To thrive and survive outdoors, safety starts the minute you get behind the wheel. Don’t overlook the most critical rule of the road: Put on your seat belt. Launching a great adventure then extends beyond the drive to etiquette and execution, planning and preparation.
Whether you are new to your favorite sport and traveling near, or are comfortable with more experience and farther distance, mind these best safety practices to help ensure that you come home alive from your next car camping trip.
Car Camping Tips for Near Trips
Buckle that seat belt. Deer love last-minute crossings, and blind turns plague mountain roads.
Be a good neighbor. Say howdy, leash your pup, and keep the tunes down. Once you’re comfortable in established sites, neighborly best practices factor your impact, as well as following any and all campfire rules.
Mind the bears. Yogi and Boo-Boo want your snacks. In bear country, use a bear locker, canister, or hang. Go deeper with added advice on food storage, bear spray, campsite setup, and how to spot signs of nearby bears.
Bring the essentials. The right packing list can make or break a trip. Yours should keep your crew warm, fed, hydrated, lit — and at least moderately clean. Stick to these four pillars as you rig for the road.
- Warmth: This means tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad — but it could also mean sweatpants, a jacket, bunny slippers, your lucky socks, or a unicorn onesie.
- Light: A crucial twofer for safety and vibe-setting. Pack a flashlight, headlamp, and any lanterns or fairy lights. Campfire fanatic? Us, too. Check fire warnings, and drown the coals when you’re done. (Peeing on them doesn’t count.)
- Food: Pack more snacks than you think you’ll need (beer included), plus some way to cook dinner. If there’s a fire ban in your zone, opt for a camp stove over open flames.
- Hygiene: A little hand sani goes a long way, and baby wipes are a godsend. (We won’t tell you to brush your teeth, though. It’s not like we’re your mom.)
Car Camping Tips for Trips Afar
Get off-grid ready: It’s wild out there. Keep your adventuremobile stocked with a spare tire, jack, jumper cables, water, and first aid. Try to keep the car loaded with just the safety essentials, but if there’s extra room, you can always add more comfort items.
Bring extras. About that comfort factor. If it’s dependent on certain items, pack a spare. Biggies include lighters, batteries, chocolate, socks, undies … did we say chocolate, meds, and chocolate?
Think like a real estate agent. Pay as much attention to your campsite location as you do to your Zillow homepage. Ideal tent spot: slightly elevated, out of the wind, 200 feet from water, and on a durable surface.
Plan for rain. Nothing lays waste to morale like wet socks. Bring enough gear to waterproof everything — from your tent and backpack to your feet.
— See more in The Safety Detail, our film series and full activity guide to surviving and thriving outdoors.
This article is sponsored by NHTSA: Click It or Ticket.
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