What is Solo Camping?

Solo camping is when you do any type of camping by yourself. Depending how you choose to solo camp – backpacking or car camping, for example – you may still encounter other campers. But despite the relative company, or lack thereof, you must be completely self-reliant. And therein lies the challenge and fun. There are many ways to enjoy solo camping, including:

• Backpacking
• Car camping
• Dispersed camping
• At a developed campsite
• At a primitive campsite

Because you are alone, the risk for injury or encountering issues is significantly higher. This means extra preparation and planning is key to ensuring your safety, and a good time. Things like more diligent research, double and triple checking your gear, and notifying someone of your plans, which are all covered below.

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Why Try Solo Camping?

• The challenge: Learning to be more resourceful has benefits beyond just survival in nature. And solo camping is a great way to face fears and become more resourceful, more resilient.
• Unique opportunities: Backpacking can (often, but not always) provide more opportunities for solitude, wildlife viewing, and awe-inspiring landscapes
• Inspiration and goal setting: Any number of activities can be a major accomplishment and challenge for someone, and going on a solo camping trip is another such activity that can really inspire you to change your attitude, relationships, and life.
• Connection: No better way to connect with your more primal self than being alone in nature.
• You only live once: They say you should try something at least once. Of all the things to try, solo camping is top of the list. Embrace the dirtiness, the work involved, the sounds of nature, and all the things that make solo camping a truly unique experience.

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Who Should Solo Camp?

• Anyone seeking more solitude or depth when camping
• Anyone seeking a good, healthy challenge
• When you want to connect with yourself and nature
• Anyone at all who enjoys camping

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Where You Can Solo Camp

Where Solo Camping is allowed

National Parks

• Some of the crown jewels for camping are in our National Parks, and experiencing them solo is a humbling and unique experience.
• All camping on National Parks will require a reservation and fee.

National Forests And Grasslands

• With one of the largest networks of both trails and public access roads in the country, National Forests are ideal for solo camping trips.
• Depending on where you camp there might be different requirements, with some destinations (like campgrounds) requiring a reservation and fee, while others do not.

Wilderness Areas

• For the ultimate sense of solitude and resourcefulness, Wilderness areas are for foot travel only and can be a true reprieve for solo campers looking to detach from modern society.
• All overnight trips in Wilderness Areas require a permit. Because Wilderness can be managed by any of the public land agencies (NPS, USFS, BLM, USFWS), you will need to follow their specific permitting process. Some are free, and some require a fee. Depending on your destination there might be a quota or limit on how may permits are available.

BLM Land

• With an abundance of road access and trail systems, there is no shortage of solo camping in BLM lands, often leading to some of the most epic landscapes.
• Depending on where you solo camp there might be different requirements, with some destinations (like campgrounds) requiring a reservation and fee, while others do not.

National Wildlife Refuges (USFWS)

• Access roads and trail networks can bring you to some of the more remote areas in National Wild Refuges which are great places to go solo camping.
• Depending on where you solo camp there might be different requirements, with some destinations (like campgrounds) requiring a reservation and fee, while others do not.

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Where You Camp While Solo Camping

Dispersed camping

Also known as backcountry camping or wild camping, this is camping on any public land without any developed campgrounds, facilities, or amenities. You establish your own campsite, or find one already established by previous campers. Depending on where you go, dispersed camping may not be allowed like in certain National Parks. This is one of the more risky but rewarding ways to go solo camping.

Primitive Campgrounds

A designated camping area with little to no amenities or facilities, usually just a place to set up your tent. You may get lucky with a fire ring, but these campgrounds are mainly to provide safe areas for people to camp in more remote places and to help protect the landscape and wildlife by preventing excessive dispersed camping. Many solo camping trips have destinations to primitive campgrounds down forest service or access roads, or through a trail.

Developed Campgrounds

A designated camping area with basic amenities and facilities usually including fire rings, vault toilets (no water or flushing), tent platforms, potable water spigots, firewood for sale, and picnic tables. Oftentimes a campground host will be present to answer questions and collect fees. Amenities and facilities will vary depending on the campground. Many solo camping trips are best had at developed campgrounds as you get all the amenities and comforts, while still getting some “alone” time.

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basic Solo camping Gear Checklist

Solo Backpacking essentials (not a comprehensive list):

Solo car camping essentials (not a comprehensive list):

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Skills & Safety For Solo Camping

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Stewardship & Etiquette For Solo Camping

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What To Expect When Solo Camping

Camping is not always as glamorous as instagram makes it out to be. And it shouldn’t be. A couple of key things to understand when you’re camping:

• It always requires some hard work.
• There will be bugs.
• There will be bad weather.
• There will be spooky sounds.
• You will get dirty and smell.
• You will forget something.
• Your feet, back, and shoulders may be sore.
• It can feel a little scary at first.
• Weather exposure and falling tree branches are way more of a threat than animal encounters.
• You will have a lot of fun.

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How to Plan a Solo Camping Trip

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Solo Camping tips for Beginners

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Resources

Glossary

Click to expand

• Car camping – Driving up to a camping area and packing your gear in a car. This can be at a designated campground, primitive campground, or on your own as “dispersed camping” (see below). Ultimately, anywhere you camp with your car is “car camping.”
• Developed campgrounds – A designated campground with basic amenities and facilities including fire rings, vault toilets, tent platforms, potable water spigots, firewood for sale, and picnic tables. Oftentimes a campground host will be present to answer questions and collect fees. Amenities and facilities will vary depending on the campground. Many times these campgrounds will have electric sites and hookups for RV’s and trailers.
• Primitive campgrounds – A designated camping area with little to no amenities or facilities, usually just a place to set up your tent. You may get lucky with a fire ring, but these campgrounds are mainly to provide safe areas for people to camp in less accessible areas, and to help protect the landscape by preventing excessive dispersed camping.
• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM): The BLM oversees the largest portion of public land with about 250 million access. BLM lands are very accessible, and typically have fewer restrictions than you’d find on other public lands, which attracts a large variety of adventure seekers and campers. This includes (but is not limited) to places like Wilderness Areas and National Conservation Lands.
• The U.S. Forest Service: The USFS manages almost 200 million acres of land and provides some of the best places to camp among majestic forests, mountains, and a great way to escape the crowds. This includes (but is not limited) to places like National Forests and National Grasslands.
• The National Park Service: The NPS manages 85 million acres and over 425+ units, including some of the most scenic parts of the country like Olympic National Park and Zion National Park, as well as National Monuments and other gems. Everything from designated camping, backpacking, and car camping can be had in public lands managed by the National Park Service. This includes (but is not limited) to places like National Parks, National Rivers, and Wilderness Areas.
• Wilderness Areas: Each agency manages Federal Wilderness Areas with over 111 million acres and 806+ units, Wilderness Areas are the highest level of protection and designation public land can receive. Only accessible by foot traffic (no cars, bikes, or pets) it certainly offers the chance to see some of the most remote and pristine wilderness in the country, and is excellent for wildlife and natural ecosystems. However, the subject of management and the notion of “untouched” wilderness has received some criticism over the years as potentially not the healthiest way to manage wild lands.
• The US Fish and Wildlife Service: The US Fish and Wildlife Service manages 95 million acres on land, and over 755 million acres on water across all 50 US States, which is mostly composed of units called National Wildlife Refuges. The agency’s main goal is to protect and restore wildlife species and ecosystems. Everything from developed campgrounds, backpacking, and car camping can be found in National Wildlife Refuge Units and Wilderness Areas managed by the USFWS.