Everyone knows someone who hates the idea of camping. Either that’s you yourself, or you’re trying to drag someone along who is extremely hesitant about camping.
The bugs, the dirt, the lack of Wi-Fi… we get it. I’ve been there—when I first took Papu camping, he was not an outdoorsy guy. His only experience was “camping” at music festivals, and the idea of sleeping in the actual woods with no place to shower sounded like a nightmare to him.
But after one real camping trip with friends at Big Pine Lakes, he was sold! (He’s still not into 7+ mile hikes, but he does love a good campfire, all the good food, and beer time under the stars.)
If you or someone in your crew is feeling the same kind of hesitation, this list is for you. It’s packed with fun, low-effort upgrades that make the whole experience way more enjoyable. Who knows, it might even be enough to turn a skeptic into a fan!
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Table of Contents
1. Get creative with your s’mores
Don’t stop at marshmallows and hard-to-melt Hershey’s Bars. Bring Nutella, sliced bananas, strawberries, peanut butter cups, or (our personal favorite) Oreos. The cookies and cream flavored Hershey’s Bar is also great!
Build your own dessert bar and let everyone go wild.
2. Camp inside your car
If you’ve got a mid-size SUV or back seats that lie flat, skip the tent altogether. Add a camping air mattress and mesh window screens to keep bugs out. Toss in a cozy blanket and string lights, and boom—your own mobile living room.
To keep things cool during the day, don’t forget a front window sunshade!
3. Bring backpacking meals for low-effort hot food
These just-add-hot-water meals are a total game-changer when you don’t want to deal with fire or cleanup. I’ve had them before and, honestly, they’re surprisingly delicious.
Sure, they’re not exactly “healthy” —they’re usually high-calorie, high-sodium—but they’re perfect after a strenuous afternoon hike when you’re too tired to cook. They’re also a great backup plan for rainy weather or lazy evenings when you just want something hot without the hassle.
Look on REI for the ones with the most positive reviews! They’re a really good indicator of which ones are the tastiest. Plus, the reviews are typically written by actual backpackers who have tasted a fair amount of the meals.
4. Pack outdoor-friendly games
Bring games that don’t require setup or strategic brainpower: think jumbo beer pong, Super Skills Outdoor Yard Game, Herd Mentality (I love this game for big groups!), or convo-starters like Do You Really Know Your Family?.
Honestly, some of these games will have you laughing WAY too loud, so I suggest you play them shortly after dinner (or during the day) to avoid getting late-night noise complaints!
5. Make it a trivia night
Skip the dusty Trivial Pursuit and opt for something more fun, like I Should Have Known That! (trivia about things you should know) or GENSMAK! (a multi-generational trivia game perfect for boomers, millennials, Gen Zs, and all the other gens out there).
You can make it even more fun by turning it into a team event, just like the pubs do.
6. Create a DIY camp cocktail bar
Just because you’re in the woods doesn’t mean you can’t have a happy hour setup. Pack one base alcohol (tequila or vodka works great), your favorite mixers, and reusable cups.
You can bring some canned margaritas with lime wedges and tajin-rimmed cups, vodka with sparkling yuzu and a sprig of mint, or go with a mix-and-match cocktail sampler set so everyone can choose something different to drink.
Don’t forget a small cutting board and a cocktail shaker if you’re feeling fancy. For extra cuteness, bring cocktail umbrellas or themed cups for some flair!
More fun cocktail mixer sets: Thoughtfully Cocktails Global Cocktail Set and Craftmix Skinny Cocktail Mixers
7. Make it a photo op
Document your memories in a fun and intentional way. Bring a Polaroid or Instax camera, and allow anyone to grab it when they want to capture a silly, scenic, or candid moment. You can even hang a string with clothespins to display your snapshots around camp.
You can even turn this into a photo challenge; whoever captures the best/funniest moment wins at the end of the camping trip!
It adds a touch of whimsy during your trip and makes for great keepsakes at the end of the journey.
8. Host an arts and crafts session
Channel your inner camp counselor and set up a casual craft station.
You can choose one craft per day. Dried flower ball ornaments, friendship bracelets, and scrapbooking with instant photos from an Instax camera are some easy activities that come to mind.
You can also bring beads and string to make campsite keychains, DIY patches to sew or glue onto tote bags, or even nature-themed coloring books and gel pens.
9. Host a story swap circle
Once the fire’s going, invite everyone to share a story—funniest travel fail, weirdest meal, best vacation moment, or a time they were so mad in the moment but laugh at now.
One thing we like to do is have everyone write down three questions each. You throw them all into a bowl and have people take turns drawing and answering them. They can be as serious or as off-the-wall as your group wants!
Alternatively, you can use conversation starter cards (like TableTopics) to get the group rolling.
10. Prep a no-cook lunch
You don’t always need someone sweating over a fire to eat well. Take a break by opting for simple, no-cook meals.
For a quick meal, you can go with already-prepped tuna or egg salad in a cooler, paired with crackers, hummus, veggies, and cut fruit. A few wedges of cheese and some salami go a long way too.
And if you want something warm and relatively low effort, here’s what we like to do: bring frozen dim sum from Costco—just steam it over a portable stove with a multi-tiered steamer. Minimal prep, maximum reward.
11. Turn the menu into a group effort
If you’re traveling with a big group, split up the meal duties! Have each couple, pair, or small group be responsible for one meal during the trip. It’s not just practical—it turns into a fun way for everyone to get creative and “host” for the group.
Some of the best camping meals I’ve had came from this setup! We’ve had chicken adobo, Filipino breakfast with ube waffles, foil-packed grilled salmon, dim sum, kimchi fried rice, and even DIY pho. Yes, creative meals are possible in the outdoors!
Rarely does anyone go the basic burger-and-dog route when they’ve got the spotlight for a meal. It’s low-pressure, high-reward, and way more exciting than eating the same thing every night.
12. Do a build-your-own sandwich night
Sometimes the best meals are the ones people make themselves. Bring fresh rolls from your local bakery (not the basic ones from the grocery store), deli meats, sliced cheeses, crunchy vegetables, and a variety of spread options like mayonnaise, mustard, pesto, and flavored hummus.
The magic of a good sandwich is in the spreads! We swear by the hummus guy from our local farmer’s market who sells garlic spinach, artichoke, and spicy sun-dried tomato blends… so good!
Lay everything out buffet-style and let everyone assemble their own dream creation.
13. Bring a projector for campfire movie night
If you’ve got a white sheet and a mini projector, you’ve basically got a campsite theater. Load a few downloaded movies onto a tablet or phone, plug in a speaker or connect via Bluetooth, and hang the sheet between trees or on your car.
Add in the snacks, hot cocoa, and blankets, and suddenly you’ve turned your fire pit area into the coziest open-air cinema!
14. Curate a campsite playlist and bring a speaker
Music sets the mood, so prep playlists ahead of time. Make a “chill campfire” mix for the evenings and a “morning coffee vibes” one for slow starts. A sing-along or road trip playlist is also great for daylight hours when you’re cooking or playing games.
Just remember to keep the volume respectful—save the rowdier stuff for earlier in the day when other campers are less likely to mind.
15. Invite more people
You probably know a few folks who don’t know each other—but you know they’d get along great. So invite them!
Camping naturally brings people closer, and there’s something about sharing meals, fire pits, and bug spray that fast-tracks friendships. Expanding the group makes the vibe more dynamic.
Plus, the more the merrier when it comes to s’mores and story swaps!
How to Make Camping More Comfortable (So You’ll Actually Enjoy It)
- Choose a campground with shower facilities. Not all campgrounds are created equal. If you’re new to camping or just want to feel human after a day outdoors, opt for a site that offers hot showers. State parks, national parks, and private campgrounds list amenities online—check before you book.
- Choose a site with real toilets and potable water. It sounds obvious, but a pit toilet vs. a flush toilet is a big comfort gap, as is access to clean water!
- Stay near town. Picking a site that’s 10-15 minutes from town means you’ll likely have cell signal and backup dinner options if a) you can’t tear yourself away from TikTok or b) you’re not in the mood to cook. It also helps if you forget something (bug spray, firewood, cold brew… it happens).
- Bring a real pillow. Forget those sad little travel pillows—bring your actual bed pillow from home. Your neck and your REM cycle will thank you.
- Invest in an ultra-thick sleeping pad or air mattress. Don’t just throw a sleeping bag on the ground and expect to stay asleep for 8+ hours. A good air mattress or sleeping pad makes all the difference in staying warm and getting real sleep.
- Pack camp slippers or slides. After a long hike or walk, you’ll want something comfy and easy to slip on and off around camp—OOFOS are my favorite, but cushy house slippers work great too.
- Make a designated “clean zone” by your tent. Lay down a yoga mat or old towel right outside your tent for taking off dirty shoes and keeping things cleaner inside.
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