Hi! I’ve been looking to camp new areas and have been wanting to camp in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest!

Any recommendations on campgrounds and/or trails? Or recommendations on any dispersed sites?

I'm looking for a set of campground requirements that are a little too specific to easily search, maybe someone has a recommendation?

I'm assuming we're looking for a state park but open to other options

We're a family of 4 (2 adults, kids 7 and 10), looking to tent camp this summer somewhere we can drive to from Chicago in less than a day - preferably closer to 4-5 hours but we'd go up to 7ish for the right spot.

A nice place to swim (really to wade in calm water) is an absolute must, preferably in the park but we'd consider something like a nice beach 10 minutes away. I would prefer it not be Lake Michigan but that's not a dealbreaker.

We would really like to see some caves. They can be on site, they can be a built up tourist destination off site, they do need to be navigable for kids and adults who aren't regular hikers. We're not totally sedentary but we're city people, we walk a lot but on sidewalks, we aren't used to elevation changes, we would like to enjoy a cave, we don't mind ducking for a couple yards to get inside or something, but we aren't looking to do serious hard-hat spelunking here.

Other things we'd prefer but there might be some flexibility:
Forest/shade with a little privacy between sites - I want to see trees, not a field of grass full of campers
Nice beginner-friendly hiking paths
Showers (toilets would be nice but we can live with vault toilets) - we could probably manage showering at the beach if there isn't one right at the campground
Campfires allowed - burn bans seem rare in the area we're looking but listing it just in case, the kids WILL revolt if we can't roast marshmallows
The husband would like somewhere dark enough to stargaze, but realistically, anything is going to be an improvement over Chicago on that one
Maybe no bears? I know you can't just leave food out wherever at any campground and our big cooler is "bear proof", but I'd prefer not to have to hang a bear bag from a tree or other more extreme measures

Just to give a couple examples of our tastes and limits - last summer we camped at Governor Dodge in Wisconsin at one of the "walk 50 feet to this campsite" sites and it was a great balance between privacy and convenience, and we're considering revisiting, but once we were there we quickly realized that the Cave Trail was going to more than the kids could handle (unless I misunderstood that we'd have to walk the Meadow Valley Trail to reach it?) - we may still return there and visit Cave of the Mounds but I wouldn't mind somewhere new. We've done day passes at Hartmann Creek in Wisconsin and it seemed like it would be a great fit except for the lack of caves.

I was looking at a string of caves in Indiana near the Kentucky border, but all the campsites I looked at in the area were just open fields with a tree or two, and seemed to cater more to rving than tent camping. A few state parks in Iowa seemed to have nice caves but no swimming.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

Looking for a warm and affordable (around or under £150) sleeping bag for under 5c° to - 2c°, cheers

Should I jump on it?

We’re looking to get a new tent for 2 adults and 2 large dogs.

Used for car camping so bulk isn’t a concern.

We just want to stay dry in rain and have a decent quality tent that’ll last a handful of years.

My husband's 50th birthday is coming up in May. Looking for a good tent camping spot in the US. We are experienced tent campers but mainly stick to our favorite spots, so we're looking for something new. Definitely need a place that allows campfires and not somewhere cramped next to our neighbor. A plus if there is a water feature nearby that allows fishing (that's more for me than him though so not a necessity). We come from the land of corn and flat so anywhere other than that. Thanks!

Is this outwell earth 5 a good deal for 180 euro? Looking for a tent to use for short stays with the kids (3-4 people) . Looking for easy installation and good rain resistance. Will be used mostly in spring and summer for an overnight. Not for hiking. Thanks for your feedback

Hey everyone, was wondering if anyone here has made a road trip from the Canadian Rockies to Alaska while camping along the way? My brother currently goes to school in Alaska Fairbanks and I am planning to go pick him up. Seems like the best option would be to go from the Rockies along to Kamloops but than I am not sure where to go from there. Camping spots along the way would be great too. Thanks!

I’m planning on taking a group of boys to Clear Creek BLM in Central California. Primarily because it’s a larger group (10-15) boys and I prefer more open spaces where they can be rambunctious and not be a bother to other people who will see them as a threat. Then I don’t like those pull in a parking spot campsites (yuck) I looked online and it shows the Jade Mill campsite says it has a creek running through it. The question is anyone familiar with this site? If so what is there to do for boys (possibly first time camping). Or what do you think I can bring for them to do? I have the board games, sports balls, and some archery I really like to make sure the boys have a good experience Whenever I take them fishing ( I suck at that) it’s not a good time

^(Lightweight family backpacking tent)

I would love some suggestions from experts as to whether to buy a 3-5 person tent or 2 x 2 person tents. We are a family of three who wish to do a lot of weekend 2-3 night trips. There are two adults and a ten-year-old, but I'm 6 ft 4 in, and my son is over 5ft.

We won't be hiking long distances with our gear just walking to and from our campgrounds. But as we will be traveling by public transport we don't want anything too heavy. We are also camping in Australia summer so ventilation is very important.

I'm a professional photographer, so I'm used to lugging around a large backpack. I will need to have some space in the tent for a small camera backpack.

I've been looking at Big Agnes tents. Grateful for any suggestions or tips. thanks

So I charged up the power station , charged up quickly and I had my cooler connected to my power station …

It cooled my cooler quick ,, lasts about 4 hours connected to power station. My question is ,, when I had it connected to my river 2 station , it said 0 output watts ? But my coooler was connected and working ,, why is that? Is it a glitch on the power station?

Currently I'm out in the middle of nowhere, no national parks, or anything. Just forest and I dont wanna drive the whole night to find somewhere. You guys think I can set up shop in some farmland for the night? Long as I don't break anything and stay away from trail cams I think I'll be alright, right? I don't wanna wake up in the morning with a rifle in my face but it's early winter so I don't think many farmers are coming out in the morning to look.

Hello everyone. What’s the life expectancy of a down sleeping bag? I’m looking at the used gear market and managed to snag a never used Costco down blanket and I’m now looking at a vintage down and duck feather bag. We are not planning any sort of winter camping but may possibly do some cold weather tent camping. (Not below freezing)

Hey everyone!

I’m planning a camping trip this summer or fall and I’m hoping to get some recommendations from you all! I’ve been dreaming of visiting the Maritimes for a while, especially after discovering Cape Breton Highlands National Park through photos and posts online. I’ve never been to Nova Scotia or PEI, and I’d love to make this happen.

A little about my plans:

• I currently live near Montreal, about 5 hours from Edmundston, New Brunswick.

• I’m thinking about driving 6-8 hours to a midpoint for an overnight camp, then continuing to Cape Breton Highlands National Park for a few days of camping. After that, I’d head to PEI (or maybe vice versa, not sure which order makes more sense).

• The whole trip would be about a week or so, at least 5 or 6 days dedicated to camping and exploring.

Here’s where I need your advice:

1. Camping in New Brunswick: I’ll be passing through New Brunswick, probably after a 5-hour drive, and am looking for good campsites along the way. Any recommendations for camping spots past Edmundston or near Moncton?

2. Camping in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton Highlands): I’m definitely planning to camp in Cape Breton Highlands National Park for a few days, but any insider tips for the best campgrounds or must-visit spots within the park would be amazing. I also would love to do some hikes, so any advice or comments is appreciated.

3. Camping in PEI: Since PEI is close by, I’m thinking of adding it to the trip. Are there any campgrounds there worth checking out? Maybe some scenic spots or hidden gems?

Also, do you think it makes more sense to visit PEI first and then Cape Breton, or the other way around? Open to suggestions!

Thanks so much for your help and advice. I’m really looking forward to this trip and would appreciate any insights or personal experiences you have to share!

Hi guys, we lived in Vancouver BC , we are thinking about booking the campsite for August, I know it's way too early, just going to take time to do some research before the time to book We are a family of 4 with 2 toddlers, camped once last year , so we super new to camping. Looking for a campsite with playground and hot showers. Thank you in advance for the Recommendations guys

Could anyone suggest a sleeping bag for a new camper/hiker? I’m looking for a lightweight mummy bag, preferably under 3lbs that I could easily strap to my pack. Leaning towards a 20-40F bag for trips in the Midwest area. My budget is about $120. Any suggestions would help!

I normally just camp at busy campgrounds that have a ranger or a camp host so I never thought about it much. My last trip was during the week and there was nobody else at this site other than me, and a tent site with two people. It was far from cell service and I felt pretty vulnerable with no protection. Nothing happened except for a lack of sleep and some anxiety.

Do you always bring a firearm? If so, why? If not, why not?

“Waited all night long, keeping watch, but nothing and no one went in or out of that cave. Still, when my girls see pictures like this, they use it as the perfect excuse to say, ‘This is why we don’t want to go camping anymore!’

I hike and climb a lot in the winter and I want to get into winter camping since on longer climbs/hikes I sleep in the cabins that are maintained by the mountaineering organizations. I'm looking for a 2, 3 people tent that's 4 seasonal with hot-stove. Temps drop around -5 to -10 Celsius at night in the winter.

I know I’m not the only person with an intense snake phobia. They render me frozen and in terror, regardless of size. I know many people love them and they have a bum rap. I would appreciate folks refraining from judgment.

We are planning a car-camping trip from Chicago to NM & AZ (Flagstaff & Sedona) in mid to late June. This part of the country, although beautiful, is rattler country, which doubly terrifies me. My MIL, who lives in Prescott, AZ, has had snakes come into her house (not a rattler). I just got a Napier car hatch tent for additional space, but we will be sleeping in my Crosstrek. Please share any suggestions about where and how to avoid snakes. Also, if you share this phobia and have strategies, I would also welcome them…besides therapy. I’m a therapist! 🙃☺️

Might be a dumb question, but how do y’all camp when you are flying to a place? Every time I have camped, I have a full trunk of sleeping bags, equipment, cookware, etc… I don’t see how it’s possible to bring all of that in a suitcase. Do you ship your stuff or buy it there? Would you only rent a cabin? I live in Texas and would love to camp in something other than a dessert lol but unsure how to get all my stuff there without a 20/30 hour road trip one way.

Looking for opinions on fuel for all weather situations. Have a MSR wisperlite and have tried the options out but haven’t settled on one. Thoughts?

I live in central Melbourne and haven’t got any access to a car but would really like to go camping and like intense hiking/camping/swimming in lakes with a few friends, thanks for suggestions.

Hello! I’m new to this community and found the contents so helpful! I have car-camped for years, but this summer, we’ll be camping for the first time IN my new Subaru Crosstrek, and we’re so excited!

We are driving from Chicago to Albuquerque and then will be in Flagstaff a few 2-3 days. Would love any suggestions for camping. Heading to NM, we wouldn’t necessarily need super scenic camping — more just a place to sleep, stretch our legs and rest. Camping recs for Flagstaff area would be especially appreciated for staying 2-3 days for sky-watching. ☺️Thanks!

Went to the Green Mountain National Forest in October 2024 for some R&R before returning to work after a long absence. Chose a specific spot that I knew was more secluded because my mobility was still compromised and wanted privacy considering there's no bathrooms/facilities at all.

One afternoon, maybe 3 days into the trip a caravan of 4 vehicles rambles in, parks along the main road, and about 15 people all get out with camera equipment and begin taking photos in one specific area. 5 of them walked through our campsite, stood in our campsite next to our tent and vehicle, and stood in the river just next to our encampment to take photos for over 2 hours. They continued to walk back and forth past our fire, latrine bucket area, and tent. My friend asked them to move away as it's dispersed camping for a reason. I chose not to say much which resulted in a conversation between us later that evening. In dispersed camping, is there any expectation of boundaries considering there are no establisted sites? Does the experience oblige giving people space and privacy just due to the nature of dispersed camping?

I’m thinking about getting the Kelty Coyote 60-105L for some long hikes and would love feedback from anyone who’s used it, especially with 25kg (55lbs). I’m mainly concerned about durability and its ability to handle heavy loads over multiple days. How well does it hold up under heavy weight? For multi-day hikes with 25kg, did you have any issues with straps, zippers, or seams? How does the build quality compare to other similar backpacks? Would you recommend it for long hikes or backpacking with heavy gear? Looking forward to your experiences! Thanks in advance! 🙏

Bought this tent for me and my wife and I can’t find the footprint for it because it seems to be discontinued. Any of you have this tent and have found a footprint that works? Thanks everyone!

We'll spend 4 weeks camping from BC to Marathon, ON in June/July.

Do campsites really book out months in advance? Should I plan and book all our stops now?