There’s a particular romance to weekend camping, not the glossy, influencer kind with perfectly poured coffee and spotless boots, but the real thing. The slightly rushed Friday afternoon departure. The headlamp you forgot to test. The way time stretches once reception disappears. A good weekend camp isn’t about escaping life; it’s about editing it down to what matters.
I personally love weekend camping. It's a good short getaway from the urban rush into a quiet serenity that calms my mind.
Here are a few lessons that I've learn along the way that have helped me make these short excursions easier to plan and execute.
1. Pack Like an Editor, Not a Hoarder
Less is more; weekend camping will train one's restraint. Every item should earn its place. If it doesn’t serve warmth, food, light, or rest, it’s probably excess. Overpacking creates friction: it takes more setup, more mess, more to forget. Underpack wisely and you’ll move lighter, physically and mentally.
I tend to pack ultra-light despite having a truck. It's usually just my swag, cooking appliances, and 2 days' worth of clothing. The rule of thumb? If it solves two problems, bring it. If it solves none, leave it.
2. Choose the Campsite With Time in Mind
A weekend isn’t long. Don’t waste half of it driving. A campsite an hour or two away often offers more rest than a “perfect” spot four hours away. Convenience doesn’t cheapen the experience; it deepens it.
This is something I had to learn, especially when camping in the autumn and winter, when the sun sets earlier (I'm based in Australia). Taking a too-long drive to a so-called nice spot often meant missing the first sunset, and I had to set up a tent in the dark.
Hence, the best campsite is the one where you arrive before dark and wake up without an alarm.
3. Prep your Meal Beforehand
Camping food isn’t about complexity; it’s about contrast. Meals taste better outdoors because you slow down enough to notice them. Prep at home; marinate early and portion everything into proper meals for easy prep.
1-2 good hot meals (depending on how many nights you're staying over), easy breakfasts (eggs, easy-prep pancakes), snacks (lots of them), and don't forget marshmallows and hot chocolate. That way, you'll actually enjoy camping more than a dozen ambitious recipes you’ll never cook.
4. Bring Comfort Item—But keep it to a Minimum
While comfort is essential, you want to limit what you carry so packing up isn't a struggle. Bring a proper pillow, a nice mug, and a good camping chair that doesn’t punish your spine. One small luxury can transform the entire experience. More than one, and you start recreating home, which misses the point.
Comfort isn’t indulgence—it’s sustainability. Remember, less is more.
5. Let the Weather Be Part of the Story
Bad weather is a bummer, especially when you've planned a short excursion weeks. However, enjoy these moments. Rain, wind, cold mornings—these aren’t failures. Their texture. Some of the best camp memories happen when plans bend. A tarp rigged creatively. Coffee is brewed more slowly. Conversations that linger because there’s nowhere else to be.
If you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed. So the best advice I could give is be present.
6. Evenings Are the Main Event
Days are for movement and exploration, and evenings are for hanging with your friends or, if you're camping alone, for enjoying the serenity of Mother Nature. Phones stay in pockets, and you enjoy the crackling sound of the fire and the smell of good food, hot drinks, and good times.
While it's good to move around during the day, a short excursion shouldn't be tiring. Plan less for the day. Save your energy for the night.
7. Leave Before You’re Ready
This sounds counterintuitive, but it works. Ending a camp while you still want more keeps the experience intact. I often pack up the first thing in the morning, the day I'm heading home, drive to a nearby cafe for a nice breakfast, and reach home before noon. That way, you return home tired but still have time to unwind, which will help you regulate and reflect on the next trip.
A weekend camp shouldn’t exhaust you; it should echo.
Weekend camping isn’t about adventure in the grand sense. It’s about recalibration. Two nights are enough to remember how little you need, how well you sleep without noise, and how generous time feels when you stop chasing it.
Pack light. Drive less. Sit longer and enjoy the experience.
