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Camping in the rain: 26 tips to make life easy


Is the weather forecast for your upcoming camping trip looking a little drizzly? Fear not, rainy camping isn’t a problem when you have insider tricks and tips to impress fellow campers with. 
Rain-on-green-tent (Shutterstock, Gennady Grechishkin)
1. Prep and check everything- make sure your unit (tent, caravan etc.) is waterproof. If you’re shopping for your first tent, having a covered porch area is really handy for storing wet items.

2. Stay grounded- pack an extra groundsheet if your tent camping for added protection, one for under your tent and one for the floor inside.

3. Let it air out- your camping unit needs sufficient ventilation to prevent any condensation. The smallest amount can lead to a damp tent and a cold night.
Green Wellies in puddle (Shutterstock, Humpback_Whale)

4. Keep it breezy- open your vents, it may seem like the opposite of what you should be doing on a rainy day but you need to keep the fresh air circulating.

5. Keep a check on the weather man- if it’s set to take a turn midway through your stay you’ll need to pack for varying conditions. There is nothing worse than being far from home and unprepared!

6. Wrap it up- Take plastic bags of all shapes and sizes to protect items from getting wet and to store wet shoes and clothes.
Setting-up-tent (Shutterstock, LightField Studios)

7. Stay dry when setting up- If you’re pitching a tent in the rain, you’ll be pretty miserable if the inside and your belongings get wet in the process. See if the rains set to clear, you may be able to hold off for half an hour until the downpour stops. If you find yourself having to pitch up in the rain, try and keep your belongings in a sheltered spot or in the car.

8. Dry quarantine your tent- don’t allow anything wet to make it into your living areas. 

9. Slide off shoes- make sure everyone in your group takes footwear that can easily be slipped on and off and left in your porch or awning. This prevents wet footprints in your living area.
Couple-in-Waterproof-Jackets (Shutterstock, gpointstudio)
10. Pack your waterproofs- a waterproof jacket and trousers are great when the weathers miserable. You’ll be able to go outside without getting your clothes wet. Waterproofs can also be used as an extra layer on cold nights if you want to pack light.

11. Pack plenty of spare socks- having cold, wet feet is the worst. Pack lots of extra pairs and make sure you keep a dry pair that you only wear inside the tent.  

12. Choose where you pitch your tent carefully- you want to stay away from large bodies of water, muddy puddles, ditches etc.
Rain-drops-on-bench-in-forest (Shutterstock, High Mountain)
13. Position the door of your tent to face the opposite direction to the wind. When you unzip your door, you’ll get less windswept rain inside!

14. Try and get a pitch near the toilets- you don’t want to be trekking to the facilities when it’s wet.

15. Stop and enjoy the view- Rain does wonderful things to the forest, get your camera ready.
Couple-walking-dog-in-rain (Shutterstock, Halfpoint)
16. Quick dry towels- google them, thank us later.

17. Pets- Taking furry companions along on your camping adventures can be tricky in wet weather; they don’t tend to be considerate about keeping the inside of your unit dry.

18. Make sure there’s plenty of tension on your tent so water doesn’t pool on your fly sheet.
Tent in the forest (Shutterstock, Pavel_Klimenko)
19. Don’t touch the sides of your tent- keep everything away from the walls, including sleeping bags or you’ll end up with a soggy tent.

20. Take extra blankets- use them to keep warm or to put under your sleeping mats as insulation.

21. Don’t pack your down sleeping bags- these are useless when wet, use synthetic alternatives in wet weather.
Wet-clothes pegs (Shutterstock, chaphot)
22. Don’t pack cotton clothes- they take a long time to dry, leaving you wet and cold for longer than synthetic alternatives.

23. Don’t cook inside your tent no matter how much rains coming down. Windshields can be bought to protect gas stoves. You can eat inside but please never cook inside. Read our fire safety guide here.

24. Watch out on forest trails- Rocks can be slippery, fords may form and rivers will flow with fast undercurrents. If the weathers really bad, a day on the campsite with a pack of cards and a good book may be a good call. You’ll find the top rainy day adventures and activities around our campsites here.
Family jumping in puddle (Shutterstock, Dasha Petrenko)
25. Rain isn’t the end of a journey- it can be the beginning of an adventure. Camping in the rain is a skill, learning how to stay dry and carry on as usual will make inexperienced campers envious. Look back on the times you were sat in a cold wet tent and share your rainy day wisdom with fellow campers.

26. Remember to dry any wet items- including your tent before you pack them away for the next trip. 
Feeling ready to conquer your camping trip no matter what the weather brings? View our 15 campsites to discover some of the top forest camping locations throughout the UK. 
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Sherwood Pines Campsite

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From: TBC per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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Glenmore Campsite, Aviemore

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From: £17.50 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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Cobleland Campsite, The Trossachs

5
From: £15.80 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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Cashel Campsite, Loch Lomond

5
From: £15.80 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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Postern Hill Campsite, Savernake Forest

5
From: £13.50 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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Matley Wood Campsite, New Forest

5
From: £11.20 per night (Two Adults) View Campsite
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