Yes, you can camp solo! If I can do it, you can do it.

At 44, I finally worked up the courage to camp solo. As it turns out, it was exhilarating, so I kept doing it! Some of my most vivid memories come from my solo adventures.

On this page:

• Staying safe and comfortable
• Why solo?
• Where? Camp in organized camping? Or crown or state land?
• More tips

Staying safe and comfortable

Here’s everything I’ve learned about staying safe and comfortable while solo camping.

1. Safety first.
   • Have an exit plan, and a way to summon help.
   • Here’s a list of safety gear I bring.
   • Keep your campsite clean and tidy so you don’t attract wildlife and can leave quickly. Be bear safe.
   • Leave your itinerary with someone.
   • Hide a spare key on the outside of your vehicle. I keep my key on a lanyard around my neck.
   • Be conservative with your consumption (of alcohol or recreational drugs).
2. Be alert, and aware, but don’t be led by fear.
   • I choose to recognize what could be scary, acknowledge it, and then carry on.
   • I choose not to let fear steal my opportunities.
   • Set up camp before dark and explore your surroundings.
   • Statistically, I know I’m much safer in the woods than maybe anywhere else!
   • Trust your gut.
3. Have options instead of excuses.
   • Too cold and rainy? Tent flooding? Can you sleep in your car or in that picnic shelter?
   • Don’t feel like cooking that hot meal? That’s okay, because you packed so many snacks and treats and fruit.
   • Can’t get your ferro rod to spark? Bring a lighter. Lighter isn’t working? Well good thing you have a pack of matches in your glovebox.
4. Have fun!
   • Pack snacks you save for special occasions. I camp with a iceless cooler so I always have cold drinks! (A cold can of Diet Coke is my saviour!)
   • Document your adventure. Write a journal. Sketch. Blog. Take pictures. Record your thoughts. Believe me, you’ll cherish these in the future, whether you share them publicly or hold them just for yourself.
   • Have a new podcast downloaded, or an audio book. Bring a new book to read by the campfire, or fill your iPad with movies to curl up with in your tent. (I recommend ear buds with a transparency mode so you can be alert and also not bother other campers.)
   • Go for a hike, or a paddle, or bring your fishing gear!
   • I like to bring my binoculars and try to identify the birds from my campsite. The Merlin app lets you identify birds by their songs and works offline (if you download the ID packs before you go!).

Why solo?

Camping with friends, family, or your spouse can always be enjoyable. You get time with your thoughts, and a different sense of peace and freedom. And nothing will build your confidence like solo camping. I find my memories from solo camping and solo road tripping to be more vivid in my mind, maybe thanks to being just a bit more alive in those moments.

I didn’t solo camp until I was 44 years old. I was healing up from cancer treatment and after being dependent on others for a while, something in my soul just wanted to prove I could do it. Here’s my blog post recapping that first solo camping adventure!

Some people will bring a second lawnchair to sit by their fire, a second set of shoes to sit outside their tent, to create the illusion they aren’t solo. If that is what it takes for you to feel comfortable, do it! You do you!

Where? Camp in organized camping? Or crown or state land?

I have solo camped in the wilderness, and also in provincial and territorial parks. I prefer parks for a few reasons:

• there are people around (sometimes)
• there are amenities – outhouses, sometimes water, sometimes a shelter, and if you’re really fortunate, a comfort station with a hot shower!
• there are hikes and beaches and waterfalls
• there are garbage and recycling cans
• there are sometimes interpretive centres
• there are often sites and brochures and maps to learn more about the area.
• once there was an electrified bear fence around the campground to keep the bears out!

The first time I went solo camping, I slept in my SUV. I was in an area with grizzly bears and I wasn’t ready to use a tent. That’s okay! You are in charge of your own safety, meaning you get to define the risks.

Other tips?

There are little things I do to stay prepared for whatever comes my way:

• I don’t have stuff spread all over my campsite. I’m always cleaning, tidying, and consolidating.
• I back my truck into the campsite. If a grizzly comes, or other campers that I’m not comfortable with, I want to be able to get everything back in my vehicle as quickly as possible. If I’m sleeping in the back of my truck, I want the keys easily grabbable and that driver’s seat clear so if a grizzly is fogging up my window, I can jump into the driver’s seat and move on down the road.
• One morning I had an animal snorting and sniffing around my truck when I was camping by a river. Rather than panic, I just willingly chose not to look 🙈😃
• I spent an evening in a picnic shelter with another couple playing board games, while it was raining, because I chose not to be led by fear. Despite all the fear-mongering online, people are inherently good, especially camping people!
• Part of having options, is being adaptable. When I was on a solo camping trip, hours from a wifi signal, and the rain came one afternoon, I stretched out in the back of my SUV and watched a season of Schitt’s Creek I downloaded on my iPad before I left home.
• I like to go for a hike or a walk or swim so I’m tired and can sleep. You need to be able to shut your brain off and sleep when you hear the coyotes howling from your tent.

If you’re curious about the exact gear that made my solo trips easier, I’ve gathered it all on my resources page.

Do you have a question or a story to share about your solo camping adventures? Leave a comment below!