Camping Guide For Beginners

I am super thrilled that for my August Expert Opinion blog post I have managed to persuade an expert camper to create for you, my readers, the most comprehensive Camping Guide for Beginners. Please meet Jen Rogers, an avid camper with a couple dozen years of experience camping in various locations and the owner of Jen Rogers 33 travel blog. I have been camping for several years now but even I find lots of helpful camping tips in her Camping Guide for Beginners. All amazing pictures in this post a Jennifer’s.

Disclaimer: this article may include affiliate links, which means that we may earn a small commission at no cost to you, which we use to help support our blogs and bring you more great content.

So, you’ve finally decided to go camping and experience what it’s like to sleep in a tent under a dome of stars and the light of the moon listening to the sounds of nature in the night.  You’ve pulled out your tent and hiking boots, but now what? You definitely need a camping guide for beginners to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls and have a fantastic trip and I am happy to provide you with one!

Well, first things first.  You need to prepare, and you need to be prepared for anything! Being unprepared is the quickest way to ruin any camping trip and you definitely want to make the most out of your first adventure outdoors.

Camping Guide For Beginners Part 1: Before You Go

Pick a Destination

Before you ever leave home, you need to decide where and when to go camping. If you’ve never been camping before, one of the most important camping tips for beginners I can give you is to choose a place and a time of year that will offer you the most comfort.  After all, this is your test run and you want to enjoy it. 

For most places, that means traveling in the spring or fall as summer heat is often not fun to deal with nor are harsh winter conditions.  A great place to start your first camping experience is at one of our state parks or national parks.  These are some of our most beautiful protected lands.  However, most require reservations through Reserve America and book up quickly.  I recommend booking at least 6 months in advance and up to a year ahead of time to ensure you get the site you want. 

Since you won’t know exactly what the weather will be like that far ahead of time, research the area’s average climates and temperatures for the time of year you’re planning on traveling before locking in a final destination.

Decide what it is you want to do on this first trip.  Are you going to want to relax at your campsite all day with a good book, go for a rigorous hike or a swim? Ask yourself what you enjoy doing most outdoors and what you want to get out of your trip and pick a spot that will allow you do those things.  If sitting around the campsite is a priority, choose a site with privacy, perhaps near a stream with a beautiful view. If you plan on getting out all day exploring as much of the surrounding area as possible and don’t plan on spending much time at camp, pick a location near your must-see sites and don’t worry so much about the beauty of the campground itself.  If there is a particular sunrise spot you want to capture, choose a campground nearby.  You get the drill.    

Another question you should consider is how long you will want to be gone away from the comforts of home.  If this is your first camping trip, in my camping guide for beginners I recommend taking no more than a week. Stay long enough to enjoy the experience but not too long that you miss the amenities of home. The idea here is to have fun so you will want to try camping again.

Here is another camping tip for beginners: try car camping at a drive-up campsite if this is your first experience. There is no reason to make your first trip a backpacking adventure or stay in a hike-in site where you have to haul gear unless you know you will enjoy that kind of thing.  This is a chance for you to see whether or not you enjoy spending the night outdoors and should be a painless test run.  You might want to also consider planning a trip with friends or family who are seasoned campers as they can help show you the ropes and will likely have things you may have forgotten.

Here is an extra camping tip for beginners from Family Road Trip Guru: I started collecting information on great campgrounds for families with kids and write detailed reviews on the ones we visited – check them out!

Test Run

Consider doing a test run with your gear before you leave home.  Set up your tent and sleeping arrangements in the backyard to try them out.  This will help you to know what works and what doesn’t.  Plus, you can take note of things you wish you had brought along while you can still run inside the house or go to the store to grab them.

A common rookie mistake people make while camping is showing up in a brand new pair of hiking boots.  All boots need to be broken in to help avoid blisters and sore feet.  Several weeks before leaving home, start wearing new boots for a short period of time each day.  If you develop sore spots, take a break and resume a few days later. You should be able to comfortably wear boots for a few hours without issues before you head out on your trip. 

When shopping for gear, always try it out thoroughly.  Don’t be embarrassed to roll out the sleeping bag on the ground, get inside and try to sit up and touch your toes to make sure it’s not too short or confining before you buy it.  You may feel silly doing this, but it can save you from purchasing gear you end up hating.  When trying on backpacks, snap the straps, raise your arms above your head and make sure the sternum strap doesn’t cut across you neck.  Make sure the hip belt actually rides on the hips.  Test zippers on everything, even clothes and duffel bags, several times to make sure there are no issues. 

Camping Guide For Beginners Part 2: What to Bring

For beginners, the prospect of buying a tent and other gear for your first camping trip is probably a bit overwhelming.  Just knowing what to bring can be a challenge.  At a bare minimum, in my camping guide for beginners below I have some suggestions for picking out the gear that’s right for you.  You can also rent gear from places like REI. 

The Essentials

• Tent with extra stakes

Not all tents are the same.  There are different sizes, different weights and tents for different seasons.

Standard sizing of a tent is usually expressed in how many people the tent can sleep. However, this can be misleading because while a 4-person tent can hold four people, it holds 4 people with no room left over to move around.  I suggest purchasing a tent that will hold 1-2 people more than the number in your party.  For example, if you are camping solo, I suggest a 2-person tent.  If there are two of you, I suggest a 3 or 4-person tent.

I suggest purchasing a three-season tent.  This will be strong enough for climates from spring through fall and include a rain fly.  They are typically light weight and easy to assemble.  If there are just two of you, I recommend a dome tent.  If there are more or you than a family cabin tent may be the way to go.

Most tents come with a footprint but if not, be sure to take a tarp with you to lay underneath the tent when you set it up.  This will provide ground cover that helps protect the tent from abrasion extending the life of the tent.

• Sleeping bag

Sleeping bags are rated by temperature.  Choose a sleeping bag with a lower temperature rating than the lowest nighttime temperature you are expecting on your trip or on future trips.  You can always unzip a bag that feels too warm and you do not want to be cold making it hard to sleep.  Summer season bags have temperature ratings of +30° and higher; 3-season bags are +15° to +30°; and winter bags are +15° and lower. 

There are also several styles of bags including rectangular, semi-rectangular and mummy.   I personally prefer mummy bags as they keep you warmer by providing a snug fit and can wrap around your head adding warmth.  However, some people may find them confining.  If you want to be able to stretch out more, you may want to consider a semi-rectangular or rectangular bag instead.  Just know that any extra air space around your body on a cold night will make it harder to stay warm.  If you do end up getting cold, you can always stuff a jacket, blanket or scarf around you to fill in the gaps so there is no extra space for cold air.

• Sheet and/or Sleeping Bag Liner

If you are camping in warm weather, I strongly recommend bringing along a sheet to use to cover you in case your sleeping bag becomes too warm.  You can also purchase a sleeping bag liner and sleep in that instead of your bag.  Liners can also be used inside your bag to add extra warmth when it’s cold.

• Sleeping pad

I recommend choosing a thick sleeping pad or air mattress if this is your first-time car camping.  You will want to be comfortable.  Typically, when car camping, you have plenty of room for a thicker pad and weight is not an issue like it is when backpacking.   Be sure to remember an air pump for your pad if needed to blow it up.  You can also buy a self-inflating pad.  

• Pillow

There is no reason to leave all of the comforts of homes behind when car camping. Bring along your favorite pillow or get yourself a camping pillow.  These are smaller versions of typical pillows that fit better inside your sleeping bag.  You can even buy a blow-up pillow which folds up nice and neat for packing and takes up less space.

• Blanket

Bring a blanket you can use if you get cold while sleeping and for sitting around a campfire at night.  Blankets are also great for laying across a picnic table bench before sitting down when it’s too cold or too hot from the sun.

• Pop-Up Tent/Sunshade

• Water flask or canteen

If you’re camping in the summer or when rain is in the forecast, consider bringing a pop-up tent or a sunshade to go over areas like your tent, the picnic table or spots you plan on congregating at.  Shade on a hot day or shelter from rain will go a long way to making this a pleasant experience.

• Tarp

Tarps are great for several reasons.  If you are camping in an area that has morning dew, use it beneath your tent instead of the footprint to protect the tent from moisture as well as wear and tear.  If you’re camping without a pop-up tent or sunshade in direct sun or rain, you can string a tarp up between the trees over your tent, sitting area or picnic table to provide protection from the elements.

• Campfire chair

• Headlamp and Extra Batteries

A headlamp is an absolute camping necessity and so much better than a flashlight.  A headlamp allows you to walk around hike, set up a tent, get dressed and cook dinner leaving your hands completely free.  Choose one with multiple settings and both red and white LED lights.

• Travel First Aid Kit DIY

• Plenty of drinking water

• Pocket knife/multitool

• Sunscreen

• Bug repellant

• Toilet paper

• Hand sanitizer

• Towel

• Firewood

• Axe

An axe is great for both splitting wood for your campfire and hammering in tent stakes. 

• Kindling

• Backpack

• Ear plugs

Sometimes campgrounds can be noisy at night and tent mates often snore making ear plugs a necessity for a good night’s sleep.  Bring along a pair just in case.

• Waterproof matches or lighter

Be sure to bring extra!

For the Kitchen

• Camping stove – at least 2 burners
• Camping stove fuel (bring extra)
• Ice chest
• Pot (at least one)
• Pan (at least one)
• Cutting board
• Plates, bowls, cups and utensils
• Paper towels
• Spatula
• Large spoon
• Knife
• Can opener
• Bottle opener
• Aluminum foil
• Spices
• Trash bags
• Collapsible water container
• Plastic sink, biodegradable soap and a dish towel

Clothing

The best secret for being comfortable when camping is to dress in layers. Weather is fickle and outdoor temps can drop quite quickly especially at higher elevations and during certain times of year.  Changes in temperature from day to night can be quite dramatic and there is always a chance of a windchill factor coming into play.   

It’s also quite easy to overpack and you will undoubtedly need fewer clothes than you think. Below is a list of things to consider bringing depending on the weather.

• Hiking boots
• Sturdy, hiking sandals if camping in summer
• Water shoes if you will be near rivers, lakes or streams that may have muddy or rocky shores
• Bathing suit
• Extra socks – you should always have several extra pairs of spare socks in case feet get wet (even from sweat) as this can lead to blisters and make your feet extremely cold at night)
• Shorts
• Long, light weight pants
• Short sleeve and long sleeve shirts
• Light weight jacket
• Warm sweatshirt
• Heavy jacket (consider a down jacket if temperatures will be low)
• Long underwear if weather warrants it or a pair of very thick tights with the feet cut out for underneath your pants.  I even bring a pair in summer just in case.
• Ski pants – I always bring a pair of ski pants if nighttime temperatures will be low. They will absolutely keep you warm when temps drop.  This is a must bring for me.
• Rain jacket and rain pants if rain is predicted
• The usual – underwear, sports bra, bra, etc.
• Baseball hat or wide brim hat for warm weather and sunny days
• Snow cap or beanie for cold weather and for sitting around the campfire. Scarfs also work great for cold nights.

I recommend using a duffel bag for clothes but be warned, it’s quite easy for a bag to get disorganized with clothes thrown all about.  Bring several smaller bags to organize things. Put all of your socks and underwear in one bag.  Roll shirts and pants into tubes and lay them across the bag in a row.  Rolling clothes not only allows for much more compact packing but you can pull out a single shirt without everything getting messed up in your bag. It also helps clothes from getting wrinkled although you’re camping so that’s probably shouldn’t be a big concern.  

This is a lot to take in, especially because for each product line item in this camping guide for beginners there are many brands available on the market. Which one to choose? How to balance price and quality? The rule of thumb is: for essential gear choose a trusted brand: it may be a little more expensive but it is reliable. You don’t want a tent collapse on you or the stove not working properly when you need it. To simplify your life, here is a camping tip for beginners from Family Road Trip Guru: I have put together an Amazon Store with all the specific products that we used already, so I can vouch for them:

My Camping Favorites

My Hiking Favorites

In my Camping Favorites store mentioned above you will find 2 items that are essential for camping with kids: walkie talkies and kids book of survival. Kids LOVE walkie talkies – it gives them freedom to roam around the campground, play games, and for your to keep track of them in places where there is no cell phone connection. The Boys Big Book of Survival is a MUST READ before starting on a camping trip for beginners. It teaches kids everything from making fire to bear safety.

One other thing to always keep in mind is the weather that can be very unpredictable. There is nothing like rain to spoil your camping fun because things get wet and not operational. Below is a good cheat sheet to help you think about waterproof things to have with you (scroll down to see the whole list):

Guide created by Nitecore Store

Camping Guide For Beginners Part 3: Setting Up Camp

My best camping tip for beginners is to try to arrive early enough to your campsite that you can set up while it’s still light outside.  If this is your first time in the great outdoors, you don’t want to be fumbling around setting things up after dark where it can be frustrating.  If you do find yourself setting up at night, ditch the handheld flashlight for a headlamp so you can have your hands free and still see what you’re doing.

If the weather is going to be warm, pitch your tent in an area that has morning shade.  Try to be under trees or put a sunshade or tarp over the tent to create your own shade if necessary.  Tents can trap heat like a greenhouse and get surprisingly warm inside.

If high winds are expected, pitch the tent near the trees are large boulders to help block the wind.  You can also park your car to the side of a tent or near a campfire to block really strong winds if necessary. 

Always try to pitch your tent on a flat surface.  You do not want to be sleeping at an uncomfortable angle.  Be sure to also remove any large rocks or debris from underneath the tent before setting it up.  Be sure to put the footprint or a tarp down first underneath the tent to protect it.  If rain is expected, use the rainfly, If you are expecting scorching heat and it’s dry, ditch the fly to keep a breeze blowing through the tent at night.

Camping Guide For Beginners Part 4: Meal Tips

Be sure to choose a simple, easy dinner for your first night away from home. You will most likely be tired from the car ride and setting up camp.

Here is another helpful camping tip for beginners: I recommend cooking meals in advance and freezing them.  Frozen pre-cooked meals can naturally defrost in your ice chest while doubling as ice packs.  Just throw them into a pot or pan, heat and serve.  If you are out sightseeing or hiking all day, you will so glad you did.  I also recommend cutting things like vegetables in advance of your trip to make mealtime preparation easy and simple.

If you have “sweet tooth” in your family check out my ideas for fun camping sweet treats.

Camping Guide For Beginners Part 5: Campground Etiquette

I would be remiss if I did not include some tips on campground etiquette in my camping guide for beginners.  Nothing can ruin a trip faster than camping near a rowdy, noisy group that stays up at all hours of the night and leaves food everywhere.  Camping should be a fun experience for everyone.  So, here are a few tips that I hope you will consider.

• Don’t slam doors.  Slamming doors ruins the ambience for other campers especially late at night. If you need to get in and out of your car, lightly close the door making little noise then simply lean against it to close it all the way. It’s really quite easy.  Nothing is worse than people slamming doors over and over again all night long while you’re trying to sleep so be respectful.

• Adhere to campground quiet hours. Noise travels far in a quiet campground.  Play music low enough you can enjoy but not loud enough to disturb others.  Do not yell, scream or party like you are on Spring Break in Miami Beach.  If you run a generator, be mindful of the allowed hours of operation and follow them.  Camping should be fun for everyone. 

• Pick up your trash. This goes without explanation and helps protect the local wildlife.  Leave a place better than you find it and never leave toilet paper laying around.  If you use the bushes as a restroom, take your TP with you. Even burying TP creates a problem as it will undoubtedly get uncovered by the wind or animals and become litter.

• Be bear aware.  If you’re camping in bear territory, do not ever leave trash laying around. Store all food, food containers, ice chests and toiletries (yes, bears love the smell of toothpaste and deodorant) in the designated bear box.  Food that is out should never be more than an arm’s reach away from you and the bear box should always be closed.  If you get food on your clothes, change clothes before getting into your tent and leave the ones that smell like food in your vehicle. Be sure to also check pockets before going to bed.

You may also want to consider bringing a can of bear spray and/or a bear bell for hiking.  For more tips on bears, check out my detailed bear safety tips.

• Never wash dishes or bathe in or near natural water sources like streams, rivers and lakes.  Some people think if they buy biodegradable soap this is okay. It is NEVER okay and causes damage to the delicate eco-systems where you camp. It’s not acceptable.

• Only wash dishes in designated locations.  Scrape food scarps off dishes into the trash before washing them.  If there are no designated areas to wash dishes, wipe them down.  Do not wash them in areas not meant for dish washing.

• Be courteous with your flashlight.  Do not shine your flashlight directly in other people’s faces (not even your little brother) or at other people’s campsites or tents.  Keep light to a minimum so others can enjoy the star filled skies too.

Camping Guide for Beginners: Conclusion

This was a very comprehensive Camping Guide for Beginners. If you find our camping tips for beginners useful, please, share them with others as they may help them in planning their travels. But MOST IMPROTANTLY – share your great camping tips and tricks for beginners in the comments below! I would love to check them out!

About our Expert

My love and passion for storytelling and travel started as a child.  My grandparents traveled to many remote exotic places bringing me postcards and stamps that stirred my imagination. They were usually accompanied by my grandpa’s tall tales of their exciting adventures.  They, along with my parents, participated in foreign exchange student programs and I was always fascinated by these interesting visitors sharing stories of far-away lands.  This sparked my curiosity and passion to see those places for myself.  I spend as much time as my work schedule allows camping and exploring remote spots.  Join me on my adventures as I share my stories and travel tips at https://www.jenrogers33.com/.