How to Plan an Awesome Weekend Camping Trip + Packing Checklist
Imagine going on a weekend camping trip and waking up to the sound of crashing waves, or birds chirping in the redwood forest.
This is the appeal of the outdoors where you can bond with friends and family outside of the busy city. Camping is also a great way to save money so that you can take weekend trips more frequently.
In this guide, we will take you through a step-by-step guide on how to plan an awesome weekend camping trip. This includes selecting your ideal destination, packing essential gear, and ensuring safety while enjoying the outdoors.
If you’re in a rush, get a free camping checklist here – with just the right amount of things for a weekend camping trip.
1. Choose Your Ideal Destination For A Weekend Camping Trip
There are great places to visit in the Unites States throughout the year, and campsites usually get booked quickly for the weekend even in off-peak seasons.
In order to choose your ideal destination for a weekend camping trip you can consider the weather, driving distance and activities.
Weather
Look up the expected weather during your planned dates, taking note of the temperature and likelihood of rain. It will help you pack camping gear accordingly and plan suitable activities. For example, if you’re planning for the off-peak seasons, make sure to choose gear that’s suitable for cold-weather camping.
Driving distance
If you want something more chill, you can choose a nearer destination with shorter driving distance. This allows you to have more time enjoying outdoors instead of driving. A short drive also makes it easier if this is one of your first camping trips.
Of course many of the destinations worth going to are a few hours’ drive away, so it’s best to start the drive early to make full use of the weekend. If you’re up for it, you can even take a short flight to explore further places.
Activities
Take a look at nearby activities and attractions that might enhance your camping trip. For example, you can go on hiking trails and explore historic sites and charming towns nearby.
It is also perfectly fine to chill out at the campsite and enjoy each other’s company. A campfire cooking experience is a great activity for bonding and relaxing.
Camping scenery
The best thing about camping is being outdoors. Many campsites are located in places with great scenery. Which kind of terrain and landscape do you prefer?
You could be camping in the forest under the magnificent redwoods, beside an alpine lake, or in the desert. Each of these will offer a unique experience, so you can choose the destination based on your interest.
2. Book A Campsite For Weekend Camping
Don’t you love how affordable camping can be? It’s also fairly easy to book a campsite. Once you’ve tried camping once, you’ll keep wanting to go back year after year. Here are some options for campsite reservations.
National park campsites
If you decide that you want to camp in national parks, you will usually need to make a reservation. This is because there are designated numbered sites that you need to pay for and have your own parking space. There are also limitations on the number of people and vehicles allowed in one site.
You can book your campsite on Recreation.gov after specifying the dates and choosing the appropriate campsite type. For example, if you are driving an RV you will need to pick a spot that has electric and water hookups. Otherwise, you’re most likely going to go with a tent-only campsite which is the cheapest option.
It can be tricky to book a summer campsite especially on the weekend. I recommend booking 4-6 months in advance if possible and checking in occasionally to look out for cancelled bookings.
Private campsites
You can also book private campsites if there is no availability within the parks. In addition, if your ideal destination does not have a national park designated campground, private campsites are a great choice.
You can search for private campsites via platforms like Hipcamp, Airbnb, KOA, Dyrt and Tentrr. There are a variety of camping styles to choose from including glamping and treehouse living. This is a great way to explore other camping options.
Based on personal experience, private campsites tend to have better amenities, but also come with a slightly higher price. If you are new to camping, private campsites could be a good choice for you to get started.
3. Buying And Preparing Weekend Camping Equipment
There are many places you can buy equipment and it may be easier to start with some cheaper gear to lower the barrier to entry. Affordable options are commonly found at REI, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and even Amazon.
Your priority will be to get these 3 essential items – a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. If you decide to cook at the campsite, you will also need a propane stove.
Tent
You don’t have to get the the most lightweight tent when you’re just starting out with camping. Try to get a sturdy and weather-proof tent with a capacity of 1 more than your intended party. This way, you have more space to move around and have better sleep.
Sleeping bag
Sleeping bags have temperature ratings for survival, limit and comfort standards. You should pay more attention to the comfort rating as that gives you a better idea of whether it will be suitable for the season you are in. There is often a tradeoff between weight and warmth, so you can decide according to your budget.
Sleeping pad
Similarly, sleeping pads have an R-rating that tell you how much insulation it provides from the cold ground. It is often an overlooked aspect of camping, but really makes a difference in how warm you will feel against the ground. You can use anything from an ordinary inflatable mattress to a highly spec-ed out sleeping pad that is made for winter.
Propane stove
If you’re going to the campsite via car, you don’t need to worry about bringing the most lightweight stove. Many families bring along a portable propane stove with 2 hobs to whip up delicious meals. Remember to buy some propane gas as they are sold separately.
I have another blog post about tips to get started tent camping for the first time. There, you can check out ways to be comfortable and get deeper into the camping experience.
Read more:
- An Easy Camping Starter Kit: Everything You Need For Weekends
- Why is Camping Gear So Expensive? Reasons To Buy Them Now
4. Rent A Car For The Weekend Camping Trip
If you don’t own a car, you can consider renting one for the weekend. Although you can consider public transport options, driving gives you the flexibility to be spontaneous with your plans. Check out RentalCars.com to compare prices across a few rental companies.
As part of your weekend camping trip planning, try to reserve your rental car in advance for a better chance of cheaper rates.
Read more tips on car rental:
- How To Choose The Best Car Rental – Turo, Zipcar, Hertz
- California Car Rental: 7 Easy Tips You Need To Know For Road Trips
Plan your route
Once you’ve decided where you’re planning to go and how far the distance will be, you’ll have a better idea of the type of car you need. Remember to also plan for rest stops for getting gas and food. If you need to, you can also make a stop at a grocery store to stock up on things like water and snacks.
Type of car for weekend camping
For most camping trips, an SUV is a practical choice because it provides a larger storage space for camping gear and a comfortable road trip experience. If you encounter some dirt roads, an SUV may be better suited for better handling compared to a regular sedan.
If you are planning a weekend camping trip in winter, take note that snow chains will be a requirement on certain roads. However, most rental car companies don’t allow the use of snow chains. Fortunately, many SUVs come with all-wheel-drive and snow + mud tires, which are exempted from some categories of snowy road conditions.
You could also book a campervan or an RV via Outdoorsy to get a taste of what they’re like. This is a popular choice for families who go camping regularly. Who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll end up buying one yourself.
5. Plan Weekend Camping Meals
Many campgrounds have amenities like picnic tables and a fire pit, though some places with high fire risk may ban wood fires.
You can consider grilling food on the fire, or cooking using a propane stove just like you would at home. For a more lavish cookout, consider buying a cooler to keep perishable ingredients like eggs and meat fresh.
You could also cook a simple meal with only boiling water, such as dehydrated meals sold in camping stores, oatmeal, and even instant noodles.
If you want to avoid cooking, you can choose to buy a takeout meal. This way, you don’t need to wash dishes or bring additional equipment for cooking.
Regardless of the meals you plan for your weekend camping trip, remember to bring enough water to stay hydrated.
6. Prepare For Safety
Make sure to look out for safety warnings and guidelines offered by the campground and even on the National Parks website.
Camping in bear country
If you know you will be camping in bear country, make sure to learn how to store your food items and dispose of food waste properly.
Insects and poisonous plants
In warmer seasons you may also want to prepare insect repellent to deal with insects like mosquitoes. Make sure to bring mesh nets if you plan on spending time in your vehicle with the windows rolled down.
If you are going to hike, it’s also a good idea to wear long sleeves and pants to avoid skin contact with poison oak.
First aid kit
You can get compact and lightweight first aids kit from Amazon. It’s good to bring along essential medication, personal care items and bandaids. It’s one of those small things to keep in your weekend camping kit which may one day be a life saver.
Navigation
Make sure to download any offline maps and bring hiking trail maps with you in case your phone runs out of service. If you are planning to do any backcountry hikes without clear trail signs, a GPS device is definitely essential.
If you plan to go hiking or camping by yourself, let a trusted person know about your plan and how long it will take so that they can look out for you.
7. Plan A Weekend Camping Itinerary
Maximise a weekend camping trip by researching and planning out an itinerary with things to do and places to see.
Duration of your weekend camping trip
If you have the time for it, try to book 2 nights at the campsite from Friday to Saturday so that you have at least 1 full day for activities. Otherwise, start your Saturday morning drive early to avoid heavy traffic and get to your destination sooner.
Check sunrise and sunset times
Camping is popular in summer because of the long daylight hours, meaning you can do more in a day. If you are planning a weekend camping trip during other times of the year, check the sunset time so that you don’t end up driving or hiking for too long in the dark.
Make time to relax
Remember to also consider including down time to help you unwind and rest after the drive. Personally, we prefer to arrive at the campsite around 3 hours before sunset so that we can take our time to set up camp, walk around, and enjoy dinner during sunset.
8. Create A Packing Checklist For Your Weekend Camping Trip
Finally, put together a packing check list for your weekend camping trip. This can be reused with slight modifications for each time. It can also help to get everyone on the same page with what to pack and how they can help.
Camping gear for a weekend trip
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Pillows
- Camping chairs
Lights
- Lamp
- Headlamp
- Torchlight + batteries
- Fairy lights
Cooking and campfire
- Stove
- Propane tank
- Lighter
- Pot/pan
- Plates/bowls
- Cups
- Spoon/fork
- Fire starter
- Firewood
- Coffee equipment
- Skewer
Food
- Dinner and breakfast items
- Coffee
- Smores ingredients
- Water
- Beer/snacks
Cleaning up
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- Camp soap
- Small sponge
- Wet wipes
- Collapsible sink
Miscellaneous
- Water bottle
- First aid kit
- Swiss army knife
- Insect repellent
- Quarters for coin shower
- Cash for buying firewood
- Credit card
- ID
- Campsite booking confirmation
- Duct tape
Electronics
- Camera + charged battery + memory card
- Tripod
- Portable charger
- Phone wire
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Facial wash
- Moisturizer
- Shampoo
- Body wash
- Towel
- Toilet paper
- Spectacles/contact lens
- Lip balm
- Sunblock
- Slippers for showering
Clothes
- Warm clothes
- Sleeping clothes
- Underwear
- Socks
- Laundry bag
- Cap
Road trip for a weekend of camping
- Phone holder for car mount
- Sunglasses
- Downloaded/offline map
- Driver’s license/international license
Read this article for more tips and other road trip essentials.
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