Camping
Campsite Setup Tips for a Better Night Outdoors
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A well-set-up campsite makes everything easier, from cooking to sleeping. Here's a simple order of operations.
Choose the right spot
- Use established sites where available.
- Look for flat, durable ground; avoid low spots where water pools.
- Look up — avoid dead branches overhead.
- Camp a good distance from lakes and streams per local rules.
Pitch the tent first
Get your shelter up while you have light and energy. Clear small rocks and sticks, lay a footprint, and orient the door away from the wind. Sturdy tent stakes
Set up your sleep system
A sleeping pad matters as much as the bag — it insulates you from the cold ground. Sleeping pads we recommend
Build a kitchen zone
Keep cooking and food storage away from where you sleep, especially in bear country. Follow local food-storage rules (bear boxes, canisters, or hangs). A beginner camp stove
Light and organization
Hang a lantern, keep a headlamp in a tent pocket, and use stuff sacks so you can find things in the dark. Camp lanterns
Leave No Trace
Use existing fire rings only where fires are allowed, pack out all trash, and do a final sweep before you leave.