Simple ways to make camping more comfortable…
By Karen Kwan
Camping, even if you’re car camping, can be a lot of work. But being able to spend time immersed in the great outdoors is worth the effort and roughing it is part of the appeal. If camping is new to you and you’re more keen on going light when it comes to roughing it in nature, there are simple ways to make camping both more enjoyable and easier. Try these camping tips and buy these must-haves to make your next camping trip as effortless and comfortable as ever.
Prepare your ingredients for camping
Measure and prechop all of your ingredients at home. Having everything prepped so that you can just get to cooking your meals without fussing with measuring and a chopping board will make getting your meal on the table a lot more seamless. If you’re packing eggs for camping, you can crack them in advance into a mason jar rather than transporting them in a carton, where they get cracked easily during transport. Consider pre-cooking some items, too, that you can just reheat, such as baked potatoes, which you can wrap in foil and reheat in the campfire.
Be smart about planning your meals
Opt for simple recipes so you’re not spending a ton of time cooking and plan to enjoy the meals that contain raw ingredients earlier in your trip–have those burgers on your first night and ones such as hot dogs and charcuterie, which will keep longer, later on during your trip.
Bring a camping stove
Even if it’s just a one-burner stove, having one to cook with (even if you just have it on hand as a backup) can be a lifesaver since you may come to realize that getting a campfire going can take a while, plus cooking on the grate over the campfire can can make your cookware quite dirty and can also result in uneven cooking.
Invest in an sleeping pad
Sleeping on the ground can be very uncomfortable and it can get pretty chilly at night. The last thing you need when already roughing it is a bad night’s sleep and having a sleeping pad can make a huge difference in how comfortable you are and. Look for a compact one that self-inflates if space is a concern or consider an inflatable one for extra comfort.
Wear socks to sleep
Bring a thick, cozy pair of socks to wear for sleeping. If you’re camping late summer and into fall, the temperatures can dip a lot at nighttime and even if your sleeping bag is warm enough, your feet can get a chill. If you want extra toasty toes, when you boil water to wash your dinner dishes, pour any extra hot water into a reusable water bottle and keep that at the bottom of your sleeping bag.
Pack both a headlamp and a rechargeable lantern
You may think just a headlamp is enough but a lantern is very useful once the sun sets if you’re needing to wash dishes at your site or just for lighting your tent after dark. If you want to add some ambiance to your site, pack some solar-powered garden lights or a string of battery-powered fairy lights.
Choosing the right car for camping
Whether you’re buying a vehicle that you plan to use to go camping with often or choosing a rental to take on your road trip, these features will help make your getaway easier. We test-drove a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse Z71AWD and discovered these features that will fit your lifestyle as a happy camper.
A rear camera mirror
A rear camera mirror can be especially helpful for camping trips since your vehicle may be piled up with camping equipment and your friends and family you’re camping with. What is it? With a rear camera mirror you can choose between the traditional rearview mirror or a camera view (using a camera that’s located on the rear of the vehicle) so that your view is not obstructed by your car’s rear-seat occupants, trunk, roof, head restraints or pillars.
An electrical outlet
Not all vehicles have one and if you’re camping at a site without electricity, having a vehicle with an electrical outlet is great if you need to inflate your air mattress or floatie with an air pump.
Plenty of cargo space
The Traverse Z71 features 2,763 L of max cargo volume and as a three-row SUV, plenty of room for your whole camping crew and all of the things you need to pack for a camping trip in the woods.
Rugged design
Sleek enough for city life but with features that you’ll need if your camping starts to include offroading or if you need to bring a trailer on your road trips, the Z71’s got all-wheel drive with twin clutch, off-road suspension, skid plate, recovery hooks, terrain mode, hill descent control and trailering equipment.
OnStar and internet service
OnStar provides you with both entertainment and safety features, including 24/7 access to live OnStar Emergency Advisors. If you’ve chosen to have internet service for your vehicle, when you’re out in remote areas, it can provide peace of mind of being reachable (and being able to get online–as much as you may want to disconnect while away, sometimes work and family demands you be about to email sometimes when camping!).
