Car Camping for Beginners, Part III: Food, Fire, & Fun

This is the last post in a three part series offering some basics in car camping. In Part I we discussed where to find a good campground and the differences in types of campsites. Part II covered gear and clothing to consider. In this last post, we'll talk about what to eat and cooking options, a few tips about campfires, and some ideas for entertaining yourself if you feel a bit stir crazy staring at trees and creeks. Lastly, I l'll close with a few parting tips before heading out. Let's get into it…

Car Camping for Beginners, Part I: Where to Camp

Having really gotten into backpacking over the past couple of years, I tend to forget that simple car camping is not necessarily a self-explanatory endeavor. Because I didn't grow up in a family that did any camping, I had to learn the ropes as an adult by myself and with the help of more experienced friends. The beauty of car camping is that it is a fairly low pressure, low risk way to enjoy spending the night under the stars. Unlike backpacking, you can load down your automobile with creature comforts such as camp chairs, pre-purchased firewood, bigger and heavier tents, bigger and heavier sleeping bags, blow up mattresses, cookware, coolers, and more. If you're new to camping, however, you probably still want some pointers before heading out for your first strip. Let's start with some tips about where to find a good spot.