8 Simple Steps For Finding The Perfect Camping Spot

Camping is arguably one of the best ways to spend your free time. Being out in nature has a positive effect on people’s mental and thus physical health. Healthy mind, healthy body, as they say. 

Camping is also a skill. Although our survival instincts give us rough pointers on what we need to do when we find ourselves out in the wild, there’s still a learning curve to the skill of outdoors survival. For one, you need to learn how to find the right camping spot. 

Proximity to Civilization 

Movies and TV series have turned camping into this relaxed, carefree way of spending time with your friends and loved ones in the wild. What these shows, commercials, and articles rarely emphasize are the risks involved with camping. The moment you leave civilization, you are increasing your exposure to certain risks, and that is perfectly fine. 

Yet, it’s essential to understand that help is as far as the next town in case of an emergency. If you’re a hardcore outdoor enthusiast, by all means, go ahead and explore the depths of the Appalachians. But if you’re a novice, do yourself a favor and limit your potential camping locations to sites that are in proximity to civilization. 

Look For Flat Terrain

Setting up camp is a relatively straightforward process, but some rules will make your life so much easier. Among the first and most basic rules is to set up camp on flat grounds. Can you set up a tent on uneven terrain? Sure, but you won’t be comfortable in your sleeping bag if you do so. 

If you’re setting up a gazebo, it will be crooked. Check out some handy reviews to find a pavilion that could work in these conditions. That being said, there’s another reason to stay on flat ground — rain. You’ll find yourself dealing with all kinds of issues in case of a thunderstorm. If you’re set up on a slope somewhere, it’s easy to wake up drenched from being in the path of water as it slides down the hill. 

Of course, you don’t always have a choice. If you have to make camp on a slope, make sure to dig a small trench all around your tent. That will keep you dry in case of a weather storm. 

Inspect the Tree Line 

There’s rarely anything better than setting up camp right along a tree line overlooking a gorgeous valley. However, as much as trees can improve your experience, provide shelter from the wind and sun, they can also be extremely dangerous. Just like you and me, trees live and die. Unlike you and me, trees don’t always make it obvious that they’re dead. 

Dead trees generally rot from the inside out. You can sit next to a tree and not even notice that it’s a hazard. If you’re setting up camp near a tree line, you have to make sure that there are no dead trees in your vicinity. You can’t tell when and if they’ll fall over, and you don’t want to be in the way when they do.  

Research Your Surroundings 

Impromptu camping spots can be excellent, but it’s always better to do your research using maps. One of the things you’ll want to look for is sources of water. This is especially true if you plan on camping for more than a few days. We recommend against looking for drinkable water unless you know exactly what you’re doing. Bring enough clean water for the entire trip. 

That being said, you’ll need water for other things, including washing dishes, preparing your food or your MREs, clothing, and maybe even bathing. If you end up needing drinking water, look for streams rather than ponds. Additionally, make sure to treat said water by boiling it, using water purification tablets, or using an advanced filtration system. 

Look For Sunlight 

Heat and light are both scarce commodities out in the great outdoors. Sunlight is about the only source of both you’ll get for free. For every other source of light you’ll have to either bring with you or work for it. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, simple. 

One thing you can do is find a spot that matches all the above criteria while also giving you plenty of sunlight throughout the day. In other words, try to find a location that gets sunlight throughout the day, rather than just in the morning or the evening. 

Local Wildlife 

The great outdoors is a place that you’ll be sharing with other campers, but more importantly — the local wildlife. That being said, the wildlife in the area where you plan to camp may not necessarily be welcoming to your presence. This goes for campsites across the US, but also many of the best campsites in Europe. There are all kinds of critters out there, and you’re bound to run into some.  

You need to research just what kind of wildlife is present in that area and if there’s anything potentially dangerous you should know about. Animals such as brown bears and grizzly bears are definitely on this list. 

Beware of Bugs 

Camping is fantastic, except for the bugs. They are one of the few things that can make your entire trip dreadful with almost no effort. Right off the bat, know that you won’t be able to avoid all bugs. After all, you’re in their backyard. 

However, there are ways to keep yourself away from these pesky little critters by avoiding setting camp near bodies of water. That alone will solve most of your mosquito problems. Furthermore, get a lanshan 1 tent that has a bottom, or get a raised bed 

Some Planning Goes a Long Way 

Everything we’ve mentioned above shouldn’t discourage you from getting out in the wild and experiencing the great outdoors. The point of this guide was to give you a few pointers that would keep you from making mistakes many have made before you. There’s more to camping than meets the eye, so make sure to read get all the necessary info before you set out on your adventure.

Related Article:

• 5 Amazing Spots of RV Camping in California
• 5 Warm Weather Camp Spots to Try This Winter