How to Prepare for Weekend Camping Trip

Preparing for a weekend camping trip can be more challenging than packing for a long-term outdoor vacation. The trick is to pack just the right amount of food and gear that you'll need for a few days without overpacking or feeling like you're depriving yourself of favorite camping luxuries. Think about what your goals are for the trip and then create your packing list around those goals.

Steps

1. 1 Create a camping food menu. Your menu should include a breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks for each full day of camping. Shop for only those foods you know you can consume in a weekend.
   • Think about the foods you want to eat that require refrigeration, then compare them against the size of your cooler. RVers with refrigerators will have more space available than tent campers who have ice chests and can only carry the essentials.
   • Eliminate unnecessarily refrigerated food items. Many refrigerated necessities waste space, such as ketchup and mayonnaise. Instead, use single-serve ketchup and mayonnaise condiment packages you've collected from fast food restaurants. Other substitutions for refrigerated items include using powdered milk, cheese and eggs instead of fresh dairy items.
   • Include other space-saving alternative food items on your list, such as tortillas flat bread and graham crackers which can take the place of bread.
2. 2 Contact park officials to learn the regulations, road and trail conditions. Many national parks, forests and wilderness areas require visitors to preregister for campfire permits and more are requiring hikers to make reservations for hiking on popular trails. Learn what your responsibilities are in advance to ensure rapid access to your weekend camping destination.
3. 3 Write down your camping trip itinerary and leave one copy with a friend or relative, a second copy on your kitchen table and a third copy in the glove box of your car so people will know where to look for you if needed.
4. 4 Recharge electronic device batteries when you prepare for a weekend camping trip. Your camping gear preparations should also include a second set of batteries for flashlights. Alternatively bring a solar powered charger.
5. 5 Purchase a paper map if you plan on hiking in unfamiliar areas. Don't rely solely on a GPS; should your GPS batteries die while you're on the trail, you may get lost without a map. Always carry a paper map as insurance whether you're on a weekend camping trip or a two week vacation.