Beginner’s Guide to Camping

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One of the most budget friendly ways to travel is by camping! While I knew this was true for years, I am from Los Angeles. I’m a city girl through and through so the idea of camping was always really daunting. I knew I could see the world (and especially my own country) without spending a million bucks if I could camp.

In this beginner’s guide to camping, I’ll be discussing how to best prepare for camping, what to bring (essentials and nonessentials), and what to expect. I’m writing this after I just camping independently for the first time. So yes, I’m a beginner myself, BUT that means I remember exactly what you want to know for your first time camping, because I was just figuring it out myself!

Everything you need to know about picking a campsite

First things first: pick a campsite. My number one tip for beginners is to find somewhere super close-by and stay for one night. You don’t want to plan your first camping trip across the country (or even state). By staying close to home: you will feel more comfortable because if anything goes wrong for any reason, you can leave. You’re not trapped in the middle of nowhere on your first camping trip praying it all goes to plan (it probably won’t, but that’s okay).

As an example, I live in Athens, Georgia. I looked for nearby state parks and picked Fort Yargo State Park that was only a 25 minute drive away.

I also did a little digging to make sure this campsite had some amenities so there were less to worry about (i.e. a toilet, shower, BBQ grill, and water).  For first-timers this is pretty crucial. You already have a ton of new “equipment” to buy and figure out, and meals to worry about. You don’t need to stress about the basic amenities. This information is pretty easy to find on most camping websites.

Once you have a campsite chosen, make a reservation online or via phone if you can. Again, the less you need to worry about the day of, the better. First-come, first-serve campsites exist but until you’re comfortable with the process, steer clear of those for now.

Campsite reservations costs vary depending on the type of campsite. For most beginners you’ll want a “primitive” site, also called a tent walk-in, pioneer campsite, or sometimes backcountry site. The point here is that there are no water or electricity hookups, which are needed for RV campsites and glamping sites.

Primitive campsites vary from place to place. Sometimes you’ll park in a lot and walk to your campsite, or you’ll be able to drive directly to the site and unload right there. Either way, these campsites usually cost around $30 per night in the US. At Fort Yargo State Park, we paid $25 per night and we stayed for one night. Our primitive site had access to indoor bathrooms with a shower. Every few campsites there was a water pump as well so we had access to fresh water. If you have any questions about what you’ll have access to, call the park directly. The more you know, the more you can prepare, the less you’ll be worried about.

To recap:

• Pick somewhere close to home, so you can leave if you need to for any reason
• Try camping for one night only first to feel it out
• For your first time, find somewhere with more amenities (water access, BBQ grill, toilet, and shower, if necessary)
• Look for a primitive/pioneer/tent walk-in/backcountry site, which will be the cheapest site

What camping essentials do you need for your first time camping?

Here are the essential, non-negotiable items you need for your first time camping:

Tent – If you aren’t an outdoorsy person (welcome to the club), get a tent that’s a little bigger than what you might need. My boyfriend and I are two people and should therefore fit into a 2-person tent. We had a 2-person tent already so we set it up in our living room to test it out. We quite literally laid inside once it was set up and it was compact! That’s the point of camping gear, to be compact so that backpackers can easily carry things. However, if you don’t need to be compact, you don’t have to be. We swapped our 2 person tent for a 3 person tent (this one) and we were MUCH more comfortable. Plus, we could fit our air mattress inside so that was nice! Families, I recommend sizing up even more with a 6-person tent so you can be comfortable!

Tip: Try setting up your tent before you go camping. You can do this in your backyard or even indoors so you can make sure you know how to do it and that you’ll be comfortable inside!

Sleeping bag – This one’s a no-brainer. I promise you that at night it will get cold. Unless it’s the dead of summer, when it gets down to anything under 50 degrees, it will feel freezing. You’ll need a sleeping bag to help keep you insulated and warm at night. We only had one sleeping bag so we unzipped it completely and slept under it like a comforter. While this kept the top of us warm, it still wasn’t doing anything for the underneath side. If you want to fit two people in a sleeping bag, find two that are “zip compatible” so you can zip two full sleeping bags together. Just trust me, it’ll be worth it to have two sleeping bags.

Depending on when you are camping, you’ll need different types of sleeping bags. The most important part is to check what the temperature rating is. You want to make sure that you aren’t going camping in 30 degree temperatures, but your sleeping bag can only handle 50 degrees. Each one should have this very clearly labeled so double check the weather and sleeping bag before you buy. Don’t forget your pillow!

Sleeping pad – If you aren’t going to be using an air mattress, you’ll need a sleeping/camping pad. These are pads that sit on the ground and are designed to keep you further insulated and not be freezing because the ground gets so cold. It will also provide some padding so you don’t feel every rock under you. For an air mattress, I recommend one that isn’t too high or it will fill some of the much needed space in your tent. Opt for one like this.

Flashlight/Lantern/Headlamp – Surprise! Nature at night is dark. You absolutely need a light source. We got by with a flashlight and a small rechargeable lantern. You don’t need to spend lots of money here right off the bat. You’d be surprised at how expensive flashlights can get. If you are arriving at your campsite at night and need to set up your tent in the dark, I recommend a headlamp!

Campfire supplies – If you aren’t a boy/girl scout, chances are you’re going to need some help starting a campfire. Get a few fire-starter logs, wood, a lighter or matches, and lighter fluid just in case.

Ice chest – I would recommend getting an ice chest of some sort so you can keep your perishable foods cold, and any drinks you bring!

Food – If it’s your first time, definitely try to find a campsite with a BBQ grill. Many campsites have a grill situated over the campfire area so you can cook so check out the pictures of the sites before you make a reservation. We were only camping for one night so we had three meals to worry about: lunch, dinner, and the next morning’s breakfast. We didn’t want to spend money on cooking supplies since we weren’t sure we’d love camping so we landed on PB&J sandwiches for lunch that we packed from home, hotdogs for dinner that we could heat over the fire with skewers, and granola bars and bananas for breakfast. The only perishable food we had were the hotdogs. Otherwise the only camping cooking equipment we bought were skewers. Here was our food list:

• Lunch: PB&J sandwiches packed from home
• Dinner: Hot dogs, buns, ketchup, chips
• Smores: Graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate bars
• Jiffy pop (just for fun)
• Protein bars
• Breakfast: Granola bars, bananas

Overall, I was super happy with all of these low maintenance meals. They were easy and filling and only required skewers!

Water – Again, a no brainer. If your campsite has a water pump, great! But, I would still get a gallon or so of water to bring with you so that you have a vessel for carrying the water. When you run out of the initial gallon, you can refill it at the pump. I needed water to wash my hands and clean the skewers. If you had actual cooking utensils and supplies, you would need to wash dishes as well. It’s easy to think about only the water you would need to drink but you’ll definitely use more than that!

Hammer/Mallet – This was the one thing we forgot, so learn from our mistakes! You will need something to use to hammer the tent stakes into the ground. We kind of just stomped ours into the ground and it didn’t work super well. Luckily the weather was great and we had an air mattress inside that prevented the tent from moving. But, we’re definitely bringing one for next time!

Sealable bin – The best way to keep your camping stuff together and away from animals is by putting everything in a large sealable bin. At night you can put it on the picnic table, if your campsite has one. This will also prevent critters from getting into your food!

Trash bags (or Ziplocs) – Trust me when I say that critters will come find your trash looking for food. We stored all trash in a gallon size Ziploc bag since we were only there for a night. When it was sealed, we had no problems with any scavengers.

First aid kit – You should really bring a basic first aid kid whether you have kids with you or not. You never know what might happen and it’s always good to have basic bandages, antiseptic wipes, etc.

Sunscreen – An absolute must! Protect yourself. Think you’re stronger than the sun? You’re not.

Bugspray – Another essential! You definitely don’t want to come back with 100s of mosquito bites. We use Bugables, which are mosquito repellent bands you wear on your ankles or wrists. They smell like citronella and work wonders! Plus, you don’t need to lather anything on top of your sunscreen.

Toiletries – Even if your campsite has bathrooms, you’ll still want to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, floss, etc. I also packed some face wipes so I could clean my face after a long day outdoors. I like these here.

Clothes – Don’t forget to pack a change of clothes! You’ll need PJ’s and a second pair of clothes if you’re going for a night. I recommend bringing warm clothes to wear at night. Again, it will get really cold. If you’re worried about being too hot or cold, pack layers so you can feel comfortable. I slept in my beanie and was super grateful for it!

What extra items made camping better?

Camping chairs – Some campsites have picnic tables but they aren’t the best for lounging around or sitting around the campfire. You’ll want some sort of camping chair. It doesn’t need to be fancy and you can usually get them for $30 or less.

Cards – We aren’t big hikers so we had fun staying entertained at the campsite. Cards are always easy to bring and provide lots of fun games! Check out these cool National Park playing cards here.

Tent lock – If the idea of leaving your stuff out in the open or sleeping in an open tent doesn’t sound like your jam, invest in a tent lock. They are less than $10 and you’ll be able to lock the zippers to the door together. When you leave your campsite, you can put valuables in your tent and lock them up. And, at night you can lock yourself inside so no one can open the tent from the outside while you sleep. Unlikely to happen, but a tent lock can ease your peace of mind. Just a note: standard Masterlocks are too thick to fit in most zippers so you’ll need a separate thinner one.

Tablecloth – Remember how I said campsites have a picnic table. They are usually a mess so getting a cheap plastic tablecloth can make them a nice place to eat!

Air mattress (and battery operated pump) – Maybe what’s stopped you from camping in the past is the idea of sleeping on the ground. It doesn’t sound too comfortable. I get it. Air mattresses are a great way to ease you into camping and make the experience way more comfortable, especially if you’re new! Don’t forget to bring a pump of some sort. We used a battery operated pump, which made it super easy to inflate!

Shovel – I wish we had brought a shovel and will definitely bring next time. It would have been super helpful in arranging the wood in the campfire and extinguishing the fire when we were ready to turn in for the night. They do make smaller camping shovels that fold up! For all you city folk out there (like me) who had no idea.

Tips before go camping:

• Double check when check-in and check-out times are. Chances are you’ll need to check-in with a park ranger or a host at the campsite (if it’s after hours). They might give you a reservation tag to display outside the campsite. You also may need to display a parking permit.
• Try setting up your tent ahead of time! There’s really nothing more stressful than trying out a new tent for the first time when you arrive at your campsite (especially if it’s dark).
• Make a list of things you need – some you might already have and some you’ll need to buy.
• Once you have everything, create a “pile” by your front door so you don’t forget anything. Use the large sealable bin you purchased to hold what fits!
• Set up your tent in a smart location. Try not to put the door facing the campfire so you don’t unintentionally fill it with smoke. And, check the direction the door is facing so you’ll be sure you aren’t getting hit with the sunrise if you don’t want to wake up at the literal crack of dawn.
• Remember to leave everything cleaner than you found it!

Related read → Step by step walkthrough on planning hiking itineraries

Have any other camping tips for first-timer’s? Drop a comment below and fill us city dwellers in!

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• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
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• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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