Camping Hacks: Simple Tips to Make Camping Easier and More Fun

The best camping hacks aren’t fancy gadgets. They’re small habits and cheap tricks that save time, keep you organized and make camp more comfortable. In the video below, HGTV Home shares a set of clever camping hacks and DIY ideas. Here are more tried-and-true tips you can use on your next trip.

Packing and organization

• Pack by category. Use clear bins or labeled bags for kitchen, sleep, tools, clothes and first aid, so you can find anything quickly.
• Keep a camp box stocked. Store the basics (lighter, dish soap, foil, trash bags, utensils, spare batteries) in one bin between trips, so packing takes minutes.
• Use a hanging organizer. An over-the-door shoe organizer or a shower caddy hung from a tree or canopy keeps toiletries and utensils off the table.
• Pack small spice kits. Fill a pill organizer or a few tiny labeled containers with salt, pepper and your favorite seasonings.
• Practice pitching your tent at home. You’ll find missing stakes or broken poles before you’re in the dark at camp.
• Take a photo of your site number and where you parked, especially at big campgrounds.

Camp kitchen and cooler hacks

• Freeze water jugs or bottles to use as ice packs. They keep food cold and you can drink them as they thaw.
• Pre-chill your cooler and contents before you pack it. Block ice generally lasts longer than cubes.
• Use two coolers: one for drinks, which gets opened often, and one for food, which stays closed and colder.
• Prep at home. Chop vegetables, marinate meat and mix pancake batter before you leave. Pre-crack eggs into a sealed bottle and keep them cold. Use them early in the trip.
• Bring a wash basin or collapsible tub for dishes, and use biodegradable soap away from water sources.
• Line pots with foil for messy meals to make cleanup easier.

Fire-starting hacks

• DIY fire starters: cotton balls smeared with petroleum jelly light easily and burn for a while. Pack them in a small zip bag or pill bottle.
• Keep matches and a lighter dry in a waterproof container, with a backup in a different bag.
• Collect tinder early in the day, while it’s light and before dew settles. Always follow local fire rules and use established fire rings.

Lighting hacks

• Make an instant lantern: strap a headlamp around a gallon water jug with the light facing in. The water spreads the light across the table.
• Mark tent zippers and guylines with glow sticks or reflective cord so no one trips at night.
• Keep a headlamp in the same pocket every night so you can find it in the dark.

Sleep and comfort hacks

• Put a doormat or outdoor rug at the tent door to keep dirt and pine needles out.
• Make a hot water bottle: fill a sturdy bottle that’s rated for hot liquids, close it tightly, wrap it in a sock and tuck it in your sleeping bag on cold nights.
• Pack a night kit by the door: headlamp, warm hat, toilet paper and hand sanitizer for late-night bathroom trips.
• Stuff a clothes bag with tomorrow’s outfit to use as a pillow, and your clothes will be warmer in the morning.
• Bring ear plugs and an eye mask for noisy campgrounds and early sunrises.

Weather and bug hacks

• Pitch a tarp over your table or tent door for a dry place to cook and take off wet layers.
• Keep wet and dry gear separate with a couple of large trash bags.
• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent and follow the label, and close tent doors right away to keep bugs out.

Hacks for camping with kids

• Give everyone a job, like gathering kindling (where allowed), filling water jugs or unrolling sleeping pads.
• Give each child a headlamp and a glow stick so they’re easy to spot after dark.
• Pack a small activity bag with cards, a ball and a scavenger hunt list.

Leave it better than you found it

The best camping hack of all: pack a trash bag and a small bag for recyclables, and do a final sweep of your site before you leave.

New to camping? Start with our camping for beginners guide, and get more cooler-friendly meal ideas from camping meals you can prepare ahead of time.

FAQ

How do I keep my cooler cold longer?

Pre-chill it, use block ice or frozen water jugs, keep it in the shade and open it as little as possible.

What’s the easiest DIY fire starter?

Cotton balls coated in petroleum jelly are cheap, light and easy to make.

How do I keep my tent clean?

Put a mat at the door, take shoes off before going in and keep a small brush to sweep it out.

How can I make camping easier with kids?

Keep it short and close to home for the first trip, give kids jobs and pack easy snacks and games.