What the night will be like in camp
A nice afternoon can still be a bad night. Check the overnight rain, the temperature while you sleep, the wind, and any fire rules before you pick a site.
Read the overnight forecast
Camp can feel fine at 4 p.m. and be a puddle, or freezing, by 2 a.m. Read the overnight forecast for the nights you will actually sleep there.
A dry night is simple. If showers are possible, put the rainfly on before dinner. Stake it out so it does not touch the tent wall. Do not set up in a low spot where water will pool.
If the night looks truly wet, pick a site where water can drain away. Use a groundsheet. Plan to cook under the tent door if you have to.
Wind turns a light shower into a leaking tent. At about 25 mph and above, stake out every rope on the tent. Use a lower tent if you have one.
Stay off ridges. Stay out from under dead branches. Cooking on a stove in that wind is difficult. Below 25 mph, a normal setup in the trees is fine.
How cold the night will be
An overnight temperature around 40°F to 65°F is an easy night in a normal sleeping bag. Below 25°F is a different kind of camp.
You need a bag rated for that cold, a sleeping pad that keeps you off the cold ground, and water bottles inside the tent so they do not freeze.
On a night that cold, pick a site with a shorter walk from the car than the one you would choose in July.
If the night stays above 75°F, you need airflow. Sleep on top of the bag. Think about whether bugs will push you back inside with the rainfly on.
The daytime high is what you wear while you walk around. The overnight low is what you sleep in. Pack for both. A lot of people pack for the afternoon and then lie awake all night.
Fire rules, then the site
A fire restriction means you should not build a campfire. It does not mean you should build a smaller one. If a ban is posted, confirm it with the campground or the local ranger office before you plan dinner around a fire. A camp stove is still allowed in most bans.
Check closures and storm warnings the same way, before you drive there.
Outside Plan looks at overnight rain, how cold or hot the night is, wind on the tent, and fire restrictions when they are posted. Choose the site after you read that. Do not choose it from a photo taken on a sunny afternoon.
More guides
- A forecast you can live with for a few days
- Reading the forecast before a hike
- A beach day that matches the tide
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