Camping Advice and Tips

The 2012 Readers' Choice Awards have come to a close and the winners are decided. About Camping asked your favorite state and national park to pitch a tent, the best camping tent manufacturer, the best outdoor activity, your favorite way to campground cook, and which outdoor retailer is your favorite.

Tell us what are your favorite US states for camping, what is the best way to cook at the campground and which are your favorite outdoor activities while camping? Vote for your favorites in About Camping's 2012 Readers' Choice Awards.

Campers share their reasons to go camping.

Camping Tips - advice about gearing up, camping basics, step-by-step how-tos, sleeping bag and tent FAQs, descriptions of various types of campgrounds, and suggestions from fellow campers.

Cheap family vacations. Take a family of four camping for a week for under $400.

Advice and resources for planning a camping trip.

A list of safety concerns for campers.

Suggestions for how to avoid food spoilage while camping, plus tips for food preparation and storage.

Be aware of factors, mostly involving people, which can turn a camping trip unpleasant.

Checklist and tips for taking showers at the campground.

Bloggers share their camping blogs. Submit your blog about camping and read other camping blogs. See submissions

Have you ever had a camping trip go wrong? See submissions

A guide to finding a free dispersed campsite in the National Forests, plus an account of my adventures in Kaibab National Forest near the Grand Canyon.

What are your thoughts about taking a cell phone with you when camping?

Campers share their thoughts about campground cleaning deposits.

Readers share their expectations when camping at public or private campgrounds.

Campers respond to various questions and issues in the camping world. Are you opinionated? If you see a topic of interest, feel free to share your story.

Instructions for some common camping chores.

What to expect when camping at private campgrounds versus camping at public campgrounds.

A series of lessons on the basics of camping.

Fellow campers share their tips for taking showers at the campground.

A story of a bear encounter and some tips for how to avoid bear encounters while camping.

Are visitors leaving your Web site before considering your campground for a vacation?

Good advice, articles, buying tips, recipes and more. Tim Dales, the Camping Guy, shares 25 years of camping and scouting experience on his Web site.