โœ” Top Ten Camping Tips

The first and up-most question you have to ask yourself is where you want to go camping. The location of the campsite can vary depending on your needs showing the versatility of camping. The levels of camping can range to very basic some might say extreme, to very luxurious. Choose your location wisely. Think about what you want to get out of your camping experience. Ask yourself how many amenities you require and how far you are willing to travel.

National parks can offer a great experience, but you will need to do your research to ensure you find one right for you. National parks can range from having no amenities to full amenities, be free/ by donation, charging nightly rates, or require reservations. You will want to plan your camping trip in advance to try and prevent any additional issues that could be easily avoided.

Here you can reserve a camp spot or find a varied selection of parks and campgrounds in the US. In most cases when you reserve a camping spot in advance you will either have to put down a deposit or pay in full in order to secure your booking. From my experience when camping throughout Australia we found that most National Parks were free or by donation, which was great on our budget. Keep in mind when your camping site is free it is likely the amenities will be very basic- you can't expect the world when something is free.

The best place for more detailed information are the national parks websites which offer more detailed advice. For those who are in the US check out this list of top national parks in America or see this comprehensive list of worldwide national parks.

Besides free camp grounds you can also stay at private camp grounds which are located all around the world. These differ greatly from very basic to luxurious with all amenities you could wish for and more. Again, think about your requirements and budget as prices also vary. Are you RVing or tenting? Here is another great site for campgrounds in the UK.

More on "Choosing the Right Location for Camping"

As great as camping is, without the correct planning there is a lot that can go wrong. You can't plan for every unfortunate circumstance but a little planning and preparation can make your life much easier. Here is a short list on to best prepare you trip:

• Plan and print your itinerary. Where, What and When


• Share the itinerary! Then someone is aware of your trip and knows the details just in case.


• Check out your route on map.


• Test your camping gear before leaving.


• Write a camping checklist and use it..


• Don't push your luck, just go check the weather.


• Pack well. Protect gear and food against weather, insects and wildlife.

A camping checklist is a life saver before any camping trip, it will help you keep on top of everything you need to do and bring before camping. I know this sounds silly, I am usually the one who says "I can do it all in my head, why waste time writing it down?". Trust me, use them, don't make it a big deal, write down a quick list of everything you need to pack and prepare. This way when you are rushing in the last minutes to get everything ready, you can refer to the list and tick off everything you'll need to ensure you have everything.

You may even want to check your checklist twice this way you won't have to worry about forgetting important items. Checklists will leave you feeling less anxious and more prepared for your trip. There are many great checklists on CampTrip.com including the ultimate camping checklist, dog camping checklist, family camping checklist.

Read more on "Camping Checklists"

It's up to you how close you want to get to nature but not having the right camping gear and equipment could get you closer to nature than you actually planned. Important things like tent features, types of tents and choosing the right tent are essential. The last thing you want is a cheap tent that doesn't keep nature and elements out. Any camper will tell you to invest in a proper tent. The same goes for clothing and shoes, bring clothes that will keep you warm and hiking boots that will protect your feet .

If you are looking to bring a bit of technology while camping and can't bear to leave your mobile or laptop at home, here are some great gadgets for camping that will allow you to keep in touch with your reality as well as with nature.

Read more on "The Right Gear for Camping" and Equipment Reviews.

The most important factor to any camping trip is safety. If you are not safe it is likely someone will get hurt or a disaster will occur- and that's never fun for anyone. Being safe while camping does not have to be difficult or take the fun out of being spontaneous.

Be smart, put some thought into what you are doing and know that help is likely very far away and will not be able to get to you in any rush. You should always let someone know where you will be camping and for how long, in case something were to go wrong. Be aware of any hospitals and 24 hour clinics nearby in case of an emergency. You should also pack a first aid kit for any on the spot injuries. CampTrip.com has some great articles on Camping Safety for Kids Before Camping, Camping Safety for Kids While Camping, and Camping Safety for your Dog.

Read more on "Camping Safety" and First Aid.

Unless you've discovered a bug free camping location the rest of us campers are oblivious too, you will be faced with many buzzing bullies. I suppose we should remember that as annoying as these bugs are, it is their environment and we are the visitors. Is it possible to repel all bugs at all times? Well, to be brutally honest -no, it is not possible. What you can do are several things to try and avoid the insects while camping. By spraying insect repellent, wearing long sleeves/ pants, burning citronella candles etc. will help keep them away. If you prefer donating blood to the blood bank, follow these tips to avoid feeding the forest.

Read more Tips and methods on Avoiding Insects and Avoiding Wildlife on CampTrip.com

The number of camping activities you can do are endless, especially if you are creative. No, you probably wont have TV or the internet to keep you occupied so you will have to let the outdoors entertain you. Believe it or not some of the most enjoyable activities are held outside either by yourself or with friends and family.

Here are some of the activities you can enjoy while camping: swimming, fishing, water sports, hiking, outdoor games, board games, cards, reading, painting/drawing, cooking over the campfire and so many more. Camping is a great way for families to bond and spend some quality time together. So get out there, relax and have fun in the great outdoors!

Read more on "Camping Activities".

The great thing about camping with kids is that there are a zillion things for kids to do. If your child tells you their bored, they're not camping properly. Unfortunately, your child will have to think past video games and text messaging and expand their minds to getting creative outdoors.

Get your kids involved with setting up camp and showing/ teaching them about the different plants and animals in the area. Enjoy family activities such as: hiking, swimming, family board games and cooking hot dogs and S'mores over the campfire at night.. There are endless things for your kids to do and play with outdoors. A great idea is to bring along camping activity boxes full of fun things for kids. You may also want to bring some outdoor game activities from home as well as some books for quiet time.

Read more on "Camping with Kids" and Family Camping.

Camp cooking does not have to be difficult to prepare/make or taste bland. Essentially, if you can cook it at home you can cook it outdoors. Okay, so it may be a bit more difficult but keep your cooking simple. There are several types of cooking methods while camping, to help make those delicious meals.

We all know about cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire but what about cooking bread on a stick? There are lots of easy and yummy camping recipes available on CampTrip.com including our "cooking with tin foil" while camping. Remember to keep your cooler box cool and replenish your fresh food as often a possible at the local supermarket.

Please also clean up all food and dishes as soon as you have finished eating to deter wildlife from visiting your campsite. Do not store food in your tent, you should only store it in your car or in the protected bear box at your campsite.

Read more on "Camp Cooking and Recipes"

If you're going on a family camping trip why not bring the whole family? Taking your dog camping can be an additional fun aspect to camping. Be sure your dog is a suitable candidate for camping and make sure he is prepared and ready before going camping. Make a camping checklist for your dog so you don't forget anything.

Keep your dog safe and supervised at all times just as you would children. For useful information on camping with your dog such as: Driving your Dog to the Campsite, Hiking with your Dog, Dog Checklist and Safety and much more visit CampTrip.com

Read more on "How to:Go Camping with your Dog" at CampTrip.com