13 Helpful Camping Tips for Beginners

Planning your first campervan trip? To ensure your camping holiday is stress-free and truly enjoyable, we've put together the best camping tips for beginners.

Camping offers ultimate freedom and pure joy. Especially in a campervan, you're incredibly flexible, able to drive off anytime and stop wherever you like. No wonder camping holidays are now at the top of many people's wish lists.

But for first-time campers, the big question is: "What do I need to think about?"

Just hitting the road in a campervan without any experience isn't the best idea. Here, preparation is key!

Whether it's your packing list, route, budget planning, or basic knowledge about the campervan itself – there are a few things you need to consider to ensure your trip runs smoothly.

As road trip and camping enthusiasts, we've teamed up with Simeon Baker to compile the most important camping tips for you. Ready?

By the way: At the end of this post, you'll find the most important tips summarized in a video.

The Best Camping Tips for Beginners

You're probably already excited and can't wait to start your camping trip, so let's dive right in.

1. Don't Overpack

We all do it: we always pack too much for vacation, even when we think we've packed too little. If you're planning a campervan trip, you absolutely need to think minimally and in layers.

Clothes for one week are perfectly sufficient; after that, you can wash them at the campsite.

Choose your clothes so that you can mix and match shirts and pants. You should definitely pack a wind and rain jacket. But beware: you don't need ten different jackets. One is perfectly adequate.

For the rest of your basic equipment, only bring what you truly need. Traveling as a couple? Then two chairs and one set of cutlery, glass, mug, and plate per person are plenty. Even just one set of bedding is enough.

Plastic camping boxes are super practical for storing everything neatly and conveniently in your campervan. Don't forget flip-flops either; you'll need them for showers and sanitary facilities.

2. Cook Simple Camping Meals

We all love good food, but on a camping trip, you should keep it as simple as possible.

Look for easy recipes like pasta, wraps, or grilled dishes. These recipes don't require much effort, leaving you more time for exciting activities instead of shopping and cooking.

If you genuinely enjoy cooking, you can certainly whip up something more elaborate occasionally. Otherwise, the simpler, the more relaxed your vacation will be.

3. Don't Forget Wet Wipes

A great camping tip for every beginner. These wipes are versatile and you'll definitely need them, especially when there's no running water available and you need to clean your dishes.

You can use wet wipes to pre-clean dishes until you reach a campsite or have access to running water. They're also very handy for cleaning tables or refreshing yourself. You can use them for almost anything.

Caution: Don't leave wipes lying around. Put your trash in the designated bin and leave your pitch as you found it.

4. Camping Tips: Don't Wash Dirty Dishes in the Sink

Are you traveling in your campervan with a river nearby? Then why not clean your dishes there? This way, you save water and avoid unpleasant odors from the greywater tank.

It's best to wipe off coarse dirt with wet wipes and then rinse thoroughly in the flowing river water.

When washing dishes in the river, DO NOT use dish soap. It harms the environment. Biodegradable dish soap might be acceptable, but we recommend washing without any soap at all.

5. Plan Your Trip According to Your Interests

Our next camping tip is: When planning a road trip, think carefully about what activities you'd like to do. Are you an avid hiker, is photography your passion, or do you love surfing?

No matter what passion you pursue, find the right destination and suitable pitches for it.

There's no point in ticking off one Instagram hotspot after another if you can't actually do what you're truly passionate about.

6. Wild Camping

What could be better than waking up in the middle of nature? But be careful! You should know that wild camping (free standing) is largely prohibited in Europe. However, it is generally allowed to stay overnight once, for one night, in a motorhome in public parking areas.

Before you embark on your journey, you should inform yourself about the rules for wild camping in the respective country.

In general, when wild camping, it is especially important that you do not harm agriculture, nature, or tourism. This means you must never leave trash behind. No plants should be destroyed, and wildlife should not be disturbed by loud noise.

No wastewater should be released into nature, and extreme caution is advised when making campfires.

You should leave your wild camping spot exactly as you found it.

7. Finding the Right Campsite

One of the most helpful camping tips: If you're traveling in Europe, be sure to download the Park4Night app to your smartphone. The app makes finding a campsite much easier.

It shows you exactly where camping options are nearby and what facilities the pitches offer.

A good way to find sustainable and regional businesses where camping is allowed is the SchauaufsLand app.

When you click on a listing from a sustainable business, you get all the necessary information: contact details, general information, pictures, visitor comments, and a rating.

8. Decide: Tent, Campervan, or Motorhome

If you don't own a motorhome or campervan, you should consider how you'd prefer to spend your camping trip.

Are you driving off in your own car and packing a tent? Or are you thinking about renting a campervan?

If you rent a campervan, you should carefully consider which one best suits your needs. Do you want to be completely self-sufficient with a toilet, shower, and kitchenette on board, or is a VW bus with sleeping facilities enough for you?

Pro tip for camping beginners: Definitely rent a campervan beforehand and test how it feels for you before buying one.

Before you set off, you should also thoroughly check your vehicle. Check the battery condition, your tires, the gas bottle, and the pump on the faucet.

9. Camping Tips: Avoid Long Daily Drives

Among the most important camping tips is never to let yourself get stressed. Also, avoid long journeys. Don't plan a drive that lasts longer than four hours. You want to see and enjoy things at your destination, don't you?

Especially on hot days, it's also advisable to switch drivers and plan breaks.

10. Don't Fully Fill the Fresh Water Tank

First-time travelers often think they need to fill their water tank to the brim. A big beginner's mistake! Only fill the fresh water tank to about a third, or half full at most.

The fuller you make your fresh water tank, the heavier your vehicle becomes. This changes the driving behavior, and fuel consumption also increases with more weight.

And don't worry: you can get water at all campsites or gas stations.

11. Packing Your Campervan Correctly

When packing your campervan, don't pack haphazardly. Heavy items should always go at the bottom, and lighter items at the top. The lower the center of gravity of your campervan, the more stable it will be while driving.

Also, avoid transporting heavy items on the shelf above the driver's cabin. Store items you often need so you can find them quickly and easily. Warning triangle, reflective vest, and jack should also be easily accessible. It's best to place them in the driver's door.

Make sure your load is properly secured and that rattling dishes or opening/closing drawers don't annoy you. Look for a clever storage system for dishes and other items. A non-slip mat in the drawer can ensure everything stays in place.

Don't leave items on open shelves, and in the rear, use tie-down straps to secure tables, chairs, and boxes.

12. Camping Tips: Trash and Wastewater

Important camping tips for all beginners. Leave the spot as you found it. Don't leave any trash; dispose of it in the designated bins. Showers and toilets should also be left clean.

You shouldn't wait too long to dispose of wastewater. Otherwise, it can start to smell. Dispose of the water as often as possible, at the latest before continuing your journey.

The same rule applies to the onboard toilet. Not only will you have a better smell in the vehicle, but your neighbors will also be grateful.

13. Be Considerate of Others

At the campsite, newcomers especially can encounter some pitfalls.

Camping Tip: If you want to guarantee you'll annoy your neighbors, then you should skip friendly greetings. You should disregard pitch boundaries, let your dog pee on strangers' awning poles, and play loud music in your tent late at night.

However, if you want to make good connections, you should practice small talk, be polite, and offer a helping hand to others. This way, you might even get some tips from experienced campers. Simeon Baker explains the most important camping tips again in this video:

Conclusion: Camping Tips for Beginners

Camping trips can seem complex for many beginners, and at the start, many face various challenges. To avoid typical beginner mistakes and ensure a pleasant and stress-free introduction to campervan life, you should definitely follow our camping tips mentioned above.

We wish you a great start and a wonderful vacation!