Camping for Beginners: A First-Time Camping Guide to Gear, Sites, and Where to Book

First time camping? You’re going to love it—but the gear, the site choice, and the unfamiliar logistics can feel like a lot. This guide covers what we wish we’d known before our first trip, including the easiest Hipcamps to book when you’re brand new to all this.

Step 1: Buy, borrow, or skip the tent entirely

First-timers don’t need to commit to gear they may never use again. Borrow from a friend, or book a Hipcamp with the tent already pitched—bell tents, yurts, and safari tents are all glamping options that let you test camping without buying gear.

Canvas or polyester? Poles or pop up? Single skin or fly sheet? There’s a lot of choice in tents these days, so buying your first tent can be tricky. The type of tent you need really depends on what sort of trip you’re planning. A solo hiking-and-camping trip prioritizes pack-down size and weight; a two-week family camping holiday prioritizes roominess. There are so many options that our advice could stretch to a whole new article—which is why we’ve put one together on just this subject: Camping for B0eginners: Buying Your First Tent.

But perhaps the single best piece of advice? Before you buy, visit an outdoor retailer like REI or your local shop where you can see tents up and in action. It’s the best way to get a feel for what suits you. And if it’s your very first trip and you’re not sure how you’ll get on, you might be better off borrowing a tent from a friend—or trying glamping in a pre-pitched bell tent, safari tent, or yurt. It’s a simple approach to camping and a great way to test the waters.

Step 2: Pick a destination close to home

For your first trip, choose somewhere within a 2-hour drive that you can reach in daylight. Pitching a brand-new tent after dark is not the memory you want, so leave earlier than you think you need to.

Your decision to go camping may have been built around a particular destination or even a campsite you love the look of—if so, this is a moot point. But if you’ve decided on camping for affordability or to try a new hobby, you may be wondering which destination to choose. You’ll find Hipcamps across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, so there’s usually at least one near your desired destination. One little tip for first-time campers: choose somewhere you can arrive at in daylight hours. A destination might look great on paper, but if it’s a long drive after a Friday workday, you’ll arrive in the dark and have to pitch your brand-new tent with little light. Don’t make it hard on yourself: leave earlier than you think you need to, or pick somewhere a little closer to home.

Step 3: Pick the right Hipcamp for your skill level

Beginner-friendly Hipcamps usually have hot showers, stellar reviews, level campsites, and an on-site Host you can ask for help. Filter for those features when you search—they take the stress out of your first trip.

There are campsites on the coast, in the desert, in the country, and in the woods—and they range from basic tent-only sites to glamping with luxury accommodation like bell tents, yurts, and even treehouses. In choosing your Hipcamp, think about what’s most important to you: a sea view, facilities, whether campfires are allowed. Read carefully so the site you choose fits the bill. Our search has handy filters for the things people look for most.

Beginner-friendly Hipcamps to consider

Finnon Lake Recreation Area, CA

A California favorite set on a family-friendly lake.

Cedar Bloom, OR

An iconic Hipcamp featuring open camping, domes, A-frame cabins set near a river and a swimming hole.

C2T Ranch on the Saline River, KS

A working cattle ranch with all the right amenities to fit your needs, from hookups to showers.

The Lake at the Flying J Farm, OH

A family- and pet-friendly favorite on 250 acres with a ton of farm charm.

Starlight Hills, NC

A pond, a spa, and a geodesic planetarium?! Choose from tent camping, glamping tents, a tiny cabin, and a dome.

Step 4: Do a practice run at home

Before you leave, pitch your tent in the backyard or the living room. Check that all pegs and poles are accounted for and aim to get familiar with the assembly.

So: You’ve bought, borrowed, or booked a tent, you’ve picked a destination, settled on a Hipcamp, and now you’re ready to pack—right? Wrong. Before packing for your very first trip, practice at home. It gives you the chance to check that poles and stakes are all present and accounted for before you set off with time to get replacements if they’re not. It also lets you learn the assembly in private before showcasing your skills on site. Even a pop-up tent is worth unfurling: it might take two seconds to pitch, but it can take two hours to repack if you haven’t gotten the hang of it.

Once you’re happy your gear is in good shape, it’s time to pack. Every camper is different, so your packing list will be unique to you, but our Essential Camping Checklist should give you ideas about what you might need.

Step 5: Pitch smart: slope, sun, and wind

Just as every camper is different, every Hipcamp is different. Some sites assign you to a specific spot upon arrival. Some have set numbered or named sites but let you pick. Others are dispersed with a few unspoken rules (like pitching a sensible distance from neighbors). Things to bear in mind: the lay of the land, the weather, where the sun comes up, and proximity to facilities and amenities.

The flatter the campsite the better, but if the ground has a slight slope, pitch the tent so you can sleep with your head up. You definitely don’t want to be rolling down the hill all night. Consider whether you’d rather have shade than sun, and whether you want sunset or sunrise views. Wind is another factor: if there’s a prevailing wind, choose a protected spot to break it.

Step 6: Plan an easy first-night dinner

After setting up the tent, one of the first joys (or challenges) of campsite life is getting dinner on the picnic table. If you’re cooking on a camping stove, plan ahead and bring more gas than you think you need; set the stove up outside, off the ground. If you’re cooking on a campfire, take a look at our guide to building the perfect fire and get it roaring before you start to cook.

If you’re arriving late on your first day, bring something semi-prepared in advance. Whether you’re cooking on a camping stove or a campfire, a easy-to-warm pot of chili is a great idea.

Step 7: Slow down and enjoy it

There’s a different pace to campsite life—most things, from cooking dinner to brushing your teeth, take a little longer. Leave the rules and routine of life at home and go with the flow. If you’ve got kids, they’ll probably be so excited on the first night they’ll want to stay up later, but by the second, third, and fourth nights the fresh air and running around will mean they’re tired and ready for bed before you know it. We hope this guide helps you relax and enjoy your first camping trip so much that it won’t be your last.

Ready to plan your first trip?

Browse Hipcamps near you and filter for the beginner-friendly features above. Most first-time campers are surprised by how much easier the planning gets once you know what you’re looking for—and how much friendlier the camping community is in person than on the internet.