Car Camping Vs Backpacking The Ultimate Guide
Camping is a great way to spend time outdoors and is an activity that all can enjoy. But what many may not know is that there are two different types; car camping and backpacking. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but it is important to know the difference between them and which one is best for you when planning your trip. We will go over what each of these is and the pros and cons of each to help decide which one is best for you!
Car Camping:
Car camping is camping a short distance from your car and can even be in your car. For many parks, it is as easy as parking at a designated campsite and setting up camp.
Since you are driving into the campsite, you have the luxury of bringing a lot of gear and supplies on these trips because camp is just a short walk from your car. What is nice about having one base camp is that after setting up camp you do not have to worry about lugging your gear around daily. After camp is set up, you can drive to different trailheads and enjoy the hikes available in the park.
Car Camping Pros:
Let’s talk about some of the benefits of car camping. First off, like I mentioned you can bring anything that you can fit in your car, which can make camp life a bit more comfortable. Want to camp with a big tent, air mattress, grill, and fully stocked cooler then go for it, just make sure it fits in the car!
Another major benefit is that because you are not in a remote location within the park, you will often have access to drinking water, bathrooms, and showers. For those new to camping these comforts can make the experience more enjoyable.
Car camping is also a great way for families to get outside and hike because they do not require many miles of strenuous hiking. While you can go and do a day hike you can also spend time lounging around camp. These trips also do not require a significant amount of technical outdoorsman skills to do, making it great for people of all skill levels to enjoy.
Finally, one of the best parts of car camping is that you have the flexibility to do many different hikes throughout the park on a single trip. This is because you have access to either drive or take shuttles to the different trailheads within the park. In contrast, on backpacking trips you must hike everywhere you want to go, making it difficult to go to multiple areas of the park on a single trip.
Rundown of the Pros:
- More luxuries
- Amenities
- Flexibility with trail options
- Less strenuous
- Great for families
- Little technical outdoors skills needed
Cons of Car Camping:
Now time for the negatives. There is one major one, in particular, I have to mention and that is the crowds. Although you can hit many different hikes in the park, because they do not require hiking deep in the wilderness or permits to do, you are much more prone to encountering large crowds. For me, this can tend almost cheapen the experience, only because part of the beauty of hiking in nature is truly being in nature not in nature with a hoard of people!
Rundown of the Cons:
- Can get crowded
- Requires an automobile
Who Should Go Car Camping?
Car camping is a great way to get your feet wet with camping and hiking so I would especially recommend it to beginner hikers and campers. Car camping offers some basic luxuries without just throwing you out into nature and it also provides the opportunity to hone your wilderness and camping skills before taking on a more challenging backpacking trip. Also if there are several different day hikes interest you but are each located in remote areas of the park, car camping would be the best way to go.
Car camping is also an excellent way for families to come together and enjoy the great outdoors. Especially if there are younger children, this milder outdoor experience allows you to still be together and enjoy nature without many of the struggles that come along with doing a backpacking trip i.e. carrying a heavy pack, hiking long distances, pooping outside, etc.
Backpacking:
Backpacking is hiking through and camping in the park, as the name suggests you will be carrying everything in, you guessed it your backpack!
When on a backpacking trip you must be entirely self-sufficient, you are filtering your water, cooking meals, and setting up/breaking down camp on your own every day. During this hike, you are camping in remote locations within the park at designated backcountry campsites, which can sometimes consist of a lean-to shelter or will be just a region of wilderness where the park allows you to set up camp.
Planning for a backpacking trip involves a great deal of research and preparation, much of which can be found in our national park guides. Some things that come with planning a backpacking trip are making a hiking itinerary, apply and obtain permits, and ensure you have the appropriate gear (check out our backpacking gear blog for help). It is of utmost importance that you are thoroughly prepared anytime you are doing a backpacking trip. The reason for this is that once out in the backcountry you do not have all of the comforts of your daily life and must rely on your outdoor skills and gear in your pack to get you through your trip.
Backpacking Pros:
Backpacking through the wilderness will offer you not only breathtaking views but also can heal the soul.
Let’s start with the views. When you are backpacking through the wilderness you will come across mindboggling landscapes and vistas seeing nature in its most untouched form. Unlike a popular day hike in the front country, backpacking is much more physically demanding requiring you to carry a 20-40lb pack over many miles, with episodes of intense elevation gain and descent which deters many people from going to these locations withing a park. Both the seclusion and miles of difficult hiking that precedes these views make them feel earned and add to the accomplishment.
I would also venture to say that backpacking is chicken noodle soup for the soul. When you are on the trail you are away from many of the superficial distractions of everyday life, no cellphone, Instagram, or incessant emails. Your focus is to get from point A to B while appreciating the nature and beautiful views that surround you. Each time after coming back from one of these trips I feel revitalized and feel as though I am better able to live in the moment appreciating the luxuries I do have when returning home.
Rundown of the Pros:
- Incredible views
- Great for reconnecting with yourself and nature
- Good exercise
Backpacking Cons
Like I mentioned backpacking can be much more physically demanding than car camping and doing day hikes. Not to say that day hikes are easy, but the fact that you have to carry everything on your back does tend to make backpacking more difficult.
Aside from the physical aspect of backpacking, there are a set of skills that everyone needs to have before going on their first backpacking trip. Some of these basic skills include reading a map, setting up a tent, efficiently packing, and water filtration. Also, it is important to keep in mind that different hikes can demand different skill sets which you should be prepared for before getting out in the backcountry.
Backpacking can also come with a higher upfront cost, especially if it is your first time. The reason being is that there is a lot of equipment needed to be self-sufficient during your backpacking trip, and you tend to pay a premium for lightweight equipment which is a must-have when backpacking. For a complete list of must-have gear check out our backpacking gear blog!
The last negative I can say for backpacking is that backpacking through the wilderness for multiple days without any showers, toilets or running water will get you a little dirty. You will stink after your backpacking trip but I can guarantee the experience will be worth the stank!
Rundown of the Cons:
- Physically strenous
- Higher up front cost
- Extensive planning needed
- Zero modern comforts
- Technical outdoor skills required, check out outdoors for beginners for some tips!
Who Should Go Backpacking?
I think that everyone should go on at least one backpacking trip in their lives. But I would say that if you are completely new to hiking you should not go on your first backpacking trip alone. Go with a friend who has a few trips under their belt and can show you the ropes.
Also, it would be extremely beneficial to you if you were in decent physical shape before embarking on one of these multi-day backpacking trips. Know yourself and your limits if you are a couch potato whose never done a day hike before maybe don’t go on a backpacking trip right off the bat. Once you are in good shape and have the basic wilderness skills down I would strongly recommend you give a backpacking trip a shot. These trips will not only reward you with beautiful views but will also help you appreciate the little things when you return to your regular life.
Get Out and Hike!
Both car camping and backpacking are great ways to spend time in nature. I hope this article helped shed some light on the differences between the two and helped you decide the best one for you on your next trip. If you have any questions or a topic you want me to write on feel free to shoot me an email contact@wonderfarr.com or you can DM me on instagram @wonderfarr.
