Camping is an activity that is liked by everybody, from kids to the elderly. Who doesn’t want to get some time off day to day life and relax? Everyone wants to spend some time with the environment and have some fun for a change.
But a big problem with camping is that if you want to go to a campsite, you have to book the dates early, and if you won’t, you do not get to camp. This has become quite a problem for everyone and because of that, a new solution has emerged these days.
Yes, that’s right, a solution called walk up camping. Many campsites are specifically meant to walk up camping. But what is this walk-up camping? And what do you have to do to walk up camping?
In this article, we are going to tell you everything that you need to know about a walk up camping and how to prepare yourself for this camping correctly. So, let’s dive in.
What Is Walk Up Camping?
Walk Up camping is a type of camping, in which you don’t have to make any sort of reservations beforehand. The spots are provided on a first come first serve basis. You go prepared in this type of camping and get a slot on the spot.
This solves a big problem that the general camping with reservation posed. You don’t have to worry about going to the campsite days before the actual camp and book a slot. And the problem of shifting the date of the camp is also solved.
Every campsite has a sort of walk up facility like if some slot gets open at the last moment, the first one to come gets the slot. But these days some campsites are made for a walk up camping only.
If you have made a spontaneous decision of going camping, you can just go up to one of these campgrounds and enjoy your camp.
Hacks For Walk Up Camping:
There are some ways to make sure that you get a spot every time you show up for a walk up camping. Let us see what they are:
1. Go Early:
All the walk up camping sites is provided based on first come first serve. And you can understand that if it is first come first serve, how much rush you can expect. Always try to reach there a considerable time before the campground opens. This will help you stay ahead of the rush.
If you get lazy and think you will reach there by lunchtime, you can either expect that the spots are sold out or you are at the end of a very long line. Especially in the camping seasons and on weekends, you can surely expect a big rush for a spot.
So, on the day you are to go camping, wake up a little early, get prepared, and leave for the site as early as you can.
2. Go Far:
If you are a city dweller, don’t just try to go to a campground that is near to you. You can do that but you will have to stand in line for a long time.
On the other hand, if you try to go for walk up camping in a place that is way far from cities and popular places, you are going to experience little or no rush. If you have a vehicle, this is feasible but if you go camping on foot, you can go to the nearest campground, but ahead of time.
3. Use a Tent:
In the walk up camping, the flexibility is less compared to a camp that you have booked. In this situation, hammock camping becomes problematic because you need to have some specific terrain for hammock camping.
For tent camping, however, you need very little space and you can set it up anywhere. So, it gives you more flexibility. If you have a tent, you are more likely to get a spot for your camp.
So, find yourself a good tent and gear up for a walk up camping. If you want a good multi-room tent, you can check Best Multi Room Camping Tents: Never Go Solo.
Also, for a thorough and experience-based review on the best popup tents available, you can check out 11 Best Pop up Camping Tents for Quick & Easy Setup.
4. Have A Flexible Attitude:
Having a flexible attitude is key when you are planning to walk up camping. You may not get what you expect from a walk up camping. You may go expecting a big spot but end up in a small cramped space. So, at that time you will have to adjust.
Also, never think that you will wait out for a better spot, because as you are thinking, someone else may take your place instead. So, accept what you get or you can try again some other time.
5. Travel With A Group:
First off, if you are standing in a line by yourself, you are bound to get bored and give up. At that time, if you are in a group, you can spend the time. Also, group spots are available more than single spots.
An issue associated with this is that, if your group ends up with a small spot, more people may become a problem.
6. Pick Your Time:
If you are someone who is also bothered by large crowds and long lines, you can time your camp in such a way that you don’t have to worry about any of these things.
Summer and winter season is the peak time for camping. So, getting a spot during those times is always going to be difficult.
You can try camping in the off-season like in springs or autumn, and on weekdays as well to avoid large crowds. With the COVID-19 situation in the world, it is best to avoid crowds as much as possible, and picking the right time is key to that.
Use all these tricks and you are likely to find a spot to camp in.
What Do You Need For Walk Up Camping?
Now that you know how to find a spot for a walk camping, let us see what are the things that are going to come in handy if you go for walk in camping.
1. Minimal Luggage:
If you go for walk up camping, try to keep your luggage to a bare minimum. An instantaneous plan for camping isn’t likely to last for more than one day, so you can either pack only one set of clothes or you can also avoid clothes altogether.
2. Portable Camping Equipment:
Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and tarps have to be lightweight and portable. If you are going for walk up camping, try to just have a backpack with all the stuff adjusted inside it.
If your luggage increases, so do your problems, because you will be the one carry it after all.
3. Extra Supplies:
Walk up camping can be a tricky thing. You don’t know what you are going to get. You may get a spot instantly, or you may end up in a long line of people. So, whenever you are going out for a walk up camp, always pack extra food and water supply.
Water is available to you in regular camps, but in walk in sites, you may not get the same feature and you may have to survive on the water that you bring by yourself.
4. Battery-Powered Equipment:
Electronic types of equipment like heaters, fans, and lamps are very important if you are camping. Without them, your camping trip won’t be as much fun. But, in walk up campsites, you don’t know if you are going to get electric supply.
In this case, if your equipment is battery powered, you don’t have to be bothered about anything, and irrespective of what type of spot you get for camping, you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Places For Walk Up Camping
Now, you must be wondering where can you go for a walk up camping because most of the camps work on a reservation system. Well, you can always look for nearby grounds that are small and provides walk up camping. But other than that, you can also check:
- Ludington State Park, Michigan
- Arches National Park, Utah
- Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
- Walkup Lake Campground, Bitely, Michigan
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Final Words:
Always try to research the campgrounds online before deciding on the camp. There are websites of every campsite here in the US that you can look into.
From our experience, if you can wake up early, and go to the campsite, you will surely find a spot. Also, for a spontaneous camp, bring minimal stuff with you and we can say that walk up camping is a really good option for you.
Do share your adventurous camping stories and tell us about your views on walk up camping, through the comment section below.
To all our readers, Happy Camping everyone!
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