Just wanted to start off by saying I'm so excited to write about this topic! I grew up with a love for outdoors and owe a lot of that to my grandparents. I remember my grandpa always opting to sleep out by the fire under the stars while camping or on his boat rather than an actual bed when fishing. When I think of my oldest memories outdoors, they are part of it. Luckily, I found someone who enjoys it just as much. Josh and I have been really into camping for the past 3-4 years and it's safe to say it's probably our favorite thing to do together. We still have a lot to learn, a big bucket list to fill and a lot of gear we'd like to get, but I thought it would be great to share with you how we plan a trip, scope out a great campground, and how we make it happen on a low budget. Buckle up.
Planning a Trip:
Okay so this is one of my absolute favorite things. I could spend hours just reading travel blogs, researching, building a rough itinerary, finding deals. It's almost as good as the actual trip. Mostly kidding. And when I say I love to plan, I mean - well, just me. Josh and I don't sit together doing all of this. We would go nuts. Of course he has a say in everything, and I run any out of the ordinary ideas with him first - but he leaves it to me and that's probably the most loving thing he can do. I totally get that planning is NOT for everyone. Just because I get all giddy about it doesn't mean you have to. It's not easy when there are hundreds of resources out there. And maybe you're the type who doesn't need to plan at all! Maybe you just like to wing it and that's great too. But that's just not how my brain works. I'm not talking about a full blown itinerary, but mapping out ideas of what a day could look like and we just pick and choose. Let me tell ya about it.
Here are the 5 key resources I use for planning:
1. Google Word Docs
2. DNR/NPS Website (for camping/hiking)
3. Travel Blogs
4. Google Maps <3
5. Instagram
Your bff. Throw a title and a photo of your destination at the top along with subtitles that relate to the trip to get your started (Hiking Trails, Breweries or Restaurants, What to Pack, Food List, Map). Under each title, is where you can bullet what you find and I usually write up a little note about it (Ex: Hiking Trail Name - Trail Head Location - How Many Miles - What we could do on that hike - lunch/fish/hammock). Oh, and I always have post-it notes and a pen on hand for the following:
State & Federal Websites:
Great resources for credible park information is the department of natural resources/national park service websites/etc. Here you will find detailed maps of the park, camping information, burning restrictions, etc. They are a great user friendly base for easy planning, reserving your campground, and adding things to your itinerary.
Travel Blogs:
It's so easy to just google "North Shore MN Camping" but then how many links do you have to click on to find a good source? I always leave it to travel blogs to have the best guides to make your trip planning go smoothly. They always offer insider pros/cons and valuable opinions on what "must see"spots might be or what to leave out. So instead, type in "North Shore MN Camping Blog" and the results will be MUCH different. Do this for any trip, trust me.
Google Maps:
My favorite app of all time. I use the create your own map option and it is a game changer people. While you're doing research and finding places you want to go - add it to your map. You can label them with icons, colors, and descriptions. Download your map to your phone so you can easily access and find directions to the places you want to go! We even turn on the "satellite" option for the map to get a better idea of the landscape, especially while looking at campgrounds. Once the map is finished, I add a screenshot to the itinerary and print it out as a guide for our trip.
Instagram:
I use IG alllll the time for travel planning. Whether it be a restaurant, a state park, or campground, use the search box to find that location and check out what others have posted! It will give you tons of inspiration for what you'll be seeing too. This is the part where social media can help us, not hurt us :). I've even reached out to people to ask what trail they were on in the state park to get the photo, or which camp site they were on. I usually do this simultaneously when I'm in the middle of research. If the photos look awesome, it's a no brainer that I'm gonna want to see it with my own eyeballs and I add it to the Google Word Doc with a note must see or must do.
Campgrounds:
When it comes to finding specific campsites, in my opinion, the best types are ones that are more spread out and have fewer sites. This way you'll have more privacy and get a better feel for the outdoors. All campgrounds that require a fee are usually equipped with bathrooms, fire pits, picnic tables, and sometimes a shower. There are many campgrounds that require a reservation to camp, and if you're like us - you don't plan a camping trip months ahead of time, it's more of a last minute "let's go next weekend!" In this case, there are plenty of first-come-first-serve sites or campgrounds too. For these, we always try to get there super early to find a site or wait until we see anyone packing up to leave.
Either way you choose, the best way to get the most information on a campground or to reservation is to call. The DNR has the best insider access to answer any questions you may have. We've called to ask about weather conditions, or chances of getting a spot, what a good time is to get to the campground for first-come-first-served or any cancelled reservations that we could take. Finding a good campground is where Google Maps really comes in handy! We always look at the campground map and how far it is from activities on our list or know ahead of time of which specific spot we'd like so we're ready if we call to ask about it. We like to find a campground near water so Josh can fish, we can wash our dishes, and it's just a nice added sound of nature for a good nights sleep. 🌙
Backpacking or "free" dispersed sites require more planning and strategic packing. Backpacking sites are usually reservable and require some hiking to the spot. So rather than car camping where your car is near the site and you pack larger items, backpacking requires you to have everything you need on your back and leaving your car behind. Dispersed camping is usually on state or national forest land and allows you to camp anywhere on that land, but make sure you're following the guidelines. For these campsites (and really all campsites), always always follow the leave no trace rule! Aka - don't leave garbage, use biodegradable soap when washing dishes or bathing, leave any natural objects the way you found them. Here's a good guide for dispersed camping.
Budgets are a Trip's Best Friend:
If there's a word that Josh and I use the most, it might be "budget." Money is a huge topic of conversation for us. We have student loans to pay off and several goals to save for and I'm sure many of you are in a similar boat. We always talk about what is important to us that's worth spending money on? For some, it's going out to eat, a nice car or apartment, gym memberships, manicures, a pet, skincare, or clothes. The list goes on. But my advice is to write it down - what are the top 3 things you justify spending money on besides the necessities? Then, write down ways you could cut that spending or make it cheaper. Mine are: clothes, my car, and travel.
Josh and I both work part-time jobs so we can spend our side cash on the things we value most. I highly recommend doing this !! It's SO nice to have extra money to feel less guilty on things you spend money on to enjoy. Now, this doesn't mean I'm constantly spending money on these things. Most extra money goes into debt or savings. But for instance, I always buy clothes at a discount or used and believe in quality items that will last so I buy fewer things and really take time to think through, do I need this? I bought a reliable car for the purpose of traveling more and one that is able to handle backroads to get to awesome camping spots. Traveling is a priority for both Josh and I and that doesn't mean we go all out. We still put in extra effort to find deals, talk about how we want to spend any money when getting there, and save up for it or put in extra hours in order to go. Luckily, camping is the cheapest form of traveling and here's why:
✨ Camping costs anywhere from $15-25 a night for a site. Sometimes, free.
✨Gas is cheap right now and are TONS of campgrounds near you that you probably didn't even know about. Go!
✨You'll likely split costs which make things even cheaper - like going with a group of friends greatly reduces the cost of gas/food/site/etc.
✨Grocery shopping can be as cheap as you make it! You don't need fancy food for camping what-so-ever. Our favorite grocery stores for cheap camping food are ALDI and Trader Joe's. I'll send out a food list in my next post (get excited!!).
✨Despite the thought of needing top of the line gear, you just need the basics to start! A tent, sleeping bag (or lots of blankets). That's it. Well, sorta. Next post will have a list of our top must-have gear (another thing to get excited about!!).
✨Borrow or rent gear for your first few trips to see what you want to save up for. Josh and I's tent and double sleeping bag was given to us by my grandparents so we got super lucky with that! You can also buy from second hand gear stores:
✨Support local and find wood someone is selling at the end of a driveway along the way instead of a gas station, it's usually always cheaper anyway. ~$5 a bundle. Buy 1-2 for each night you're staying & have cash.
And here we are at the last paragraph. You made it to the end!! My best tips on planning, finding a campsite, and how to camp frugally all rolled into one. This post is all about what leads to the beautiful pictures of our campsites, the hikes we go on - the waterfalls and meals. Again, this is just a START. Josh and I are not expert campers and we don't go as much as we'd like to but it begins with making the effort to go and at least try it! In my next post, I'll share with you our camping list we use for every trip, our favorite gear must-haves, and our grocery list with meal ideas. I figured if I put it all into one post - you'd be reading for days. Please please please reach out if you have any other questions or requests! This topic has been so fun to write about and I hope to keep this up. If ya liked this one, you can subscribe to get email updates for any new posts! Just go to the bottom of my homepage. Another one coming SOON. 💫 🌲