Camping is a great way to have fun, reduce stress, and enjoy the great outdoors, providing you plan your trip right! If you want to make sure that your next excursion goes without a hitch, take a look at these top tips and plan the perfect camping road trip now:
Sleeping: Car vs Tent
Unless you’re taking an RV on your camping trip, you’ll need to decide whether to sleep in your car or to take a tent with you. Either can be a viable way to enjoy your trip but it’s important to make the right choice. If you’re considering sleeping in your car, do a test run at home to see how comfortable it is! Additionally, check whether you’ll have enough room to flatten the seats and sleep in the car once it’s packed with all of your gear.
If you prefer the idea of sleeping in a tent, check your equipment before every trip to confirm it’s in full working order. Choosing a tent that’s easy to set up and dismantle will save you time and enable you to make the most of your trip.
Book a Campsite
Before you set off, do your research and make sure you’ve booked a campsite in advance. Popular sites can be fully booked months in advance, so it’s worth being organized if you want to avoid being left with nowhere to sleep.
Online reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations can be a great way to find the best campsites. By comparing cost, facilities, and ease of access, you can find a site that fits your needs and suits your plans.
Take Essential Documents and Information
Whenever you leave for a road trip, you should ensure that you have your driver’s license and insurance documents with you but there are other things that can be beneficial when you’re on a road trip. Contact information for roadside assistance and excellent car accident lawyers will come in handy if you’re involved in an accident, for example. Similarly, make a note of the contact information for local garages near to your destination and your campsite, so that you can get in touch with people if you need to.
Look for Local Attractions and Amenities
Before you decide where to go camping, look for local amenities and attractions to make the most of your trip. If you want to spend your time fishing or sailing, for example, camping lakeside could be a top choice. Alternatively, if you’re an avid hiker, you might want to check out new trails and explore the wilderness.
If you want to visit local sites and get to know nearby towns, you’ll also want to check whether there are any attractions close to your campsite. Being on the road gives you the freedom to discover hidden gems, so make the most of the opportunity.
Practice Cooking on a Camping Stove
If you don’t want to be reliant on restaurants or your intended destination is remote, then you’ll need to be able to prepare food throughout your trip. If you’ve never made a meal using a camping stove before, it’s worth practicing in advance! After all, being hungry and relying on non-perishable foods for the entirety of your trip could ruin your trip and put you off camping for life!
Pack a Range of Essentials
There are a variety of things you’ll need to take with you on a camping road trip. While some items will be dependent on your destination and the weather conditions, there are others that are always ‘must-haves’. To ensure you’ve got everything you need, take a look at these essentials for every camping road trip:
- Sleeping bag
- Flashlight
- Knife
- Water bottles
- Stove
- Camp chairs
- First aid kit
- Waterproof clothes
- Waterproof blanket
- Portable power bank and cables
In addition to this, you’ll need some extra pieces of kit to help you stay safe when you’re on the road, including:
- Tire pressure gauge
- Spare tire
- Jack
- Reflective jacket
- Warning triangle
- Flares
- Non-perishable food
- Jumper cables
- Tow Rope
Getting Ready for Your Next Camping Road Trip
Now you’ve got a good idea of what you’ll need, you’re ready to start planning your next trip on the open road. From single-day excursions to multi-day tours, there are endless options to consider. Whether you’re going on a solo adventure or taking your friends camping, you can be sure that the right preparation will increase the success of your trip and make you eager to return again for another road trip camping trip in the near future.