When the forecast calls for rain during your camping trip, it can be hard to know whether or not to cancel your camping trip. If you're prepared, though, a little rain can't stop you from having a good time! In this blog post, we will share 25 best camping tips for when its raining. From packing the right gear to finding shelter, we have you covered. Setting up a tent in the rain is not first on my priority list, but it can be done. So don't let a little precipitation keep you from enjoying nature! Pack your bags and get ready for some fun wet weather camping.
25 Best Camping Tips for when it's raining
So you've reserved your next family camping excursion and find out that it's going to rain. What should you do now? Should you call off the trip? Move it to a different date? Go and hope for the best? Don't worry; rain won't ruin your camping vacation. Camping in the rain can be loads of fun. I mean your with your family and friends so make the most out of a great time. Setting up camp in the rain is a little discouraging, but we're to help and give some great ideas and tips on making every rainy weather trip the best trip.
1 Bring Extra Tarps
Extra tarps are one of the most valuable things a camper can bring when expecting rain. Whether you're using it just to cover extra goods during the day or as an extra layer beneath your tent, make sure you have more than one backup. If it begins to rain, having a few extra waterproof tarps on hand to protect your equipment and sleeping quarters is always a good idea. One of the best tips for camping in the rain is having enough tarps with you. So go down to harbor freight and load up.
Also bring a few lengths of rope or para-cord to attach the tarp to or prevent it from blowing away in the wind. You'll be amazed how useful some extra rope or para-cord can be on a daily basis. This can help with camping in the rain, wet weather, or tying down your tent in the rain.
2 Put a Tarp Over Your Tent
Another good idea is to hang one of your extra tarps over your tent. One of the most important elements in ensuring that you have a nice time when it's raining camping is keeping water out of your shelter. Hanging a tarp over your shelter will go a long way toward preventing water from getting into your tent. Even if you don't have a tarp, using plastic sheeting or ponchos can work in a pinch. Keeping everything dry inside your tent is vital. When you camp in the rain taking some preventive measures is a must.
3 Pitch Your Tent on Higher Ground
One of the most important things to remember when camping is to pitch your tent on higher ground. When it rains, water will naturally flow downhill. By pitching your tent on higher ground, you decrease the chances of water seeping into your shelter and getting wet clothes or pillows or sleeping bags (no not the sleeping bag!!!) If possible, try to find a spot that's on a slight hill or ridge. This will help ensure that you stay dry throughout the night.
4 Bring Waterproof Clothing
When rain is expected, bringing clothes that can withstand some moisture is essential. Wet gear or a wet tent floor is never fun. Waterproof footwear is also more important than you may believe. It's natural to think that getting your feet wet won't be so terrible, but after trudging around all day in damp socks and shoes, you'll undoubtedly be sorry. If you don't want to spend money on waterproof gear, consider bringing some extra plastic bags to put your shoes in at night.
Another layer that is often forgotten is a rain hat. A good hat will keep the water out of your face and help you stay dry while you're hiking or working around camp.
Other waterproof clothing to consider include cheap ponchos, rain jackets, gaiters, and a brimmed hat. Whatever you decide to bring, make sure you have a strategy for keeping dry while out in the rain on a rainy day.
5 Bring a Bivy Sack
Rainy weather is a great time to bring out your Bivy sack. If you sleep on the ground, a bivy sack would be beneficial. Simply put your sleeping bag inside the bivy bag and you'll have a waterproof layer for it. If any water gets into your tent or condenses, your sleeping bag will remain dry. You may also sleep in the bivy sack with just a few blankets.
6 Bring Extra Clothes
Even if you take all possible measures to stay dry, you will eventually get damp. It's critical to change into dry clothing as soon as possible to keep warm and dry. You'll just start to feel chilly and dejected if you spend too much time in wet clothing. In the rain, having extra clothes available in a dry place is highly recommended.
Avoid getting your cotton clothes wet, especially if you have many of them. Cotton becomes ineffective as an insulator when it is damp. It will also take longer to dry out, especially if there is a lot of moisture in the air.
7 Choose the Right Campsite
When you arrive at your camping spot, one of the first things you must do is select a suitable location to set up your tent. While it's tempting to pitch your tent beside the lake, a better option is to seek for higher ground. Water flows downhill, so placing your tent on higher ground is preferable. Flat surfaces are more comfortable to sleep
The slope should not be too steep; simply enough so that the water may flow around your tent through the trench you dug. Hanging a tarp over your tent is also a smart idea. They provide an additional layer of protection and allow you to drape a rainfly over your shelter.
8 Create a Covered Gathering & Cooking Area
Following the pitching of the tent, you should immediately construct a "living room" rain-free zone. You may utilize your tent to accomplish this, but you'll most likely get drenched before sleep. To generate dry areas, use a pop-up canopy or two. It's critical to have a dry area to sit and unwind as well. My kids love to play game out here all day if its raining. This is the perfect spot for eating and playing board games.
The Coleman 12 footer is the best all around pop up canopy because you can fit a full 10foot long picnic table under it and not worry about half of your table getting wet.
Another option for making dry areas is to use some of the extra tarps, along with some para-cord, and hang it up to make a drying zone. Whatever you choose to do, having some dry locations while camping in the rain is critical.
9 Bring Hand Warmers
When camping in the rain, it's inevitable that your hands will become chilly. Cold hands make it difficult to cook, operate small instruments, or just enjoy oneself. Hand warmers are a fantastic way to keep your hands warm when it's raining. These tiny hand warmers may be kept in your pockets and quickly warmed up or kept inside your gloves
10 Pack Important Items in Ziploc Bags
When it's going to rain, it's a good idea to store important things in Ziploc bags. Putting an extra barrier of protection for the most essential things will assist you avoid running into any significant issues caused by the rain. Medicine, additional clothing, food that shouldn't get wet, and electronics are some excellent places to start. Those are just a few examples of what needs to go into a Ziploc bag.
11 Make Sure Your Tent Is Waterproof
When it comes to camping in the rain, one of the most critical things is having a waterproof tent. A lot of times, people will buy an inexpensive tent and assume that it's waterproof. That's not always the case
12 Change Clothes Before Bed
Every night, change into dry clothes before going to sleep. You don't want to go to bed in damp clothing. For me, socks are essential. It will be unpleasant all night when your feet are wet.
You also don't want to get your sleeping bag wet. It's really tough to get your sleeping bag dry once it's been soaked. If you've gotten damp during the day, we strongly advise changing into dry clothing before going to bed.
13 Keep Dry Wood Under Your Car
When it's expected to rain, keeping dry wood may be impossible. Place wood beneath your automobile as a fantastic way to keep it dry. Keeping firewood dry beneath your vehicle is an excellent method to ensure that you will be able to have a fire after the rain stops. If you have a small automobile, there might not enough space available underneath it. Also always have an extra tarp to throw over your firewood to keep it dry. There is nothing worse than having a wet soggy day and when the rain finally stops you have soaking wet wood and can't start a fire.
14 Air out your tent
When it's time to go, be sure to open up your tent and air out all the moisture. If it isn't aired out, moistness will build up within your tent and keep things damp. When it appears like the rain has stopped and the sun is coming out again, open up your windows and vents. Allow your tent to breathe for a little while. This will help dry out your tent and prepare it for the next time you go camping.
15 Don't Forget the Marshmallows
Just because it's raining, doesn't mean you can't have s'mores! If you build your fire in a safe spot, you can still enjoy this classic camping treat. hore
16 Starting a Fire in the Rain
The first thing to remember when attempting to start a fire after it has rained is that things might be more difficult than they appear. First, gather any remaining dry wood from our previous suggestion on how to keep wood dry. Make some kindling by burning the dried material.
The most important thing to remember is that it will take some time before your fire can be considered safe. In the meantime, you need something to burn if you don't want all of your wood soaking wet or burning too quickly. The easiest option is to use InstaFire, which will become your greatest buddy in getting somewhat damp wood going. It's an absolute life-saver and makes starting a fire in the rain much easier.
17 Hang Your Clothes to Dry
One of the most important things when camping is staying dry, which can be difficult if you're constantly getting wet. A great way to make sure that your clothes are always dry is to hang them up. You can buy a clothesline or make your own by tying rope between two trees.
Hanging up your wet clothes is an excellent way to dry them out. It's also a great way to keep your sleeping bag dry if you're worried about it getting wet
18 How to Keep a Fire Going in the Rain
Even though it may be tempting to cover your firer with a canopy, doing so is not a good idea. Your canopy will undoubtedly melt or catch fire. It shouldn't be difficult to keep the fire going as long as there isn't too much rain. Fires can keep burning in light rain with minimal effort.
If the weather is a little windy, consider establishing a windbreak to keep your fire from being blown out by a strong gust. A windbreak might be as simple as sitting on the correct side of the fire or as complicated as tarping between two trees.
19 Bring a Propane Camping Stove
If it's going to rain, bring a propane camping stove. You don't want to get to your campsite planning on cooking all of your meals over a fire and then discover that you can't start one because of rain.
There are a lot of different options out there. If you're looking for something more portable, the Camp Chef 2-burner stove is a fantastic option. Other camping stoves, such as the Coleman Classic Propane, are also excellent alternatives. Having a propane stove will ensure that you can still cook your meals regardless of what you choose to do about the fire.
20 Don't Forget Your Poncho
A poncho is an essential piece of gear for camping in the rain. It will keep you dry and comfortable while you're setting up your tent or cooking dinner. If you don't have a poncho, consider buying one before your next trip.
Bring a Rug for Your Tent Entry
Bring a rug or an old towel and lay it on the inside of your tent door. You'll want to soak up any water that may have gotten on your shoes as well as manage any mud you track in. Having this entry map is really simple and will keep the interior of your tent considerably cleaner and drier. If your tent has an awning, this is also a great place to store wet or muddy shoes.
21 Don't Forget Your Flashlight
Bring a flashlight or headlamp with you when camping in the rain. You never know when you might need it, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. A flashlight can come in handy if you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or if you need to find something in your tent.
If you have a headlamp, even better! You'll be able to keep your hands free while you're camping and still be able to see what you're doing.
22 Dry Your Wet Clothes
Even though it may be difficult to resist the urge to toss your wet clothing in a pile or bag, hanging up your damp apparel is advantageous in the long run. Soaked clothes will develop a musty odor. When you first set up your tent, hang some para-cord outside so you can easily dry your soaked clothing later. Even if it's not raining, you can still benefit from drying your clothes this way since they will last longer.
The simplest method to make a dry location for a clothesline is to utilize an extra tarp to produce a covered space. You can then hang your clothing beneath the tarp while they are drying. When the rain stops, you may even dry some of your items around the campfire. If you don't need your clothing right away, we recommend hanging them in a tree.
23 Invest in a Good Tent
A good quality tent is essential for camping in the rain. You don't want to be stuck in a leaky tent during a downpour. There are many different tents on the market, so do your research before you buy one. Consider how much space you need, what kind
24 Bring Games and Plan Indoor Activities
Bring games and other activities to do when it's raining. These might be as simple as a deck of cards or even more complex board games. Additionally, reading is an excellent method to pass the time. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have activities planned for both young children and toddlers in particular. As all parents know, younger kids can get restless when they're cooped up for too long.
25 Create a Covered Entrance to Your Tent
You'll want to make sure there's a dry space in front of your tent's entrance. A covered area will go a long way toward keeping the rain out of your tent. It will also provide you with a dry place to remove any damp clothing or muddy shoes/boots as well. This is an excellent method to keep your tent clean after a long day of hiking or playing in the rain.
One way to create a covered entrance is to use an extra tarp. Simply drape it over some rope or para-cord and you've got yourself a makeshift door. Another option is to buy a commercial product like the Rain-Mate Tent Awning.
Some tents include an awning, which will provide this dry area for them. If your tent has an awning, fantastic, but if it doesn't, you may still create this space in a few simple ways. You can either erect a pop-up canopy in front of the tent or drape a tarp over the tent and some rope or para-cord. Creating this covered space will go a long way in keeping the inside of your tent clean and dry.
You can also use this area to store any wet or muddy shoes/boots you may have. Doing so will prevent you from tracking water and mud into your sleeping area.
26 Have a Good Attitude (Bonus)
The greatest piece of advice we can offer you about camping in the rain is to have a positive attitude. Don't let the rain spoil your camping trip. It's actually quite enjoyable to camp in the rain. Take pleasure in the experience and the various aspects of nature. Simply sitting and listening to the sound of the rain can help you unwind.