Tent Camping Tips and Advice

1	The early bird gets the best campsite. Arrive as early as possible, walk or drive around to check out all the options, find your perfect campsite (the one with the least compromises) and get things set up. Ideally, you can have dinner, clean up and relax before dark. Places to Avoid: Narrow canyons, which pose a risk of flash floods Open fields, where a lone tent can attract lightning Clay soils, which drain poorly and get messy in rain Cliffs and ledges, which can’t be seen at night Stagnant water, which is often home to biting insects
2	Pack items that have multiple uses. A light poncho, for example, packs easy and can be used as a rain jacket, a windbreaker, a ground cloth or a mosquito shield.
3	Save those little canisters your film comes in. They’re the perfect size for keeping essentials like aspirin and matches dry.

How to Choose a Family/Base Camping Tent

Car camping with family or friends is a regular summer pastime for many of us. Whether the campground itself is the main attraction or it's simply your base camp for nearby activities, here's how to find the right home-away-from-home.

Types of Family Tents

At REI, tents that can sleep four or more campers comprise the "family" or "base camp" category. (Backpacking tents are discussed separately.) Here are the basic design options:

• Cabin-style tents: These upright styles offer the easiest in/out access. Their near-vertical walls create much livable space, which is a nice advantage. Some models come with family-pleasing features such as room dividers and an awning (or a vestibule door that can be staked out as such).
• Dome-style tents: The larger cousin of the classic backpacking domes, these offer superior strength and wind-shedding abilities, both of which you'll appreciate on a stormy night. They stand tall, but their walls have more of a slope which slightly reduces livable space.
• Screen rooms and sun shelters: They usually cover the camp picnic table or are pitched for a day at the beach, though they can double as sleeping shelters if needed. With all-mesh walls, screen houses excel in warm conditions and keep occupants shielded from bugs, but not rain.

Weight is far less of a concern for a family camping tent than it is for a backpacking tent, as most family tents are carried only from car to campsite.

Ready to shop? Use our Tent Product Finder for an easy way to choose the right tent or browse our family camping gear.