Have you ever been cold during a cold-weather camping trip? Have you ever found yourself counting the hours until the night will be over so you can pack up and go home just cos you’re cold? What if it doesn’t have to be like this? What if you can be warm even when camping in the mountains or in extreme weather conditions?
But to stay warm while camping, you’ll need to have prepared yourself both mentally and physically. From selecting the right tent to getting the right sleeping bag, every decision in the planning process counts. So to help you, this guide contains the 12 best tips you should know on how to stay warm in a tent.
12 Tips On How to Stay Warm While Camping
1. Use The Right Sleeping Bag
The right sleeping bag isn’t the most expensive one; it’s the one that can keep you warm during a cold camping trip. This is the first tip on how to stay warm in a tent so you can enjoy having a good sleep, especially at night.
But how does a sleeping bag keep you warm? This depends on the shape, the features, and the temperature ratings of the sleeping bag. The right sleeping bag for a cold-weather camping trip should have a rectangular or mummy shape with a hood and a temperature rating of 10–20°F (5–10°C) lower than the lowest temperature during your camping trip.
2. Use A Sleeping Pad
It’s easy for you to think that since you’ve got a sleeping bag, you won’t need a sleeping pad. But one of the tips on how to stay warm while camping, especially in cold weather, is to use a sleeping bag. The truth is, even when you’ve chosen the best sleeping bag, the ground will still steal your heat.
So this is where the sleeping pad comes in. It acts as a barrier between your body and the cold ground. So when you want to get a sleeping pad for cold weather, get an insulated one with a high R-value between 4-5.
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3. Add A Sleeping Bag Liner
Sometimes, even with a sleeping bag, you still end up wondering “How to stay warm in a tent?” cos your sleeping bag alone doesn’t just cut it. A secret tip you could add is a sleeping bag liner. It’s just an extra layer, but it can be a real life changer since it boosts insulation, traps more heat, and is still cozy.
Apart from the fact that it will keep you warm, a liner also helps keep your sleeping bag clean. And since it’s easier to clean than washing your sleeping bag, you can just wash it when it’s dirty. With the advantage of hygiene, convenience, warmth, and compactness, a sleeping bag liner seems more like advice you should hold onto.
4. Choose The Right Tent
You can’t be asking “How to keep your tent warm?” when you choose a tent for summer while camping in the winter. No magic tip can save you there. So you can correct that mistake by instead choosing a quality insulated or double-walled tent meant for four or more seasons.
A four-season tent isn’t like a spring or summer tent. This type of tent is meant for cold weather, harsh conditions, snowstorms, winds, and freezing temperatures at night. So they’re designed to be more rugged, waterproof, and wind resistant, with reinforced poles and minimal mesh to block out the cold and keep you warm.
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5. Layer With Moisture-Wicking Base
This tip on how to keep warm in a tent can make your cold-weather camping trip more manageable. It will also make it easier for you to brave the outdoors and explore, go hiking, skiing, and just have fun. To do all this, and not die of frost as soon as you step out of your tent, you’ll need to layer yourself starting from your base layers.
Your base layers should be made from moisture-wicking fabrics like merino wool, synthetic fabrics, and thin fleece. Then add your mid-layer, which should be a fleece or wool sweater and sweatpants. Then, to finish off, add your outer waterproof jacket and hiking pants. With this, you’ll be ready to face the cold, but don’t forget your gloves, socks, hat, and scarves.
6. Choose The Right Campsite
To keep your tent warm, it needs to be pitched on the right campsite. This campsite will need to be on level ground, if possible, in a sheltered area. And if you’re cold camping in a campground with lots of rain or snow, you’ll need to pitch your tent on higher ground.
So avoid ditches, dips, and valleys, cos you might wake up after a heavy rain or snowstorm to find your tent flooded. Also, check which area the wind is blowing from so you can set up your tent against the wind. All these tips on how to keep your tent warm will make it easier for you to fight the cold weather and enjoy your camping trip.
7. Use A Tent Footprint Or Tarp
It’s not advisable to go camping without a tent footprint or a tarp, especially when you’re cold-weather camping. So before you pitch your tent, lay down the footprint or tarp first so it can act as a barrier between your tent and the ground. It also adds a layer of insulation and keeps your tent from getting wet.
But to do this correctly, you need to make sure the tarp and your tent are the same size, with no edges exposed. And if any edges are exposed, it’s best to tuck them in. Using a tarp or tent footprint is one of the best tips you can get on how to stay warm while camping.
8. Insulate The Tent Floor With Foam Mats, Rugs, Or Extra Blankets
This tip on how to stay warm in a tent will help you cos even when you’re well-layered in warm clothes, you’ll still get cold from stepping on the tent floor. So by insulating the tent floor with foam mats or lightweight interlocking tiles, you can get warmth even from the ground.
For extra insulation, you can also add a layer of old rugs and thick blankets. These items won’t magically heat your tent, but at least they will act like a thermal shield and trap all the warmth inside the tent. All these items are lightweight and easy to pack, so you can have a good defense against the cold.
9. Eat Warm Meals
This is the most delicious tip you can get on how to stay warm in a tent, cos after eating hot food, your body will create heat on its own. This is very important, especially during a cold night. This meal can be something simple, like instant soup, oatmeal, or a warm stew.
You can also drink something hot while you’re cold-weather camping. Yes, beverages like hot tea or chocolate, and even just warm water, can increase your body temperature, improve blood flow, and keep you warm.
Suggested Reads– 22 Easy Camping Dinners for Everyone in 2025
10. Do Some Light Exercise Before Sleeping
One of the best parts about camping is that you get to exercise and move your body in a fun way, like hiking, swimming, and exploring. But if you want to stay warm during a cold night, you’ll also need to do a light exercise like jumping jacks just to get your body warm before entering your sleeping bag.
The idea is that this exercise will improve your blood flow and increase your temperature so you can be warm and more comfortable. But don’t overdo it till you start sweating; if not, you risk getting damp and end up with a cold.
11. Cuddle Up
This tip on how to stay warm in tent camping is mostly for campers with someone, especially if they’re romantically involved. So what better way to feel loved and body heat than by cuddling with your partner? This way, you even get to sleep better.
Since you’re already sharing a tent, you can just go ahead and get a double sleeping bag or a very big sleeping bag just so you can share. This way, no matter how cold it is, you’ll end up snug, cozy, loved, and warm while camping.
12. Use A Tent Heater
If you’re still thinking about how to keep your tent warm, even with all these tips. Then you need to get a tent heater. You can check our guide for the best tent heaters for winter camping. These heaters are the simple answer to get a cozy warmth all through a very cold night.
And if you don’t have a heater, you can do a DIY option by filling a Nalgene bottle with hot water. This can last for up to 10 hours, so you just need to slip in your gloves, pockets, boots, or sleeping bags and watch it work wonders.
Conclusion
The experience of camping in the cold weather is always nice, but the cold has always been a problem. But the truth is that staying warm in a tent is possible even if you’re camping in the mountains. But you’ll need proper planning, smart layering, and the right camping gear built for harsh weather conditions.
And with these 12 tips listed in this guide on how to stay warm while camping, you’ll have the best camping experience, regardless of the cold weather. So, don’t let the cold weather stop your camping plans. Start planning it now and have the best time while staying warm.
