Tent Glamping Tips

If you love camping in a tent but wish it was a little more upscale, here are some easy-to-implement tent glamping tips!

If you love camping, but wish it was less “down to earth” and more upscale, or you simply want to increase your comfort level, here are some of our favorite tent glamping tips.

Upgrade Your Campsite Ambience

Most of the following tent glamping tips are relatively inexpensive (or even require no additional cost) and allow you to make your experience more enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing (ahem... prettier).

Add lights

These can be practical, not just for fun. We find them helpful for stringing along guy lines or anything else that might be a tripping hazard.

Camp lights also make it easier to find your way back to camp after a late-night trip to the restroom.

Light options we like include:

• We especially like these Biolite mini lanterns and this AlpenGlow lantern
• We like these camping string lights, which also work great for backpacking
• Another great option is a space-saving camping pop-up lantern
• You could even use inexpensive outdoor string lights

If possible, choose a prime camping spot

Check out the campground map before selecting your spot, and if there are options (there aren’t always), try to choose a roomy spot without many neighbors.

I also (generally) try to avoid tent camping right next to a restroom. Inevitably you’ll be awakened by people walking (or worse, driving) past your campsite with flashlights, headlamps, or car headlights that illuminate your camping area at night.

Consider booking walk-out campsites when available. These are often nice and quiet, and generally more spread out than traditional car camping spots.

Before booking one of these, look into how far you'll have to carry all your gear (after all, they are called "walk-out" sites) and decide if it's worth it to you.

Some of our all-time favorite car camping spots have been walk-out spots. We especially loved the walk-out spots at this Colorado park and this New York park.

Add fun colors to your campfire

This one is truly just for the looks, but we really enjoyed these campfire color packets! Typically these packets are made with various types of metal and should be safe, but I always wait until everyone is done with food (s'mores included) before adding these packets.

The colors last for quite a while and make for an extra-pretty focal point while your group is relaxing together in the evening.

Gear Changes for Increased Comfort

First we should emphasize that camping does not have to be expensive and that inexpensive gear can often work quite well. That said, if you camp often, a few well-chosen gear upgrades can make your experience more enjoyable.

Rather than upgrading every item below, our recommendation is to consider what upgrades you’d value the most for your situation and choose accordingly.

The following is simply a list of items we’ve upgraded over the years. This list is specifically for car camping, as most of these gear choices won’t translate well to backpacking.

Consider getting a taller, larger tent

A tall, roomy tent allows you to stand up without hunching over, and also can allow for more airflow. Both things can immediately make camping feel a bit more comfortable.

When camping in hot weather, we attach portable fans to the top and side of our tent to help with circulation.

Our current preference is this Nemo Aurora tent. We like that, despite its height, it does well when it's windy out. We also like its full-length rain cover; it's proven effective in damp conditions.

Upgrade your air mattress or sleeping pad

When our last air mattress began to leak, we decided to test out more comfortable camp mattress options.

Some prefer large, bed-height air mattresses. Friends of ours use one and add a foam topper.

Before upgrading an air mattress, though, consider what climate you’ll be camping in. If you often camp in chilly conditions, an air mattress may make the cold ground feel colder. For cold weather camping, a sleeping pad with a high R-value rating is likely a better choice.

So far our favorite camp sleeping pad (good for a variety of temperatures) is the Exped MegaMat Duo (buy it at REI or at buy it at Exped). While it’s admittedly a splurge, it has dramatically improved my quality of sleep while car camping. It even comes in a Queen size option, so you can truly have a luxurious camp bedding experience.

Don’t forget your tent entryway

Here are a few easy, budget-friendly ways to upgrade your tent entryway.

• Add an outside doormat. We use a tarp, but you could also use an actual doormat. This is a nice way to keep outside dirt from entering your tent.

• Use a doormat (or old towel) as an entry mat inside the tent. Again, this helps keep the tent clean.

• If your tent has a vestibule area, use it for your shoes! This keeps the inside of the tent cleaner, although you should definitely inspect your shoes in the morning to make sure they're still empty before putting them on.

• We prop our vestibule up with these tarp poles to create an awning that protects the entry way from sun, rain and falling leaves or pine needles.

These little changes make a huge difference in keeping the inside of your tent clean.

Bring Comfortable Ways to Relax Outside the Tent

If you plan on relaxing around camp outside of your tent, make sure you’re able to do so in comfort!

Here are some of our favorite items to bring along:

• Comfortable camp chairs. We love Kelty chairs. I prefer the low-down version and my taller husband likes their standard height chair. My favorite thing (besides how cozy it is to sit in) is the massive divided cup holder that can hold both a Nalgene bottle and my phone.

• A hammock. If your camp area has trees and allows hammocks, a hammock is a fabulous way to relax!

• When needed, bring your own shower. Being able to shower can make a huge difference in how much you enjoy your camping experience. Not all campgrounds include showers, and sometimes that’s fine. However, in especially hot or sandy conditions, a shower can reset your mood.
  
  We like this tent shower shelter and this portable shower. (The setup isn’t perfect because you will have to duck down to use it, but it’s still a nice option!)

Improve the Experience

• Upgrade your meal experience with some campfire recipes

• If you’re a coffee lover, figure out your favorite camping coffee setup

• Go with friends who already camp regularly. They’ll likely have tips and habits they’ve developed that you can use in the future.

• Check the weather forecast before you leave, and prepare accordingly. I like to plan for weather a little colder and a little warmer than forecasted, and also plan for camping in the rain.

Being physically comfortable, despite unpredictable weather, can go a long way towards making your experience enjoyable. If you come up with any other tent glamping tips for campers on a budget, let us know in the comments!