Did you fail to plan anything for the family this coming Fourth of July? Are your children bugging you to go out and do something during the holiday?
It’s too late to book hotels in major cities such as New York City where Macy’s 4th of July fireworks display is a highly anticipated event. It’s not really a good idea to go there and squeeze through the crowd if you have young children in tow.
A good holiday escapade would be to go camping. However, it’s also a bit too late to get the popular camping spots at this time. Fear not. There are ways to still enjoy the outdoors this coming Fourth of July as long as you follow these tips.
Finding a Place for Your Fourth of July Camping Adventure
Make some calls
If you really want to experience camping at the popular spots, it doesn’t hurt to check them out first. Make some calls to see if there are vacant spots or last-minute cancellations. Just don’t get your hopes up. Be grateful if you find a camping spot but don’t make a fuss if you don’t.
Forget about the popular camping spots
As mentioned, the popular spots will likely be taken already. In fact, many RV parks have been reserved as early as a year ago while campgrounds are also likely taken since they opened up reservations in March.
Your best bet is to find a spot in national forests. Check the nearest national forest out but be ready to go further with your search as there’s still a chance there are tons of you searching for a last-minute camping spot. If you want better chances, look for a spot in not-so-popular national forests, too.
You can also go to campgrounds that don’t require reservations. There are first come-first served campsites. Some national forests also offer FCFS sites.
Go where few can go
Camping grounds could get crowded during the Fourth of July. If you prefer not to have nosy neighbors, you can look for a spot reachable only by high-clearance vehicles. You’re lucky if you drive a 4×4 truck. This means you can go typically anywhere, including remote campsites.
Bring the Right Camping Gear
All your effort looking for a place to camp will be for naught if you fail to bring the proper gear. If you’re driving an RV, you’re likely all set considering you can pack a lot of stuff in your vehicle. Still, you need to double-check if you have everything you’ll need for the perfect Fourth of July camping trip.
A good night’s sleep
First off, you need a place to sleep in. You don’t get the complete camping experience if you sleep in your RV or in a cabin. A good tent will do the job. Make sure your tent has ample space to allow everyone to move freely.
Don’t forget your sleeping bags, blankets, and travel pillows.
Winner winner chicken dinner
You’ll surely be a winner if you can cook something fabulous for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Stay away from canned goods or pre-cooked food. They’re great if you want to “rough it out” but you and your family would likely want to have a nice feast to celebrate the Fourth of July such as some large slabs of steak or juicy burgers.
Bring the proper cooking equipment such as a portable stove, fire starters, pots and pans, and the like. A Fourth of July celebration wouldn’t be complete without grilling some meat and corn. Check the rules and safety precautions regarding the use of fire first.
What to do?
Your Fourth of July adventure shouldn’t be all about cooking, grilling, and sleeping in your tent. Think of different activities to keep the family interested and make them forget about their smartphones and tablets.
If you’re camping near a body of water, bring fishing gear and teach your kids to catch fish.
Hiking is another popular outdoor activity. You get to do some exercise while taking in the beauty of your natural surroundings. You need the proper attire for this activity. Bring hiking boots apt for different terrain, and hats and sunglasses to protect you from the sun.
Whatever activity you think of, you have to be prepared. See if you need to bring your own bait if you’re fishing. Pack the necessary survival gear for your hike. Bring the right bag, water, energy bars, a first aid kit, and a survival or emergency kit with everything you’ll need in case something goes wrong.
A good survival kit should include fire starters, water purification tablets, Mylar blankets, paracord, multitool, and a folding knife among other things.
One of the classic camping activities after the sun sets is gathering around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and telling stories. While this is a great bonding activity for the family, you still should respect other campers by keeping your voices down.
Follow Camp Rules
The best Fourth of July camping trip you’ll ever have is the one where you don’t get into a fight with fellow campers or with those running the camping grounds. Know and obey all the rules, written and unwritten, to avoid any issues.
With regards to the latter, you should always practice camping etiquette. Perhaps the most important of these unwritten set of rules is to respect another camper’s space. Never ever walk through another campsite. You have to go around your neighbors. Also, don’t make too much noise. Everyone deserves a little quiet in their lives and many people go camping just to attain that. Perhaps that’s the main reason why many people prefer to go camping instead of celebrating the Fourth of July among a huge crowd.
You must also remember that camping is not for everyone. If you want to introduce this outdoor activity to your children, you have to make it fun for them. You also need to consider their safety. Walk your family through everything they need to know while out among nature. Start off with some camping safety tips then tell them about all the fun stuff you have planned for the holiday.
Just a disclaimer – We have partnered with these companies because we use their products and/or proudly trust and endorse them – so we do receive a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for services. Often, we are able to negotiate special discounts and/or bonuses, which we will pass on to you via our links. We often get short notice on sale items available for 24-48 hours as we will pass these savings onto you.