Useful Tips for Car Camping Fun

Camping is one of my favorite passtimes and my favorite type of camping is car camping. Now there are many other types of camping such as cabin camping, canoe camping, RV camping, tent trailer camping and back yard camping. Regardless of how you spend your time out doors or even how much time you spend out doors, there is always more that you can learn to have a great time with camping. I have put together here a basic list of some of my own camping tips and this article is geared mainly towards car campers. Here are my favorite tips for getting the most out of your car camping experience.

(1)TIP: Organize your gear before you go.
The basic principle is to organize or categorize your gear by "when" and "how quickly" you will need it. When I get to the campsite, the first thing I do is prepare my shelter area.
So my tent and shade awning are the easiest pieces of gear to get to.

(2)TIP: Plan your campsite.
Understand how vehicles, wind, sun and rain will enter the campsite. For example, if the wind is coming out of the west, you'll probably want your tent and kitchen west of any campfire to reduce smoke nuisance.

(3)TIP:Always have a first aid kit in camp.
Everyone in camp should know where it is, have access to it and know how to use it. I keep mine in plain sight in my tent hanging on the tent wall in plain view. If it's locked in my car, no one can get to it except me. And that wouldnt help me much if I am the one in need of that kit. So I always make sure that it is where everyone who is on the camping trip with me knows where the first aid kit is at all times. My boys say to me "great mom you planing on us already getting hurt here or what". I reply back know, but if I get hurt I need you to be able to treat me so where is that first aid kit again Boys?

(4)TIP:Every camper needs their shovel and Rake
I learned through my camping experience that a shovel is the most important tool in camping.ALong side that is the rake. You'll use it to manage your campfire, leveling sleeping spots and countless other uses.Raking the area so that there are no jaged rocks under the footing area, or where the sleeping bags will be. Don't leave home without these 2 items, or you'll be getting mighty dirty trying to level your camping site out for use.

(5)TIP:What type of tent should you use?
I always recommend a tent that is bigger than you think you'll need. If nasty weather sets in, you'll have a spot out of harms way for reading and playing games. My tent is big enough for 6 people, six cots, six chairs and one long table along the one side wall.

(6)TIP: Now there is nothing wrong with having a double checklist.
Things I have found that get frequently forgotten are: extra batteries, trash bags, kitchen towels, hats, reading material, sleeping pillows, hiking boots, insect replent, aluminum foil, sun screen, extra clothing for weather type changing, and for us girls in the trips our mirrors.

(7)TIP:Your most important camping gear should always be on your body.
Not in your pack, not in your tent or in your vehicle. Whenever you leave camp always have a whistle, a watch, a cell phone, a flashlight and a knife on your person.

Some neat little tricks I've picked up over the years are:
A golf towel is perfect for hanging in your tent because it comes with a grommet. You can never have enough zip lock bags.You won't find me camping without my flares - it's perfect for lighting wet firewood, and serves a double purpose if I need to signal for help. My camp chairs have side tables attached to them so I can spend more time sitting then getting up to get my drinks. I pre-cook baked potatoes at home and warm them up in the camp fire, they also make good pocket warmers. In good weather my hammock gets lots of use.Extra toilet rolls can double serve as napkins when needed fast. Having handy wipes, they make great use for wash up time and refreshing time.

Car camping allows you to take virtually anything with you when you camp apart from your house now. But the most important tip that springs to my mind that I can offer here is good company. Take along good friends and family. When you do, it doesn't really matter if you have the best gear or the best techniques, or simple gear, but the one thing you will have is the best of times and the making receipe for great memories to cherish for years to come. I hope you have found this useful information and that it will help you to plan your next car camping trip. Now what are you waiting for, Get Outdoors and enjoy life and car camping!