Camping can be fun for your whole family! It offers a great opportunity to learn about nature and offers great personal reflection time. Taking the time to explore the great outdoors can be rewarding. This article offers advice for great camping trips.

Get a big enough tent to fit everyone and gear properly. This will allow everyone in your tent to be comfortable at night and to easily get up if they need to use the bathroom.

Combine your camping trip with some swimming. Showering is one of the comforts of home you will have to do without while camping. The coolness of the water when you swim will help you feel clean and refreshed, so you may not miss your home shower as much.

Pack a bandanna or handkerchief. A bandana is very versatile and can be used as a blotter, potholder, mini-bag and more. Take a few with you anytime you go camping.

Dryer lint can make great kindling for creating campfires. In order to have enough lint to start a fire, begin collecting it a month prior to your trip. Collecting lint in a bag will allow you to have a fire building tool for your trip. Your kindling will be ready for you to grab on the way out the door for your trip.

Gets Dark

Set your campsite, tent and sleeping bags up before it gets dark. If you have an RV, find a secure place to park. When using a tent, choose a dry flat location. If you do that before it gets dark, you can get a good look at your immediate surroundings. You will be able to see due to the sunlight and you will have an easier time.

Do not forget to pack duct tape for your camping trip so that it can solve neraly any problem! You can patch holes in your tent, your mattress or your shoes, or secure your tent poles, seal mosquito netting and much, much more.

Before you plan to camp in an new area, it is important to be aware of any dangers commonly found there. There may be spiders or bears near you that could pose a threat. Each camping spot is unique and can be dangerous in its own way.

Take a leash with you if you plan to bring your dog camping. There are those who fear dogs. You must always respect the needs of others when camping. Also, because it is a new territory, dogs can get into trouble and cause damage to the site if not supervised.

If the area in which you’ll be camping is well known for wildlife that poses a danger, special precautions must be taken regarding your food. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. This will reduce the likelihood of experiencing an attack.

Find soft, flat ground for your tent and make sure to stick your flag in that soil before the other guy! There is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping on a slope or a spot with a rocky surface. Make sure you put down a tarp before you set up your tent. This will keep water from entering your tent at night.

Try to refrain from draining your flashlight when camping. It’s possible to accidentally hit the “on” button on your flashlight. To prevent draining the batteries, place them in your flashlight backwards. This will ensure they do not drain if the flashlight is accidentally turned on.

Be sure that you have a good amount of lighting devices with you, as well as means of keeping them running. You will surely find it necessary to illuminate things once night falls. Having an adequate amount of light can help avoid injuries from falls and running into animals living in the wild. If you have kids with you, be sure they each have their own flashlight.

Use what you have learned from this article to ensure you don’t miss some key factors in camping. Even if you’ve camped before, there is always something new to learn. The advice you have read today can help you make some wise decisions next time you go camping.