How can you find the right type of camping for you? Dreaming about fantastic adventures, but worry that camping could turn into a disaster? Have you listened to or read about camping from more experienced outdoor enthusiasts, but find the terms “dispersed”, “glamping”, “primitive”, and “walk-in” confusing? We’ve got answers here!
The key to an awesome camping adventure is to plan ahead and stop stressing about everything being perfect. After a few trips, you will gain confidence, and can be more spontaneous.
Camping isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you are a novice, camping with kids, or have a limited budget or gear, there are still plenty of options.
What’s Your Camping Type?
Everyone has their own idea of camping. For some, it is a wilderness experience far from civilization, sleeping on the ground and experiencing nature on their own. For others, it is modern conveniences and watching the sunrise with a latte in hand. Whatever gets you outside counts as an adventure.
It’s all about your comfort level. If you have never gone camping and are a little nervous, try setting up to practice in your backyard or renting a cabin at a local state park. You don’t want to try a 10-mile solo backpacking trip for your first adventure. The idea is to have fun so you will want to go again and build experience for more advanced outings.
This guide covers frontcountry, primitive, walk-in, dispersed, backcountry, and glamping. Don’t stress about finding the right type of camping. Many campers enjoy variety in their journeys. I have enjoyed all types. Has every trip turned out perfectly? Not at all, but I’ve made so many awesome memories, even from my mistakes.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog post is not intended to serve as expert advice. Please consult the resources listed for the most accurate information.
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may make a commission at no additional cost to you.
Learn the Terms to Find the Right Camping Type
Before we dive in, here are a few general terms to know:
Car Camping:
Drive your vehicle directly to a campsite and set up your gear. You can sleep in a tent or in the car itself. Offers greater convenience and a more relaxed trip. It’s a great way to try out new camping spots and bring more stuff!
Designated Campground:
Specific, managed developed camping areas that usually have amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, toilets, and sometimes showers, water, and electric hookups.
Check-in station:
Building at the campground entrance with an attendant or self-check-in board.
First-come, First-served:
Open campground sites available to the first person to check in.
Dump Station:
A place for RVs to dump toilet waste.
Site Number:
The number of a camping spot.
Electric Hook-ups:
An electric outlet on a post at a campsite. Check Amp requirements.
Potable Water:
Water you can drink, fill up from spigots.
Tent Pad:
Designated spot for a tent, may be filled with gravel. If there isn’t one at your site, obvious areas to set up on the ground will be easy to spot.
Amphitheater:
Where park rangers and others hold special programs for campers.
Food Storage Box:
A special metal box for storing food, which may be required in certain areas.
Camp Store:
On-site store selling camping items, ice, treats, firewood, etc.; if the park has one, it is usually open during peak season.
Primitive Camping:
Usually refers to camping without amenities, with no electricity or running water. This could mean backpacking, dispersed, or camping in a primitive campground.
Leave No Trace:
A set of principles designed to minimize environmental impact.
Let’s jump into more specific camping types.
Frontcountry Camping: Take it Easy
Frontcountry is a type of car camping that takes place in a developed campground. A reservation is usually needed, unless it is the off-season. Always check the park website to find details.
This type of camping offers more amenities. There will usually be a modern bathroom with showers. Sites will generally have a picnic table and fire ring, with a cement pad to park your vehicle.
The campground will likely be organized into several loops, with sites for tents and RVs. On a park’s website, there will usually be a camping tab with a map option. These places often have sites pretty close together. I like to look for a site that maybe has a neighbor only on one side, often at the end of a row that isn’t near an entrance or loop interchange (less traffic).
Many parks also have designated wheelchair accessible sites, paths, and restroom facilities. This information can also be found on their websites.
Pros:
- Good choice for beginners
- Great for those needing accessible sites
- Lots of amenities
- Greater comfort level – feels closer to “civilization”
Cons:
- Usually requires advance reservations – up to six months ahead for popular parks.
- Less privacy – sites may be close together with no trees or bushes in between.
- More noise and traffic
Best For:
Beginners, families with young children, and more experienced campers taking a break from rugged adventures.
Primitive Campground Camping: A little more adventure
Many established campgrounds have a more primitive non-electric area. Often (but not always), the sites are bigger and have trees or bushes between them. There will usually be vault toilets (basically outhouses), fire rings, and picnic tables. Reservation rules will still apply. Some parks allow primitive campers to use showers on the electric side, if there is one, and some do not.
Larger and more private, sometimes you run into a park that still has no barriers between sites. The electric sites will usually have a picture on the reservation portal, but the primitives do not, so you have to take your chances. Check for reviews that give more information.
Another plus is being able to bring more gear, since this is still car camping. This means greater comfort, sturdier cots, chairs, and cooking options. Also, less planning and more spontaneity, while still having campground convenience, could make this the right type of camping for you.
State forests are also a great primitive option, and one of my favorites. They usually keep half of their sites on a first-come, first-served basis, and the other half require reservations. I have run into many parks with beautiful campsites, lots of trees, and plenty of privacy. Some of my best memories have been spent sitting around the campfire, and later being lulled to sleep after a great day of hiking.
PROS:
Greater privacy, quieter, car camping comforts.
CONS:
No electric hookups, or modern bathrooms.
Best For:
Campers who want a more natural experience, while still feeling connected to the outside world.
Walk-in Camping: The Sweet Spot Between Easy and Quiet
Walk-in campsites are located within established campgrounds, but you can’t park directly at the site. Instead, you carry your gear a short distance from the parking area, usually anywhere from a few yards to a half mile.
That little bit of effort often pays off with fewer crowds and more privacy than drive-in sites, without the commitment of a full backpacking trip.
If you don’t mind taking more than one trip, you can bring in more gear. Often wheeled carts are allowed, and some parks even have a few available at the parking area.
That little bit of effort pays off with fewer crowds and more privacy than drive-in sites, without the commitment to a full backpacking trip.
PROS:
A quieter campsite with amenities like a fire pit and picnic table.
CONS:
A little more planning and efficient packing, since you can’t unload things directly from your car.
Best For:
Campers who want more seclusion with a bit of convenience.
Dispersed Camping: Enjoy the Land
Dispersed camping is camping outside designated campgrounds, requires no reservations, and is usually available on public lands, such as national forests or BLM (Bureau of Land Management). It’s a great way to get out and experience nature.
You can camp in your vehicle, RV (called “Boondocking”), or a tent.
Dispersed camp sites are usually located along secondary and forest roads, which may not be marked. Try to use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. Look for flat areas that already have a fire pit (usually a ring of stones). Be prepared, as many of these roads could be difficult to travel.
A great tool for dispersed camping is the Delorme Atlas series. These books are comprehensive state navigational guides. They show expanded areas down to the most remote forest roads. Find them here:
Another great resource is the Benchmark Road and Recreation Atlas books. Find them here:
Benchmark Road and Recreation Atlas
Protect these precious resources by practicing the Leave No Trace principles. Pack out all garbage and leave the site cleaner than you found it. Go at least 200 feet from water sources and campsites for personal hygiene, and bury all human waste
Pros:
Solitude, free or very low cost, scenic landscapes.
Cons: No amenities, like toilets, tables, or water.
Best for:
Experienced campers, van lifers, and those who need a little more challenge.
BLM:
Many states have public lands, but they are more common in the southwest. You can usually camp free for up to 14 days.
National Forests:
These lands also allow dispersed camping for up to 14 days in most areas.
National Forests Camping Information
Be sure to check the websites above for local warnings, such as road closures, restrictions, and fire bans.
Backcountry Camping: The Real Wilderness
Backcountry camping is what most people picture when they think of backpacking. You hike in, sometimes for miles, to camp far from roads, cell service, and civilization.
There’s nothing quite like watching the sun set in a place you can only reach on foot. The sense of accomplishment when you safely reach your campsite is hard to beat.
This type of trip requires skill and proper planning. You will want to do plenty of research beforehand. This post covers a few basics, but look for future posts specifically about this subject.
Permits and reservations are often required. Many areas have specific rules about where you can stay, how to store food, and how long you can camp.
The right gear is essential. You don’t want to be so overloaded that you can’t safely make it to your campsite, but leaving essential items behind could be dangerous. Learn all you can about where you will be going, and practice using gear ahead of time.
A great place to start is the NPS (National Park Service) Backcountry camping page
You don’t need to jump into a 20-mile hike your first time out. I have found lots of amazing places that were only a mile or two from the parking lot. Just like the other camping types we’ve talked about, there is plenty of choice in the backcountry.
PROS:
Solitude, unspoiled wilderness and nature.
CONS:
Can be physically demanding, requires more skills like navigation, weather and wildlife all matter more in the backcountry.
Best for:
Backpackers and experienced outdoor adventurers who are comfortable being fully self-reliant.
Glamping
Glamping – short for glamorous camping is all about enjoying the outdoors without sacrificing comfort. Accommodations include fun abodes like yurts, deluxe furnished tents or cabins with real beds and electricity. Some places even offer amenities like heating and air conditioning.
OK, so it’s not traditional camping. But it’s a way for the nature hesitant to give the outdoors a try, and sometimes you just need a little pampering.
Glamping can be pretty pricey, which is why it hasn’t been on my agenda. But a little Google research on sites like Booking.com will show you plenty of options.
This would probably be a great option for a group splitting the cost.
PROS:
Comfort and convenience in some pretty scenic places.
CONS:
Expensive camping option; less rugged experience.
Best For:
First-time campers, couples, families, and those who want to be outside in a comfortable setting.
Final Thoughts
There’s no single best way to camp. Whether you have hiked miles to sleep on the ground, or booked a yurt that offers gourmet meals and a coffee bar, you’re still enjoying what matters – being outside.
Try new camping styles, learn as you go, and discover why this is a beautiful world while you get some dirt under your boots and find the right type of camping for you.
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