camping tips and tricks for adults – New Age Self-Reliance

If you’re reading this chances are you love camping, and would like to go on as many camping trips as possible. Life is busy, so to fit in a camping trip it helps to plan! As much as I love the idea of an impromptu trip to the forest, I know that for me it wouldn’t end up happening. Here are a few tips on how I plan out camping trips.

Pick your days in advance!

Pick a block of days about 4-6 weeks in advance for the camping trip. I pick which days we are going BEFORE narrowing down where we’re headed. Knowing just how much time helps me pick somewhere within a reasonable distance, and not one that is going to put us on a time constraint and stress us out. We planned on 3 days and 2 nights for our George H. Crosby Manitou trip, the furthest trip we’ve taken. We were able to account for stopping to see some of the touristy sites and grabbing some food, while not feeling rushed.

Small cascade at George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

Where will the camping trip be?

Picking where you are going to go camping gets narrowed down quite a bit when you know just how many days you have for your camping trip. If you only have time for a quick overnighter, pick a new spot or even a favorite one within an hour of home. This ensures time for stress-free setup and tear down. If you have half a week? Travel to the other side of the state and take in those sites. When picking a campsite and we have more time on our side I like to pick places with things we have never seen. Two examples would be Itasca State Park has the headwaters of the Mississippi, while George H. Crosby Manitou has a secluded and gorgeous waterfall.

Pick Your Gear!

You’ve decided where? Great! When you are going to a hike-in site, you’re going to need lighter gear and to fit it all in your pack. If car camping with the whole family, you can bring all the entertainment and the big luxury tent. Bringing your dog? here are three things that will make the trip even better. Another thing to think of when picking your gear is the forecast. Take a look as you get closer, but also remember that weather changes and to be prepared. Our store has tons of gear ideas for beginners and experts!

All in all, camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors by yourself or with those you love. The best way to do that is to plan and be prepared!! Let me know in the comments below your tips for planning a camping trip!

Here are 5 camping hacks for adults that can help you optimize your fun and relaxation in the woods.

Carry your shampoo and body wash on a lanyard – finding a place to keep your shampoo and body wash at a camp shower or in a body of water isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Keeping it around your neck can really make things easy no matter where you plan to take your next bath.
Pre-mix your favorite adult drinks in mason jars – Mixing drinks isn’t always the easiest when you don’t have a level surface to prep on. Mix your drinks at home in mason jars and throw them in the cooler for easy grab and go cocktails.
Freeze water in Gatoraid bottles – Fill old Gatoraid bottles 3/4 full of water and freeze them. Not only will it help keep your cooler cold but it will also give you drinking water for the next morning.
Keep your scrambled eggs in mason jars – Mason jars are very useful when it comes to outdoor living. Scramble eggs with all the fixings into mason jars, it helps keep them safe in the cooler and saves tons of time cooking in the mornings.
Carry a fan – Using a fan in the woods isn’t just a good way to keep cool, it also helps with bug control.

Here are just a few Camping Hacks for adults to get us started. by clicking on the picture of this post you can leave your camping hacks in the comments section. What is the one camping hack that saves you time and frustration in the woods?

All underlined words are links to learn more about products or gear!

Also, check out my Camping Hacks for Kids!