Camping to me is all about getting away from my everyday life in the city and spending time in nature. There are many are ways to do it, but this article will discuss the 4 basic types of camping. These provide an option that is available to most people no matter the cost or the experience level. I’ve heard people argue about what is considered “real” camping. Some believe that you aren’t really camping if you are in an RV or trailer. I think that is nonsense. The guy that goes solo backpacking with only a hatchet and a tarp is no more a camper than a family in their fully equipped 5th wheel. Whatever type gets you out and enjoying the benefits of the outdoors and spending time in nature is all camping to me.
If you are interested in why I like camping check out my article. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE CAMPING: 9 REASONS WHY I LOVE IT
Car Camping
Car camping is simply loading all your camping gear into your car and driving to a campsite. Once there you set up your camp in the designated area and enjoy your time outdoors. Car camping is the easiest way to get started camping. It requires less specialty equipment and can be inexpensive. The benefits of car camping are that you can literally bring anything you want if it fits in your car. You don’t have to worry about buying expensive lightweight gear and you can bring any “luxuries” that make your trip more enjoyable. A basic car camping setup is a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad or mattress, and a cooler for food and drinks. That’s it. Simple, easy, and cheap.
Backpacking
Backpack camping is when you carry everything you need for camping in a backpack. It can be as simple as hiking a couple hundred yards into the woods for a night or as challenging as hiking miles into the wilderness and spending several days. It all depends on your skill level and experience. The gear requirements are like car camping, though everything you need for shelter, cooking, sleeping, and hygiene all must fit in your pack and needs to be light enough for you to carry. Backpacking can be difficult but allows you to access some amazing places that you can’t get to in a vehicle
Travel Trailers
Travel trailers are RVs that are towed behind a vehicle. The different types include pop-ups, hybrids, conventional, toy haulers and fifth wheels. There are many options in each category, and you are only limited by the towing capacity of your vehicle. Travel trailers are what most people think of when they hear campers. The main benefit of travel trailers is that they allow you to have many of the luxuries of home, while still allowing you to get outdoors. My family upgraded from car camping to travel trailers several years ago and I would have a hard time going back. Many trailers have kitchens, bathrooms, and real beds. Some will have air conditioning and furnaces. Having a bathroom was life changing for me, I got tired of having to walk to the camp bathrooms constantly and at all hours of the night. We have a toddler who is potty training and having our own bathroom helps with that.
RVs
There are three basic types of RVs class A, B, C. They come in different sizes and configurations but have one thing in common, they are all motorized. Class A RVs are the biggest and can have either gas or diesel engines. Class A RVs are the most luxurious and therefore most expensive. They typically have full kitchens, bathrooms, separate sleeping areas and plenty of living space. They are also able to tow another vehicle which comes in handy for traveling once you reach your destination.
Class B RVs are the smallest. They are also known as camper vans or conversion vans. Their smaller size makes them more versatile and easier to operate, but they lack the amenities of their class A cousins. Class B RVs have a small living space, though they will often have a small cooking area, folding bed, and small refrigerator. Some come with a self-contained bathroom,
Class C RVs are the mid-sized options for RVs, and they look more like moving trucks than RVs. Class B RVs have many of the same amenities as Class As, but with a smaller size. Most of them will have sleeping areas above the cab and in the rear of the RV. They have small bathrooms and small kitchens. Class C RVs offer a nice balance between size and luxury.
