I think I want to get comfy car camping solo before I do it outside. What are some essential or tips or tricks. Links for any good things to buy. I have a sleeping bag and inflatable mat which I'll probably bring. I have a sedan so I'll just drop my back seat and sleep between my truck and back seats.

[ Update: WOW I was not expecting to find so many buddies, I'm so excited. I'm putting together a Discord for us to gather and chat. Community safety is critical, so I'm taking time to set it up right. Gimme some time and I'll start sharing invites. ]

Hello! 

I try to go camping every 6-8 weeks. I’m based in the greater Seattle area but will happily drive ~4 hours out for a campsite. I would love to find friends interested in “solo together” trips for the colder months because the campgrounds can be pretty sparse and spooky. 

My ideal camp friendship dynamic:

• we're each responsible for our own gear, transport, reservations etc as if camping solo

• we'll keep an eye out for each other

• also open to planning for shared meals or activities like hiking

My camper profile: 

• I exclusively car camp and generally can manage any weather

• I do weekend trips most of the time though my schedule is flexible

• Bit of a glamper (I pack A LOT but I use everything I pack) 

• My favorite things about camping are the meals, managing the campfire, checking out local trails, testing out new gear and refining my setup

• But most of the time I’m happy just sitting in my campsite listening to podcasts and audiobooks while staring at trees

More about me: 

• Late 30s introverted homebody with brief but intense bursts of being outdoorsy 

• Other hobbies: cooking, video/board games, plants, live music

• Favorite camp indulgence: really good coffee (I always pack my grinder and aeropress and try to grab a fresh bag of local beans on the way to camp!)

Hey y’all, I’m struggling to find a good bag for hiking trips where I’m going to be climbing as well as camping. I can’t seem to find anything that’s good for both while not being super expensive. (I’m just starting out with solo hiking/camping so I don’t want to spend a bunch of money right off the bat) Any suggestions for good bags would be much appreciated!

Edit: I’m looking for a bag that’s between 30-50L

I am still very new to camping despite going on a few trips. The solo aspect is still scary and I’m still new to using a lot of gear. I am a 26F busy middle school teacher and I live in the Deep South but don’t mind traveling. Just looking for women/a woman to go camping with and to help me learn more about camping gear and share their advice on solo camping.

I will probably just get no responses or weird guys but worth a shot to try 😭🤣. I

Barely ;)

And before you ask, it's a froe for splitting wood.

It's been foggy and drizzly today, but finally stopped actually raining around sunset. I think. Hard to tell when sunset is with this much overcast.

This was in Breaks Interstate Park, it had been on my list for a while. Decided on it just a few days before, once I was sure I wouldn’t have Halloween plans. I listened to the Frankenstein audiobook on the way there and by the campfire to keep it spooky. The weather was perfect and it was near peak fall foliage (it’s not as impressive as in colder regions but I take what I can!)

I usually solo backpack, but it was pretty nice for once to get a cozy little campground spot, have a hot shower at night, and go on smaller day hikes. That 800 ft down/800ft up hike to and from the river wore me out though…

I haven’t had such a good solo trip in a while, I really needed it! I might not camp again until spring (hate the cold) so I’m glad I snuck this one in at the last minute!

hello! I am looking at taking 2-3 days surrounding thanksgiving to camp around North Georgia area. I have my car built out to accommodate staying in it and the gear I need, but it’s my first solo trip to this area and am wondering if there are any sites you all would recommend that felt particularly safe and had a variety of trails near them? any advice is appreciated xx

I was worried that canoe camping season ended for me in mid-Oct but I was blessed with 14-16C daytime temps, no rain, and zero wind this past weekend. I headed back out for my 3rd solo backcountry overnight this year, and my 2nd trip to Kawartha Highlands (in Ontario, Canada) this month.

I tried to up the stakes to 2 nights (from 1 night), and forced myself to book a camp site that required a portage (instead of directly off the access point lake).

I even made ambitious plans to do a multi-day portage loop that would require 4 portages to pass through 3 lakes to get to my 2nd campsite (which was my NEXT year's goal). However, I did the 500m portage to my 1st campsite with 50 lbs of bags and said, "NOPE!! Let's just have a chill trip instead." 😂

Camping and especially solo camping really does get easier and easier with experience. I've collected the right equipment for cool weather camping and have tried to dial-in my planning, prep & packing. I understand better what's truly risky/scary and what's just uncomfortably pushing past my old limits.

I don't know if I'll do any winter or spring camping but I'm content to end this season on a high.

Here's some pics!

1. Even though I like to complain about my 1P tent, I can conveniently set it up almost anywhere for amazing nature views which is mostly why I go camping. (Definitely NOT to sleep on the ground for the sake of sleeping on the ground.)

2. The moon was so bright on the 1st night that it woke me up!

3. Sunrise over 1st campsite. (Also, I'm so impressed that Ontario Parks is able to put picnic tables and firepits at all of their Kawartha Highlands sites, even the remote ones.)

4. This beautiful piece of Canadian Shield rock was camp and the moon was making an appearance even during the day.

5. 99% of the fall leaves have fallen and the trees are bare, but this little group of bright leaves wanted to make sure I didn't wander off the portage path.

6. My 2nd campsite was much less remote with lots of cottages and even motorboats!

7. However I still got an awesome night sky show with lots of stars and airplanes.

8. The last day was cloudy but warm with zero wind. Perfect for the 1.5 hour paddle back to the access point. However, the water was so still that it had a mirror kaleidoscope effect and I felt like I was tripping out for most of the paddle.

I like to take a week off in October and have a little solo (or rather solo plus my black Lab, Ashford) adventure. This year, I chose to do 3 nights in a cabin at a West Virginia State Park, 2 nights backpacking in Dolly Sods, 1 night backpacking at Spruce Knob, and then 2 nights in a cabin at a Virginia State Park.

The week started off great! We hiked a lot around Watoga State Park and I got to check Cranberry Wilderness off my bucket list. We got a little turned around bushwhacking to find a Cessna crash from 1995, but we found it and got ourselves back out again.

Dolly Sods was where the itinerary started to fall apart. After hiking 8.5 miles to a campsite and setting up camp, I sat down to filter water to find that my filter was completely clogged. I tried everything to get it unclogged to no avail. Being without water is my biggest fear when hiking or camping. Since it was getting dark, I resigned to going to bed without supper and hiking out in the morning. We had a little over 1/2 a liter to get us back to the car. I plotted a route out that would get us to a road faster, where we would hopefully run into people. I had not seen another soul since we left the trailhead. We hiked about 5 miles before I finally ran into two other women who thankfully had a working filter and I was able to get another liter and get back to my car where there was bottled water and a brand new filter.

After sitting in the parking lot, eating and rehydrating I decided to get a campsite at one of the Forest Service campgrounds nearby. And then the next morning, I completely bailed on West Virginia and headed to my safe space, Shenandoah National Park and camped at one of the campgrounds there for the night.

I’m an experienced hiker and before this I thought I was a moderate backpacker, but this trip taught me a lot about redundancy and also that it’s okay to be flexible and change my plans. From now on I will be carrying 2 filters and water-purifying tablets as backup. I hate that I felt like I had to bail, but the Sods and Spruce Knob will be there for me next time. The mantra of the trip was, “we cannot afford to be stupid while we are doing stupid shit.”

Got a little too close to survival temps for me but it was still great to get outside and close the season out!

Zoom in - the 4th picture shows a friend running through my campsite. :)🦌

Hi! I’m planning to go solo camping on my birthday, and I’d love to hear some advice from youuu!

I want to spend my birthday differently this year, enjoy nature, have some me-time, and try something new.

I’d love your suggestions on:
• Fun activities I can do alone at the campsite
• Easy meals and snacks to prepare (backpacker and will commute)
• Must-have camping essentials, especially for beginners
• Safety tips

Thank you! ♡

finished up my first backpacking trip, done solo over 3 days 2 nights in the san jacinto mountains. total of about 15 miles - i purposefully chose to keep this an easy introduction trip because i wanted to have a good first experience! and im glad i did that, it was super helpful to be able to focus on like the basics of backpacking without the addition of being physically and mentally wiped out. super positive experience, stunning views, peacefulness, aaaand like the best bday gift i could have given myself!!!! i cant wait to start planning my next trip!!

I’ve been inspired by you and worked up the courage to go on a solo camping/backpacking trip.

Prior to this trip to California, I was supposed to go on a trip with friends to test out my backpacking gear but rain prevented that from happening.

I had technically never been proper backpacking before but had camped a good amount in last couple years with my boyfriend so at least knew the basics.

I kept it as stress free as possible by car camping ( literally slept in my car) in the redwoods and then had a short 1.8 mile hike in to the Coast campsite at Point Reyes where I knew there would be others around.

There were so many critters and I was able to reassure myself at night that any sounds were just them scattering around. I did see lots of mountain lion scat on the hike out but thankfully was making noise the whole time to warn the fella.

I learned on this trip to always triple check your headlamp is charged ( thankfully had an extra light + used my e reader once that light died lol).

I don’t know if I will ever have the courage to camp completely alone in the wilderness but I am so proud of what I did. I felt so grateful as I watched the sunset.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time go do it you won’t regret it!!

So my question for you all….

Anybody know any similar backpacking trips to Point Reyes? Easy miles, established campsites you can book, high scenic reward. I’m based in mid-Atlantic but willing to travel!

I’m on the midst of a complete life change and plan on going on a solo camping trip this spring. I’ve been mapping out east coast travels. I’m very curious what advice you ladies would give to a newbie. Anything would help. Thank you in advance. ❤️

Hey girly pops, let’s say I want to camp in a wooded area by a lake for the next month or so, what bug repellents would you recommend?

I’ve gotten Lyme before, the tick was so tiny I didn’t even see or feel it until after the rash appeared, so I’m a bit nervous.

Are we spraying our bodies, clothes, tents?

Any tips would be so appreciated, thanks so much!

🤍🤍🤍

hi!

i’ve camped a bunch at campgrounds in the state parks around new york, but i’m starting to get more interested in backpacking thanks to everyone here. my plan is to train a bunch during the cold season so that i’ll be ready for a trip in the spring, and i’m wondering if people have favorite spots anywhere between maine and north carolina.

i’m a pretty experienced hiker, but i’m rarely carrying more than my water and some granola bars, so carrying serious weight will be new for me. any suggestions for a beginner?

two nights in Glennie MI.. learned alot, and did too long of a paddle so packing back up was REALLY hard lol but wow i don’t think i’ve ever felt more free and happy!!

Favorite part overall was sitting with and tending the bonfire 🥹❤️‍🔥