Sometimes, a weekend getaway isn’t enough. A long-term camping trip can ease stress and even be a crucial tool in your mental health recovery toolbox — when done right. 

However, mistakes can lead to unnecessary frustration and discomfort. The goal of your camping trip is to relax, not pit yourself against the elements in a battle for survival. Fortunately, considering the following factors before you depart can help you get the most out of any long-term camping excursion. 

Choosing the Right Location 

The right location depends on your level of ruggedness, your available gear and your comfort level with solitude. What most inspires your long-term camping desires? Do you hope to teach your kiddos valuable skills or escape the hassles of an increasingly urbanized existence? Understanding your motivations can help you select the right long-term camping destination. 

Campground Pros and Cons 

Amenities are the most obvious advantage of campgrounds. Nearly every location offers potable or non-potable water, firewood and bear-safe food storage boxes. Many campgrounds have full showers, laundry facilities, electrical hookups for those in RVs and established, flat sites with fire pits or barbecues. Some even offer fenced, supervised children’s play areas, dog parks and swimming pools. 

A campsite might be your best choice if: 

• You’re camping with younger family members who need supervision and a socialization outlet.
• You plan to work remotely during your long-term camping trip and need power and internet access.
• You feel uncomfortable being alone and isolated in the wilderness. 

Proximity to other people is a plus if something goes wrong, as there’s nearly always someone you can ask for help. It’s also easier to navigate your trailer or camper in and out of many established campsites than it is to traverse sometimes rocky, uneven Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forest roads. Plus, it’s simply nice to enjoy a warm shower after a hard, sweaty hike. 

The disadvantages of campsites are similar to the downsides of city life. Noise, either from generators or radios, is an issue, although many campsites have mandated quiet hours, unlike BLM land. Plus, you might have strangers walking through your site, and you won’t enjoy the level of privacy you’d have without another camper or tent parked 15 feet away from your own. 

Boondocking Pros and Cons 

If only the peace and solitude of the deep woods will do, boondocking is your best long-term camping choice. It’s also free in many cases. Although you might have to pay a fee for a few established backcountry sites in national parks, BLM and many other public lands only require you to pull up stakes every two weeks to ensure everyone has a chance to share in nature’s glory. 

Even if you have an RV, you must ensure you have adequate water and power to run your appliances, which typically comes from solar or propane you supply. Forget bathing in the river — many detergent soaps can harm ecosystems and wildlife, so plan to take care of your hygiene through the water you carry or wet wipes. 

Nevertheless, nothing gets you away from the daily grind like boondocking. It may be your best choice if: 

• You have a deep, abiding need to isolate yourself temporarily in silence and solitude.
• You enjoy hunting and need to travel far from crowds to do so safely. 
• You’re more comfortable around wildlife than unfamiliar people. 

Long-term tent camping boondocking style practically demands a few comfort accessories. A basic bivvy bag or backpacking tent is OK for weekend trips, but extended stays at least deserve an inflatable pillow and a comfortable camp chair for evenings by the fire. Of course, you must pack out what you pack in, but these lightweight items can slip into or clip to your back frame. 

The downsides of boondocking include having no one around to help you if you become injured or issues arise with your vehicle. Furthermore, heading to BLM land alone doesn’t guarantee solitude. Some more well-known hotspots draw rolling party crowds, and there’s no campsite host to enforce quiet hours — meaning if the disco crew sets up next to you, you may have no choice but to move on down the trail. 

Eating off the Grid 

Once you determine your campsite, you need to refuel. The right gear makes eating off the grid easier. 

1. Stocking Up

Stocking up is a must wherever you stay. A simple trick for preparing dinners that take up less cooler space is wrapping the ingredients up in foil packs you can toss on a camp grill. Other easy-to-carry food ideas include trail mix, jerky and high-fiber carbs like popcorn and whole-grain crackers. You’ll also need the following: 

• A mess kit, including a bowl and utensils
• A camp grill, which you can make or buy in various styles and barbecue gear for safely cooking over the fire
• Condiments like salt, pepper and your favorite sauces 

Your destination determines the number and type of supplies you pack with you. For example, visitors to bear country should take only what they can fit in a bear-safe container. Boondockers should pitch their tents far enough away from the cooking fire so that food odors don’t penetrate the fabric. 

2. Fishing Considerations 

One of the best parts of camping is catching your dinner in the nearby stream. While any type of rod will do for still lakes, fly fishers do better in clear, clean rivers known for seasonal trout or salmon populations. If you plan to fish for your dinner, ensure you know local rules and regulations and bring the right tools to clean and catch your fish in your  tackle box, along with your rod and reel. 

3. Foraging Do’s and Don’ts

You can also complement your meals by foraging, and doing so might be the only way to get enough calories on a long-term camping trip in the backwoods. However, it doesn’t mean munching solely on bitter greens like a rabbit. Chefs everywhere treasure the nutty flavor of morel mushrooms, and all parts of the pretty yellow dandelion are edible with health benefits. 

However, you must use caution, especially if camping in the backwoods, alone or both. Misidentification can lead to severe ill health, even death, as vomiting and diarrhea can dehydrate you, and you may be too weak to reach a water source. Unless you know for certain a food is safe, leave it be. 

Filling Your Days the Natural Way 

The magic of the internet means that more people have the freedom to take their work with them while on a long-term camping trip. However, assuming you have nothing but sweet vacation hours to fill, consider these activities to make your time off the grid wholesome and fulfilling. 

1. Hiking 

Hiking is a fabulous, full-body exercise — you use your upper body to work your trekking poles or pull you up rocky, boulder-filled ascents. You can use an app such as onX to navigate in established areas with cellular reception. A satellite communicator is a must for the backcountry, where phone service grows spotty, especially if you prefer to head out solo. A simple sprained ankle can spell disaster if it keeps you from hiking to safety before the snow begins falling. 

2. Canoeing, Rafting and Kayaking 

Many established campsites close to bodies of water offer various boat rentals for recreational rowing or fishing. You can also find lightweight ones to carry into the backcountry or haul in your toy hauler when boondocking. 

3. Geocaching 

Geocaching uses the magic of GPS to help you find hidden “treasure” and is a blast on BLM land. Leave your stash where you find it after snapping a pic to upload to social media when you return to civilization as proof of your success. 

4. Plant and Animal Identification

Those with kids can keep education going beyond the school day with the right plant and animal identification apps. Guess what? They’re a blast for adults, too. Learn more about the fauna and flora surrounding your site, even if you have to snap photos now and look them up later when you have better internet connectivity. 

Staying Safe 

Safety is a must on a long-term camping trip. Even when staying at established campsites, you should prepare a first-aid kit that contains sufficient amounts of any prescription and OTC medications you’ll need on your trek. You can’t always count on the limited camp store to outfit you. 

Furthermore, you must keep everything scented — even ChapStick — in a bear-safe container when camping in their territory. Wearing a bell is a wise idea when hiking, as it alerts area wildlife to your presence to avoid dangerous surprises. Keep your pets on a leash and your children within arm’s reach. Picking them up and holding them on your shoulders to look larger protects them and may ward off mountain lions by making you appear a larger threat. 

Carrying bear spray is also a wise deterrent against two- and four-legged predators. Should you have a firearm? It’s a personal choice that depends largely on your training level. While you may feel more comfortable with one, especially if boondocking, you must also know yourself — hesitating to use it in an emergency could result in greater harm to you than not having it at all. 

Following Leave-No-Trace Principles

Finally, all campers, whether they stay at an established site or boondock, should follow leave-no-trace principles. These state that you take only photographs and leave only footprints. Therefore, you must pack out any garbage you create — ensure you have sufficient bags or other containers to do so. Bonus points if you look for compostable bags that break down in landfill conditions instead of plastic and separate your recycling. 

When boondocking, stick to established sites instead of creating new ones — you’ll find circles of dirt, often with stone fire rings, in many national forests. Finally, if you arrive at your site to see it messy, clean it up. You’ll generate oodles of positive camping karma for the best trip yet. 

Getting the Most From Long-Term Camping 

It’s tough to fit all the outdoor adventures you crave into a single weekend. When you head out for a long-term camping trip, preparation makes the difference between a relaxing experience and one that only induces more stress. Consider why you need to get away and plan for meals, activities and safety on the trail that will result in you returning to civilization refreshed and renewed. 

Happy Adventuring, friends!

Guest Contributor: Jack Shaw