25 Camping Hacks Everyone Should Know

Are you planning a camping trip this summer? There’s no better way to experience the great outdoors than cooking meals over an open fire and sleeping in the fresh air. Whether you’re an experienced camper or you’re just starting out, here are 25 great camping hacks for you to know before you set up camp this season!

1. Plan your meals in advance

 This first of our camping hacks will save you plenty of time and frustration! You’ll want to plan out what you want to eat and when before you head out on your trip. This way, you won’t pack too much or too little.

2. Bring spices

When it comes to cooking outdoors, you’ll need to remember that you won’t have everything at your fingertips like you do in your own kitchen at home! Spices might not be a top priority when it comes to packing, but they will certainly make your meals more flavorful. *Extra hack: pack your spices in small, cleaned out mint tins or containers so they don’t take up too much space.

3. Crack eggs ahead of time for breakfast

There’s nothing better than scrambled eggs for breakfast out in nature! One great way to bring eggs along with you on your camping trip is to crack them ahead of time and keep them stored in a water bottle or container that will allow you to easily pour them into the pan over the campfire.

4. Wrap meat in cabbage to prevent burning

It may sound weird, but it works! Cabbage is moist and won’t stick to your pots or pans, so if you’ve attempted other camping hacks to prevent your meat from being burnt to a crisp and haven’t had luck, you’ll want to try this.

5. Shake up your s’mores recipe

If you’re getting tired of your typical s’mores recipe, try out something new! A great idea is swapping out your standard chocolate choice with a different kind of candy bar, such as something with caramel, peanut butter, coconut…the possibilities are endless! You can always hack your s’mores and switch out the graham crackers for something else, too, such as cookies!

6. Discard any unnecessary food packaging

Many food items come in cardboard boxes that can take up more space than needed. This is why one of the best camping hacks is to remove food such as granola bars, trail mix packets, etc. from their original boxes and stick them in a bag that you can flatten down instead.

7. Don’t settle for instant coffee

Your coffee should be as good (or even better) than it is at home while you’re in the great outdoors! There are plenty of ways to make great coffee while you’re camping, whether you make pour-over with a collapsible travel cone filter or you make tea-bag style coffee with the grounds tied into a coffee filter with string.

8. Use pinecones for washing dishes

This might be one of our stranger camping hacks, but pinecones can be used when you’re trying to scrub the gunk and grime out of your pots, pans, and other dishes!

9. Keep fires alive with lint… or Doritos

This is another one of our odd camping hacks. Both lint and Doritos are flammable and great for getting your fire going, so start collecting lint from your dryer today to be ready for your trip if you don’t want to sacrifice your snacks! You can also save things like popsicle sticks as great kindling.

10. Burn sage to keep mosquitoes away

This might be one of our best camping hacks because it will help keep those little pests away! Burning sage not only helps your campsite smell better, but it will keep it mosquito free!

11. Bring tick repellent and bug spray

Speaking of mosquitoes, you’ll want to be sure that you bring plenty of bug spray with you, including tick repellent, to keep those nasty creatures away! Be sure you’re applying regularly and checking yourself for ticks. A great hack to make sure you spot any ticks is to wear light colors, so you can see them easily!

12. Don’t bring your pillow from home

There are numerous reasons why this isn’t a good idea. For one, you don’t want your pillow getting dirty while you’re camping, and secondly, it’s not very practical for packing! That’s why we recommend getting a specific camping or air pillow. If you forget to pack one along, no worries! Another thing you can do is toss some of your clothes into a bag (your sleeping bag carrier, a laundry bag, etc.) and use that to rest your head on!

13. Don’t sleep directly on the ground!

You’ll thank us later for this camping hack. An air bed or mattress pad between yourself  

and the ground will not only help you sleep comfortably, but you’ll always be less sore the next day for all of your activity so you can make the most of your trip.

14. Bring a broom and dustpan

It may sound silly, but you won’t regret bringing a small broom and dustpan to keep the inside of your tent clean, especially if you’re camping with little ones or dogs who are sure to track in some dirt!  

15. DIY air conditioner

If you’re camping in hot weather, you’ll probably start to miss your AC at home. You’ll be glad to know, though, that there are many ways to make your own portable air conditioner! For many of these DIYs, you just need a fan and something to store ice, such as a Styrofoam cooler, a hard cooler, a large bowl, etc.

16. Hot water bottle for sleeping

On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you’re camping in cold weather, bring along a hot water bottle that you can fill up and stick inside your sleeping bag when it’s time for bed. This will help you to stay warm and toasty all night! Our coziest of the camping hacks.  

17. Use glow sticks for night lights

This is one of the best camping hacks if you have kids! Glow sticks are always a hit, and they provide just the right amount of light for sleeping while still allowing you to see what’s around you.

18. LED dog collar

If you’re bringing a dog along, you’ll want to be sure they’re visible in the dark. You don’t want them running the risk of being hit by a vehicle or being mistaken for a bear! This is why getting an LED dog collar is a good idea.

19. Smell-barrier dog poop bag

Speaking of your dog, it’s also a good idea to get some smell-barrier bags for picking up their poop! There may not always be a nearby place to dispose of it while you’re hiking around, so getting something that covers the odor is a great idea.

20. Watering can for showering

If you’re camping somewhere without access to a shower, a watering can will make a great alternative, especially if you’re not near a good spot for swimming or simply don’t want to completely submerge yourself in the water.

21. Plastic storage bin bathtub for small children

If you have some little ones or small dogs along for your camping trip, bringing along a storage bin can be a great way to create a tub for them when it’s bath time.  

22. Single-use soap

A great cleanliness hack, instead of bringing along a full bar of soap, you might want to consider slicing it into thin strips for single-use on your trip! This way, you’re not using more than you need and can easily share a single bar of soap with others.

23. Screened-in canopy for play area

Whether you’re camping with kids or dogs, getting some kind of screened-in canopy, like the American Recreational Magnetic Screen House Shelter, is a great idea for some contained and bug-free playtime! 

24. Pack socks and underwear in zip lock bags

Socks and underwear are a few items that you’ll want to keep dry! This is why it’s a good idea to pack them in zip lock bags or waterproof containers before you head out on your camping adventure.

25. Store the toilet paper roll in coffee can

The last thing you want is soggy toilet paper! That’s why this had to make it on our list of camping hacks. Storing your toilet paper in a coffee can (or other round container that you can seal shut) is a great way to ensure it stays dry and clean before you use it!

This year, give one or more of these camping hacks a try so that you can have a fun time and as smooth of a trip as possible!