If you have never tried it, you can’t imagine how much fun camping is. There is nothing better than going waking up next to nature. The following article will give you tips and techniques to ensure your camping trip is a success.

Find where you will camp before sunset. Once it gets dark, it is much harder to find wood for your fire, prepare food, and get your tent ready. This is even more true if you’re accustomed to city life, and your eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness of the woods. Avoid this circumstance entirely by securing your accommodations ahead of time.

Select your sleeping bag with the weather, season and location of your trip in mind. Bringing a sub-zero type of sleeping bag to use on a trip in the summer will make you sweat the entire night. On the other hand, bringing a light-weight bag in the middle of winter could cause you to wake up freezing. You might even get hypothermia.

Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. Talk about which state you would like to go to. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.

Survival Kit

A first aid kit or survival kit is imperative for camping. Things to include in your survival pack are a knife, matches that are waterproof, first aid kit, flares and tablets to purify water. Your survival kit can be the difference between you making it out of the woods on a stretcher or your own two feet. Never let it leave your side.

Do not hesitate to pack too much for your kids. Camping can be messy. Children seem to be magnetically attracted to dirt. Therefore, you will need to understand that a clean trip is probably out of the question. The solution is not to stop them from getting dirty, but to have clean clothes ready for them after they are done. Keep yourself ready at all times.

Dryer lint can be used as kindling for starting your campfire. Collect the lint in your dryer and store it in a bag a few weeks before you go camping to prepare for this. You can hang a bag next to the dryer and just stuff your lint into it. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.

Camping Pillows

Bring along camping pillows to the campsite. If you take along a regular bedroom pillow, it can get hot and sticky when it is humid outside. The will also pull moisture from the air and mildew will form quickly. Camping pillows use a coating to lock moisture out to improve your comfort level.

Pack your camping supplies in advance of your trip. It is very inconvenient to forget to bring essential items like your sleeping bag or tent. Verify all the things that you need or should take and write out a list of all of them. Then, check your final packing according to the list to be sure.

As you set up your campsite, choose an area that is as smooth and as level as possible for the location of your tent. Choosing a rocky or sloped spot will result in you feeling discomfort when you have to spend time in the tent. Also, put a tarp down on your site to repel water in the best fashion.

Flashlights are imperative to bring while camping as there is minimal light in the wilderness. There are times when it is important to be able to see clearly in the dark. Having that extra light source might help to prevent a fall or accident, or even getting lost in the woods. Bring flashlights to safeguard against the dangers of darkness.

Now that you have good information, you can plan your camping trip. As long as you keep this information on hand you will do just fine as a camper, even if it is your first time. No matter if you camp in a distant region or in your own backyard, do whatever is necessary to have a terrific time.