Are you ready to take your camping game to the next level? These 15 camping hacks are a must try and sure to make camping easier! This post contains affiliate links. To learn more visit my About Me page.
So you already know we love to camp. In fact, you might have seen my post about 10 Reasons I Take My Kids Camping and been inspired to camp yourself. And I have to laugh, because the innovation you see while camping is just mind blowing. People think of the best ways to make camping easier and stress free, and who can argue with that?
Easy is good, stress free is better, and when you top it off with camping life is just good. And while I still have a lot to learn, here are 15 camping hacks you should know to make the camping experience an easier one.
These 15 camping hacks are so easy, and once you try them you will probably (most likely) be hooked. Take a look at 15 camping hacks you should know before you head out for a night under the stars!
15 Camping Hacks You Should Know:
1. Make your own fire starters.
You don’t need to buy premade fire starters. Just save your toilet paper rolls and dryer lint. Then, stuff the lint into the rolls. When you are ready to get your fire going, toss the starters in and watch the fire take off. This is one of our tried and true fire starter methods and we love using it!
2. These easy ice cream cone s’mores are the best!
I love this twist on s’mores! See here how we made these s’mores in a cone, perfect for eating those s’mores with a little less mess. Plus, you can toss in any extra ingredients you see fit like fruit, nuts, even caramel.
3. See how easy it is to grill a pizza on your campfire.
Think you can only eat hot dogs and hamburgers when camping out? Nope! See here how we made a frozen pizza right on our own campfire. I can’t imagine camping without tossing a pizza on now!
4. Pool floats can serve double duty.
If you are taking pool floats, you can also use them to cushion your bedding situation. Use them as air mattresses or even for kids to lay on when they read, play games, or watch their iPads (yes, we take ours!) at night. Just toss a blanket over the inflatable and it is cozy as ever.
5. Bring along some sage.
Dried sage is perfect for tossing on the campfire as it smells great and can help keep mosquitoes away. You can also burn some in a dish on your picnic table to keep the bugs from biting. You can find the sage I like to enjoy here.
6. Solar lights are perfect for lighting up your space.
Grab some solar lights from your local dollar store to light up your camp space at night. Set them out during the day so they can charge, then they will light up the site at night. You can even take them in your tent with you.
7. Keep ants away with this simple oil trick.
Rub a little vaseline on the legs of your chairs and tables so ants don’t climb up them looking for food. The vaseline makes it too slick for them and they will hopefully give up.
8. A good cast iron pan is perfect for all your meals.
You can cook literally anything in a good cast iron pan. Plus, they are durable and wash so easy. You can make pancakes, eggs, bacon, stew, pasta, even skillet s’mores. It saves the time and space of packing up multiple cooking dishes. If you don’t own one, here is a reasonably priced cast iron pan from Amazon I prefer.
9. Make these simple cold packs for boo boo’s and bug bites.
Toss some marshmallows into a ziploc bag and place it in a cooler. When kids get bites or burns or scrapes they can use the boo boo bag to make it feel better. The marshmallows stay soft and pliable and feel better on the boo boo than ice.
Want to enjoy s’mores on the picnic table instead of over a campfire? Check out this tutorial for how to make a simple table top s’more grill here.
10. Pack the tinfoil.
Tin foil can be used to cover the campfire grates to make them clean for cooking. A piece of balled up tin foil is also great for scrubbing out those cast iron pans. Wrap up matches so they don’t get wet, or use it to cover campfire if rain hits.
11. Invest in a package of clothespins and a clothesline from the dollar store.
For a $2 investment, you can assemble a clothesline on your camping site perfect for hanging wet bathing suits, wet clothing, and of course towels. You can also clip up bags of snacks to keep bugs from getting to them.
12. Bring a citronella candle AND use this trick to make your fire roar!
A citronella candle is an easy way to repel pests. As it burns, pour the liquid wax onto your campfire. It will not only give the fire a nice boost but as the wax burns it will create a smoke that will help prevent pests even more.
13. Use frozen water balloons drinks and food cold.
Fill balloons with water and freeze them. Place the frozen water balloons in a cooler and add your drinks and food items. The balloons will keep them cold, and you don’t need to worry about the ice melting and getting water all over everything.
RELATED: Want to make your own frugal fire starters? Check out my Homemade Fire Starters here, they even change color!
14. Bring a small door mat or area rug.
Keep a small door mat outside the tent to wipe feet off on or remove shoes at before entering. This helps keep your tent nice and clean and prevent tears that can happen to the floor as a result of shoes. It is also nice to have a mat to stand on when cooking or doing anything that requires a tad of traction.
15. Head to your local dollar store for these camping must haves for less.
Your local dollar store has so many items you can use on your next camp out! Consider solar lights, a clothesline, clothespins, your tinfoil, tablecloths, s’mores ingredients, hand towels, candles, decks of cards, small flashlights, first aid materials, water bottles, bug repellent, and so much more.
Hack your way to a simpler and more enjoyable camping trick when you give these 15 camping hacks a try. To check out some other camping content I have been working, just click on the links below! Happy camping!
10 Reasons to Take Your Kids Camping
Campfire Pudding Cups for Kids
Tips for a Fall Glamp Out