Many people fail to see that camping in the rain can be just as much fun as going out on a beautiful bluebird day. All you need is to know how to camp in the rain effectively. When you come prepared with the right gear and the right know-how, you’ll start forgetting about the rain and looking forward to a camping trip regardless of the weather.
Here, we’re going to show you a few tips that will help make your rainy camping trip an enjoyable and memorable experience. Let’s get to it and rain on our own parade.
1. Choose the Correct Campsite Location
For starters, when you pull up to the site you’re going to sleep in, you need to pick wisely. In a rainstorm, a lot of campsites can turn into small streams or ponds rather than a nice surface to pitch a tent on. If you aren’t careful, you can get swept away at night.
Since we can all agree that no one wants to sleep in a puddle, we need to talk about how to find a spot that won’t become one.
Pay close attention to the ground that you’re about to pitch a tent on. Look for a spot that sits above the rest of the ground around you. This is often a small bit of raised dirt that can make a bigger difference than you expect. A lot of campgrounds have elevated tent platforms, which are perfect for camping in the rain.
The other thing you want to be aware of is your surrounding environment. Look for any hills that may bring more water your way and any trees that look like they aren’t in their prime. Rain loosens soil and can result in trees falling, so put your campsite away from trees or any that look like they’re already struggling.
2. Choose the Right Tent
No matter where you put your tent, it won’t do any good if you have the wrong one.
The most important part of choosing a tent for camping in the rain is to look for one that has a well-built rainfly that doesn’t touch the interior wall of the tent and provides sufficient ventilation. Also, ensure that your tent has a waterproof floor so rainwater doesn’t slowly make its way inside.
I also personally like to bring a tent that has more room than necessary when I know it’s going to rain. I’m likely to spend more time in my tent if it’s pouring down rain, so I like to be comfortable!
3. Pack Rain-resistant Gear
Rain gear is one of the best pieces of gear that has ever been invented. Well-made raincoats and rain pants will let you run around in the rain without ever getting wet underneath.
It’s a good idea to always pack rain gear just in case, even when the forecast says the sun is in your future. Bring along a rain jacket with space underneath for layers, rain pants, and a good set of waterproof boots so your feet can also stay dry.
4. Creating a Rain-free Space for Your Food and Clothes
To take care of yourself, you also need to take care of everything you bring along. Creating a safe space for all of your food and clothes is a great way to ensure that you can still enjoy camping in the rain.
Try bringing a tarp along and building a small kitchen area for your food. You’ll want to keep the food up off of the ground, so you can either bring a small table or build a small elevation platform with some logs from around you.
Your clothes should be fine inside the tent, so long as they’re in a waterproof bag. Even when they’re sitting out, the humidity can work its way inside and give you wet clothes that never really touched water.
5. Keep Your Gear Dry
Alongside your food and clothes, you need ways to keep everything else dry. This is where you’ll start to love waterproof bags, and even more simply, seals.
If you know that rain is coming, everything should be in a space where it can stay dry. If you’ve built a small shelter for your food, you can turn it into a storage space once your tent is full of your sleeping gear.
Try and keep your tent as a safe, dry haven. If you keep all of your gear inside, you’ll get things wet just by opening the tent door every time you want something.
6. Creating a Campfire in the Rain
Starting a fire with wet wood is one of the trickier parts of camping in the rain. If you’re car camping, bring along dry firewood and different methods of fire starters. Even a little bit of dry wood can save you and help dry out some wet wood enough to get a fire going.
Once you have a fire started with dry wood, you can lay the wet wood around it to dry it before throwing it on. This is easily done if you’re starting a fire under a high tarp or a tree that provides some shelter.
7. Staying Warm if You Get Wet
Getting wet can make you cold almost instantly, especially in the winter season. This can get to be dangerous over a longer period of time, which is why keeping yourself warm is so important.
One of the best ways to do this is to bring along a heater that you can power with a portable power station. The portable power station will hold enough energy to keep your heaters powered over time.
The only thing you need to do is ensure that everything stays dry. This is why I love creating a little safe space with tables and areas for you to sit in and a power station to live in.
Related: How To Keep Warm In Your Tent?
Related: 12 Winter Camping Success Tips
8. Light up Your Campsite
Now that your portable power station is set up, you can connect lights. The rain will inevitably bring about a darker atmosphere, which can be dangerous.
From your portable power station, string fairy lights up and around the campsite. You can create a whole ambiance that will also help you maneuver through the campsite without any trouble.
I love having a portable power station along with me while camping in the rain because it lets me stay warm and safe by powering lights that are stronger than any string lights powered by small battery packs. With a power supply source, you can truly light up the campsite and make it feel much cozier and welcoming.
9. Power Backup for Your Electrical Devices
Because the rain can make things slightly more hazardous, it’s even more important to keep your electronics fully charged in case of an emergency. Bringing a portable power station will ensure that your phone and other electronics stay fully charged in case you need them.
The portable power station will hold enough energy to act as a reliable backup for an entire camping trip. You don’t need to worry about your devices running out of juice and being stranded out there on your own.
Having reliable sources of energy is absolutely necessary for the final, and most important, tip for knowing how to camp in the rain.
10. Stay Safe
Above all, make sure you’re staying safe.
Always make your decisions with a clear and sound mind rather than allowing yourself to get stressed and panic. Do this by staying warm and dry. Plug in a heater while you charge your phone and take the time to breathe.
Once you’ve let yourself get warm, make your decision. The best way to stay safe while camping in the rain is to make sure everything stays dry, and then make sure you stay warm. You’ll be able to make sound judgments and then have a ton of fun, regardless of the weather!
