Categories: CampingGuides & hacks

5 Reasons to Go Camping on a Weeknight

All too often, we only consider going camping when we have time off (weekends, holidays, vacation, etc.) As avid outdoor lovers, my partner and I weren’t satisfied only getting outside on the weekends. Last year, we made it a goal to start going on weeknight trips.

Camping during the week can be a fun way to liven up the repetitive work week. We became hooked after our first mid-week camping trip. Just experiencing one evening outside of our normal routine made the rest of the work week more enjoyable.

At first, our co-workers thought we were crazy for going straight to work from a campsite. After a few hiccups on our first attempts, we have finally mastered the art of the weeknight trip. During our last trip to Eagle’s Nest Treehouse, we decided to put together a few tips on how to pull off a weeknight camping trip of your own.

1. Have the scenic routes all to yourself

We left San Francisco at 4pm on Thursday and headed to Eagle’s Nest Treehouse in Bodega Bay. Commuter traffic was starting to pick up, so we decided to look at the map for a scenic route that would get us off the freeway and flowing again. Since its the weekday, you will have these alternative routes all to yourself on the weekdays — free of other sightseers on the road.

2. Expand your food options

We typically head out to the camp straight from work, so we like to grab food in the town closest to where we’re staying. Local grocery markets usually have fun food options that are unique to the place you’re visiting. We always end up buying more than we can possibly eat for one night, but it’s reassuring to know you still have snacking options once you’re at camp. This past trip, we were also treated with a loaf of freshly baked zucchini bread from our host when we arrived at the treehouse, which was perfect to eat on our drive back to the city.

3. Know that you can still be productive in the woods

Getting away from your daily routine can help inspire your work in different ways. Normally, we treat our camping trips as time to get away from work and our emails. However, we discovered that doing work on weeknight camping trips is actually fun. Working remotely brings a new kind of creativity to your work. You could also use weeknight trips as time to work on personal projects. Routines and tasks at home can make it too easy to put off personal work. Being in a different location allows you to focus on your work without becoming distracted. We used our evening at the treehouse to catch up on editing photos, which was so peaceful being cozied up as it rained outside.

4. Consider going it alone

Camping trips always seem to be most fun when you’re with a large group of friends or family. Once the sun goes down, it’s nice to have company to help entertain yourself back at camp. Alternatively, going with more people means more opinions on what to do, what to eat and where to go.

During this trip, I decided to stay in the treehouse and catch up on work while my partner took a hike around the property. We try to dedicate time where we both do different activities on our own. We have even started to go on separate trips without each other. It’s rare to have an entire evening to yourself, which makes these solo trips so special. We like to meet up for dinner or a drink after to share stories and photos from our solo adventures during the day. Sometimes being alone is exactly what you need to recharge for the week.

5. Experience popular destinations without the crowds

When we arrived in Bodega Bay to camp at Eagle’s Nest Treehouse, we were shocked how quiet the town was. Compared to a Saturday afternoon, we basically had the whole place to ourselves; even the roads closer to town were nearly empty. It was so refreshing to enjoy the area without hoards of people on the roads and at local shops. If you’re staying at a property with multiple sites it will likely be much less crowded than the weekends too.
We both went from the treehouse straight to work the next morning so we woke up a little earlier to get dressed and beat some of the commuter traffic. Make sure to give yourself some extra time to get back to the city, even if your sleeping bag is begging you to stay cozy a little while longer.

Living in San Francisco, we’re so fortunate to live close to incredible places to camp that make weekday trips like this possible.

Lisse Lundin is a photographer based in San Francisco.

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