Things to Know Before Taking Your First Camping Trip

Preparing for your first camping trip can be daunting. There are dozens of things to keep in mind, and forgetting any one of them can make the experience much more difficult than it needs to be. 

For first-time campers with an adventurous streak that borders on brashness, the urge to go out and experience the wilderness on its own terms can overpower the more practical, preparation-oriented approach.  

6 Things to Keep in Mind When Preparing for Your First Trip

Sometimes, new campers have to learn things the hard way, but taking time to slow down and prepare for your trip will ensure you become a smart, experienced camper in no time.

1.     Test Out Your Equipment Beforehand

Don’t wait until you get to the campsite to test out your new equipment. If you’ve already been traveling for hours to get to a campsite, you don’t want to fumble around for another few hours figuring out how to set up your tent. If a lantern or a camp stove doesn’t work. 

Take time to practice using your equipment before you take it out on the road. Pitch your tent on the living room floor and see how well you sleep it in. Verify your lanterns, camp tools, and first aid kits at least a day beforehand.

2.     Bring a Tent, Trailer, or RV That Suits the Environment

Whether camping in a tent, trailer, or RV, you must take local climate and weather into consideration. Not all tents are equally suitable for all terrain. Ill-suited camping accommodation can make sleep impossible. 

3.     Make a Checklist and Don’t Forget to Use It

Yes, you probably bought everything you will need the first time out, but things can and will get lost, misplaced, and damaged – and you’ll probably forget about them until your next trip. 

If you start your checklist on your very first camping trip, you’ll already have a starting point for writing off whatever items didn’t make the cut. You’ll know what you used, how much you used.

4.     Arrive at Your Campsite Early 

Arriving early will help you orient yourself in the campground, learn its layout, set your campsite up, and have enough time to enjoy yourself eating dinner and relaxing around your campfire.

5.     Plan Your Meals

Not having to think about your next meal is one of the many conveniences of when your camping. You will need to plan ahead and calculate how many meals you’ll need to serve according to the number of people you’ll be eating with, and make sure your food doesn’t spoil in the meantime. 

6.     Camp Somewhere Close to Home

It’s generally a good idea to stick close to home for your first camping trip. While it may be tempting to go all out and start backpacking through foreign countries from the very start, it’s not an approach that predicts success for most – there will be challenges, and you will have to face them.  

Outfit Your Team with Professional Equipment

Unless you plan on camping solo, you must also make sure your camping partners are prepared. Don’t be afraid to ask your traveling partners to show you what they brought along. One bad pair of shoes can cause an injury that ruins the whole trip – or make an otherwise appealing hiking trail completely inaccessible.