It is amazing to see many people asking themselves this question. Maybe because you have decided to go camping or you are at the fork road deciding about the camping trip altogether. No matter your situation, we will face it head-on and give you the clarity you deserve.
In reality, there is no one-size-fits-all but there are basics that anyone can consider to get clear answers to their questions. Here are the two basic questions you should answer before deciding the length of your camping trip.
First, why are you going camping?
In most cases, your reason(s) for going camping can determine how long you want it to last. Many reasons in one way or another fall into 3 categories—personal growth, creating good and lasting memories or boosting your health. You can learn more about them in our post “The 3 reasons why you should go camping” Your why matters in every decision you make in life. That includes the length of your camping trip.
So, reconnecting with your why can facilitate your decision-making. You can always find time for anything that matters to you in life. So, regardless of your way of earning an income, whether you are an employee, a self-employed, a business owner or an investor if camping is important to you based on the reason you have put forward, then you will find time for it. The only question will be how long you want to extend that experience. Before we dive deep into this, let’s clear the second basic question.
Second, what is your camping style?
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Similar to your reason(s) to go camping, your camping style affects the length of your camping trip. Clearing it right from the beginning it becomes easier for you to decide. So, are you a tent camper, car camper or RVer? As a reminder, the camping type is determined by the way you sleep at your camping spot and not how you get there. For more details about the camping styles check our post “How to go camping? The 3 Types of camping and Why it matters”
Knowing your camping style is important because each style requires different preparations, from the necessary items to carry to how long it takes to set up your camping spot once you arrive and pack your things before you leave.
So, how long should your camping last?
Regardless of your reason(s) or your camping style, to get the best out of camping, consider spending at least 2 nights at your camping destination. Here is why.
Your camping destination may not be next door.
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Unless you live next to the campground, in most cases you need to drive out of the city for at least half an hour to get to the best location to experience the real camping. Driving towards your camping destination is by itself a part of the camping experience. Instead of driving non-stop from your house to your camping destination, we suggest planning your trip in a way that you have multiple stops along the way that you could explore, visit, take a bathroom break, enjoy the meal or take a rest.
If you have kids you might consider stopping at playgrounds or places that will amuse them and they will thank you for it. Besides, camping is about creating good memories, so why not start creating them on your way to and from the camping destination?
Get the best camping experience frequently
As Jim Rhon says, “Life is not just the passing of time. Life is the collection of experiences, their intensity and the frequencies of those experiences.” Going camping for 2 nights can get you the taste of camping. However, if you need maximum intensity, we suggest you plan a week or two of camping and repeat that often. In a week or two, there are a lot of things that can happen. Depending on the season of the year, you can have sunny days, rainy days, hot, and cold days, windy, and calm days. You can even get a glimpse of a storm. I know you might have a negative mental picture of some of these conditions, but each can give you the experience and lessons you could take with you in your journey through life. They are not meant to happen to us to make us weak, sad, and confined to our places but instead, they happen to us to give us lessons, to teach us how to be prepared, to make us grow stronger than ever before and be ready in any situation in life. That is how life is, it is a mixture of sunny and rainy days. But the beautiful thing is – it does not rain forever. Similarly, it is not always sunny, we need to be prepared for rainy days as well. Thus, being in the middle of it, makes life fun.
Therefore, if you want to have the best camping experience for whatever reasons you have and for whichever camping style you choose consider going out for a week at least. You can always find time if camping matters to you. Besides, pick a destination away from home and plan to stop along the way to take advantage of the journey. Moreover, do your best to repeat the camping lifestyle often. For our folks with children, remember your children will not stay as kids forever. They grow up and move on. You better act fast and take advantage of the time before you run out of it.
If they are already in their adulthood, do your best to reconnect. Camping can still be a way to achieve that. You cannot go back and change things the way they used to be but you can start today and have a new future. It’s your decision. Also, don’t go camping once in 3 years. Try to do it as often as possible. Things get better with experience. You might have got it wrong the first time, but this could change for the better the next time. Because you already have got the basics.
As the saying goes, “Life is too short, and we only live once. But sometimes for a life well lived, once is enough.”
See you in the next one!