These 5 beginner camping tips will ensure you’ll want to camp again
Shortly after graduating from college, I was invited to go on a short weekend camping trip. I had no outdoor experience or gear and was completely broke. But I was eager to tag along. I started asking for advice on how to find cheap used gear and as luck would have it, someone offered to let me borrow a tent they no longer used.
When the weekend of the campout arrived, I packed up the random gear I cobbled together and drove out to the campsite. I was really excited. Although I was never exposed to outdoor activities, camping always looked like fun to me. When I arrived, I set up my gear and spent the evening hanging out and cooking dinner over the fire. I was having a blast.
Shortly after the sun went down the sky got ominously dark. Thunder rumbled in the distance and within minutes it was pouring. We packed everything up and retreated to our tents. As I lay there listening to the storm, it felt as though my back was getting wet. ‘That’s weird,’ I thought. I grabbed my flashlight and turned it on to find that the entire tent was flooded with rainwater. No wonder the lender no longer used it.
There was no way I could spend the night there. Everything was soaked and I was beyond frustrated. I swore to myself that day that I would never camp again. Who would have guessed that 20-some years later I’d be writing an article with my best beginner camping tips?
About 10 years after the great tent flood, I did in fact camp again. This time though, I had a different attitude and a better tent. I’ve been at it many years now and have spent hundreds and hundreds of nights sleeping outside. If I could go back in time and offer advice to my younger self, here’s what I’d say.
5 tips for your beginner camping trip
#1 – Easy does it!
Forget about the advanced Superior Hiking Trail thru-hikers and Boundary Waters Canoe trippers you see on Instagram and take it easy. Grab a camper cabin at a state park or the Superior National Forest. Or rent a quality tent from an outfitter or outdoor equipment store and book a drive-in campsite.
You’ll find showers, equipment rentals, and firewood at the Minnesota state parks along the North Shore and inland past Ely. The Fall Lake Campground in the Superior National Forest offers similar amenities. If you’re looking for a little more quiet and lakefront campsites, check out any of the Superior National Forest campgrounds. And if you want to go last-minute and can’t score a reservation, check out one of the first-come first-serve campgrounds in the Finland or Kabetogama state forests.
Plan a short trip. One or two nights when you’re just starting is plenty. And don’t be ashamed to reschedule if there’s bad weather. The whole point is to enjoy yourself so that you want to come back and do it again.
Plan easy meals and activities. Slow down and allow yourself plenty of time to get there and get set up while it’s still light out. Plan your trip in a way that you won’t feel rushed and can enjoy every part of the experience.
#2 – Be prepared.
Do a little research before you go. Visit the campground’s website to learn more about the area and know the rules. Learn how to keep a clean camp and stay bear aware. Consider the weather and pack a little extra for unexpected rain and cold. Test all of your gear and make sure you know how to set it up before you go. And don’t forget your first aid kit and basic knowledge of how to use it.
#3 – Less is more.
Whether you’re first starting out or a seasoned pro, I believe that less is more. If you’re just getting started, start with the basics when buying or renting gear. Start with a basic gear checklist like this one from the MN DNR. There’s very little that you need to have an enjoyable trip. Always think quality over quantity. A good tent that keeps out the elements is worth so much more than all the fancy gizmos and gadgets filling the big-box outdoor stores. The less you have to pack up, drag around, and keep track of, the less of a chore your camping trip will be.
#4 – Check your attitude and expectations.
When I started camping again after the great tent flood I was in a different place than I was 10 years earlier. I had a different mindset and more developed goals. I already enjoyed the outdoors and I was determined to love camping this time.
Not everything goes perfectly when you’re sleeping outside. We’ve been stuck in worrisome storms, attacked by bugs, and had to evacuate the Boundary Waters due to wildfires. If you’re prepared and know what to expect you’ll be able to take these adventures as they come. Your attitude can shape the outcome of your trip just as much as quality gear.
#5 – Enjoy the gift of a beginner’s mind.
Everyone starts as a beginner. And although I’m grateful for the knowledge, skills, and experience I have today, I sometimes miss the feeling of everything being fresh and new. While there are rules and guidelines everyone should follow, like Leave No Trace, there are a lot of different ways to plan a great camping trip. Over the years we’ve found what we like and don’t like. Many people find our way to be a bit Spartan and that’s okay. When it comes to camping, there’s no right or wrong way. Give yourself permission to learn as you go and if you don’t know something, look it up or ask.
Camping is an inexpensive and wonderful way to slow down and connect with the people who are most important to you. Spending time outdoors can help reduce stress, boost creativity, and clear your head. And when you follow these tips, it’s something you’ll want to do again and again.
All photos by Holly Scherer
More information:
- Camping for Beginners: MN State Parks
- Superior National Forest Campgrounds Information (PDF)
- Campgrounds in Superior National Forest
- Boundary Waters Trip Planning Guide
Holly Scherer is a Minnesota-based writer, photographer, outdoorswoman, and guide. She’s most at home in the great outdoors; camping, hiking, paddling, cycling, and gardening. When she’s not on an adventure, she and her husband live in the Twin Cities where they’re fond of saying, “home is where we store our outdoor gear.”