Ever wondered about the difference between car camping, backpacking, and tent camping? These terms are often used interchangeably, but they each offer a distinct outdoor experience.
In this blog post, I'll dive deeper into each type of camping, exploring the pros and cons, necessary gear, and ideal situations for each. So, whether you're a seasoned camper or just starting your outdoor adventures, join as we unpack the differences between these three popular camping styles.
What is Car Camping?
Car Camping, not to be confused with sleeping in your car, is when you are camping, but out of your car. Slightly confusing, I know, but the difference is significant, as car camping allows you many luxuries that the other forms of camping don’t. With car camping, you are typically driving to a campsite, parking your car, and setting up your tent right there, allowing you to still be outside and sleep under the stars, but with your car right there so you have access to anything that fits in your car. It provides you with more luxuries and easy access to amenities.
Car Camping is a great option for folks traveling to an area with goals of enjoying a weekend out in nature, maybe a hike or two, but no specific plans for checking off a goal or hiking to a remote location you saw on instagram. With car camping, you post-up at the campsite, and can travel anywhere you want for a day hike, swim, or whatever else you want to get into, and then come back to the home base you’ve set up for the few days that you’re there. Car Camping is the perfect way to get away for the weekend, giving yourself ample time to relax at the campsite, adventure in the area, and enjoy whatever amenities you want to stay comfortable and content. Car Camping is also great for longer trips, if you want to stay for a week or two, car camping allows you to set up that home base at your site, with the option to travel around in the car.
Car Camping is great any time of year, but it's best early spring or late fall, when the seasons are changing, the weather is a bit more unpredictable and you’re just itching to get outside! Car Camping allows you to experience those brisk fall mornings, with some added protections and contingencies just in case it starts to rain or drops below freezing. You can car camp just about anywhere these days, at regular campsites, at state or national parks, or my personal favorite, off the beaten path on forest service roads or public land where you can camp just about anywhere there’s space! Anyone can go car camping, from your mom, who claims the only way she’ll sleep outside is if she’s ‘glamping’, to even the most experienced hikers who are looking for a quick and easy weekend adventure.
What is the difference between Car Camping and Camping in your car??
Another common type of camping that is similar to car camping, is simply camping in your car! A slight distinction that makes a big difference- with car camping, you are packing the car to go camp, and so you still need a tent and other amenities. But with camping in your car, you are set up to sleep in the car, either by folding the seats down and putting in an air mattress, or maybe you have a truck-bed camper, or even a roof-top tent. Camping in your car is a fantastic alternative to car camping, because the packing list is pretty similar, the only difference being your sleep set up.
There are many comfortable ways to camp in your car, depending on what size car you have and how much gear you’re bringing with you. I find that camping in the car is a great option for when you want to get outside for the weekend but are unsure of the weather. Sleeping in the car allows you to stay warm and dry and best of all, you don’t have to put away a wet tent in the morning when packing up. With modern camping gear, you can also easily find a blow-up mattress that will conform to the size and shape of your car’s trunk. I drive a big SUV, so I love putting all the extra bags up front or in the roof box, folding down all my back seats, blowing up a queen sized air mattress, grabbing comfy blankets and pillows from home and stringing up some lights to make for a perfectly cozy night (technically) under the stars.
What is Backpacking?
Backpacking is vastly different from these other two types of camping- with backpacking, you are setting out on a goal of hiking a certain trail, a certain distance or in a certain region, either to reach some destination, reach a backcountry camp-spot, or to thru hike to another destination. You must carry everything you need on your back in your pack, and so you must be very conscious of the gear you choose to bring with you! Backpackers typically opt for lightweight, high performance gear, and won’t bring any extra amenities unless they are light, or they are up for a challenge.
With backpacking, you are often on the move, packing up your site each morning and setting up somewhere else each night. You will be subjected to any and all weather conditions, and you can only bring food that will fit in a bear canister, so being prepared is critical. Backpacking is an incredible way to go camping and hiking all at the same time, while also testing your abilities, stamina, packing routine and enjoyment of type 2 fun!
Differences in gear needed
Here are some sample gear lists that show the difference in gear needed for backpacking vs car camping vs camping in your car:
Backpacking:
Lightweight pack (65L+)
Lightweight tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad
Jetboil
Bear Canister with snacks and dehydrated food
One extra set of base layers
Headlamp
Water Filter
First-aid Kid
Satellite communication device
Camp Shoes
Extra outer layers
Car Camping:
2-6 person Tent
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Pillows
Camp Kitchen Set up
Large coolers + Food
Comfy clothes for around the campsite (you can bring multiple changes of clothes)
Flashlight, lantern, or headlamp
Hammock
Camping in the car:
Blow-up mattress, mattress pad, or sleeping pads
Sleeping bag or comfortable blanket and pillows
Lights for inside the car
Mesh Covers for the windows
Camp Kitchen Set-up + Food
Extra Amenities you want for around the campsite
Car Battery Jumper Pack
(Pro-Tip: bring a rechargeable fan in the car to add some extra ventilation. Trust me, in the summer, you won’t be comfortable without it.)
How to choose what is right for you?
Deciding between these three camping mediums is not too difficult of a decision, as it really just depends on your desired level of adventure and what goals you have for your trip. If you are experienced and want to level-up your adventure, or if you have a goal hike in mind to check off, then backpacking is likely the option you’ll want to go with. Be sure to recruit some other experienced friends, do a thorough check-through of your gear list and hit the trail for a long weekend of hoofing it with your pack and sleeping under the stars, hopefully cowboy style!
If you want a true camping experience but also want some luxuries to make a long weekend more practical, enjoyable and well, luxurious, then car camping it is! You can still check off big hikes on your trip, but with a lighter pack and you’ll return to the same campsite each night. This way, you can load up the car, bring everything you need, adventure all day and then come back to get cozy by the fire and enjoy a delicious camp meal. Car camping is less about checking off an objective, and more about spending quality time outdoors in a beautiful, preferably new, place.
When you’re car camping, you have the option of sleeping in a tent or in your car, so I usually like to prepare for both and make the call on the fly depending on the weather. Luckily, if you’ve prepared to tent camp, you’ll already be set up for car camping. So if a storm breaks out and you don’t want to chance waking up floating in your sleeping bag, then grab your sleep set up, fold down the seats, and hop in the car!
No matter if you’re trekking across high peaks to mountain top huts, or shacking up in your car on a nice comfy air mattress, all that matters is that you’re outdoors enjoying nature! Do it in whatever way makes you feel most comfortable and the more you do it, the more you’ll figure out how to adjust your set up to have exactly what you need and nothing more. The experience you build along the way is the best part, so get some friends to commit to that long backpacking trip, book a random campsite for the fall and the next time you’re bored at home on a weekend, look up a spot, grab some snacks, some blankets and some pillows, hop in the car and go sleep outside, for no reason at all.