Anyone have experience in this? We are in the DFW area and would love to take the kids camping for a weekend while they're off of school, but the heat is unbearable. Obviously we can't truly "beat the heat" but any good park recommendations that tend to be cooler than a gabillion degrees? We have looked at southern Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas so any recs from there would be appreciated as well.

Outside of driving 10+ hours to the mountains in New Mexico etc, any good ideas?

Hi! I'm starting the journey of camperizing my car. For the shower Ive seen two potential solutions: the pressure shower, convenient bcause it doesn't require battery, and the tank with a electric pump, probably easier but requires battery power. What do you find better and why?

Howdy! I'm looking at this sucker: https://www.threeridgesgear.com/products/megahorn-iii-shelter?variant=44462415872307

I have not been winter camping up in the Pacific North West, we moved up here last fall from TN. I was surprised to see a winter inner advertised, I would think a hot tent would be sufficient on its own, with maybe some help from ground sheets and stoking the fire a time or two at night.

Anyone have thoughts on the tent, camping in the winter in the PNW, and the necessity of a winter inner? From this last winter it never got nearly as cold as TN winters would, so I think I'd be good without. But I don't know what I don't know, lend me your experience!

Ok don’t come after me with pitchforks please I’m asking an honest question and I realize probably a stupid question. I do not want to do anything unsafe. My question is would you think it’s safe to have my 3 kids in their own tent right next to myself and husband sleeping in our van. I have a family of 5. My two youngest kids are 3 and 4 years old. They are tiny so they will still be in pack and plays. Their older brother is 14. The territory where we are camping doesn’t really have bears in anything small black bears, some coyotes, and possibly some Mountain lions. It’s sutter creek area of CA. Would you say it’s unsafe to have the kids in their own tent while I’m in a closed vehicle. Should I be concerned about the wildlife threats of having them separate from me? It has to be extremely unlikely/unheard of that a coyote would enter a tent, but would a mountain lion be smart enough to know I left my kids alone in there? What are your thoughts and what do you think the risk is?

I have planned a trip to do a 2 night weekend hike with a couple of my friends. We are trying to camp at big meadows in VA on skyline drive but I'm struggling to get a campsite for the 19th-21st. I saw online where it says that they release 25% campsites 4 days out of arrival date which for the 19th would be today (the 15th) but the sites still doesn't let me click the 20th (departure day) there for I cannot book it yet.

We don't mind moving campsites if we have to for the 20th to the 21st. Did we miss the reservations for 19th? (I checked at 7am this morning and have tried every hour with the same results)

I seem to recall an ad showing a group of cyclists on a paved road/trail that said it was Moab UT. My wife and I would like to take our e-bikes with us when we visit next year but now I can’t find where that might have been exactly. Anyone here offer some advice?

I hope this doesn’t sound crazy, I just wanted an extra level of protection during my car camping trip. We had the idea to set up pop its underneath some matts so if someone or something came up, the pop its would hopefully scare them off… I would obviously clean it all up after wards to make sure no critters get into to them and it would only be during the night… but would i get in any trouble with this at campsites?

We wish to keep ourselves warm (2 people). Any suggestion will be very helpful. Temperature will vary from 6 to -6 Celsius.

Hi, I’m taking four preteen boys camping this summer for a weekend. I realize that I need more room than my ‘22 Highlander can hold and I don’t want to rent a pickup truck, if possible. Can anyone recommend a hitch mount cargo carrier that I can attach to the back of my vehicle to give me more room for camping storage? Thanks!

Hi, I have this tent: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Evanston-Screened-Weatherproof-Screened/dp/B0C5JZXTQG “Coleman Evanston Screened Camping Tent, 6/8 Person Weatherproof Tent with Roomy Interior Includes Rainfly, Carry Bag, Easy Setup and Screened-In Porch”

I know it is much easier to inflate a full size / double air mattress inside vs to get it inside after inflation. This may be impossible on my upcoming trip though. Does anyone know the dimensions of the entrance? Could not find them online.

Alternatively, would it be easier to insert the fully inflated air mattress into the tent before it is pitched and the entrance is taught?

Thank you!

I went to Kentucky about a year ago to camp at Miguel’s for a rock climbing trip and because it was raining I packed my rain fly in the bag and kept the dry stuff separate. I think someone must’ve grabbed it because I called their lost and found and they had nothing and another camper got some of their stuff snatched as well.

Anyways, now I have half a tent system (just the mesh part) and am looking to see if anyone has the inverse problem.

If you have a rain fly for the Stormbreak 2 that’s up for grabs, please leave a comment because this is my favorite tent and I can’t justify throwing out a perfectly good tent just because NorthFace doesn’t sell the rain fly separately.

Hoping for a miracle here! Thanks guys

Hey all,

I just started a wilderness program for veterans where we combine hiking and camping with getting better to ourselves. A part of it is that we also make and cook our lunch over a campfire.

I have previous education in bakery and pastry sciences and want to share my bread making skills, but am not sure how to bridge the gap into open fire cooking.

Could you share with me your best tips, equipment, or recipes for some good bread? I’m not looking for snobrød/stick-based recipes - those I have many of.

Thanks in advance!

I have 2 mattresses, one is the Exped Dura 5 HR for wilderness camping and one is a Coleman camping air mattress for car camping.

As a side sleeper, the Coleman is great and I sleep very comfortably.

I upgraded from an REI self-inflating pad to the Exped after having my kid (my hips just aren’t the same), and even though it is more comfortable, I still don’t sleep well at all and wake up with aching hips.

Someone mentioned being a side sleeper on another thread and was recommended the Exped mega mat. If the Dura XR doesn’t do it for me, would the mega mat? Are there other options? I’d like to be able to safely camp in winter, and also simplify to not have to lug a full air mattress when it’s warmer.

Thanks!

I was on a trip recently where I had to pack up my canvas tent in the rain. I know you're not supposed to store them wet for any length of time, but it had to go in the back of the truck while I drove home, and once I got home it rained for another two days. As soon as it cleared I set it back up in the backyard, letting it dry in the sun. It seemed fine; no mildew or anything. If it had been raining for longer though I fear some damage might have been done to it. Two days still felt too long for the tent to be folded up and wet.

Is there a better way to handle this situation?

I am looking for a light weight cover for my down quilt to protect it from my very loving 30 lb. dog. Want something lightweight, packs small, less than $100, and won’t cause condensation problems. The bivys I’ve found are expensive or heavy. Camping and backpacking in eastern USA.

When I take my dog camping, she likes to lay on top of my down quilt. I’ll move her off and back to her own bed, but often during the night she’ll move back to my quilt. At home, she likes to sleep snuggled up on my bed or with one of my children.

Dog’s current set-up: an old Z-lite pad, a lightweight fuzzy blanket, and in colder weather, a synthetic throw from Walmart. The dog has used this bed at home and appears to like it. When camping, it seems she needs to snuggle a bit more before going to sleep.

I just got my tent out for the first time this year and see that I have no poles. I’m guessing they were left at my last campsite. I searched here and it looks like there are a few places you can get replacement poles. Is it worth it to do this for a $70 tent or should I just get a new tent? I intend to contact the manufacturer too but I’m having trouble as there website seems to be down. It’s a mountain summit gear four person dome tent. Thanks

What is everyone's favorite sleeping pad? My joints hurt when I sleep without one. I'd prefer foam, since inflatable pads will deflate in very cold weather, and I love cold weather camping. Amazon has a few, but REI has ones that are nicer.

Hi guys! Quick question - have you had any experience with McKinley tents and is there any particular one you'd recommend for 2-person camping? Thanks!

I have some problems figuring out what kind of cooler I should get. I am going camping with my girlfriend for around 2 weeks with a Coleman coastline , we are planning to go to Austria en Slovenia.

Should a buy a electric, gas or icecube cooler. I thought about a electric one but you need to pay up to 6 euros for electricity per day. My budget is around 150 euro for the cooler

Hello! So I did make a post earlier this month that seemed to gain a lot of traction asking for advice that people wish they knew before their first time camping. But people didn’t really read the content of my post and ended up giving me advice that I already knew from experience or advice that’s wasn’t super helpful so I’ve decided to make a new post to hopefully get the advice I was asking for.

context (who, where, why, when) I’m 20 years old planning everything myself and we are a group around 8-12 college students all ranging from the ages 19-21. We are not hiking any place we are simply car camping. We have 2 potential campsites that we will be staying at in Upstate New York for a Renaissance festival.

We intend on using the campsite as a home base but we will not be spending much time at the campsite besides sleeping and any downtime between the tourist activities we’ll be doing. There is a dollar general and gas station nearby so we will be able to easily access stuff. The campsites both have showers and bathrooms. We will be taking multiple cars around 4-5 cars and carpooling.

The group of people coming are very close knit and trusting of each other we spend basically everyday together. I’m not worried about people paying their share or anything like that. And I’m not scared of them being disrespectful or inconsiderate of other campers around us.

I’m very organized I’ve made google forms requesting emergency contact, food restrictions and allergies, who are they comfortable sharing a tent with, what is their budget, etc. I’ve also made a google doc with a cost breakdown. And I’ve made a google sheet for people to sign up to buy supplies for us to share so that people don’t bring the same things as each other.

I want everyone to have a fun time. some of us have been camping before but for others it would be their first time so what are some camping tips you have based on all the info I gave? Also any money saving tips because we’re broke college students 🙏🏼

A friend is visiting this weekend, and we want to go camp somewhere in the San Gabriels Saturday night. I was hoping to go to Applewhite campground in the Lytle Creek area, but all spots are booked this Saturday.

Does anyone know of a similar vehicle accessible campground around the Los Angeles area (San Gabriel Front Range specifically)? I've done some backpacking in the area but thats not on the table for this weekend unfortunately.

Setting up in the dark and thought I'd try to take a photo. Turned out pretty cool, I think. Near Post, TX

Hi. We live in the Bay Area, and I made the mistake of camping near angel's camp in late July a few years ago and even with the lake, it was way too hot. I know it's just about the warmest time of year, but I guess what I'm looking for are campgrounds less than 3 hours from the Bay Area that are located in the mountains/in cooler areas. All suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

Hello! My friend and I are looking to go camping in the North Carolina Outer banks this upcoming summer (June or July). I was wondering if people had any recommendations for specific camp grounds? We would be tent camping and are wanting something close to the water if possible! Thank you!

Update: it would also be preferred if the camp ground has showers

30M here, never been camping before and never had any interest. My wife (27F) went growing up, so she is used to it and enjoys it.

She set up this one-night stay at a nearby state park without asking or telling me. It will be us, our 1.5yo child, our dog and my wife’s brother in a tent.

I can’t imagine liking any of it — so SELL me on what you think I’ll enjoy, & how to deal with someone who isn’t interested in camping.

Thinking about bringing a group of 9 of us into the park 9-11am and camping Saturday->Monday. I have an off the beaten path spot I love to camp, almost 4x4 exclusive and when we’ve been it’s empty. But worried just getting through that main gate Memorial Day weekend. Every post has been “obviously you’re going to have a bad time getting in that day, go another day” but anyone know how bad? Like 3 hours waiting to get in? Impossible to get in? Get there before “x” time and it’s a breeze? Looking for any stories and all personal experience/stories you can share!

Thanks gang and happy camping this summer!