One of the many outdoor activities I truly enjoy doing is camping. In addition to solo and family camping, I also host camping trips for new campers and seasoned campers alike. There are times though, when I’ve invited people to camp with me and they are strongly against it. When I dig deeper as to why, I realize that it is not camping that they are wary of, it is the way in which camping has been portrayed and what they think camping is.
To be clear, I car camp. Some people say I’m glamping; maybe I’m somewhere in the middle between car camping and glamping. What I am absolutely not inviting people to do when I say I’m camping is backpacking, canoe/kayak camping or any other type of camping that involves roughing it in any way. I beg of any one hosting camping trips, to be very clear as to the type of camping you are planning. Please don’t say camping when you really mean backpacking.
Here I’ll define how I see the difference:
Car / front country camping: The vehicle is packed with all the gear you need for camping in a tent and it is parked at your campsite with you the entire time. You drive to your campsite, unpack, put up your tent and do as much or as little as you want to do. I prefer to camp for a minimum of three nights. The campsite can be used as a basecamp where you can explore the area and drive to visit local attractions. You can choose a campground near hiking trails, waterways for paddling (kayaks/canoes/paddleboards), fishing, and a host of other activities. When car camping, you can choose to sleep in a hammock tent, RV or rooftop tent, if you so desire, depending on the rules of the campground. The campground is easily accessible and usually has running water, a bathroom, picnic table, fire pit and/ or grill and possibly other amenities.
Glamping: There are many ways this looks – could be a tent or cabin or even a tree house where there is usually a bed and amenities such as water, heat, AC and electricity. Depending on where you go, meals and activities are included in your stay. Glamping is luxurious camping.
Backpacking / back country camping: You pack everything you need and can carry into a backpack, then you hike to your campsite, setup camp for as many days as you prepared for and return. With backpacking, you can only take what you can carry – including your food, clothes and shelter. The location is generally not accessible with a vehicle and there aren’t usually any amenities at all. You take in whatever you need and take everything back out with you – including your trash.
Canoe/Kayak Camping: You have more flexibility in what you can carry, especially in a canoe. You pack what you need and can fit into the vessel then unpack and setup your campsite when you arrive at your destination. Some locations have amenities such as toilets and running water. You take in whatever you need and take everything back out with you – including your trash.
There are instances when the various types of camping can overlap. I have done road trips where there are campgrounds that do not have any amenities; these can be off forest roads, on BLM land in the back country or can even be developed campgrounds from the National Park Service that only have a vault toilet and no running water. Some require you to take in whatever you need and take everything back out with you – including your trash.
When I’m car camping, I sleep in a tent and that tent is generally a 4 to 8 person tent in which I can fully stand and has room for me to move about – in addition to space for my cot or air mattress. I have various ways to cook meals including stoves and dedicated camping ovens. I also have a heater for when the weather makes having heat necessary.
When I’m doing road trips, I carry a tent with me but I primarily sleep in my vehicle unless I am staying in a location for more than one night and setting up a basecamp. If I’m going to be at the location for more than one night, I may setup my tent but still sleep in my vehicle; the tent gives me options. In addition to regular standalone tents, I also have an SUV tent that attaches to my SUV and I can easily move between the tent and SUV without going outside. I also have the option to unhook the tent from the SUV and drive away to explore. If you are on the West coast, there are tons of options for backcountry car camping.
Hopefully I made it clear where the differences lie. Check out my YouTube channel for videos showing you just how I camp and join me on my next camping trip. Check out my Camping Gear List for ideas on what you might like to have when you camp.