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Seven Summer Tips for Happy Campers

Camping is the quintessential summer adventure for families and friends. Mountain and seaside campgrounds fill up across America each summer for a good reason. The Rocky Mountains, Smoky Mountains, and other mountainous areas offer hiking trails, fishing, and rafting for campers. While east coast beaches like Cape Hatteras in North Carolina and seaside campsites stretching up the west coast offer Americans picturesque options from sea to shining sea.

Perhaps you have reserved a campsite for your RV at a State Park, or maybe you are planning to pitch a tent in the middle of the woods. Whatever your camping or glamping plans include this summer, here are seven quick tips for warm-weather campers:

1. Keep It Simple: Camping is about simplicity, which is why so many campers choose a pop-up tent for convenience and for closeness to nature. RVs and travel-trailers are great, but an easy-to-assemble pop-up tent never fails to provide that good, old-fashioned, summer camping vibe.
2. Pack Smart: In addition to your camping supplies, food, water, lanterns, first-aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, hiking shoes, etc. – make sure to pack plenty of clothing options to withstand the elements. You may need a raincoat for unexpected summer showers or a pair of warm pajamas for a chilly summer night in mountains.
3. Shield Food Supplies: Store any perishables in an insulated cooler. Fill your food cooler to capacity with ice or frozen packs, place the cooler in a shaded area away from sunlight, and keep the lid tight to maintain cool. Keep drinks handy in a separate cooler for frequent use. Also, follow guidelines and take precautions to secure foods if bears are in the area.
4. Keep it Cool: Choose a shaded location for setting up your campsite. Sites near water can offer a breeze into the area. Setup the tent in an open area allowing for plenty of wind circulation. Position the mesh openings of your tent to optimize the direction of the wind into your tent and through cross ventilation.
5. Feel the Electricity: Modern campgrounds offer resort-style amenities along with electrical hookups at reserved sites for campers to charge phones, devices, and camping accessories. Electricity is especially useful in the summer months because you can run a portable fan to cool down the campsite. Fan circulation also helps steer away flying bugs and mosquitos.
6. Don’t Get Bugged: When periodically spraying yourself with bug spray, you may also spritz your tent with the repellant to make the general area less appealing to those summertime mosquitos. As a natural alternative to DEET products, consider essential oils like citronella as well as homeopathic solutions from local health stores.
7. Sleep Comfortably: Investing in a season-rated sleeping bag could save you from sleepless nights. A summer sleeping bag (typically suitable only for temperatures above 35°F) could provide lightweight comfort during hot summer nights.

Summer camping adventures define American fun! Search the web for countless camping options to enjoy the beauty of nature. Share your photos and campfire stories with us on Twitter or Facebook. Eat well, live long, and travel far!