Devin Dornbrock Have you ever wanted camping advice from someone who is definitely not an expert? Then you’re in the right place! While I may not be an expert at camping, I like to be overprepared for any given situation. Spending a night or two (or seven) in the great outdoors is no exception. So, let’s talk about what you’ll want to prepare if you’re going camping for the first time.
Decide on a Campground
First things first. Know where you’re going! It sounds pretty simple, but there could be more planning involved than a first-timer would expect.
Depending on where you live, there may or may not be many campgrounds nearby. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you live in, say, New York City, though, it’s probably a bit harder to find a good campsite.
There is a lot to consider when choosing a campground. Are you alright being around other campers, or would you prefer to go off the beaten path and truly become one with nature? Whichever you prefer, you will want to research ahead of time. There may be fees you wouldn’t think of or sudden closures you didn’t know about without research.
If you’re camping for the first time and totally unsure of where to start looking, recreation.gov is a great resource for pretty much anywhere in the United States. You’ll be able to see pictures of prospective sites and any special alerts like burn bans that may be affecting the area.
Once you’ve settled on your campsite, it’s time to prep your gear.
Must Have Camping Gear
While camping is all about immersing yourself in nature, I wouldn’t recommend going “Naked and Afraid” for your first time. I promise that you are going to have a much better time if you have the right camping necessities versus trying to rough it with nothing but a pocket knife and your wits.
The Basics
While the supplies you bring may differ slightly depending on where you’re camping and what the climate is like, these camping staples are pretty much always going to be a good idea:
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Cooler
- Reliable light sources
- Bug spray
- Lighter/ matches
- Camping chairs
- Camping table
- Utensils
- First aid kit
Water and Food
Once you have the essentials covered, it’s time to think about what you’ll be eating and drinking on your trip.
Water
Assuming you don’t leave your campsite (or at least assuming you don’t make any treks back into civilization), you won’t be able to pop down to the corner store to grab a sandwich and bottle of water. Drinking water is essential to plan for. While you can go and buy a giant pack of water bottles, simply filling up some empty jugs ahead of time is also an option.
To be safe, I would recommend packing at least one gallon of water per person, per day. You may not end up drinking that much, but most people probably aren’t going to drink more than that, either.
Food
While living off the land in some areas may technically be possible, I wouldn’t count on it as your only food source, especially if you’re camping for the first time. So plan your meals ahead of time. Even if you don’t end up sticking to the plan, you at least have an idea of what to bring and what you might need for cooking.
While camp stoves are absolutely a thing, they can also be a bit of a hassle. I don’t typically recommend bringing one unless you already have one or know someone who does. Especially for shorter camping trips there are tons of meal options that don’t require handling propane or other heavy fuel sources.
Easy camping meals you can roast around a fire:
- Hot dogs
- Kebabs/ skewers
- Potatoes
Tin foil is a great thing to bring if you plan to roast all of your meals! Wrap up your meat/ veggies in foil with some seasoning and oil of choice then set in the base of your campfire. All you need to do is wait for the cook time and pull out your foil bundles for an easy and hot meal – even in the middle of nowhere!
If there is a burn ban in effect for your trip or cooking just isn’t your thing, you can also always prep your meals ahead of time. That way, you can pack everything ahead of time in a cooler and pull things out as you get hungry.
Easy meals that don’t require cooking:
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Charcuterie boards
- Salads (pasta, potato, or green all work)
Check. The. Weather.
The final piece of advice I have for first-time campers is to check the weather before your trip.
Please, please, please, check the weather ahead of time. Knowing what type of climate to expect is going to make a world of difference. It will also help you pack appropriately beyond the basics. If it’s going to be 100+ degrees out for example, you can probably leave the sweaters and extra blankets at home. On the other hand, you will definitely want to pack a raincoat and waterproof… Everything if heavy rain is on the forecast.
Even if you don’t think you’ll like camping outside, away from the comforts of home, I guarantee you’ll have a better time than you expected if you’re prepared.
If you’re still not sold on the idea of trekking out into the wilderness (or as wild as a well-used campground can get), check out our list of the best summer date ideas to try instead.
What are your go-to camping essentials?
