Best 10 tips on how to start camping solo

How to start camping on your own

Have you been dreaming about buying an RV and just hitting the road? Leaving everything behind and doing whatever you want to do for a longer time?

Not caring about anyone or anything but yourself because it is time that you take care of yourself now?

So if you decided it is time to start getting all the tips around camping, you need to know a couple of things to be confident on the road.

• Which Camper size is the best for me?
• Am I confident driving an RV?
• Do I know how to back up a Travel Trailer or willing to learn it?
• Am I able to set up a Camper?
• Am I ok traveling on my own for days or do I need a companion?
• Do I want to start tent camping first?

Best 10 tips on how to start camping solo

I have been thinking about camping alone for a long time but somehow wasn’t sure how to start this journey.

Should I get a Travel Trailer, if yes, which one is easy to hook up, set up, and also easy to drive? Am I able to back up the camper? Am I confident driving for longer times on my own? Do I have the right SUV/truck to pull a camper? Or do I want to get a Camper Van instead?

Best 10 tips on how to start camping solo

If you are considering camping on your own, start by answering a couple of questions:

There are just many things to consider before you can actually decide what is best for you.

Take a piece of paper and a pen and answer the following questions:

1. What type of Camper do I want to get? A Motorhome, an RV, a Van, a Fifth Wheel, or a Travel Trailer? Each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
2. If you have a truck that can pull, think about looking at a fifth wheel or a travel trailer.
3. Do you want to be able to go on excursions in your car? That would narrow it down to a Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer
4. Are you looking for easy setups and also easy breaking down the site? Then the best option is a Motorhome or a Camper Van.
5. Or do you want to start tent camping first? You can get awesome tent extensions that make camping really comfortable.

After you have narrowed down your decision on what kind of an RV you want to get, rent a couple of different models:

Check out RVshare or Outdoorsy where you can get reasonably priced options.

Here is more information on buying the right RV: RV vs Travel Trailer – what is the best to buy

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How to start camping on your own if you don’t want to spend a lot of money:

The best start for solo camping for beginners is to use your own car/SUV and just add a tent. You can actually start camping by spending just a couple of hundred dollars on your equipment before you spend thousands of dollars on your first RV.

• Solo camping checklist and low-cost must-haves:

You can buy tent extensions for almost every brand of car you are driving and it feels a bit more comfortable and safer sleeping in your car.

Yes, you will still need to purchase a mattress, a chair, and a cooker, but that’s most of your costs.

This blow-up mattress is available in different sizes. Make sure you measure the trunk of your car before you purchase anything.

Get a sleeping bag. That keeps you nice and warm at night and no need to bring sheets and blankets. Just make sure you get the right size for yourself. Also if you are camping in cold temperatures, you might want to get a sleeping bag for minus temperatures.

A folding table and a comfortable chair are also nice to have. You want to sit outside and enjoy the campfire and nature.

A cooker to make meals is also necessary. A Blackstone griddle is what we are using when camping:

Bring some pots and pans from home or get this useful set:

An outdoor rug is good to have if you want to keep things around you clean.

So, that’s about all you need to get for your first camping trip. Stock up on easy-to-make food and enough water.

Wood for a campfire you can buy at your destination or if you have enough space you bring a portable campfire. Don’t forget the propane.

How to start with solo camping – Money situation

Camping sounds pretty affordable, but it depends a lot on what you want to do:

If you want to travel far, then you need to budget the rising gas prices as well as the cost to stay at campsites. Do you want to do a lot of excursions, and visit interesting sites and attractions, then you need to plan a budget for entrance fees also.

A pass for national parks makes also sense, check on rebates for the Military, Seniors and special times.

Answer these questions:

1. How is my money situation? Can I afford to camp at campsites and state parks? Campsites can cost from $ 20 to $ 150 a night, depending on where you are going to stay.
2. Do you want to boondock for a longer time? Then you definitely need to have a bathroom or a camper toilet, a solar system and/or a generator, and a water tank.
3. How far do you want to drive? Do you want to stay in your home state or do you want to explore all the states and hit the road as much as you can? Just consider gas prices, as well as buying new tires more often.
4. Yearly maintenance is also recommended if you want to be safe on the road. Especially if your Camper is older you have to budget repairs and maintenance costs.

Tips for reducing the costs of overnight expenses:

• Join Harvest Hosts (they charge an annual fee of $ 70 and you can stay at private hosts but without hook-up)
• Consider boondocking on BLM land
• Some Walmart and Cracker Barrel locations offer free overnight parking.

Do you need a job on the road?

If you are retired and you have a steady income that is enough to cover all your expenses then you are lucky. If you are not retired yet or you are retired but the money is tight, you need a plan on how to pay for your expenses:

1. Do you have a remote job that you can manage from your RV, then you need to have a good WIFI signal.
2. Are you looking for a job a couple of months in the year while on the road? Then consider working as a campsite host at your favorite campsite or help at a farm.
3. Are you mechanically handy? Consider becoming certified as an RV mechanic to help yourself as well as fellow RVers if something needs to be fixed.

How to start with solo camping if you want to go on long adventures

If you decided to travel around the country for a longer period of time, then you should make a decision about what to do with your house or apartment.

1. Do you want to sell your house and furniture or just downsize and keep a small apartment in order to reduce costs?
2. If you want to keep your house or apartment, research if you can do a short-term rental during the time while you are gone to gain some income.
3. Do you need a storage unit to store some of your furniture and belongings?
4. Are you considering hiring a house sitter?
5. Who takes care of your lawn?

There are more questions you need to answer:

1. How about health care? Are you covered for any eventualities?
2. What are you doing with incoming mail? Do you have a neighbor that could collect the mail for you? Or are you considering getting your mail electronically delivered?
3. How about any medication. Do you have enough that covers the time on the road?
4. How about being alone on the road? Are you mentally prepared for being alone?
5. Is it easy for you to connect with people?

Is it safe to camp alone as a woman?

It really depends on how prepared you are and if you can trust your gut.

If you have a bad feeling driving to a campsite, just drive on until you find a better one.

Make sure your family or a friend knows where you are and you check in with them regularly. Being able to be tracked is also a good idea.

But camping alone as a woman is probably as safe as walking through NYC or Chicago if you know what you are doing.

Deciding on the route

Now comes the fun part. Deciding on the right route. Where do you want to go? Do you have a bucket list of sites and attractions you want to see?

1. Where do you want to go? Do you have a goal or are you just driving along and stopping wherever you like it?
2. Do you want to plan a route? Then download a couple of apps like Roadtrippers and Campendium or RV Wizard. If you need links then consider reading this article: What you need to know when planning the perfect RV Road Trip
3. Do you have friends and family you want to visit in between stops?
4. Or are you considering joining a group (like sisters on the fly, RVing women) to travel along for a certain period of time?
5. Do you want to join meet-up groups in different states? That can be really fun and nice to meet some same-minded women.

How to start getting more confident camping on your own

After you have bought your RV, book a campsite with hookups close by your house. Learn how to level your camper, and how to connect electricity, water, and sewage. Get comfortable and know how to do things around your RV. The more often you do it, the easier it gets.

Here is a step-by-step list of how to set up your camper.

If you have never driven an RV, maybe rent one first. Or rent an RV, a van, or a travel trailer so you know the difference. Every type of RV has its plus and minus points.

Watch some youtube videos on how to backup, and how to set up your camper before you decide on what to buy. Be careful when you buy an older model, have it inspected before you buy it because you want to be aware of any leaks and hidden mold.

Be aware that there are many more things you need to buy or get before you actually start traveling. Be sure that traveling with an RV is not cheap. So check your numbers and be confident in all the steps you have to take.

Have you decided to go tent camping first?

Tent camping is a great start if you are not sure if you actually like being out in nature all by yourself. Therefore you need to know a couple of things:

• Navigating also means being able to read a map in case you have no GPS.
• How to set up your tent/car extension.
• How to build a fire.
• Handle wildlife like bears, alligators, coyotes (depending on where you camp)
• Forecast weather, because you don’t want to get stuck in a storm.
• Know how to deal with injuries.
• Keep enough water supply in case of an emergency.

Starting out camping on a campsite is a good thing

Before you go camping alone, no matter if in an RV or a tent, make sure you know what you are doing. That means start practicing close to your home and book a couple of campsites. Being around people that could help you with beginner questions is a good thing to do.

Summary of Best 10 tips on how to start camping solo

Solo camping benefits can be awesome if you want to connect with nature and just do whatever you want to do. Connect to yourself, enjoying your own company without asking anybody what to do next. Make sure you are prepared, take your time, and enjoy the journey to your destination.

It is so important right now to connect to nature and yourself again. No matter if you decide to go camping for a long weekend or a couple of months – enjoy it.

See you on the road,

Conny

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