I don’t know about you but I could sure use a camping trip right now! This year has been quite a doozy and a night of getting back to the basics would do us all some good. Despite having more time to spend with my boyfriend and doing the things I love, I find myself glued to a screen for most of the day. Whether it’s scrolling through Instagram, admiring my blogger idols, or plain old Netflix, my eyes and mind could use a break!
It’s been years since my last camping trip but I still remember the peace I felt (despite animals eating all of our food and cutting our trip short…). By turning off our phones, we were immediately transported to another world and were able to focus on what truly mattered.
Not only will camping allow you to shut out the crazy news of this year, but it is also a really cheap vacation option (since flying is a bit iffy now). If you’re looking for a simpler alternative, try camping in your backyard! It would be pressure free and still give you an awesome experience. Just remember to leave your phones inside!
Related Content:
10 Fascinating Benefits Of Camping
Since international and domestic flying is “up in the air” right now (see what I did there??), an easily accessible vacation such as camping is a perfect getaway. Camping is affordable, can be planned pretty spontaneously, and it even has some surprising health benefits!
- Camping can improve your short term memory – this is such a fascinating benefit! When I was younger, my parents had me memorize poems to improve my short term memory but I feel like this would’ve been a much more fun option!
- Reduce inflammation– this will in turn help lower risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
- Improve your eyesight – my eyes could sure use a break from all these screens!
- Cleaner air and less air pollution – this is especially great for those with asthma and other respiratory problems.
- You will sleep better by reconnecting to your circadian rhythms. We need to allow our bodies to have a natural sleep schedule. Camping can help with that!
- Your negative thoughts will decrease and lead to more happiness! No wonder I always feel happier after camping.
- You get exercise – most likely you’ll be hiking or swimming all day! My friends and I used to bring a volleyball and frisbee when we went camping which kept us active and entertained throughout the day.
- Learn new things – you will be faced with unique challenges and this will help you grow as a person. Whether it’s from the deep conversations you have, or just from experiencing the nature around you, there’s lots to learn on a camping trip.
- You’ll increase your levels of Vitamin D.
- You’ll form stronger relationships with your partner, family, friends, or yourself. This reason alone makes camping worth it for me.
If you’re ready to start feeling those 10 benefits (at a minimum), then keep reading to find out tips on what and how to prepare for your trip!
6 Camping trip tricks
Hyped about planning your next camping trip but don’t know where to start? The six tips below should help you stay on budget whilst having a great getaway!
- Borrow or rent camping gear for cheap – Check with your local university’s outdoor department to see if they rent out their equipment! When I was a student I was able to snag a stove and a tent this way! Or, you can always hop on social media and see if one of your friends would be generous enough to share their gear with you! Dumpster Dog Blog also has some useful resources for buying and renting camping gear for cheap.
- Thrift – Check out thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace for gear!
- Find a free campground (most won’t have amenities, but try to find one with bathrooms and grills!). This is another great resource for finding a campground by zipcode!
- BYOF- Bring your own (cooked) food! – By cooking your food at home, you will save yourself the hassle of lighting a stove and the food will probably taste better! You can also bring PB&J sandwiches if you’re feeling simple!
- Dumpster dive at campgrounds – this was an interesting one from Cool Of The Wild! You can drive around local campgrounds before your trip to see if you find anything useful!
- Tell your friends or family where you will be just in case of an emergency. Most campgrounds have spotty service so be sure to notify someone of your whereabouts just in case.
Those six tips should be enough to get you started, but you can also check out some more great tips here.
What you should Pack On Your Next Camping Trip
Don’t know what to pack? Save this post so you have it next time you go to the store!
- Food – meals, snacks and smores!
- Drinks, especially water
- Cooler
- Stove
- Paper plates & utensils
- First Aid Kit – Here are a few staples you should have in one!
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, etc)
- Baby wipes (for a quick “shower”)
- Garbage bags
- Bear spray (if you’re camping near bear prone areas)
- Bug spray
- Sleeping bag
- Tent
- Pillow
- Waterproof jacket
- Sunscreen
- Lighter
- Games
- Flashlights
- Folding chairs
- Portable cell-phone charger
- Pocket knife
- Sunglasses
For more items, check out REI’s packing list!
If it’s your first time camping, I would recommend picking a place near your home or grocery stores in case you forget something! Camping is a blast and a really great way to bond with your family, partner, or friends, all while staying on a budget!
Some of my favorite memories with friends are from camping. I remember that on my birthday a few years ago, we stayed up late watching the night sky and I saw a shooting star! Now that is something you don’t see every day.