Tent Camping Guide

Tent camping is the cheapest way to get outside and the easiest way to have a rough night. Almost all of it comes down to site selection and sleep setup.

Choosing a tent site inside the campsite

Most campsites have more than one place you could pitch. Pick carefully.

• Flat is more important than scenic. Test by lying down.
• Slightly high ground, never a depression. Water finds low spots.
• Avoid the base of a slope and any obvious drainage channel.
• Look up for dead branches before you pitch.
• Point the door away from prevailing wind and away from the loop road.
• Morning sun on the tent gets you up and dries condensation; afternoon shade keeps it livable.
• Clear rocks and pinecones now, not at midnight.

Pitching for weather

• Stake out every guyline, even in calm weather. Wind arrives at 2am.
• Rainfly taut, with a gap between fly and inner for airflow.
• Footprint tucked fully under the tent so it does not collect runoff.
• In heat: maximize mesh and cross-ventilation. In cold: minimize drafts but keep one vent open to reduce condensation.

Sleep system

This is where comfort is won.

• Insulated sleeping pad. Ground temperature matters more than air temperature.
• Bag or quilt rated below your expected low, not at it.
• A real pillow, or a stuff sack packed with a fleece.
• Dry sleep clothes that never leave the tent.
• A warm hat on cold nights.

Camp organization

• One bin for kitchen, one for shelter and sleep. Never mix.
• Headlamp in the same pocket every trip.
• Food stored per local regulations - in a vehicle or a bear box where required.
• Trash bag hung, not sitting open on the table.
• Shoes inside the vestibule, not outside.

A simple first-trip kit

• Tent, footprint, stakes, and a mallet.
• Sleeping pad, bag, pillow.
• Headlamp and spare batteries.
• Stove, fuel, lighter, one pot, one pan.
• Cooler with block ice, not cubes.
• Water containers, and more water than you think.
• First aid kit, sunscreen, bug repellent.
• Camp chairs, a tarp, and 50 feet of cord.
• Layers: rain shell, insulating layer, warm hat.

Leave no trace basics

• Camp on durable surfaces and use the existing pad.
• Pack out all trash, including food scraps.
• Keep fires in the ring, burn only what is provided or approved, and drown them cold.
• Respect quiet hours and keep lights pointed down.

Open a 360° tour of a campsite before you book and you can see the tent pad, the shade, and the drainage before you ever unpack.