It's Time to Pack for Your Camping Trip!

Campsites are spread out all over the United States. They vary from simple wilderness sites to deluxe campgrounds with Hotel-like accomodations and outdoor pools and spas. Many people love to rough it in the outdoors just for a short time to experience the beauty of God's creation and feel a little closer to Him. I love camping and enjoy the peaceful outdoors for time to relax and spend quality moments with friends and family. Packing for a camping trip can be an overwhelming task. You need so many things when you are away from home, and even more to make a camping trip successful. While anything you may have forgotten you generally can get along without, it doesn't hurt to be extra careful when packing for your camping trip!

One of the most important parts of camping is your housing. If you are tenting you will want to be sure to check out your tent ahead of time. Check for any tears, hole and check the zippers to be sure the windows and doors will open and close. You will also want to be sure that you have all the poles you need and also enough tent stakes to secure your tent to the ground at the campsite. If you have a camper you will want to run through a simple maintenance check to be sure it is all in good running and working order. You may also want to do some cleaning to ensure a happy and healthy trip! If you are renting a camping cabin, or some other housing you will have a very easy time thinking about this stage of packing. You will want to be sure to check out what amenities are included with your cabin to be sure you bring the items you need.

Another important article for camping is your bedding. Some can rough it out with a simple sleeping bag, while others choose to use cots or blow up beds. You will want to check the weather to know how much covers you need. I always suggest taking a warm sleeping bag and a heavy flannel sheet when camping. That was if it's very cold you can use them both. If it is not too cold, you can use the sleeping bag, and if it is warm you can lay on top of your sleeping bag and cover up with the sheet. Only you can decide how many blankets you want, but I would pack on the heavy side in this category. Getting good sleep and staying warm while camping is very important! If you are bringing blow up beds be sure to pack your air pump as well as check for leaks prior to your trip. You can patch any holes, or decide if you need to make a new purchase after inspecting your beds.

The next articles for packing are clothing. Weather can always be very unpredictable, so when you are camping it is best to pack clothes that you can layer easily. Tank tops, T-shirts, long sleeve shirts and sweatshirts are great items to bring in plenty. Very often the weather changes from morning to evening and you will be adding or lessening layers through out the day. Long pants that zip off into shorts or capris are also great items for a camping trip. You will want to include at least one pair of warm pants, and one pair of shorts in your suitcase. Also keep in mind when you are packing that you are camping and camp wear should be very casual and comfortable. Don't pack your favorite clothes as you may ruin them while out in the wilderness. Light weight clothes are perfect for camping. You will also want to pack extra socks. If the weather is cool, you may need to double up on socks to keep your feet warm. Also, if you are hiking you will want extra socks in case your feet get wet and you need a new pair when you arrive back at your campsite. You may also want to bring rain gear should you encounter a sprinkle here and there. Staying dry is very important when camping. Shoes should be brought for hiking and sandals for swimming or just casual time around the campsite.

You will also want to pack a first aid kit and your toiletry bag. Keep both of these simple, but be sure you include the daily necessities such as deodorant, shampoo, soap, and a hair brush. Towels will need to be packed for swimming and showering as well. In your first aid kit be sure to pack bandages, pain relief medicine, and some type of antibiotic ointment. Most campsites do have medical kits around should you have any major injury, but you should bring your own basics for minimal injuries.

You will need to carefully pack your food and be sure to keep cold foods below 40 degrees. Coolers with ice need to be filled everyday with fresh ice to keep the food cool enough. You will want to bring any camp cooking gear you will need to prepare your meals. Camping stoves are very handy when cooking but be sure to bring an extra propane tank should yours run out. If you are planning on using a fire for cooking be sure you have plenty of wood and also plenty of matches. Newspaper makes a great fire starter so bring some old newspapers with you to the camp site.

Some luxury camping items include bug canopies, chaise loungers, fire starters, and pudgy pie grills! If you have these items and want to bring them along, be sure to inspect them first to be sure they are in working condition. If you are going to be camping for only a few days it may not be neccessary to bring all the luxuries of home, but for a long trip you won't want to leave home without them! Just be sure to bring your favorite tools and appliances for a unforgettable camping trip!

After you have checked your list, and checked it again you can feel confident in heading out to the camp site. Once you have successfully completed your camping trip, log the items you forgot or wish you had brought as well as the items you packed and didn't need. This list will help you when packing for next year and ensure another successful camping trip!