Sustainable Camping: How to Create an Eco-Friendly Road Trip

Cabin fever doesn’t only apply if you are stuck in a cabin for long amounts of time. Have you not gotten to break out of your routine for a while? You are likely itching to get back out on the road.

Traveling is largely frowned on by the community focused on sustainability. That is because it often involves putting significant emissions into the air.

However, there are ways that you can make a camping trip and the drive to get there more sustainable. It is even possible to have a carbon zero trip with some planning. Here are our top tips to have a sustainable camping trip, whether in a campervan, motorhome, or tent camping.

How to create a sustainable camping trip

1. Pay attention to the materials you pack.

To begin with, it is essential to understand that what you bring on this trip is important. This is because everything you bring on the trip will impact its carbon gain. So, for example, if you have a pre-packed lunch, there is a lot of plastic that goes out of that.

When you pack, consider each item you put in that could contain plastics or are disposable. Instead of bringing along or buying cheap plastic water bottles, pack reusable bottles. If you intend on prepping your meals, bring reusable containers and bags.

You should also bring a reusable straw so that you can successfully avoid plastic straws. These have become infamous for the amount of harm they can do.

We understand that sometimes it seems almost impossible not to end up with a disposable plastic bag. Maybe you go out for groceries and forget to bring your reusable bags. If you end up with plastic bags on your hands, make sure they don’t end up in the landfill by recycling them.

2. Plan meals for a reduction in food waste.

It isn’t just plastic items that you should avoid throwing away. By planning your meals carefully, you can reduce the amount of food waste you produce. Not only that, but you also save yourself money by not buying extra food only for it to needlessly go in the trash.

If you travel in a campervan or motorhome, meal preparation is even easier. You can get everything ready in advance, including the portion sizes. Then, they can go in your fridge or cooler until you are ready to eat.

3. Create your route.

Sometimes, part of the adventure is getting lost. However, you should know that driving as little as possible is the best choice for the environment. Although it might not always be possible to drive as the crow would fly, having a plan helps you stay on course.

Along your route, you should plan where you stay, how you will get there, and how they relate to your destination. Depending on the time of year, it might be more comfortable to go in a campervan than go tent camping.

You might want to explore more than a direct route would allow you to do. That is part of the fun! The primary goal should be to avoid back-tracking so you gain experience while cutting back on your gas usage

4. Get your vehicle inspected before you leave.

It isn’t only important to ensure you are prepared for your trip. You also need your vehicle to be trip-safe. Whether you take a renovated van, a motorhome, a campervan, or a car, you should make sure it is ready to go.

Take your vehicle in for a checkup before you hit the road. Ensure there are no leaks or small issues you have ignored until now. It is also a good idea to learn how to give your vehicle a once-over so you can regularly check it on the road.

5. Check your tire pressure regularly.

Another part of traveling in a vehicle is learning to check and solve issues with maintenance such as tire pressure and oil. These are especially relevant if you go on long-distance road trips. You will also find that tire pressure changes as you shift through various elevations.

The other reason to keep up with your tire pressure is to save on fuel. Tires that aren’t filled with the correct amount of pressure require more fuel.

6. Use cruise control.

Using cruise control isn’t just a good way to relax a little bit more when you are behind the wheel. It is also an excellent way to save gas on extended road trips. When you hit a long, straight stretch of road, put it on cruise control. Even if we aren’t trying, as our minds wander, so does our rate of acceleration.

7. Consider electric options for transportation.

When looking into your mode of transportation, consider investing in an electric vehicle. These are becoming more and more readily available and therefore less expensive. They also make a dramatic difference for those of us trying to have a net-zero trip.

8. Consider supporting sustainable hospitality businesses.

It isn’t only the driving and packing choices you make on your trip that are impactful. Make more sustainable choices by financially supporting businesses with a focus on sustainability. Where you put your money can have an enormous impact on the continuation of climate-minded entrepreneurs.

When you look for places to stay, look for information on their water usage, whether they recycle or not, where they get their energy from, and where they source their food. Not every place will have sustainable practices in place for each category, but implementing strategies for any one of them is better than none.

9. Don’t take nature for granted.

Camping and spending time in nature is healing. We shouldn’t take that for granted or disrespect the natural world around us. That means doing your part to protect it, particularly on your camping trips.

One important aspect of spending time outside is making it seem as though you were never there. That means leaving your campsites better than you found them. Also, don’t leave litter, even natural litter, while outside. Most importantly, what you pack in, pack out.

How you interact with wildlife is also important. Preferably, we wouldn’t have anything to do with the animals that cross our paths. Even our scent being in certain areas can throw off an animal’s survival routine. That is also one of the reasons you shouldn’t wander off designated trails. That, and adding to the erosion and wilderness disruption when you leave the path.