| So you've decided it's time for a camping trip and have | | | | Are you interested in setting your camping tents up |
| tentatively picked the campground you want to go to. | | | | close to bathrooms? Having a wooded or shaded site |
| Now you need to decide which campsite is going to | | | | to camp in? Being in a more open area? Being close |
| be a good one. What factors go into your decision? | | | | to water to go rafting, kayaking, canoeing, fishing or |
| Do you need water or electricity? what is the terrain | | | | swimming? Being close to a playground for the kids, or |
| like and are there trees for shade where you are | | | | nowhere near a playground if you don't have kids? Do |
| putting your tent up? Are certain parts of the park | | | | you want to be closer to whatever path gets you to |
| better depending on seasonal weather? Is the distance | | | | the activities you want to participate in? Do you prefer |
| to park facilities convenient or not? Are you there for | | | | a more secluded spot or do you want to put your tent |
| an event or will events occurring at the campground | | | | up right in the middle of everything? These can all be |
| impact you? These are all things to keep in mind when | | | | important factors when deciding on your campsite. |
| reserving a campsite. | | | | Not all campers are considerate of others in a |
| AVAILABILITY OF WATER AND ELECTRICITY | | | | campground setting. So if you don't want people |
| When you're tent camping, campsites may or may not | | | | walking through your campsite, make sure you aren't |
| have electricity and running water. If you like camping in | | | | camping in front of a main path that people use to get |
| tents, not having electricity may be ok, but for most | | | | to another part of the campground. Also it's usually not |
| recreational campers, it's good to have running water | | | | a great idea to be directly in front bathrooms or |
| within a very short distance. | | | | dumpsters. |
| If you prefer or need water or electric on your | | | | EVENTS |
| campsite, checkout the campground's map to see if | | | | Music festivals or a scout outing may be the reason |
| they are available. If it doesn't appear on the campsite | | | | you're camping, or you may be with a group of people. |
| map, or if a map isn't available then call the | | | | In these cases, you'll want to check with the |
| campground and ask. You may end up paying more | | | | campground to find out the best location. |
| for water and electric, so decide if it's worth it to you. | | | | If you aren't there for the event, or even if you are |
| TERRAIN TREES AND VEGETATION | | | | there for an event, the noise level can be a factor in |
| The terrain and vegetation surrounding campsites can | | | | the site you pick. One park in North Florida has music |
| vary not only by what part of the country you're in, but | | | | festivals regularly. The area you camp in within this |
| also from one campground to the next, or even from | | | | park affects whether you get any sleep or not. One |
| one campsite to the next within a campground. Things | | | | loop is known to be an all night party and another loop |
| to keep in mind are that terrain, vegetation and trees | | | | is more family oriented and quiet late at night. If the |
| can provide more privacy and block the wind. Trees | | | | campground personnel are conscientious they will tell |
| also can also provide shade if it's warmer and if you | | | | you, but it's always good to ask if there are events |
| are taking along a hammock, you will want to see if | | | | going on, and talk to the campground about the best |
| you can find a site with trees that are the right | | | | site for you. |
| distance apart. Take a look at pictures of the | | | | FINDING THE BEST SITE |
| campground if they are available to get a good idea of | | | | As we've discussed there are many factors that |
| what the site looks like before making a reservation | | | | affect site selection when you're camping in tents. As |
| and contact the campground to find out more about | | | | you research campsites, look for those things that are |
| specific spots. | | | | important to you, or contact the campground for |
| SEASONAL WEATHER | | | | answers. |
| Anyone who has done much camping in tents knows | | | | Once you arrive, check out the site to see if it's a |
| that weather can make or break a camping trip. This is | | | | good one. Make sure there aren't any large ant piles, |
| why it's a really good to do a little research. For | | | | bee hives or hornets nests nearby. Check that the |
| example, in warmer weather it's good to have a site | | | | ground is level. Make sure you aren't setting up your |
| that gets a good breeze and is shaded. In cooler | | | | camping tents in a location where run-off will be a |
| weather, you may want a campsite that is more | | | | problem if it rains. If there are trees, make sure the |
| protected from the wind. | | | | branches directly overhead are not dead or rotten. |
| Some campgrounds in the plains states, in areas near | | | | (One night when we were camping a huge limb |
| deserts or near the ocean may have high winds at | | | | crashed down within 25 feet of us, if we had been |
| certain times of the year, which can make it hard to | | | | under it, it would have crushed us). |
| put up, and can even blow away your camping tents, | | | | Take a wander around the campground to see if |
| so it's good to find out what the weather is like and | | | | there is a better site prior to setting up. In most cases, |
| seeing if there are locations within the campground | | | | unless the campground is full or the other site is |
| that are better for the prevailing conditions. | | | | reserved, you can ask campground personnel to |
| CAMPGROUND LAYOUT | | | | change sites. It's usually not a problem, and having a |
| The campground layout can be a big factor in the site | | | | really good site versus one that is not so good |
| you decide on, not only based on protection from the | | | | improves the campout every time...enjoy. |
| elements, but also in regard to your planned activities. | | | | |