7 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Camping Trip

Since camping with my parents as a kid, I’ve camped all over the world. From France for Le Mans, to South Africa, to National Parks including Death Valley, Great Sand Dunes, and in Moab for Arches and Canyonlands. While I recently built a campervan for this purpose, you don’t need anything as elaborate. Camping out of the back of your car (or in it!) is a great way to experience the great outdoors.

If you’ve never been camping there are a few things you should know before you head out. Seven things in fact, including gear you might need, setup tips, and more. These should help make sure your adventure in the wilds goes smoothly.

When Planning, Start Small

If you’ve never camped before, start small. Don’t plan a 10-day through hike in Alaska. Maybe just an overnight at a campground a few hours (or less) from where you live. Even your backyard, if you have one, can be a great start. When I was prepping for my multi-month coast-to-coast road trip, camping out of my Miata, I did a weekend 2 hours up the coast as a trial run to make sure it would work.

So find a campsite with water and, ideally, showers. I love KOA campgrounds as they tend to have lots of amenities to make camping a little easier, though there are state and private campsites all over the country that offer similar features. Some National Parks have great built-up campgrounds. Others might just be a flat piece of land with no facilities at all. Those specifically aren’t ideal for your first outing. A campground with a store, or located near a town, can be super helpful when you’re not sure what to bring or what you’ll need.

Once you’ve got the basics figured out and you feel you’re ready for something more elaborate, book early. If it’s your dream to camp in Yosemite or Yellowstone, for example, know that the campgrounds inside the park can book many months or more in advance. However, there are often campgrounds just outside the park that will work great.

Some Gear Is Must-Have, But You Don’t Need To Spend A Lot

It can be easy to think you need all sorts of elaborate and expensive gear to camp correctly. That’s not really the case. You’ll probably need a sleeping bag, though if you’re in your car blankets might be fine depending on the expected weather (most places do get cold at night though!). I highly recommend a foam or inflatable mattress. If you’re not hiking with your gear, you don’t need a special camping pillow. In my van I bring pillows from home.

There are some other basics that will make your life far easier.

Toilet paper: Don’t assume the campsite will have any.

Water: Bring more water than you think you might need, especially if it’s hot during the day or you’re planning on hiking. Just because a campsite has water doesn’t mean it will be drinkable. Death Valley National Park recommends 1 gallon per person per day. In cooler, wetter environments, you won’t need that much, but remember, you might need it to cook, clean, and brush your teeth with as well as drink. A few gallons is a good place to start, especially if there’s a store at the campground where you can buy more.

Power bank: A portable, USB-charging power bank can keep your gear charged without having to use your car. A 10,000 mAh battery can likely charge your phone roughly twice.

A headlamp and other lights: A good, rechargeable, LED headlamp is a huge help. You can light up your way while keeping your hands free. I’m partial to the ones that also have a red LED as those impact your night vision less. A lantern you can put on a table or in your tent is helpful too.

A tent that’s slightly larger than you might think: If you’re not sleeping in your car (which is totally fine!) keep in mind that every tent manufacturer thinks their customers are hobbits. When a tent says it’s made for 2 people, that typically means 2 small, very friendly people with no bags. If you want a little room to move around, get at least the next size up (a tent “for 3” for 2 people, for instance). The tent I used for years was allegedly for 4 people but it was barely wider than my sleeping bag. You don’t need a palatial palace, mind you, especially if you’re just starting out.

Window screens and shades: If you are sleeping in your car, consider window shades and screens. Custom-fitted shades can help keep the sun out so you’re not up at daybreak. They can also help keep heat out or in, depending on the season. Magnetic screens, placed outside on the doors, let you keep the windows open for ventilation while keeping bugs out.

A tarp: Tents will usually come with something to put between them and the ground. A big tarp is cheap, can add an additional layer, and with a bit of rope can also function as a makeshift tent over a table (depending on the location of the table and any trees). Just a good, cheap, handy thing to have.

A cooler: Keeping things cold is great, assuming you have somewhere nearby to keep it stocked up with ice.

Location, Location, Location

As in all things real estate, the location of your campsite is key. Sure being close to the restroom sounds great, but what about noise, smells, and people walking through your campsite to get there? No right or wrong answer here, just something to keep in mind. Personally I aim to be close, but not too close.

Most campsites will have a dedicated area for tent placement. Generally this will be relatively flat, though there’s infinite variation. If you’re not camping in a campground there’s even more variability. You want some place as flat as possible, with no rocks or roots to make your sleeping surface lumpy. Also look up. Falling branches can literally kill you. If you’re on or near a hill, consider what will happen with water if it rains. Aim the door to your tent downhill so you can get out if there’s a sudden deluge but facing away from the wind.

Also, set your tent up at least once before you go. They’re typically not difficult to assemble, but it’s better to have a general idea what’s going on than trying to do it for the first time in the dark when you’re tired and hungry.

Consider Food And Food Precautions

For your first adventure, keep it simple. Peanut butter and bread, or something similar, for example. There’s no need to go crazy. For the next step, consider some dehydrated meals. I’ve tried a bunch of these and like Mountain House, but there are other options. They all tend to be a bit pricey, however.

You’ll also need some way to cook. A pan over a fire will work. I have a JetBoil MiniMo, which is extremely compact and heats up water very quickly. If you’re starting a fire, make sure you consult the campground’s rules. Not every place allows an open fire. Many won’t allow you to gather wood or bring wood from somewhere else either. You’ll need to buy it at the store. If you’ve never started a campfire before, that’s a whole other thing, which brings us back to the convenience of the JetBoil or other camping stove.

For anything more elaborate, make sure you know every step of what you’ll need, including other cookware, a place to prep the ingredients, and so on. You’ll also need to clean all of that.

Does A Bear Poop In The Woods?

Yes, and they also eat there. One of the biggest dangers when camping in certain areas is the wildlife. Areas with bears and smaller, scavenger animals like racoons, will typically have food lockers. These aren’t to protect your food, that’s secondary, they’re to protect YOU. You do not want to be woken up by a bear in the middle of the night looking for a snack that might be next to your sleeping bag, or in it. Don’t mess around. Bears look cute and cuddly but fun fact! They are not.

It’s important to remember that “food” to a bear is basically anything that smells. This includes toothpaste, moisturizers, sunscreen, even face and body wipes. While bears are easily the biggest fear in some parks, a pack of hungry racoons or an inquisitive skunk aren’t to be messed with either. Don’t leave this stuff in your car either. Bears can get in and now you’re driving home with broken windows and an extremely rude passenger.

Things To Avoid

Since this is your first camping trip, there are a few things you might want to avoid. Some of these are fine for future trips, but you don’t need to go all-in and potentially waste money right now.

Camping chair I love a good collapsible chair, and don’t get me wrong sitting around a campfire is delightful. However, if you’re not sure you’re going to camp often, you probably won’t need something like this right away. Most campsites have picnic tables at every site so you’ll have a place to eat and hang out.

Elaborate cookware, plates, etc. It’s easy to start spending lots of money on camping-specific gear. Don’t get me wrong, it can be fun. If you’re just starting out, though, you don’t need most of this stuff. Plates and utensils from home will suffice at the beginning. If you don’t want to worry about cleaning them, paper plates and biodegradable utensils will work fine.

12v or battery-powered refrigerators Again, I have one of these in my van and I adore it. Total gamechanger. It was also really expensive. To start, any inexpensive cooler will work fine, especially since you should be camping somewhere near a store that likely has ice.

When You’re Ready To Head Home

Lastly, when you’re ready to head home, make sure you leave your campsite as you found it. Trash in nearby bins or dumpsters, no active campfire, etc. Do your best to get rid of any dirt that’s made its way into your tent. You’ll thank yourself next time.

I also recommend airing out your tent and sleeping bag when you get home. It’s surprising how quickly both can get stinky, which is not what you want to discover when you’re setting up your next campsite. And I hope there will be a next time! Enjoy!