How Where and When to go Camping
Introduction:
Figuring out where and when to go camping can be tricky and it all depends on what suits your needs, wants, likes and dislikes regarding the specific terrain, weather, region and season you prefer to camp in.
Below I’ve outlined some important points regarding all of these specifics to help you to decide what type of camping suits yours and your family’s needs and desires.
In the northern hemisphere, the camping season usually starts in Spring in April. Spring camping is not as busy and you can often find openings when you are booking online or over the telephone. The prices can sometimes also be a bit less expensive at this time of year.
The height of the camping season is during the summer months of July and August during school break and it can be very difficult to find an opening to book a camping site at this time.
Fall camping can also be quite cold and freezing weather can sometimes catch you off guard in the autumn. It could be warm one day and then the very next day a cold snap could set in so this time of year you have to be prepared for all kinds of weather and it requires carrying a little more gear and clothing for warmth especially later in the season and at night time.
The camping season usually ends in mid to late October in the Northern USA and in Canada and I would assume that the regions across the globe that fall between the 40th to 60th parallels, would have a similar camping season.
Winter camping requires alot more preparation and most campsites are closed at this time of year as occupancy rates drop off and it is not feasible for the campsites to stay open.
Some people who go winter camping will go offgrid and find a nice serene area somewhere in the wilderness away from any sign of civilization, however, there are a few sites that do stay open year round for those who love camping in the snow and freezing temperatures.
What to Bring Camping – The Seasons and Weather Conditions
Spring Camping:
Springtime is a wonderful time to go camping as the weather has started to warm up and can have anywhere from cold to very warm days and you are usually allowed to have campfires at this time of year since it also coincides with the wet and rainy season particularly in the Pacific Northwest geographic region of North America.
The weather is a warmer than winter and more campsites are starting to open at this time with camping season rolling out usually by early to mid April in the Northern Hemisphere between parallel 40 and 60.
The plants and flowers are budding with life and the mountain peaks may still have ice and snow on them.
Weather Conditions:
Cool Wet and Rain:
Springtime is a cool and wet season, so be prepared for wet damp, and cooler weather. With that in mind, you do need to consider the rain and if that suits you and your camping party. Consider purchasing waterproof gear and clothing so you stay warm and dry during this damp season especially in the early part of March and April when there is usually heavier rainfall. Keep in mind that floods can happen at this time of year so check your local weather channel for heavier than normal rainfall to avoid any flood zones.
Warm and Sunny:
Spring camping can also have warm dry periods, so check your local weather channel or websites to find out when the drier periods usually happen. I love camping in the month of May as all of the spring flowers are in full bloom and the rivers and lakes are starting to warm up and going for a dip is very refreshing. Some of the lakes do have a winter snow run off but by the end of May it is usally mostly all melted except for some areas like higher up in the Rocky Mountain Range closer to the glaciers where the lakes are blue from the melting glacier water.
Ice and Snow:
In spring, there is a highly likely chance that there will be rain or wet weather, however, there could also be a chance of melting ice and snow from the mountains and sometimes there is even a freak snow storm that can happen, so always check the weather network in the area to confirm that there is no chance of getting caught in brutal stormy weather.
You need to be prepared for all kinds of weather and it is not unusual to come by a cold snap in the springtime. During a cold snap temperatures can reach freezing and sometimes a snowstorm can hit when you least expect it. So, always make sure to check your local weather station before you head out camping as you wouldn’t want to be caught in a snowstorm unprepared without proper gear or snow tires on.
Clothing to Bring:
Be prepared for anything in Spring especially wet weather and be sure to plan ahead and bring rain gear and lots of changes of clothes so you stay warm and dry. You may need to layer your clothing as the days can sometimes be quite warm with temperatures dropping significantly at night. So, a good windproof and waterproof raincoat and pants, warm sweaters, fleece jackets, thermal under garments, lots of extra pairs of socks and some good waterproof hiking boots will do the job.
I always bring my duck down bomber jacket as an added layer for extra warmth and it is a very lightweight option. Spray your boots shoes and jackets with waterproof spray. and you can also find waterproof clothing and shoes at your local outdoor stores. There you can also ask about a special waterproof clothing cleaner that goes directly in the washing machine to clean and add continued waterproofing agent to your waterproof jackets, shirts and pants.
Gear to Bring:
Waterproof Tents:
As mentioned previously during spring camping you must be prepared for all kinds of weather including rain snow and warm sunny days. A water proof tent is essential; however, you can also waterproof your tent with a waterproofing spray or you can also line your tent with waterproof adhesive plastic strips. To enhance the waterproofing also consider using a waterproof canopy tarp to suspend over your tent by attaching to poles or surrounding trees and brush. Another option is to sleep in your van or truck bed tent to keep you up off the ground and dry and warm.
Waterproof Sleeping Bags:
Nights can get exceptionally cold and you may require warm and waterproof sleeping bags especially made for this time of year. Just like your tent you can also use waterproofing spray to waterproof your sleeping bags.
Booking Considerations:
Where I am from in the temperate northwestern area of North America in Vancouver BC, spring is when the camping season usually commences. Here we have online booking websites that handle multiple campsites at once. The National Parks are often booked on a public site and the private parks you can usually do a Google Maps search and find them individually but may be booked on a particular site hosting several campgrounds owned privately by different companies.
In the following courses we have attached pdf resources for booking campsites in Canada, USA, UK and in Europe.
Considerations:
Another bonus to spring camping is that there are no mosquitos, wasps or other bugs to worry about, so it all depends on what things are the most important to you when it comes to being in the outdoors. I am not a bug fan and mosquitos love me. I hate using deet or other carcinogenic mosquito sprays, so spring camping is perfect for me, especially in May. In the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States between the 45th and 55th parallel lines the mosquitos are not active and dont arrive until late June or early July in the beginning of summer.
Another bonus to spring camping is that since it is quite damp, camp fires are generally acceptable and allowed as there is a lower chance of causing a forest fire incident at this time of year.
Summer Camping:
Summer in North America starts on June 21st summer Solstice and is a really nice time to go camping in the early part of summer as you can usually still have fires at this time of year at least in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Summer is the hottest time of year and can get upwards of 36 C / 97 F at the height of summer. In other parts of North America it can get even hotter between the 20th and 40th Parallel lines ranging from 36-48 C / 97 – 118 F.
Summer Weather Conditions:
Hot and Humid & Warm and Dry:
Summer camping is generally the hot and dry season and wildfires are a real issue that can spread across wide ranges of land and cause severe devastation of forests and wildlife. Once July 1st comes around the corner and up until the fall equinox of September 21st fire bans are usually still in effect and can last until the end of October in some other parts of North America. Of course, you can opt for an alternative propane burning fire instead and cook on a camp stove or propane BBQ.
Important Gear to Bring: With Summer camping you need to bring a lot of extra water and I would recommend carrying a large water container with a spout for pouring. Another option is to bring a water filtration and purification bottle, straw or pump that purifies any lake river or stream water directly.
Make sure to not use the river or lake water for drinking unless you have a water purifier for drinking untreated water. Otherwise, most campgrounds will have some sort of treated water from the local watershed or may have well water onsite that is suitable for drinking. If the campground you are at does not have a proper drinking water source, then you must bring your own so make sure when you are booking your site to ask about the drinking water.
We recommend bringing at least 10-20 Litres of water containers filled with water for each day of camping for a family of 3-4. Carry an extra empty collapsible 20L water container that can be used for washing dishes washing hands or bathing and fill this with lake or river water daily. Make sure to label this container and let everyone know that it is not for drinking. You would not want one of your little ones or anyone for that matter getting sick on the trip and have to end the vacation early in the game due to a parasitic infection.
Another important item to bring is anything you prefer for mosquito and other bug repellants. Summertime is a time for many bugs during the day with hornets, yellow jackets, horseflies and black flies and at night with mosquitos.
I dont prefer to use deet products as it is carcinogenic; however many people prefer to use it as it actually works to deter the bugs. Some other natural bug repellant options are citronella bug sprays, and some essential oils of lavender, lemon balm, citronella and kefer lime. You can also use citronella candles and burning coils or sticks and the smoke from fire also helps.
Clothing to Bring: Summer camping is quite easy and comfortable for most people as you can pack much lighter with clothing. Some summer essentials are short sleeved shirts, shorts trekking sandals, hiking shoes and bring a long sleeved hoodie, shirts and some light pants for some cooler nights and to protect you from the mosquitos. Also dont forget your bathing / swim suit so you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the lake or river.
Booking Cosiderations: Summer Camping season is the busiest season and booking online or over the phone can be quite difficult especially if you are planning on booking at a regional, state or provincial park. Booking at the regional parks is usually done 1-3 months in advance as they book up very fast because they often have the best and least expensive campsites. They are often located in a more natural setting than the private campgrounds. So if you plan on going camping this year you need to get your site booked early on and get your research started early.
Fall Camping:
Weather Conditions:
In the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Northern Europe and Northern Asia Fall starts in late September 21st “Fall Equinox” to early December 21st “Winter Sostice”.
In the pacific northwest of North America between the 45th to 55th parallels, this is a slightly cooler season and the temperatures are at a really nice level anywhere around 20 C / 68 F from September 21st “Fall Equinox” and can drop down to 0 C / 32 F at the end of October to December 21st, During fall campfires can once again ensue as long as the fire ban has been lifted and there has been a significant rainfall creating a wetter climate.
However, in some other parts of North America the weather can still be quite arid and hot especially in the early fall months of September and October like in Southern California, Florida and also in Mexico between the 20th and 40th parallels. During this time of year California has often been struck by fires covering vast hectares of land
Gear to Bring:
You will need a warmer sleeping bag and perhaps some extra blankets. This can also be a rainy time of year and you may need a gextra tarps, ropes and rain proofing sprays to spray down your tent and other camping gear during your preparation time before you leave to go camping just as mentioned in the spring camping section above.
Clothing to Bring:
During fall you definitely need to start packing some heavier clothing and make sure to bring lots of warm socks, sweaters and a warm jacket and a wind and waterproof jacket pants and shirts. gain, you can have varying weather patterns at this time of year and it can switch from warm to cold in a day.
At this time of year there may still be mosquitos lingering, among other flying insects, including hornets and wasps that can be extremely active territorial and protective at the beginning of fall and have been known for attacking people without any warning.
So, its a good idea to inspect the trees and ground around your site to look for signs of wasp and hornet nests. You can ask the park ranger or campground owner to have a nest immediately removed. If you do encounter a situation where you have been attacked and bitten or stung by a wasp or hornet please follow safety and first aid procedures.
Winter Camping:
Some individuals actually prefer camping in the colder months. I can say that I have some very good friends that go every year several times in the middle of winter to go camping. I’m not a big fan of the colder weather so I can say I havent ever been out winter camping myself. I do however, have alot of information about it from talking to those friends and researching it all online. Again, winter camping is not for everyone and if you do wish to camp during this time of year it requires alot more advance research, preparation and planning.
Weather Conditions:
Winter Gear to Bring:
Winter camping surely is not for everyone but for those who do love winter camping or would like to try it out there is a lot more preparation and gear involved with it. With winter camping you must consider what type of shelter you prefer, whether it is a specialized winter tent or a recreation vehicle that you would prefer. The most important is that you have enough equipment to keep you warm and dry.
As mentioned, Winter camping requires alot more preparation and much more gear to assist you in keeping you warm, dry and safe. There are always things to consider like hypothermia and making sure you’ve got the right vehicle incase of heavy snow. You wouldnt want to get stuck out in the snowey wilderness without the right gear like a shovel, deiceing salt and snow chains for your winter tires.
Winterize your tent if you don’t have a winter rated one or find a good winter rated tent to keep you warm and dry. When your tent has been winterized you want to make sure that the tent is not completely airtight as you need oxygen for breathing and air to exchange so that vapour does not build up inside the tent from breathing. If you get overheated inside your tent this can cause you to sweat and can work against you to make you even colder and more susceptible to hypothermia.
In the bonus section Ive also included a great detailed post on how to winterize your tent for winter camping. You will need waterproof and wind proof tarps and lots of firewood and kindling. You can also invest in a gas heater or a wood tent stove with a chimney to place inside your tent for extra warmth.
Winter Clothing to Bring:
Warm clothing is essential, and you will need to carry the right clothing to keep you warm and dry including proper waterproof winter boots and a good duck down winter coat or a parka, hats, socks and gloves and warm sweaters, polar fleece jackets, thermal long sleeved shirts, and thermal winter pants.
Crampons are also a very good idea to bring along for better grip on icey snowey areas to prevent slippage when hiking. Also snow shoes are great for hiking in deeper snow.
The clothing to wear is winter rated clothing and it is recommended to source it from a reputable outdoor sporting goods and gear store. I do not reccommend attempting winter camping without doing a lot of research first. You can consult with a specialized sporting goods shop for the best winter gear. This type of gear can get pricey and many cities and towns in North America may have discount and second-hand outdoor sports gear shops to source the same goods at a cheaper rate.
If you would prefer to shop from an online store consider A Camper’s Delight Online Store at http://www.acampersdelight.com
Other Considerations: Craigslist is a great resource to source used camping gear and some clothing. Another source for used gear and clothing is Facebook Marketplace. Research the clothing and gear you will need, and you might be lucky to find it on craigslist or some other local list serve where individuals list their items for sale at a fraction of the price. This can take a lot of involvement and time sourcing all the gear, so start your search well in advance and make sure you get started early on, at least 3 months prior to your winter camping trip.
No worry about bugs in the snow. There are virtually no bugs in the pacific northwest during the cold winter season. Bugs usually go into hibernation at this time of year and it is very rare to come across any type of bug.
As you may be well aware that hypothermia is one major concern when it comes to winter camping. That is why there is a lot more preparation involved with this type of camping. Stay warm with a fire and warm clothes socks and thermal undergarments toques, beanies all weatherproof gloves or mitts and be sure to bring extra changes of clothes in case your clothes get wet from melting snow.
CONCLUSION:
Make sure to be prepared, do your research ahead of time so you are not faced with any unexpected conditions or circumstances. You wouldnt want to arrive at your campsite in the middle of the forest 30 minutes to an hours drive away from civilization and you forgot something essential like water or medicine or an axe for cutting wood.
Make a list of all of the necessary items you need and double and triple check it just prior to leaving as you are packing your vehicle. Remember to follow the rules and laws of the campground, province, state or region you are going to be camping in. Be respectful of your surroundings, nature, wildlife and other people around you. Most of all breathe in the fresh air, have fun, relax and enjoy your time away from the hussle and bustle of your eveyday life.
Also visit A Camper’s Delght website for some great deals on Camping Gear at www.acampersdelight.com
For a list of weather conditions and temperatures in North American Cities go here.
To calculate Celsius to Fahrenheight go here.