One Season to the Next....: Car Camping

Hello all! I know this will be controversial for some. I read all kinds of thoughts on it. I have people in real life say I am crazy. I am thankful my mother is supportive, believe it or not! LOL! She is a camper though! She is also a solo adventurer on the most part like me. I guess I just got it honestly.

If you have been on my blog long enough... you know I like to explore. I also love adventure (to a degree 😏) and outdoors is my language!

I have always wanted to car camp! Yes, you are reading that right. Car Camp. I can't explain the desire I have or why but I do. Last year, it was on my 2025 bucket list to do but it was the ONE thing I did not do on my list. Time, money, and little fear got in the way.

(Image from Pinterest for inspiration)

It really is like "tent camping" or a very small TINY version of a basic camper "camping" if you think about it. 😉

I am planning my first car camping trip for one night once I feel better. I am still not feeling very good but one day hopefully. Researching and making plans has been a lifter of my spirit. :)

I am not sure when I will try it. It may be this spring or maybe in the fall. I will not do it in the summer. It is too hot for me to do that in my area. Who knows... it could be in a week or in five months.

(Image from Pinterest for inspiration)

A few questions I have had people ask me when I mention this is a dream of mine.

Do you really think you will like it? ~ I have no idea. I will not know until I try. I may hate it and I may love it.

Why???? ~ I get this one A LOT. So, my answer is that I want to be able to travel for hiking and to explore more areas unfortunately I cannot always afford hotels, cabins, or even air bnb's. I also love exploring outdoors and love to sit by a fire, look at stars, drink a hot cocoa and cook "camp" food. I love the thought of being out in nature and waking up to beautiful scenery. You can see and explore a lot more by camping.

Wait! A car! Why not a tent?? ~ Well, I have tent camped a few times as a young girl. I did like it a lot. But it has been ages and I feel I am building up that bravery a little at a time. I also RV camped last spring with my mom.

I started traveling and staying alone in remote areas about three years ago once or twice a year to get comfortable to being alone in the woods. I have stayed in tree houses, cabins, and my last adventure was a tiny home in the woods on a goat farm.

I want to eventually tent camp. BUT I feel like I would have more security car camping until I get comfortable learning how to set up camp by myself. Since, I have felt very comfortable traveling alone now I want to car camp, then tent camp and then backpack on a hike in the woods overnight. YES! I know I am insane. I will say I do not want to backpack camp alone. That is negative. I will take either our daughter or our youngest son as both of them have experience with backpacking and long overnight hiking trips. Hannah was an intern for Rocky Mountains National Park, and she has had to backpack for long periods in the backcountry for up to 10 days.

Why is your husband not going? ~ Because simply put, IT IS NOT HIS THING. LOL! He has no desire to sleep in a tent ever, camp in the woods during a hike, or nothing like this. He is the type of person that will only stay in a cabin or very luxurious rv type person. :) Nothing wrong with that at all. I am down for that too. I just want to experience of roughing it. LOL!

Are you not scared?? What if this or that? ~ Yes, I have fears. Yes, I will need to be smart, prepared and have a safety plan. Yes, I could ask myself all the what if's or that's and worry all the time. But what good does all that do? Any single time you leave your home there is a risk. :)

What are you most scared of when you think about doing this? ~

The first thing is animals. Yes, I know. I am scared of that the most. Mainly snakes or bears or even a poisonous spider or bug. You know the one you will never know slithering in your tent or getting in your car somehow. 😕😁

I am a little afraid of weirdos! Enough said.

I am also tad afraid of the aloneness, quiet and darkness I will experience.

So, with all that being said. I showed an image this past Monday's post of camping. I am pondering and researching car camping and tent camping. I am creating a plan to try it soon. I have full support from my family. I am looking forward to the day I get to have the experience. Who knows... I may go and freak out and drive right back home. That is why my first time will be at a local state park close to our home with 24/7 security and a park I am very familiar with because I hike and kayak there a lot.