In 2025, there were more women’s camping trips than ever before. Whether it’s because of how freeing it is to travel and find yourself all on your own, or the peace of having to enjoy it. But for personal reasons, many women are leaving their comfort zones to travel solo and even to camp solo.
But as much as it’s freeing, solo camping is also intimidating and scary to start. With no one else with you, you’ll have to be mentally, physically, and emotionally well-prepared. These 10 tips in this guide will make it easier for you to camp alone as a woman.
10 Solo Camping Tips for Women in 2025
1. Choose a Beginner-Friendly Location
As a woman camping solo, you have to choose a beginner-friendly location. This can be somewhere familiar, like somewhere you’ve camped before. This way, you don’t have to worry about the unknown and enjoy this freedom.
You can also choose from the best solo trip places for women, but picking somewhere more familiar will make a whole lot of difference, especially if it’s your first time.
That said, you should also pick a campground that is developed, so it has bathrooms, running water, and is also close to your home. So whenever you feel uncomfortable, you can easily go back home.
But if you haven’t been to the campground before, you should check the online reviews from sites like Recreation.gov to get details about the camp areas, noise levels, wildlife, and anything unusual.
2. Share Your Itinerary with Someone You Trust
As a woman camping alone, you should always share your plans with someone you trust. This essential tip cannot be over-explained. If it’s your partner, parents, siblings, or friends, ensure you send a detailed text to them.
This text should include your campground, your GPS coordinates, and when you’re expected to be back. If you’re going RV camping, also include your vehicle’s description and license plate number.
This way, if anything happens to you, they’ll have the necessary information to find you more easily and faster. And with the rise of tech in 2025, you can always have a small satellite communicator with you when camping in remote or backpacking campgrounds.
You can also use apps like Life360 or FindMyFriends, so you can share your location and always have someone check up on you.
3. Learn Basic Self-Defense
If there’s a better time to learn how to defend yourself, it’s when you’re about to go solo camping as a female. When you arrive at the campsite, always check in on how you feel. If you feel weird or stuff, you can check your environment or get out of there.
There’s no shame in this. It’s better for you to leave there and remain safe than to inconvenience yourself, and the unexpected happens.
Learning basic self-defense doesn’t just mean you should know how to fight and kick butts- although that’s important too. It also means you should be mentally ready, with the right tools, and basic survival skills needed to protect yourself.
Before you start your female camping trip, you can take a basic self-defense course or learn moves that will help you feel secure. Don’t forget to carry protective tools like pepper spray, a whistle, and a loud alarm device.
4. Pack Light but Pack Smart
When you’re planning a solo woman camping trip, it’s easy to get confused about what to pack. You want to travel light, not carry unnecessary things, but also carry enough things to be prepared for the unexpected. The only way you can do this is to pack smart, especially your camping gear essentials.
Pack gear that is lightweight, useful, quick-drying, and versatile. It’s also important to know how to use every gear you pack. Your essential gear should include:
- Food
- Games
- Books and podcasts
- Movies
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Headlight or flashlight
- Multitool
- Water filter
- First Aid Kit
5. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
This woman’s camping tip doesn’t mean you should be anxious or always finding out what’s wrong. No! Staying aware of your surroundings means you should be alert and always mindful of what’s happening.
But you shouldn’t be hyperaware that you overthink every camper, every noise, and every glance. It takes practice, but this way you get to enjoy your trip while being cautious, especially since you’re solo camping.
So when you get to your campsite, you can:
- Explore your area before it gets dark, and also speak to the campground host or ranger station.
- Pay attention to details.
- Notice your neighbors or whoever is giving you the wrong vibe. Remember to trust your gut.
- Keep your valuables close and visible
- Avoid wearing headphones that block out noise, especially at night
6. Master Setting Up Camp Alone
A hard part of solo female camping is setting up camp all on your own. But to make this easier, you can first try pitching your tent at home. Doing this with all your camping gear will make you feel like you’re ready to brave the wild.
When you get to the campground, the decision of a campsite will rest solely on you, so pick a site that’s high, flat, dry, and close to a water source.
As much as this is a solo camping trip and you have to be self-reliant, if you’re feeling paranoid while at your campsite, you can
- Set up two camp chairs so it doesn’t look like you’re alone.
- If you come with a car, you can keep your driver’s seat always ready to go.
- If you’re with your neighbors, you can casually mention you have someone waiting or coming to your campsite.
- You can use a carabiner or small lock to bolt your tents; it isn’t foolproof, but at least it will discourage snooping.
7. Be Prepared For Any Weather
One of the best solo camping tips for women is to always be prepared for any type of weather. It’s very important to always check the weather forecast before you pack your gear, before you leave the house, and all through your camping trip.
This way you won’t be caught off guard, especially when camping in the mountains, forest, or places with unpredictable weather.
While packing your gear for the weather, you must learn to pack your clothes in layers. This way, if the day is hot, you can remove a few layers, and if it gets cold, you can even add to your layers.
You’ll need to back base layers, mid layers, and outer layers that a moisture moisture-wicking and possibly waterproof. This way, you get to stay dry and cozy all through your female camping trip.
8. Lock Down Your Food and Follow Wildlife Safety Rules
When you’re a solo woman camping, you’ll need to learn how to respect the wildlife and follow the safety rules. So before you start exploring, know the wildlife in this area, how dangerous they are, and what to do in a dangerous situation. Knowing this and learning the local safety guidelines can make a whole lot of difference.
Another solo camping tip to keep the animals away is to always lock down your food tightly. Most campgrounds in the bear areas always provide bear-proof containers or lockers that you can use.
This is not just about protecting your food but also protecting yourself. And whenever you’re done cooking or eating, always clean up after yourself so you won’t wake up to raccoons, skunks, or worse, wolves.
9. Create a Routine That Feels Safe and Soothing
When you’re solo camping as a female, you’ll likely need to create a routine that brings you comfort and calm. This can be a nightly routine that is familiar enough for your body to calm down, relax, and rest.
A routine is not only for you to sleep, it’s for your body to feel like you’re at home, especially when you’re out in the forest camping.
You can start with a wind-down ritual like drinking tea or journaling. Or maybe you’ll prefer listening to music and stargazing. You know yourself best, so just do what genuinely makes you feel good.
Don’t be shy, and since you’re all alone, there’s no one to judge you. You can also bring extra comforts like string lights, a favorite hoodie or pillow, or a calming scent.
10. Remind Yourself Why You’re Doing This
This solo camping tip for women is for whenever you’re feeling down or maybe you just need a bit of encouragement during your trip. This can be when you’re frustrated setting up your tent, when you’re all alone staring into the campfire, or when you wake up in the early morning with no one to talk to. These moments are why remind you why you’re doing this.
Solo camping as a woman is scary and raw, but it’s also brave. It’s an act of freedom, self-trust, and self-love that you can only give yourself.
This is the time to reconnect with yourself, to hear your thoughts, and to fall in love with yourself. You can even take the time to journal your thoughts while you soak in the quiet but beautiful natural environment.
Conclusion
Going on solo female camping trips is a truly freeing experience where you’re going to have to trust yourself. You can’t allow the fear of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios to fill your head. At least with these tips, you’ll be reminded of how capable you are and how easy it is to have the best experience.
The truth is, the more you camp alone as a woman, the more confident you’ll be. At the end of the day, you’ll connect with nature, find yourself again, trust yourself again, and love yourself again. So, take that step. Plan your next solo female camping trip, and with these tips, you’ll hopefully enjoy it.
