Car Camping on Vacation for You or Two
You’ve planned an awesome vacation - either a solo trip or with one other person. You’re so excited to eat all the yummy food, do all the fun activities and visit all of the scenic locations. But as you begin to add up the cost of things, you start to worry that you won’t be able to do it all. So what do you cut out? The cost of lodging can range depending on type and locations, but the daily cost of a rental car is generally less than one night at a hotel or AirBnB. So why not try car camping instead of staying at an AirBnB or hotel?
If you’re considering car-camping in that rental car you’ve booked, these are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Check the Weather.
If you’re traveling to Canada in the dead of winter and the temperature is expected to drop below 0 degrees, maybe opt for a warm cozy cabin instead. But if your destination is reasonably warm, then all you’ll need to bring along is a sleeping bag or a light blanket.
If you’re going on a summer road trip, then car-camping is a no brainer. As long as you’re not carrying too much baggage, all you’ll need to do is move a couple things around, and you’ll have a wonderful bed in your backseat.
2. Make Sure You’re Comfortable.
If it’s just you, then maybe a compact sedan will be okay - just pop down the back seats and stick your feet in the trunk. But if you aren’t riding solo, maybe step up to a Mid-size SUV at the minimum. The extra $10 to be able to comfortably stretch your legs and store your luggage will be worth it.
If you’re used to sleeping on a cloud of a mattress, make sure you bring a compact sleeping pad. You don’t want a bad nights’ sleep impact your enjoyment of the activities you have planned for the day so if you know you’re a sensitive sleeper, maybe trading in the comfortable hotel bed for a bad night’s sleep won’t be worth the extra money you might save.
3. Pre-Plan Your Camping Spots.
I don’t mean plan your daily movements and find GPS coordinates for every place you’re going to sleep. The best perk of car camping on vacation is having the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. But having a general idea of where you’re going to sleep for the night can take away the stresses of finding a place to sleep as the darkness creeps in. There are many things to keep in mind when looking for a place to camp, and it’s easy to use google maps to find a spot. You can reference this article about “My Top 3 Rules for Living in My Car” for tips on how to determine if a spot is safe and friendly to car-campers.
