{"id":7406,"date":"2017-09-01T15:15:06","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T22:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/?p=7406"},"modified":"2017-09-01T15:15:06","modified_gmt":"2017-09-01T22:15:06","slug":"9-car-camping-tips-for-the-end-of-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turo.com\/blog\/wayfaring\/9-car-camping-tips-for-the-end-of-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"9 car camping tips for the end of summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

The warm summer months are quickly coming to a close. Some students have already started the new school year, so time is running out to take advantage of the awesome summer weather for that end-of-the-year camping trip.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re hesitant to drag out the tent for those late-summer, last-minute camping trips, camping with your car might be a great alternative. How can you go camping with your car, and what should you bring with you?<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Pack strategically<\/span><\/h3>\n

Camping is an exercise in strategic packing. You need to be able to bring everything you need with you, especially if you\u2019re going to be camping out in the wilderness. You may not have a ton of extra space for extraneous stuff, so you need to pack strategically.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make food and everything else you\u2019re going to need multiple times per day easily accessible. Store heavy items on the bottom of your trunk or hatch \u2014 chances are you won\u2019t need them as often, and this will also prevent them from crushing smaller and lighter items. You don\u2019t need to pack everything and the kitchen sink, after all.<\/span> Just pack the essentials<\/span><\/a>, and anything you might need in case of an emergency, like a first-aid kit or cell phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be surprised how much you can actually fit in your car. You can tie larger stuff, like your tent, to the roof of the car if you\u2019re expecting good weather and your car has a luggage rack.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Don\u2019t skimp on the blankets<\/span><\/h3>\n

Blankets might seem like they take up a lot of space, or you may think you don\u2019t need them because you\u2019re planning a summer camping trip, but you definitely don\u2019t want to skimp on your blankets. Colder evening and nighttime weather can sneak up on you, even if you\u2019ve paid attention to the weather forecast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t get cold at night, you can use your blankets as a cushion between you and the ground while you\u2019re sleeping. It might not be necessary if you\u2019re bringing an air mattress along, but they\u2019re still a good thing to have around.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Know where parking is allowed<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many campgrounds are set up for tent or RV camping, so chances are you\u2019ll be able to easily park your car wherever you need to camp. You may find campsites where parking is not allowed \u2014 these are usually intended for people who are parking their cars and hiking the distance to their campsite.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are some places along the side of the road, especially in national parks and other similar areas that allow overnight camping and parking. It\u2019s important to check with the parks before you find a spot to leave your car. There are<\/span> other places that allow overnight parking<\/span><\/a>, like truck stops and some Walmart parking lots, but they don\u2019t allow you to set up a campsite, so you should only use them as a last resort if you need to get some sleep while you\u2019re en route to your destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Don\u2019t forget the toilet paper<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re set up at a campsite that offers restroom or shower facilities, you probably won\u2019t have any trouble finding toilet paper, but if you\u2019re roughing it, you don\u2019t want to be stuck without any toilet paper. Make sure you have enough for you and all your camping companions. If you\u2019re going to be in an area where you won\u2019t have access to a shower, consider packing some wet wipes to keep you clean and fresh until you find a shower.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Take tailgating to a new level<\/span><\/h3>\n

Camping with your car means getting inventive when it comes to cooking, especially if you\u2019re camping in an area that is under a burn ban or doesn\u2019t allow open campfires. That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t cook some awesome meals while you\u2019re on the road. You just need to gear up and<\/span> take your tailgating skills to a whole new level.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need much more than a camp stove and fuel, a couple of pots, a good cast-iron skillet and some flatware. Add a sturdy folding table to put the camp stove on and you\u2019re good to go \u2014 you can cook just about anything out of the back of your car.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Have all your supplies handy<\/span><\/h3>\n

The most important thing to remember when you\u2019re camping \u2014 whether you\u2019re at a campsite or out in the wilderness \u2014 is to bring all your supplies with you. Bring your food, clothes, supplies, and plenty of water with you. If you\u2019re far from civilization and you\u2019re worried about hauling large amounts of water, find a campsite near a natural water source and pack a<\/span> water purification system or purification supplies<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t drink water from natural sources without purifying it first. Even if it looks clean, it could potentially contain bacteria that could make you very sick and cut your camping trip short.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Pack tons of food<\/span><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s something about camping that makes you want to eat a lot, especially the super-tasty stuff you cook on the campfire or on your camp stove, so make sure you pack tons of food. Starchy staples like pasta and rice are ideal because they keep well and they\u2019re easy to cook.<\/span><\/p>\n

Foil pouch meals are awesome, too<\/span><\/a>, if you\u2019ve got somewhere to keep your protein cold before it\u2019s time to cook it \u2014 simply wrap your protein in a foil pouch with your vegetables, some butter or oil and some spices, and you\u2019ve got a nice, clean meal ready to cook. Just toss it on the coals and wait!<\/span><\/p>\n

Pack some snacks to feed those hungry mouths between meals \u2014 trail mix, dry snacks, and beef jerky are fantastic high-energy snacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Plan for rainy days<\/span><\/h3>\n

Even if your weather forecast shows plenty of clear weather for your camping trip, it\u2019s not always going to be sunny skies \u2014 thunderstorms can blow up out of nowhere and leave you drenched and scrambling for higher ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your tent is well-waterproofed, make sure you bring plenty of things to keep you and your camping buddies entertained. If you experience a few leaks, don\u2019t worry! Just hang out in the car until the rain stops and you can dry everything out.<\/span><\/p>\n

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9. Four-wheel drive isn\u2019t a bad idea<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re going to be driving up to your campsite, it\u2019s not a bad idea to consider a vehicle with <\/span>four-wheel or all-wheel drive<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Camping with your car is a great alternative if you want to take advantage of the warm end of summer months without hauling 50 pounds of gear on your back up to your favorite campsite. It\u2019s not terribly different from traditional camping \u2014 you just need to pack smarter and be aware of where you\u2019re parking.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you keep these tips and tricks in mind, you\u2019ll enjoy a fantastic camping trip to finish out the summer. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The warm summer months are quickly coming to a close. Some students have already started the new school year, so time is running out to take advantage of the awesome…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":7409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wayfaring"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t