Just because you don’t want to own a car or you don’t want to drive a car, doesn’t mean you can’t still go camping. This is an even more exciting way, cos the journey to the campsite itself is going to be memorable.
This way, you get to save a whole lot of money, such as petrol and parking charges, and make the environment way safer by reducing your carbon footprint. Although it seems like it’s going to be stressful, you can plan a fun camping trip without a car with just the proper guidance. This guide contains a step-by-step process on how you can go camping even without a car.
Step-by-Step Guide To Camping Without A Car
1. Pick A Campsite That’s Easy To Reach
If you want to have the best and least stressful experience when camping without a car, then you’ll have to pick a campsite that it’s easy to get to without driving. This campsite has to be easily accessible by bus, train, bike, or hiking trails.
When you start your research, you’ll find out that most national parks and local campgrounds are connected to public transport or have walking trails. So you’re probably safe. That’s unless you’re planning to go wild camping or camping in remote areas, then you might have a bigger problem.
But, if you go ahead a choose a campsite where you can get to without needing a car, then it’s practically smooth sailing from there. Once you get off the bus or train, you can follow the walking trails to your campsite. You can use tools like GoogleMaps, AllTrails, and Hipcamp to find accessible campsites.
2. Plan Your Transport Route
After choosing an accessible campsite, you still have to plan your transport route to have a fun time camping without a car. This means you have to know the public transport options, like buses, trains, or even ferries, that can take you close to your campsite.
And since most of the parks and campgrounds are accessible, this won’t be a problem. But sometimes, the bus won’t drop you very close to the campground, so from there, you’ll have to plan how long you’ll walk, cycle, or bike till you get to where you’ll be setting up camp.
You can plan to rent or borrow a bike since you don’t have a car, or if you want, you can just hike till you get to your campsite. So, for this, you need to plot a bike-friendly route or just follow the well-marked hiking trails. And if you’re carrying heavy gear or you get too tired, you can decide to hitchhike or share a ride with apps like Bolt, Uber, or BlaBlaCar.
3. Pack Light and Smart
Camping without a car means that everything you’ll need to survive this camping trip will be carried on your back. This means you have to pack extremely light. And packing light is not just so you’ll be comfortable, it’s also so that this camping trip can be more fun.
So before you start packing your lightweight gear, you’ll need a strong backpack with lots of compartments and big enough to carry everything you’ll need. You can’t just carry all of the camping gear you’ll normally carry when camping with a car, so you’ll need to make an essentials list.
This list should include a reliable lightweight tent, a cozy sleeping bag, a sleeping pad for comfort, cooking supplies, food, a water filter instead of water bottles, and a few versatile clothes. You should also pack items that can be used for multiple purposes, like a sleeping bag that can be used as a blanket, too.
If you also plan to rent some of your gear at the campsite, it will make your load much lighter, so you won’t be weighed down too much. So, make sure you find out from your campground what gear is available for renting and plan your packing essentials list based on that.
4. Bring Lightweight Food and Cooking Options
When you’re camping without a car, you’ll know how stressful it is to plan your meals. As much as you need to pack light, you also need to carry food that is nonperishable, easy to make, and has enough nutrients and energy to carry you through the trip.
So, you’ll need to bring dehydrated meals that just need hot water, instant soups, breakfast oatmeals, wraps, energy bars, instant noodles, rice packets, and camping snacks like nuts and dried fruits. Food like this will give you the necessary energy without taking up too much space in your backpack.
If you’re planning to cook, then you can bring a lightweight, portable, and compact stove with enough fuel to cook your meals. But on a more serious note, it’s better to choose no-cook meals, pre-prepped meals, or single-pot meals. This will make things a whole lot easier for you since they’ll get ready in minutes without any fancy cooking system.
You’ll also need to drink enough water, but since you’re camping without a car, it would be hard to carry enough water bottles. Instead, you can carry a reusable water bottle, a collapsible container, and a water filter. This way, you can always refill your water and save space when it’s empty.
5. Stay Safe and Connected
Since you’re camping without a car, you’ll need to pay extra attention so you can stay safe and connected. Before you start your trip, make sure you tell someone about your plans. This can be a family member, a friend, your loved one, or someone you trust. They should know the campground you’re heading to, your transport route, and when you’re coming back.
This will go a long way in case anything unexpected happens. Then, to stay connected to your GPS, Google Maps, and trails, you need to make sure your phone is fully charged. And you must carry an extra power bank or portable solar charging source. You’ll also need to check the weather forecast so you won’t get stuck in an unexpected storm.
But sometimes the network signal can be the main problem, so just download offline maps and weather apps like AccuWeather before you leave the house. And if you’re solo camping, use trails and campsites that are popular, easy to find, and filled with people. Even if the campsite is crowded, you can always find an area to relax, meditate, and connect with nature.
6. Leave No Trace and Get Back Smoothly
Camping without a car is an eco-style of camping that makes the planet a better place. You can also go further by following the leave-no-trace principle. This means you pack every trash you create, no matter how small. For this, you’ll need to bring a garbage bag.
You’ll also need to be mindful of the wildlife you meet. The main rule is you can look but don’t touch or disturb their homes. And always stick to the marked trails and designated campsites, especially if you’re camping in fragile ecosystems like the Tarutao Marine Park.
Now, it’s time to head back home. So, pack up, confirm your bus or train time, and hurry up so you don’t miss the ride. If your campground has showers, then freshen up for the journey back home. And if your trip is going to be really long, you can pre-book your tickets or find people who are going in the same area as you and share a ride or hitchhike back.
Practical Tips For Camping Without A Car
With just the right planning and adventure spirit, you’ll find out that camping without a car is just another way to have fun and experience nature more slowly. Some practicals to help you on this camping trip are:
1. Pack in Layers
When camping without a car, it’s best to pack the heavier items close to your back and centered in your backpack just to maintain balance. Then you can use compression sacks or packing cubes to add more space and keep your gear organized.
2. Pack Multi-Use Clothes
You should only pack clothes in layers so you can wear them regardless of the weather. These clothes should also be made of quick-drying fabric and should be versatile enough to be mixed or used for other purposes to save space and weight.
3. Keep Essentials Accessible
You should have a space in your backpack or your waist pouch where you keep essentials like maps, snacks, a phone, and your flashlight. So in any case, if you need these items, you won’t need to unpack your whole backpack.
4. Plan With Extra Time
Since you’re camping without a car, this means you’ll need more time than usual to get to your campsite. So, give yourself extra time for walking while making your plans. You have to do this if you want to get to your destination and pitch your tent before dark.
Conclusion
Once you research your destination, pack well, plan your transport route, and stay safe, you’ll find out that camping without a car is quite easy and even fun. You’ll get to enjoy the views, meet fellow travelers, and have the best adventure.
Even if you think it’s going to be hard to do, once you follow this step-by-step plan and use the practical tips in this guide, it will be way easier. So go on, slow down, travel lighter, and connect even better with nature.
