Camping guides
How to make camping more comfortable
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Wondering how to make camping more comfortable? In the not-so-distant past, the word camping and comfortable weren’t used in the same sentence. But that was before the many innovations on the market to make the entire experience cosy and enjoyable from start to finish!
There are so many different ways you can make your camping experience as pleasant as possible, exploring the UK without sacrificing your creature comforts. From the right clothes to how to find the best campsites, we share 10 genius tips on how to make camping more comfortable.
10 tips on how to make camping more comfortable
Ready to hear how to make camping more comfortable? Let’s dive in!
1. Choose a great campsite – and book ahead
Not all campsites are created equal. Some have minimum facilities, such as (cold) water taps or non-flush toilets, while others have no amenities at all. Depending on what facilities your motorhome or campervan is decked out with, choosing the right campsite can hugely impact your comfort during the trip.
Book ahead at busy times to be sure of a spot.
At the other end of the scale is the large number of holiday parks across the country, which have all expected amenities such as hot showers but include extras like swimming pools, playgrounds, kids’ clubs and a bar and/or restaurant.
Then there are farm campsites, generally with non-electric field pitches but with lots of space, or campsites by the beach, or in national parks, or forests… There's absolutely loads to pick from, so do a little research and find the perfect campsite for your needs.
These websites have a wide range of campsites in the UK, with booking direct available for some:
Camping.co.uk – choose from 3,000 sites; booking available for most
Ukcampsite.co.uk – details of over 12,000 sites
Pitchup.com – over 5,000 bookable sites globally, most in the UK
Or perhaps you’re a motorhomer who just needs somewhere to park up for the night? ThePark4Night app lists places where motorhomes are welcome for overnight stays.
If you prefer not to use a campsite or stopover at all, use ourmust haves for wild camping guide for top tips in staying comfortable on your travels.
2. Check the weather and bring the right clothes
We love the UK, but sometimes the weather is… less than ideal. Make sure to bring at least one full change of clothes including a warm jumper, plus a set of waterproofs including sturdy waterproof shoes or boots. Layers are a great idea for camping in all weather conditions, rain and shine included.
Use a weather app for the most up to date and accurate weather predictions.BBC Weather and theMet Office weather app are the most popular.
3. Make your sleeping space five-star
How to make camping more comfortable? Pay attention to your sleeping space. Wherever you plan to camp, a comfortable sleep space is probably the most important thing you can do.
Add as large a mattress as you can and bring at least one comfortable and supportive camping pillow; even the best air mattress will compress down to a small and light pack for easy carrying. Use weather-appropriate covers – if you have room to transport them, sheets, pillowcases and a duvet are much cosier than using a sleeping bag.
An eye mask will stop you being woken at dawn or in the middle of the night by other campers’ torches or car lights. And consider a hot water bottle to stay warm…
Or have it all taken care of for you when you hire a van through Camplify. Explore all kinds of unique vans complete with a double bed, linens, curtains and insulation! You can forget trying to fall asleep on hard, damp ground as you curl up on a comfy cloud in your cosy van. More on this below!
4. Pretty up your pitch
Unless you’re wild camping or only stopping at a place for one night, it’s well worth making your camping setup aesthetic for the duration of your stay. Fairy lights, scented candles, a tablecloth, a couple of throws and blankets… all will work wonders in making your pitch a comfortable little haven. It doesn’t have to be fancy – just a few bits and pieces will do.
With Camplify, you can hire a range of luxury campervans, motorhomes and caravans that are already designed with all of the creature comforts and extra touches needed for the ultimate glamping experience. M
5. Bring something to laze in outside
Wondering how to make camping more comfortable when you’re chilling out around the campfire? A hammock will support total relaxation and is light and easy to pack, while plush camp chairs are always a great idea to bring along.
There’s a wide range of these on the market – for example, here are availablecamping chairs at Go Outdoors and thebest camping chairs for 2022 from Which?
6. Cook up a feast
Camping doesn’t have to be about eating soggy sandwiches or cold dinners. You can eat just as well – or better – when camping as you do at home. Cook on a campfire, camp stove orbarbecue, or just pick up luxury deli items when out and about each day. “Proper” cutlery, napkins and sturdy camping cups are all items we love to bring when camping!
Need some inspiration?The Campfire Cookbook has 80 recipes to try. Student cookbooks are also good sources of easy eats that can be adapted for camp cooking.
7. Stock up on fuel and lighters/matches
You don’t want your feast to be ruined before it’s even served – make sure you have plenty of fuel for your stove/barbecue, as well as lots of extra matches and a couple of spare lighters. It sounds simple, but camping trips can quickly turn to disaster if you’re stuck miles from anywhere with no light, heat or food.
8. Don’t forget the bug spray
This is one of the best tips on how to make camping more comfortable. There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy the great outdoors at your campsite, only to find yourself swarmed by mosquitos, wasps or midges.
Come prepared by buying mosquito spray/insect repellent in advance, before the first night of your trip. You can add a few extra protections, such as:
Mosquito coil
2-in-1 lantern and mosquito killer
9. Bring entertainment
Of course, if you want to make your stay truly comfortable, it helps to have some entertainment on hand to pass the time back at your campsite. And there’s nothing like a little family-friendly competition to give everyone a laugh and make camping that much more enjoyable for the whole tribe. Choose your games wisely to suit all ages of your travel group so everyone can get involved.
Consider Monopoly, Cards Against Humanity, Chess, Connect Four, or just a simple deck of cards for some endless fun.
Need some entertainment on the drive there? Check out ourfun ideas for long road trips!
10. Choose a van instead of a tent
The best way to make camping more comfortable is to hire a campervan, motorhome or caravan instead of pitching a tent.
Enjoy the luxury of sleeping indoors on a soft, comfortable mattress, with a guaranteed good night’s sleep each and every night, no matter what the weather is doing.
As well as a fully-equipped kitchen (and sometimes even an onboard toilet and shower), you’ll have the room to pack all of your creature comforts, from your favourite books to your child’s toys, or even your guitar.
Plus, you can simply open up your van door and step out to enjoy the peace of the night sky! Get out the chairs, sit back and soak it all up with a drink in hand before heading to the comfort of indoors when you’re ready to get cosy.
It’s the best of both worlds.
Hire a van to make your camping trip more comfortable
As above, a campervan or motorhome is the ultimate in how to make camping more comfortable. There’s no need to buy a van either – just hire one of Camplify’s manycampervans for hire in the UK! You can choose from several features including transmission type, on-board amenities and whether pets are allowed.
Arrange to hire your van locally or at your destination:
Why Camplify?
We are proud to be the UK’s fastest-growing campervan, motorhome and caravan sharing community. You'll find plenty ofvans for hire near you, plus you get lots of advantages:
Comprehensive hire insurance
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Dedicated customer support
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By hiring at Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across the UK in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.
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The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.