Skill of the Week: Pick the Perfect Campsite

An important part of manhood has always been about having the competence to be effective in the world — having the breadth of skills, the savoir-faire, to handle any situation you find yourself in. With that in mind, each Sunday we’ll be republishing one of the illustrated guides from our archives, so you can hone your manly know-how week by week.

When you’re out in the wild, your campsite will be your home away from home. Maximizing your comfort and enjoyment in your wilderness abode starts with picking the right spot for setting up camp. 

If you’re car camping at a park with sites specifically set aside for this purpose, you usually don’t have to think much about where to set up camp. The park designers have done that for you. You just park in the spot designated for your vehicle and then put up your tent in the marked-off area that’s allocated for it.

If you’re camping where the sites are a little more primitive or there are no designated spots, as is often the case with backpacking or dispersed camping, you’ll need to think carefully about where to set up camp. Above, you’ll find a visual guide on what to look for in making your choice: camping on a flat area away from others and by a tree break will keep the setting quiet, comfortable, and calm; avoiding positioning your tent underneath tree branches will prevent it from being crushed by a falling “widow maker”; and setting up at least 200 feet from a water source will give you easy access to it for drinking, but put you far enough away that you won’t contaminate the water with your waste or have it flood into your campsite if it rains.

Besides the features that are called out in the illustration, you’ll also want to avoid low spots in the terrain. Water tends to collect in depressions, and they’re usually chillier because cold air sinks. 

Finally, don’t take too long to make your campsite selection. You should start setting up camp at least two hours before sunset, as it’s no fun trying to pitch a tent and cook dinner in the dark; I know from experience. 

Happy camping!

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