How to Set Up or Tear Down Camp in Ten Minutes

Camping brings out your adventurous spirit as you're away from most of civilization exploring new areas around you. If you camp often, you can get into a routine that will allow you to set up and tear down camp in ten minutes. You need two people, your camping supplies and have it all loaded up into your vehicle. Pack only clothes that are necessary to take, reducing your supplies.

Disclaimer Statement: This article is meant to work for two adults, tent camping for two days at a time only. If you have more people that are capable of pulling equal shares of the load, this could work with more people.

Set Up
Arrive at your destination before dark. If you aren't able to arrive before dark, make sure your lantern is packed within easy reach and set it up first before you begin setting up camp. Park where you have room for your tent. Pick a flat location location for your tent. Unload the tent and have one person begin setting it up. The other person needs to finish unloading the rest of the supplies, placing them on a nearby picnic table. If there is no picnic table to unload the supplies to, the other person needs to help fully set up the tent. Once the tent is set up, unload the sleeping supplies and clothing into the tent. The first person should resume setting up the bedding area while the second person then unloads the rest of the supplies. As the first person finishes with the bedding, the second person should start the fire depending on the time of day.

Tear Down
Finish breakfast and begin tear down. Stuff all the clothes into bags, ignoring organization. Remove flashlights and other small camping objects from the tent and place in the appropriate box it came in. While one person does this, the other person should be opening up the vehicle and cleaning up the campsite, depositing any remaining trash into a trash bag. Zip the sleeping bags and both people should help roll them up. Secure them and place them in the back of the car. The other person should begin dismantling any items that were used to sleep on. While this is taking place, the remaining person should be loading the rest of the supplies back into the vehicle. Remove the items used to sleep on. Dismantle the tent. Both individuals should tear down the tent and help to properly repackage it. As one person packs the tent in the vehicle, the other person should fully extinguish the fire if applicable.

The theory is to combine as many tasks as possible. Keep the camping supplies organized by having a set "camping box" or plastic tub that contains cooking items, paper towels, matches, flashlights and so on. This will help with packing and unpacking each time you camp.