What Do I Need For a 1 Night Camping Trip?

You are only camping for one night, but what will you need?

Sometimes, the one-night getaways are the best! 

They’re spontaneous, they’re a little against the grain, but they are almost certainly worth the idea!

When it comes to feeling the urge to go camping, even for one night, there is generally nothing that will stop you from packing the car with your equipment and driving off to your nearest campsite or favourite spot!

But what exactly do you pack for just one night?

This is the burning question amongst seasoned campers and newbies alike! While most veterans will tell you that it is always wise to have all of your camping equipment within easy reach for those spontaneous moments, a lot of people will think throwing a few bits, and a tent in the car will suffice…and neither is wrong. Still, we can undoubtedly make packing for a single night camping with this easy guide of essential things to take with you!

So, What Do You Pack For 1 Night Camping?

Well, the beginning is the simple bit, the tent!

For just one night’s camping, you need to make sure it is:

• Lightweight
• Easy to put up and take down
• Warm and secure
• Compact and easy to carry

Top Tip: Look out for pop-up style tents or a car-camping box to make your one night away super easy to achieve! 

You’ll also need essential items that may or may not be applicable, and this will be dependant on the location you choose to camp, such as:

• Fresh water- This can be essential if you want to camp somewhere off the beaten track. You’ll need this for washing, cooking and drinking, and a 5-litre water carrier may be the best idea here!
• Hygiene Wipes- This is self-explanatory really! These are really handy for cleaning hard surfaces too, such as chopping boards and cutlery. 
• Source Of Light- A source of light is super important; even just one night means darkness! An LED handheld light or a head torch are the best options and these will make sure you can see what you are doing when night falls!
• Something to sleep on and in- Making sure you have something comfortable and warm to sleep on and in, can make the biggest of differences to your one night away! The same rules apply with this as the tent itself; easy to put up and down, warm and compact to carry are all universal 1-night camping rules!
• A way of cooking- This one is a personal choice, depending on the level of camping you are aiming for! A great idea is a small gas stove for speed and ease, but if a fire is more your thing, then firelighters and combustible material might suit you better. 

It also goes without saying that you’ll need something to cook in, such as a lightweight saucepan, which can do everything from hot drinks to stew!

How do you pack lights for a camping trip?

As we mentioned lights in the previous section, it’s important to mention a few things about packing lights for your journey, so they don’t reach the destination in a worse state than they started!

Depending on the type of lights you are taking for your 1-night camping, it’s worth remembering that they can be delicate, especially traditional glass lantern styles.

Packing lights can be simple, and here are some ideas on how you can pack them safely for your journey:

• Roll small lights in your spare clothing for extra padding 
• Pack the lights in the middle of your sleeping bag for cushioning
• As much as you can, keep the lights in their original boxes for safe transportation 
• If you are using the original packaging for the lights, you can transport them safely in a little car crate in a footwell of your car for safety. 

The best thing to remember is to keep the lights as safe and secure as possible, away from any potential knocks, bangs or droppages! They are essential, and you’ll undoubtedly notice if you have to camp without lights!

What do you need for a summer camping trip?

Summer camping trips are one of the best things in the world!

Summer camping trips sometimes require a few extra pieces of equipment to make your camping trip season appropriate! 

This includes, but certainly not limited to:

• A fly net- This can stop you from getting eaten alive during the night by bugs!
• A cool box- When appropriately chilled before your summer night away, a cool box can be fantastic for keeping any essential things cool, such as milk, wet wipes and water.
• Insect repellents- this is a self-explanatory lifesaver!
• Ice Blocks- Another way of keeping things cool in the summer, these ice blocks can double up as a way of keeping you cool too, as well as a great addition in treating sprains if you have a minor disaster!

Summer camping is essentially no different from camping in any other season, and you just have to remember the addition of extra heat and everything that it brings with it!

Is it worth camping for one night?

Again, this comes down to 2 things:

1. How strong is the urge to go camping for one night?
2. How prepared are you to go camping for just one night?

If the urge to go camping is so strong that nothing else will do, then your one night away camping should absolutely be done! 

Hopefully, the information here will make that as easy as possible for you to achieve successfully! 

If you are adequately prepared to go camping for one night at a moment’s notice, then it is worth popping everything in the car and finding a great place to camp!

Remember, if you pack and prepare for every eventuality, you can let spontaneity take over and get away for that one night away.

We don’t mean pack lots, but we do mean pack clever!