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15 Biggest Camping Mistakes That Beginners Often Make

“Camp” by glenngould is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced camper, there’s always something fresh to discover about camping and the great outdoors. Every camping trip seems to bring a new lesson, and each mistake along the way only helps us grow as campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Let’s take a look at the 15 most common camping mistakes that beginners tend to make.

Not Doing Your Homework

woman sitting and holding white Acer laptop near brown wooden wall
Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

Just like you’re doing now, take a little time to research and read up on your destination—what the weather will be like, where you’ll be camping, and what you’ll be doing there. Planning ahead can save you from so many headaches later. One common mistake we see all the time in tourism is forgetting to check the weather. Don’t just assume you know what to expect—make sure to research the climate properly beforehand.

Skipping the Practice Run

set-up gray tent
Photo by Lorenzo Lamonica on Unsplash

A shakedown trip is basically a practice run of your camping trip, but much closer to home, with all your gear in tow. This allows you to test everything out, check if you’re missing anything, and—most importantly—make sure you know how to set up your tent. We’ve seen way too many campers arrive with brand-new gear still in the box without knowing how to use it.

Cutting Through Other People’s Campsites

a blue tent sitting in the middle of a forest
Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash

Looking to start a fight with a stranger? The quickest way to make an enemy while camping is by cutting through someone else’s campsite. When you pay for a site, it’s yours for the duration, and it’s only fair to expect others to respect that as your space. It’s also a safety issue: Going through unfamiliar campsites can lead to tripping over hidden guy lines (the cords that stretch from a tent to stakes).

Relying on Cheap Plastic Tent Stakes

“Tent stake?” by gutshot45_70 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

First things first: Don’t forget to pack your tent stakes! They’re usually in a separate bag from the tent, making them easy to overlook, and not having them will make setting up your tent nearly impossible. That said, you should update your tent stakes if the ones that arrived with your tent are plastic. The whole point of staking your tent is to keep it steady during storms, and plastic stakes can break or bend pretty easily.

Underestimating How Much Bug Spray You’ll Need

brown beetle on green leaf
Photo by Dmitry Bukhantsov on Unsplash

The outdoors is packed with annoying bugs, and your best bet against ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, and other pests is a solid bug spray. While most campers remember to toss a can in their bag, they often need to realize how much they’ll actually need. Same goes for sunscreen—the more time you spend outside, the more sunscreen you’ll burn through, and a family can easily go through a whole bottle in just one day at the lake.

Leaving Food or Smelly Stuff in Your Tent

“Fruit Bowl” by Vegan Feast Catering is licensed under CC BY 2.0

There are bears near our campsite, but even if big mammals aren’t an issue, raccoons, opossums, mice, and other critters love a free meal—and your tent wall won’t stop them from digging in. Animals don’t usually care whether it’s chips or toothpaste they’re after. Anything with a scent can grab their attention, and that’s especially true when it comes to bears.

Thinking the Weather Will Always Be Perfect

a snowy mountain side
Photo by Fabien Maurin on Unsplash

You probably know there are no air conditioners or heaters out in the wilderness, but many of us are so used to central air that we don’t realize just how much the temperature can swing—and what that actually feels like. For example, in June, it’s pretty common for our campsite to hit around 80 degrees during the day and 40 degrees at night. Not accounting for this often leads to campers shivering by evening.

Packing Only Shorts and a T-Shirt

woman jumping near river
Photo by Leon Seierlein on Unsplash

Even if it’s sunny and warm the whole trip, you’ll probably need more than just a T-shirt and shorts to stay comfortable and safe. Yet, we often see campers arrive with nothing but beachwear. Packing a few extra clothing options will help you adjust to temperature changes—and layering up is one of the best ways to protect yourself from the sun on those super hot days.

Arriving When It’s Too Late to Set Up

group of people near bonfire near trees during nighttime
Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash

It’s easy to get a late start, and travel plans can change at the last minute, but these things can cause bigger issues when you’re camping. Arriving near dusk or after dark makes setting up your campsite a real challenge. Thinking about using your car headlights to light the way? One of the top complaints from campers is having someone else’s car headlights shining right into their tent.

Forgetting to Bring Propane

“quit fueling around” by eggrole is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Two common mistakes people make (especially beginners) with all kinds of RVs? Forgetting to top off their propane tanks or not bringing enough. Propane isn’t just for cooking—it’s also used for heating water and keeping the RV warm or cool. Tent campers should also grab smaller propane bottles for their camp stove.

Forgetting the Basics for Cooking

meat and vegetable on cooking pan
Photo by Dan Edwards on Unsplash

Salt and pepper can really step up the flavor of your food, but while these basics are always nearby at home, a lot of people need to remember to pack spices and seasonings for camping. The same goes for cooking oils and utensils like knives, cutting boards, napkins, measuring cups, and spatulas. You can’t pack everything, so make a list of what you need the most and pack only those items.

Not Keeping Perishable Food Safe

fish on black frying pan
Photo by John Salzarulo on Unsplash

Camp meals can be one of the highlights of camping. Something about being outdoors makes everything taste so good—but not if you end up with food poisoning. Most campsites don’t have fridges (not even for the rangers), and RV fridges can be pretty unreliable. So, if you’re bringing meat, milk, yogurt, or some other items, you’ll need to be extra careful with food safety.

Letting Your Dog Run Wild

a dog is running down a dirt path in the woods
Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash

Camping with pets? Bringing along your furry friend can definitely make the trip more fun. The outdoors feel freer, and they usually are, so it makes sense you’d want your pet to have some space to roam. A lot of people want to let their dogs off-leash while hiking or at the campsite, but we can’t stress this enough—don’t do it! It’s a recipe for a lost dog, a dog bite, or (unfortunately) a mauled dog.

Bringing Firewood From Home

stack of cut log
Photo by maribel reyes on Unsplash

You might think about bringing your wood for the campfire—maybe you’ve got some extra in the garage or know a spot to grab it for free—but that’s a bad idea. For one, a lot of construction wood is treated with chemicals that get pretty toxic when burned. Plus, it’s illegal in most places. Most states have laws that stop you from bringing firewood across state lines.

Assuming You Can Have a Campfire Anywhere

burning firewoods on grille
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

What’s camping without a warm, crackling campfire? Sadly, with droughts still hitting many areas, this cherished tradition isn’t always safe, and a lot of campsites are under a burn ban. Burn bans come at different levels and have various restrictions. For example, you might be allowed to use a lit stove to cook but not have an open fire.

Written by Lisa O

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