As much as I love camping, I know that it is a hobby that just isn’t for everyone. If you are new to camping then you might be wondering if it is an activity that is right for you. No one else can answer this question for you, but I hope that I can ask you some questions in an attempt to help you find your own answer.
So, is camping right for you? Camping might be right for you if you can honestly answer some of the questions below favorably. To enjoy camping, one must have a certain attitude and personality towards the outdoors.
Keep reading to find 10 questions that you should ask yourself in an effort to find out if camping as a hobby is something that you will enjoy.
By the way, If you are in the market for a new tent, then you should click here
to see the one I recommend on Amazon.
1. Do You Love Being Outdoors?
An obvious but integral part of camping is being outdoors, pretty much constantly. Ask yourself and answer honestly if you enjoy being outdoors a lot. Enjoying the outdoors doesn’t mean you are always in the woods, desert, beach, etc. It can simply mean just being outside in your backyard, going to an outside mall instead of an inside one, or walking your dog regularly.
The activity of camping definitely requires that you find some enjoyment in the outdoors. If you find yourself inside too often then try to test the waters by forcing yourself to spend more of your day outside. It can be difficult when we work inside such as in an office all day, but it is possible to increase the amount of time you spend outside effortlessly.
See how you feel after spending more time outside and it will help you answer the question of if you love being outdoors. If you find your quality of life diminishing somehow then maybe camping isn’t a hobby that is right for you.
2. Are You Okay With Being “Unplugged”?
Being unplugged means you are disconnected from the internet. Every day we as a species continue to grow more and more reliant on an internet connection. If you want to get into camping then you are going to have to go without the internet in most circumstances. You will most likely go without any cell phone service either.
This may seem like just a small nuisance, but once you are in the situation you come to realize just how much the internet keeps you occupied. Our phones constantly update with the news, weather, articles, videos, etc. All of these things that we consume on a daily basis come from being connected to the internet, and when you take that away it can be a bit weird to get used to at first.
The good news is that being unplugged and disconnected every once and a while is a good thing for our minds. Information is seamlessly at our fingertips today, and it can be quite overwhelming at times. Taking a break from the internet has been shown to be good for us. You need to ask yourself if you will be okay without any access for several days when you go camping.
3. Do You Like Exercise?
I hope you like exercise if you are thinking about getting into camping because camping is centered around it. There are tons of ways to exercise while camping such as hiking, mountain biking, swimming, trail running, rock climbing, and kayaking. Most of the activities that you can enjoy while camping require some kind of exercise.
Some activities are more intense than others, but any amount of exercise is good for your health up to a certain point. Exercise is ingrained into the camping culture despite images of just sitting around the campfire all day and night. So ask yourself if you enjoy being physical and getting exercise because camping is going to require a lot of it.
4. Do You Want To Travel?
An often forgotten part of camping is traveling. Traveling goes very well with camping because camping can allow pretty much anyone to see various parts of the country or even the world. Camping is a low-cost way of finding accommodation, and it can be used to travel on a really tight budget. Also, many of the best sights, especially in the United States, are in remote areas and feature geographical wonders.
So don’t forget that camping can be a good mode of travel. If you enjoy traveling, then you could expand your horizons to include camping as your accommodation. Camping can save you a lot of money as opposed to using hotels. In fact, I did a complete analysis of the costs associated with Camping vs hotels which you can read here. In addition to saving money, camping can also get you closer to some of the sights that you came to see.
5. Are You Into “The Simple Life”?
Camping doesn’t come with a lot of luxuries unless maybe you are going “glamping”. When you go camping, you have to revert to a simpler life. Today our lives are more convenient than they have ever been in history, and tomorrow’s new innovation will take us one step further into more convenience. Camping allows you to take a step back from that. If you aren’t into exactly “keeping up with the Joneses” then camping might be a hobby for you to consider.
6. Can You Deal With Being Bored?
There will be a time when you will be bored when you are camping. There are tons of activities that you could be doing when you are camping so that you are not bored, but there will come a time when you will face some kind of boredom. By the way, if you need some ideas for activities to do while camping then you can check out this article that I wrote with 71 ideas for activities to do while camping.
Boredom might sound easy to deal with, but when you come to realize that we are constantly stimulated and entertained by our handheld devices and other electronics, then you can see how we deal with boredom nowadays. When you are camping you might not have access to the internet and the unlimited supply of entertainment to keep you bored. You might have to deal with boredom while camping sometimes without anything externally stimulating your mind.
For example, if you find yourself caught in the rain while camping then you might be stuck in your tent and unable to do any of the awesome outdoor activities. Since camping is centered around outdoor activities, you will be out of luck and short of things to do. However, if you came prepared and read the article I referenced 2 paragraphs ago then you will have some ideas for activities to do inside of your tent or RV aswell. The point is that there are going to be times that you will be bored when you are camping and you need to ask yourself if you are the kind of person that can handle the boredom.
7. Would You Like To Socialize, Or Get Some Alone Time?
This is more of a question that will guide you in the direction of what kind of camping you would enjoy. For a lot of people, they just can’t imagine not camping in a group. There is a culture of campers that go camping in large groups or with the entire family. That style of camping is great and I have done it and personally enjoy it too. However, you also have solo camping and camping with just one other person. Camping alone or with a partner is a lot more relaxed than camping in a group.
What is the primary method of camping you would enjoy more? This is important because it can be difficult to get everyone to go on a camping trip because everyone has different schedules, responsibilities, time off from work, etc. Limiting yourself to only this traditional style of camping in a larger group will ultimately limit the number of times per year that you will be able to go camping. On the other hand, if you are okay with solo camping or camping just with a partner then it is a lot easier to take more camping trips in the year. Find out for yourself what kind of camping style you would prefer to do more.
8. What Else Do You Like To Do In Your Spare Time?
What you already do in your spare time will be a portal to answering if camping is right for you. People who already do many outdoor activities as their hobbies tent to get into camping and enjoy it. While people who do not have many outdoor hobbies are more likely to not enjoy camping. If you already like to go hiking, trail running, off-roading, swimming, kayaking, boating, mountain biking, rock climbing, bouldering, etc. Then camping might be an enjoyable activity for you.
If you spend all of your time indoors playing video games, watching movies, watching shows, going to the mall, etc. Then you are probably less likely to enjoy camping as a hobby. Nothing is set in stone, your interests and tastes can definitely change over time. Mine certainly have since I got into regular camping at a later time in my life. Camping provides a means for being close to some of the outdoor activities that you might already enjoy.
For example, someone who enjoys mountain biking may want to go camping in the mountains so that they can get a head start early in the morning on the trail. For many people, camping is a way to get close to the activities that they already enjoy and so they come to enjoy camping as well. This happened to me with hiking. I enjoyed hiking so much, but not necessarily the long drive to and from the trails all in one day and so I started camping near the trails in order to get a head start early in the morning. If your hobbies and interests already aline with outdoor activities then camping might be well suited for you.
9. Do You Like Animals?
Coming in contact with animals while camping is bound to happen. I regularly see deer, birds, lizards, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and sometimes bears or snakes. For you to enjoy camping more you should probably have a love and admiration for wild animals since you will be sleeping in their backyard. Most of all the animals you will come into contact with are harmless and just trying to live their life as are you.
If you don’t like animals or are scared of wild animals then you might have a tough time camping. Wild animals are actually drawn to campgrounds because many of them know there is easy food thanks to irresponsible humans. You should never deliberately feed a wild animal and you should always be responsible to keep your food items secure enough so no animals can access it. Wild animals are just one of those things that you will have to deal with if you go camping regularly, hopefully, you enjoy seeing them.
10. What Is Your Ideal Weather?
The weather is complicated. We might not take much notice since we spend so much of your lives indoors within climate-controlled environments, but the weather can be harsh. Even in the warmest of summers, the temperatures at night can drop far below what they were during the day. A big part of camping is having to endure the weather and the natural environment.
Climate control is a huge luxury that has become ingrained in our daily lives. If you are camping (especially in a tent) then you are going to be at the mercy of the weather. You will probably find yourself in less than ideal temperatures and weather at some point. Rain, wind, hot, cold, snow, hail, etc. It can come at a moment’s notice. Even if the weather forecast before you go says mild temperatures and sunny days, the weather can change in an instant.
This is especially true in the remote and best locations for camping. Ask yourself if you are going to be prepared for different types of weather because whether or not you are prepared, the bad weather will still come eventually.
Related Questions:
What time do you have to leave a campsite?
Check out time for campgrounds is typically between the hours of 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. In a reservation campground, you will have to vacate before these times or get an extension from the campground host. In a first-come, first-serve campground you will need to pay for another night if you occupy the campsite beyond check out time.
What is the difference between a campsite and a tent campsite?
Typically a tent campsite means only tents can be used at that campsite and a campsite means that tens or RVs may be used at that particular campsite. Not all campsites will be able to accommodate large RVs so it is important you do your research beforehand.
My Favorite Camping Gear
- Air Mattress: click here to check out my favorite on Amazon.
- Tent: click here to see my favorite tent available on Amazon.
- Sleeping Pad: click here to check out the one I love on Amazon.
- Sleeping Bag: click here to see the one I recommend on Amazon.
- Camping Stove: click here to see the best camping stove on Amazon.
