Camping is usually associated with a 1-star lodging experience of sleeping on the ground and peeing in the woods. However, we are here to share with you our favorite camping hacks to turn this 1-star experience into one for the memory books. Granted, you will still be sleeping on the ground and likely peeing in the woods. However, with our camping hacks, we hope to inspire a new appreciation for lodging primitively in the great outdoors.
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Picking a Site
In order to have a quality outdoor experience, there are three key elements we look for when reserving a campsite ahead of our trip:
Seclusion: How far is the site from other campsites? Are there trees and vegetation surrounding the site? We also look to see if there is a lake, river, or stream campsite option!
Size of Campsite: Most booking sites will give the square feet of the site you are booking. Not all campsites at a campground are the same size, therefore, be sure to look at the square feet of your options to get the most space and seclusion while camping.
Reviews: We look for reviews of the campground & sites before selecting our ideal campsite to reserve. A great site for researching reviews and amenities at American Parks is The Dyrt. We also use Recreation.gov for reviews, photos, and reservations of American National Parks.
Like these campsites? Also Read: Great Smoky Mountain National Park
5 Bear Safety Tips
Remember : Bears keep to themselves and are generally afraid of humans, unless they are tempted by food or are protecting their young. Not practicing the proper bear safety while camping can not only endanger you, but the bears as well. Please follow the below bear safety tips to protect both you and the bears.
1. Tent Clothes vs Day Clothes
Be sure to pack a separate pair of clothes for sleeping in the tent. Your day clothes carry the scent of food from cooking and eating throughout the day. Wearing this clothes inside your tent increases the likelihood of a bear coming across your campsite in search of food.
Bears are thought to have the best sense of smell of any animal on earth. In fact, they can sniff out food at a distance of 20 miles away. Although you may think your clothes smell fine after a day of cooking and eating, a bear may think otherwise and come to sniff it out. We recommend keeping your day clothes in an enclosed vehicle or a bear-safe box (usually provided by your campsite).
Fact: Bears can smell food at a distance of 20 miles away
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2. Unscented Toiletries
Similar to the above mentioned reasons for wearing different tent clothes, bears will also come sniffing out anything with a strong scent (not just food). Since bears can smell food up to 20 miles away, imagine how many miles away they can smell stronger scents, such as perfume or cologne. Even if you wear separate tent clothes, wearing scented body wash, spray, or deodorant can also attract bears to your campsite.
3. Unscented Dish Soap
If you are leaving your cooking supplies out to dry for the evening, using unscented dish soap is a smart idea to avoid attracting bears with its citrusy smell. We recommend using Planet dishwashing liquid. Additionally, we also recommend purchasing a reusable tablecloth for your picnic table. This allows you to contain any food during meal prep and cleanup, avoiding leaving leftover food on the table after meals.