Tips for Your First Car Camping Experience

flickaanne96
Dec 28, 2020
5 min read

Visiting national parks is one of our favorite vacation types! We try to spend as much time in nature as possible, which is why car camping is a great option. We have car camped in 100 degree heat in Utah as well as during fall in Wyoming. Between the two trips, the temperature differed about 80 degrees, so we had to prepare differently for each trip.

Why we choose to car camp when on a road trip?

1. Save money! We use apps such as Free Roam and The Dyrt to find campsites when visiting national parks. In Utah, we visited the Mighty 5 national parks (Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef) within four days and stayed at all free sites. In Wyoming, we camped at a free site within a two minute drive of Grand Teton National Park. While saving money is a huge benefit of car camping, be aware that many free sites do not offer amenities such as bathrooms, showers, or any running water. It is up to you to bring all of your own supplies. And always remember . . . if you pack it in, you must pack it out!

2. Save on drive time! When we visited Yellowstone National Park, we decided to car camp at one of their campgrounds. The campgrounds inside the park range in price from $15-$32 nightly (as of 2020) depending on location, amenities, and if the campground requires a reservation or if it is first-come, first-served. Because of the park's size, we thought it was worth the money to stay in the park to save on drive time. Plus, the campgrounds are spread throughout the entire park. If you are staying for more than a few days, I would highly recommend switching campgrounds during your visit in order to stay in different sections of the park. We went towards the end of the camping season, so we were limited in what campgrounds were available. Even with staying in the park, there were some mornings when we drove two hours to get to our destination, because the park is over 3,400 squared miles. Fun fact: Yellowstone National Park is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined!

We stayed at the Madison campground where we had access to trash/recycling collection, food storage lockers, restrooms with flush toilets, a firepit, a dish washing sink, and a small store to purchase ice, firewood, and snacks.

3. Be with nature! Like I said before, my husband and I love visiting national parks. We have even gone as far as researching job opportunities, so we could live in one for a season. One of my favorite memories I have of car camping is when we visited Utah and stayed near Arches National Park. We were car camping about 15 minutes outside the park, and there was almost no light pollution. I have never seen the Milky Way so clear and beautiful in my entire life. I climbed on top of my car and just laid there looking at the hundreds and hundreds of bright, twinkling stars scattered across the midnight sky.

General Tips

1. Research! Research! Research! Questions to ask yourself when choosing a campsite: Is it free? If not, how much does it cost? What, if any, amenities are available? Do I need a permit? How long can I stay at one site? What is the expected weather for that area? Are there facilities (gas stations, restaurants, hotels) nearby? Will I have cell service? What animals are in the area? Do I need to bring bear spray/bug spray/a mosquito net/other safety supplies? (Bonus tip: National forests and BLM land are two good options to check out when wanting to car camp. Generally, free camping is allowed in all national forests, unless otherwise noted. You can choose to camp on forest access roads for a more remote experience or on the side of main roads.)

2. A portable charger will be your BFF! You do not want to leave your car on simply to charge your devices. I have used mine for years in Europe, Hawaii, and across the continental USA. Make sure to charge devices when driving to and from your campsite and the national park. (Bonus tip: Download a movie or TV episodes to your phone or tablet to enjoy after the sun sets.)

3. Just because you are in the middle of nowhere, it doesn't mean your meals have to suffer! A cooler is a great investment when car camping in order to enjoy delicious meals and snacks while in remote areas. We have enjoyed yogurts, sandwiches, chicken, taco meat, eggs, pasta, fruit, vegetables, drinks, and more. (Bonus tip: Pre-chill your cooler the night before to help the food stay cold for longer.) If you can, get one with a drain plug to make it easier to drain and refill with ice when the original ice starts melting.

ree — Enjoying chicken, pasta, and veggies for dinner

4. Be prepared to be fully self-sufficient! Supplies you may need to bring include water jugs (for drinking, brushing teeth, washing your face and hands, cleaning dishes), toilet paper, a shovel, trash bag/bin, battery powered lamp, extra batteries, soap, towels, stove and fuel, cooking pots or pans, eating and cooking utensils, and a first aid kit.

5. Crack windows while sleeping! Cracking your windows in both hot and cold weather will allow for ventilation and eliminate condensation buildup on the inside of your vehicle.

Tips for Car Camping in the Heat

1. If you know you will be camping in the heat, do yourself a favor and bring a rechargeable fan! Even a small fan will make a difference when you wake up at 7am and the temperature is already over 80 degrees.

2. In addition to bringing water jugs for cooking and cleaning, make sure to bring drinking water and other drinks with electrolytes. Staying hydrated is an important part in enjoying your vacation. We normally have two refillable water bottles per person plus sports drinks.

3. This may seem obvious, but don't forget to bring sheets with you. You do not want to be sweating the entire night, because you brought a winter fleece blanket without thinking.

Tips for Car Camping in the Cold

1. Layers, layers, and more layers! It depends on what type of sleeper you are, but if you are anything like me, clothing layers will help greatly when trying to get a good night's rest. My husband would sleep beautifully with one blanket, a sweatshirt, and pants in Wyoming when the temperature would drop to the 20s at night. On the other hand, I would need two layers of pants, two layers of socks with toe warmers, a T-shirt, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, a winter hat, and gloves with hand warmers in order to sleep through the night.

2. In addition to clothing layers, bring an air mattress, camping pad, or even a yoga mat for your bedding. This will help keep you warm and comfortable and make the difference between a good night's rest and a shiverfest.