “glampers”. Hipcamp rentals can be as basic as a spot to pitch your tent or a more glamorous option like a canvas tent with a real bed and mood lighting. Check out Hipcamp stays and prices here.

KOA is a private camping network of over 500 campgrounds across the US. These campgrounds tend to be pricier than state and national park options, but also often have more facilities, like swimming pools, horseshoe pits, basketball courts, or even climbing walls. Find a KOA campground near you here.

CampNab

So maybe you want to go camping in the next month or two but can’t find any available campsites. For those of us who like to be more spontaneous (and by spontaneous I mean not planning out camping trips 6-9 months in advance!) this could be a real challenge. 

Enter Campnab. You can pay for an individual trip or for a membership, and they will scan for canceled reservations on your dates in your chosen campground(s). 

One of many times we got a site thanks to Campnab. Yay!

Every time I’ve used Campnab it has worked for me. Literally. I’ve gotten to take so many trips I wouldn’t have taken otherwise, including places like Mount Rainier National Park. 

Let Campnab help you find a campsite!

This sunrise hike, complete with a cloud inversion and views of Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens, brought to you courtesy of CampNap. There’s no way I would have a) gotten the campsite on a holiday weekend in Mt. Rainier National Park without it and b) without a campsite I would not have gotten myself out of bed in time to make the 3 hour drive here for sunrise. Thanks CampNab!

Camping Gear

So, what gear do you need to go camping? There are a handful of must-have pieces of camping gear, and many more nice-to-have items. Let’s break it down.

What to bring camping (camping gear must haves)

• A tent is probably the most important item. You will want a tent that fits the right number of people, has a sturdy rain fly, and provides the right amount of protection from the elements. 
  • For most campers, a three season tent is fine; this is what most tents are. As a beginning camper, I would recommend renting a tent from REI before investing in your own.
  • Coleman has a variety of affordable tents that hold up super well. We used these for years with great success. Check latest prices on Coleman tents here.
  • If you’re ready to take the plunge and get a higher end tent, I absolutely LOVE our REI Wonderland tent. It is so tall and spacious, easy to set up, and all around fantastic. We got ours on sale half off during the spring sale. Check prices for the Wonderland tent here.
  • Sleeping bags are also critical. You’ll want to consider material (synthetic or down) and temperature rating (how low of a temperature you can sleep in safely). You can also choose a warmer style mummy bag, which tapers to a narrow bottom, or a rectangular style bag. Coleman has excellent quality affordable sleeping bags. Find a Coleman sleeping bag now.
• Sleeping pads or air mattresses will make your life much more bearable while camping. I personally prefer an air mattress (and don’t forget a pump with a car plug). Thermarest is renowned for high quality sleeping pads. Check out this top selling sleeping pad.
  • Something to consider is the r-value of your sleeping pad. Essentially, this tells you how much protection from cold you will get from your sleeping pad. To read more about r-value, click here.
  • Camp stove: You will need somewhere to boil water and cook food. Coleman is the tried and true option. Ours is many years old (my dad gave it to us from my childhood camping days!) and still works great. Get your Coleman stove here.
• Lantern: It gets dark in nature areas at night without street lights, so you’ll need a source of light. This could be a flashlight, a head lamp, or a lantern. 
  
• Cooler: You’ll likely be bringing your own food to cook, so you need a cooler for produce, meat, and/or dairy products. This basic cooler should do the trick!
• Kitchen supplies: You’ll need some basic cooking supplies. Some of our items we just bring from our kitchen at home, which is definitely an option and what I’d recommend for first time campers. When you’re ready to make your own camp kitchen, REI has an incredible selection. Find your camping cookware here.
• Bug spray: You’ll likely be camping in warmer weather for your first trip, and so you’ll probably bug spray too depending on where you are. I swear by heavy deet bug spray – my husband gets eaten alive if he doesn’t use it and is totally fine with it on. If you want something more natural and family-friendly (from 2 months and older) that also works well, try this picaridin based repellent.
• Sunscreen: I love SunBum for the delicious coconut smell and its functionality. Get SunBum here. If you’re swimming in the ocean it’s best to use a mineral sunscreen, but to be honest, these haven’t worked nearly as well for me as chemical sunscreen. I like to wear an SPF swim shirt (this one from Oneil is awesome, just like mine!) and a broad brimmed hat and therefore minimize the amount of mineral sunscreen needed.

If you are going to be in bear country, you should be hiking with bear spray. This is the best protection in case you stumble upon an aggressive bear (or any other wild animal for that matter). It is also required in some places, like Glacier National Park. Check prices for bear spray here.

Cuties at our campground in North Cascades National Park. Featuring our hardy Coleman stove, going strong for more than a decade & used on every single camping trip, cabin excursion, and warm food picnics. A camping essential.

What to bring camping (camping gear nice-to-haves)

Don’t feel like you have to buy alllll the things when you go on a camping trip. Of course there are many items you can buy to make your camping trip extra comfortable, but truly you can get away with just the basics. 

However, if you want to upgrade your camping experience, here are some great items to buy or borrow from a friend.

• Camp chairs: you can get basic cheap camp chairs at places like Walmart or Target (which is what we have, I’d like to upgrade eventually) or you can get a really nice camp  chair from REI. I have my eye on this Nemo Moonlight Reclining Camp Chair.
• Picnic blanket: This is a very useful item to have for anywhere you might like to have a relaxed lunch or spot to read, or even in your own campsite (especially if you have a little one). I’ve had this awesome picnic blanket for years and love it.
• Table cloth: Helps to feel cleaner and also bring some ambience to your campsite.This one is super cute and the vinyl makes it easy to wipe off dirt or dry off your seats if it rains.
• Dish washing buckets: you’ll need some type of container to wash dishes more easily (I’ve done the dishes without them but it isn’t very fun). I’d recommend two of these, one for soap and one for rinsing.
• Hammock: this is a clutch item to have for sure and extra amazing after a busy day on the trails. Eno hammocks are incredible, lightweight, and durable. Check prices here.
• External battery: This is particularly helpful if you’re camping for more than a night or two and want to have a working phone or camera. We have this one and it has been so helpful (3 years and still going strong). 
• Yeti or Stanley for morning coffee: Hot coffee or tea is a must on cool camping mornings. Check latest prices here.
• String lights: Totally frivolous, but so fun. String lights always improve my mood! These ones are rechargeable via USB. 
• Solar shower: I love to camp but I hate being dirty. Therefore when we go to campgrounds that don’t have showers, I bring my solar shower. It makes a huge difference to get into my sleeping bag clean. Honestly cannot recommend one of these enough!
• Biodegradable dish soap and biodegradable shampoo are a must.

My favorite luxury camping item: a hammock. We have the two-person Eno hammock and it’s the only place we want to be after a long day on the trails.

We get a ton of use out of our picnic blanket, especially with a little one. Also pictured: grill and camp table.

Trying anything new for the first time can be daunting, but hopefully armed with these tips you feel ready to get out and camp! If you have any questions about camping that you’d like me to cover in future posts, drop me a comment and let me know.

Doesn’t get much better than waking up in the shadow of Mt. Rainier and getting to hike to places like this. Snow & Bench Lakes, Rainier.

Looking for more? Parents of young children, check out my guide to camping with babies and toddlers.