A Guide To Camping: Things You Should Keep In Mind

How do you camp in luxury?

It is hard to dispute the immense enjoyment people from so many walks of life derive from camping. To truly maximize your next camping adventure, you will need to possess a good number of valuable tricks and tips. The article that follows is chock full of useful information sure to help make your time in the great outdoors a huge success.

Those big, colorful plastic storage bins make excellent places to store and organize all of your camping gear. While at home, keep it in a closet or the garage and right before you leave for your camping trip, pop it in the trunk. It should keep everything air-tight, dry and easily accessible.

Remember that your loved ones and possessions will get filthy. If you know this ahead of the actual trip, you can prepare for the inevitable and get yourself some extra supplies. Take this as an opportunity to enjoy the freedom, let your hair down, and get a little dirtier than usual. When you're home, you can be normal again.

Bring a large trash bag for dirtied laundry, and keep it in a central location, suitable for everyone in your party. Let them pack their clothing individually, as this makes it much easier to find than if you pile it all in a community storage box or bag. Toss in a dryer sheet to any bag you want smelling fresh.

When you pack up your camp site to go home, leave a few logs and some kindling for the next camping group that comes along. If you have ever arrived at your site after dark, you know how tough it can be to find firewood! It's a very nice pay-it-forward gesture that will probably help out more than you can imagine.

You can make tasty meals even when you are camping. You do not necessarily need to eat just franks and beans or hamburgers. Pack a box with herbs and spices, olive oil, brown sugar or whatever else you like. You can fix meals that have flavor even when you are "roughing" it.

When traveling to your camping destination, plan on stopping and having a meal when you're near the campground, but before you actually arrive. Being well fed before arriving will ease frustrations if the campground is full, or if it takes longer to get your gear set up. Use this break to discuss your plans and to remind everyone of how to remain safe!

Make sure you have a suitable water source. Even if you bring water with you, plan to need more water and know where you will be able to get more. It is a good idea to know where your water source will be before you go camping at all, but surely right after you arrive.

Make sure that you know how to get a campfire burning before you head out into the woods. If you have difficulties getting a fire started, look for fire starting supplies to take with you. These supplies make it easy for just about anyone to start a fire on the spot.

When you go camping, be sure to have a few activities in mind other than just... "camping". The camping experience is enriched by hiking, swimming, exploring and things like that. Be sure to engage in some of these other activities so that you have the fullest camping experience you've ever had.

Make sure to prepare in advance before you engage in a camping trip. Packing a sleeping bag is pretty obvious, but take the extra precaution of including extra blankets too. This makes sure that any warmth that is not handled by the sleeping bag can be augmented by using extra blankets.

If you are camping for the first time, stay close to home. You may encounter problems with your equipment, or you may decide to come home early. You may not have enough food, or realize that you didn't pack the right clothing. First-time camping is a learning experience and anything can happen, so find a campground near your home.

If you're bringing your dog along for the camping trip, make sure it's wearing its tags. Losing track of a pet can be heartbreaking. Make sure your dog is wearing its dog license and an ID with contact information before you leave on your trip. Neglecting to do so can have tragic consequences.

Don't forget the toilet paper. If you camp in a place with no toilets, you'll need to go in the woods. Leaves are not something you want to wipe with, since you can get poison ivy and a host of other issues. Pack toilet paper.

For your first camping trips, try to choose a place that you can drive to. If your car is nearby you can use it as a "fortress" of sorts when you are in the middle of nowhere. Not only can you enter it in case of wildlife attack; it can also protect you from the elements.

Do not forget to buy a good hat for your camping trip. This is essential because it will keep the sun off of your head and face when it is warm. Hats are good when you are camping in the cold as well, since they keep all of the heat from escaping your body from the top of your head.

Pack your food properly to avoid food poisoning. Food that has not been preserved, vacuum sealed or canned can spoil and give you food poisoning. Pack plenty of ice to keep any perishable foods cold and remember to pull the drain plug in the cooler so the food does not get soaked.

It is important to take toilet paper along when you go camping. If there are no toilets at your campsite, you will need to use the bathroom outside. Avoid using leaves to wipe, as you may not be able to recognize poisonous plants such as poison ivy.

Be certain to bring water purification materials. Even if you are planning on bringing your own water or boiling it best porta potty for camping on site, you never know when an emergency might arise. Try using the tablets at home before heading out on your trip to ensure you understand how they work and what the water will taste like. The worst thing that could happen is that you become dehydrated, so be sure to plan to prevent this from happening.

Now that you have good information, you can plan your camping trip. By using the advice you've gathered here, you'll be a camping pro. No matter if you camp in a distant region or in your own backyard, do whatever is necessary to have a terrific time.