Camping with friends

The next holiday is coming up and you want to go camping with your friends? Camping together in the wild or a road trip through stunning landscapes in a campervan - these are the kinds of experiences you want to share with the people you care about. That said, travelling together can come with its own set of challenges. Here are a few tips to make sure your group camping holiday stays memorable for all the right reasons.

Tips for your camping holiday with friends

1. Packing list

2. Daily rules

3. Experiences

Image from VanSite

Things you must not forget

In our article on "Packing list and tips for your outdoor holiday" you'll already find a comprehensive packing list if you and your friends are heading off camping with a tent. More tips on packing and camping accessories are in another article.

When camping with friends, there are also a few useful things you should not forget to pack. Starting with the right tent:

• Are you sharing a tent? It might be worth getting a tent that can be divided into separate sections. Depending on how long the trip is, everyone will want some privacy at some point. It also needs to be big enough. Or maybe the easiest solution is simply to bring two tents.

• Bring something for entertainment on long drives: even with your best friends, you can't chat 24/7. A good book or audiobook, a pillow for a nap, or simply a good playlist to sing along to. We have a road trip playlist that's guaranteed to put you in a good mood.

• On the subject of music: don't forget your headphones. Even among friends, you don't necessarily share the same taste in music. And for falling asleep, noise-cancelling headphones ideal too, in case your tent neighbour snores.

• For relaxed evenings when camping with friends, card games are a must: UNO, Skip-Bo or a Skat deck should definitely be in your bag. Or what about Viking chess or pétanque? Check out the camping games for more tips on the topic.

• A camping grill is a definite must when you head off camping with friends. Nothing beats long evenings at the campsite under the stars, cold drink in hand and good food on the grill. Our article has tips on choosing the right camping grill.

Image by VanSite

Daily rules when camping with friends

Even if you've been the best of friends forever, a trip in close quarters where you're together 24/7 always comes with challenges. Getting on each other's nerves or just wanting some space is completely normal. Here are a few tips to keep the friendship intact during a group camping holiday:

Travel budget: Set up a shared travel fund or use the Splitwise app so that shared costs like fuel, tolls, parking or pitch fees, and groceries can be split fairly.

Expectations: Sort out your respective expectations for the trip before you go. Should it be active or more relaxed? Do you do everything together, or is it fine to split up sometimes?

Compromise: If you ever disagree on expectations or day-to-day decisions, being willing to compromise is essential. That way everyone gets what they want at some point.

Task sharing: Who does the washing up? Who cooks? Who takes down the tent or makes up the bed in the motorhome? Divide up the tasks or rotate regularly so that everything that comes with camping is shared fairly.

Me-time: If you're travelling with friends for a week or longer, a bit of personal time now and then won't do any harm. You don't have to be on top of each other all day. Take a walk on your own or read a good book while your friend explores the area. It does you good and helps recharge for more time together.

Image by VanSite

Shared experiences

A holiday with friends is above all about one thing: collecting shared experiences and making memories together. Here are a few ideas for your camping holiday with friends:

• The journey is the destination. Make the road trip to the next campsite an adventure. Stop wherever takes your fancy, discover the area.

• Get active outdoors. Go hiking, cycling or for a walk to explore your destination. Learn to surf or stand-up paddle. Or take it easy with a joint yoga session.

• Enjoy everyday moments together, for example with cooking evenings that you turn into the highlight of the day. Here are more tips for evening entertainment.

• Discover the culture of your destination by strolling through small towns and villages, or going on a food tour through the nearby restaurants and cafés.

• Do something new that you've never done before.Be brave and make the camping trip something special. How about a skydive or bungee jumping? A climbing tour, whitewater rafting or quad tour?Ice bathing or scuba diving? Whatever comes to mind, give it a go.

Discovering the world with friends

The best experiences are often the ones you share with people you love. Nothing should stand in the way of camping with friends now. If you prefer making new friends along the way, our article on travel companions more tips. So, let's go:

Find a pitch.